Jana Restaurant & Bar

Jana Restaurant & Bar brings an elevated dining experience to 185 Hunter Street in Newcastle East, with a focus on seasonal food, housemade pasta and Hunter Valley wine. The venue describes itself as a neighbourhood favourite where old friends and new can gather, making it a natural choice for a relaxed meal with company rather than a quick stop. Its menus cover breakfast, dinner, dessert, wine and the bar, with set-menu options including Il Banchetto and Il Convivio.

The food offering is shaped by Executive Chef Carmine Mari and leans into considered combinations and seasonal produce. The Port to Pasta experience pairs seafood with pasta and Hunter Valley Semillon, with options including calamarata woven with prawns, mussels and clams, or barramundi served in tomato consommé. The Bone Appétite promotion centres on a 600g Manning Valley bone-in rib eye with fries, mixed leaf salad, mustards and house jus, alongside a bottle of South Australian red. These are substantial, social dishes suited to diners who enjoy making an occasion of the meal.

Jana also builds experiences around particular ingredients and drinks. Let’s Get Truffled celebrates the black Périgord truffle through a dedicated dining experience, while a Glenfiddich tasting paddle offers three expressions: the 21 Year Old Gran Reserva, 22 Year Old Gran Cortes and 23 Year Old Grand Cru. The website positions the whisky experience above the city, where the skyline meets the water, adding a more polished drinks option for an evening in Newcastle.

For a more casual visit, Jana Bar welcomes walk-ins for its weekday Mid-week Mastered offering, pairing a curated lunch menu with house wine or beer. The venue also caters for gatherings with tailored event dining, so it can work for group celebrations and occasions that need more structure. Couples may find the elevated setting and wine-led approach appealing, while the bar and walk-in lunch option give solo diners and East End locals a less formal way to experience the venue. With multiple menus and event formats, Jana suits diners looking for anything from a weekday lunch to a longer, celebration-style dinner.