About OTTO

OTTO celebrates people, place and la dolce vita. Situated in the spectacular surrounds of the Finger Wharf at Woolloomooloo, OTTO has an undeniable reputation as one of Sydney’s most respected dining institutions, most recently receiving One Hat in the 2023 Good Food Guide.

At the heart of the restaurant is old world hospitality and long-standing relationships held with a fiercely loyal clientele. Approachable yet refined service greets modern Italian cuisine, al fresco dining, and trademark waterside views.

OTTO and leading restaurant group Fink are supported by a long-standing team of passionate executives and staff who work together to maintain OTTO as one of Sydney’s most popular, successful and consistent performers. OTTO is the quintessential Sydney dining experience and has remained a local favourite for over 22 years.

Richard Ptacnik

Head Chef

Richard Ptacnik is the Head Chef at OTTO Sydney, leading the team who day in, day out deliver the food that Sydney loves to eat at one of its most famous locations.

Richard joined OTTO in 2004, having worked with some of Europe’s great chefs in Berlin, Switzerland and his native Prague. He worked as James Kidman’s sous chef at OTTO for five years, before assuming the role of Head Chef in late 2009.

Richard’s food style is unashamedly simple – modern Italian with roots firmly placed in the classics. For many it has come to signify the quintessential Sydney cuisine; fresh, seasonal, produce-driven, sourcing the finest ingredients and letting them speak for themselves.

Giovanni Chianese

General Manager

With industry experience spanning twenty years and three continents, Giovanni Chianese’s natural talent for hospitality management has led him all over the world and found him a home at OTTO. Growing up in Naples, Gio began working at a young age on the Amalfi Coast, before traveling to England, France, Switzerland, and the USA, to work in multiple Michelin-Starred restaurants and five-star hotels before relocating to Australia in 2015.

Gio worked at Icebergs prior to becoming Restaurant Manager at Bennelong, OTTO’s sister restaurant in the Sydney Opera House. In February 2023, after two years at Bennelong, Gio stepped into the role of General Manager at OTTO, bringing with him his incredible passion and aptitude for cultivating customer experiences and leading professional, talented teams.

Alexandra Townsend

Restaurant Manager

Alexandra Townsend is OTTO’s Restaurant Manager. Barcelona-born, Alex has called upon her innate language and people skills in hospitality roles across London and Sydney, including in management positions at Fink sister restaurant, Bennelong in the Sydney Opera House, and a’Mare in the Crown where she fell in love with Italian food, culture, and language. In August 2022, Alex joined the OTTO team as Assistant Restaurant Manager, stepping into the role of Restaurant Manager in April 2023. At OTTO, she adores the city views that still make her feel like a tourist, the OTTO family of staff and regulars that feel like home, and the choreographed “dance” that is working the floor of a thriving venue.