Everyone loves bread. It’s a given. In the conversation around best tapas Sydney and dining in Paddington, the right bread can make all the difference. In our cosy restaurant in Paddington, you’ll find a bread that is simple at first glance, then it teases, delights, and leaves you wanting more without ever feeling heavy. It’s the kind of loaf you need to try at least once at the best tapas bar Oxford Street can offer.

Meet our centrepiece: Kubaneh (koo-bah-neh)

Kubaneh is a Yemenite Jewish yeast bread from the Middle East, traditionally slow-baked overnight and savoured fresh the next morning. Pull it apart and you’ll find a golden, caramel-kissed exterior with just a hint of crunch, and inside, soft, feathery layers that sit somewhere between a brioche and a cinnamon bun. Every loaf is laminated, with butter folded through the dough after the first rise, creating those delicate, flaky layers. In between, you’ll find tiny black gems: Nigella seeds, nutty, slightly bitter, and full of oniony, oregano-y punch.

For us, this loaf is the start of a wider conversation. It’s the dish that says yes, you’re about to share, yes, you’re about to linger, and yes, this is what the trendy tapas Sydney scene looks like when Middle Eastern soul meets Spanish small plates. It’s also the kind of plate that earns a trendy tapas bar Sydney its name.

The Process

Head Chef Jeever became obsessed. He stayed up all night chasing the perfect Kubaneh.

First attempt? Didn’t rise enough. Second? Flavours weren’t quite there, and it looked, meh. Third? Jackpot. “I still remember the moment I pulled the oven’s handle to open,” he says. “The aromatic smell filled the kitchen, the buns golden and perfect. It was late into the night. I was tired, hungry, borderline giving up, and then I saw them bloom in the oven. Three golden scrolls slowly forming a perfect bouquet. When I tore into the layers, soft, buttery, slightly sweet, the team knew immediately, we’d nailed it.”

That kind of obsession is rare. Most Paddington restaurants don’t go to those lengths for a breadbasket, even the ones with a claim to the trendy tapas Sydney crown. We did.

Now, Kubaneh is baked fresh in-house every morning. Thin sheets of dough, a generous butter layer, a sprinkle of nigella. Roll. Cut. Shape. Rise. Bake. Repeat. And it flies off the pass. Guests can’t get enough. They devour it at the start, ask for seconds soon after, and sometimes it sneaks in with mains. And truth be told, we don’t blame them. It has quickly become one of the quiet reasons people recommend us as the best tapas bar Oxford Street has, and one of those affordable small plates Paddington locals happily order on repeat.

Tear, Dip, Share.

We serve it with two condiments: freshly grated tomato for freshness, and s’chug, a vibrant Middle Eastern hot sauce with chili, garlic, herbs, and spices, for heat. One keeps it bright, the other punches it up. Even better when used to scoop Salmorejo from the Seared Tuna, or mop up the last drops of umami-rich red wine beef jus in Chorizo. It’s also proof that the affordable small plates Paddington shares don’t have to skimp on craft.

It’s a small dish that does heavy lifting on the table, and in a way, it captures everything we wanted to do when we opened a tapas Sydney venue with a Middle Eastern soul, and what we think makes the best tapas bar Oxford Street special. Among Paddington restaurants, you’ll find plenty of polished menus and considered wine lists, but Kubaneh is the moment that turns dinner into a memory. Tear it open, share it, dip it, fight over the last layer.

If you’ve been searching for a restaurant in Paddington that takes its opener as seriously as its mains, this is your sign. It’s why dining in Paddington at CANESS feels different — a warmer take on the trendy tapas Sydney scene, with one of the best share plates Paddington and affordable small plates Paddington worth coming back for.

Whether you’re a local or just exploring the top small plates Oxford Street has to offer, we invite you to come hungry, stay late, and let the Kubaneh do the talking.

Check out what Chef Jeever has to say about his creation here.

Hungry yet? Your Kubaneh is one booking away… Come in, take a seat!