Two-hatted Paddington restaurant Ursula’s announces closure

Two-hatted Paddington restaurant Ursula’s will close on Saturday May 23 after nearly five years of service.

“Running a small independent restaurant, the way we believe it should be run, has become increasingly difficult and, with the lease coming to an end, it felt like the right moment to close this chapter,” said chef-owner Phil Wood in an announcement on Thursday.

“When we opened Ursula’s, the goal was simple: to create a … restaurant that was generous to its staff and guests, deeply connected to its neighbourhood and built with care and integrity.

“I can honestly say with great pride that we achieved this.”

Wood, who was formerly named The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Young Chef of the Year in 2007, ran the cosy, contemporary bistro with wife Lis Davies.

The chef, noted for his precise approach to flavour and technique in the 2026 Good Food Guide, said he was “incredibly proud” of the food the restaurant has served, describing it as “uniquely modern Australian and very much of its place.”

“The cornerstone of the menu from early on has been that Moreton Bay bug pasta with crustacean butter,” Wood said.

His perfect Ursula’s meal began with oysters with Champagne mignonette, and salmon roe and egg sandwiches followed by bug pasta and roast prawns to share, then roast chicken with kombu butter, and steak with wasabi and lime accompanied by Paris mash. For dessert, it “would have to be golden syrup dumplings”.

“We’ve loved sharing it with Sydney and those of you who have visited us from all around the world,” he said.

Reservations are open for the restaurant’s final 10 weeks. The husband-and-wife team will continue to operate Cafe Cressida in Woollahra.