Fraser Short’s new Japanese rock ‘n’ roll bar Daniel San is a 350-seater venue, set underneath the Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific Hotel on the beachfront with the best views of Manly.

Daniel San owner Fraser Short says: “We wanted to capture the fun and slightly quirky elements of Japanese culture infused with a rock ‘n’ roll vibe, whilst creating an offering that really capitalises on this amazing space’s beachside location.”

Daniel San’s rock ‘n’ roll bar eatery space will include an outdoor beachside seating area, an exclusive private dining room area with beachfront views for up to 25 people on the venue’s mid-level and an indoor/outdoor rooftop Dojo which can hold up to 200 people with spectacular views of Manly Beach, catering for functions and events.

A low tech fitout divides the expanse that once was Charlie Bar into precincts, conceptually a melding of old and new world Japan, peppered with references to rockers past. ‘The caravan’ precinct references an Asian street market where a robata grill is hero, adjacent to the leather wrapped bar with a shrine to Johnny Ramone at its apex.

Repurposed and reused materials still remain of the previous bar. An existing hardwood screen cut down to clad the bar as well as create a suspended trellis ceiling with bamboo inserts, some with steamer basket light shades. This, along with vinyl flooring, delineates the various precincts, loud, bright and graphic imaginings of ‘The Fruit Shop’, ‘The Kitchen’,’The Fish Market’.

Day turns into night toward the rear of the venue, the ‘neon and red light district’. Quite literally, a sunset has been painted onto the ceiling.

An unashamed sense of fun. Nothing is too serious.