7 Apr 2025

Maybe Sammy Team Unveils Francesca: A One-Week-Only Gnocchi Bar Pop-Up

Sydney, get ready! Fresh off the plane from New York, Francesca has arrived and is taking over her cousin Georgie’s place in the heart of the CBD for one week only. From April 7-12, this gnocchi bar pop-up will bring the best-kept secrets of New York’s iconic Italian dining scene to Sydney.

Presented by the acclaimed Maybe Sammy team as part of the Maybe Cocktail Festival, Francesca is all about indulgence – serving up bowls of pillowy gnocchi and world-class cocktails in an irresistibly nostalgic setting. 

Step inside and you’ll find yourself transported straight to Little Italy, complete with red-and-white checked tablecloths, set against the rich aromas of simmering sugo. Framed artwork pays homage to the iconic Mutti tinned tomatoes—a true staple of Italian kitchens.

Francesca’s menu is a love letter to the bold, timeless flavours of Italy, created by Rosy Scatigna, Development Chef at Accor. Inspired by a lifetime of Italian culinary tradition with recipes passed down through the generations, Rosy has crafted a selection of irresistible dishes that deliver an authentic taste of Italy to Sydney—one plate of gnocchi at a time.

Guests can start with warm Rosetta bread served with garlic and parmesan butter, a nod to the classic bread rolls of Puglia. Antipasti features giardiniera served in a nonna’s jar, a selection of salumi and cheeses, and frittelle salate—savoury fried doughnuts stuffed with capers, olives, and sundried tomatoes, with anchovies added for a rich umami kick—available in limited quantities daily. 

But the true star of the show is, of course, the gnocchi. Four standout variations take center stage, each inspired by Italy’s timeless flavours – and a playful nod to the cult 1980s film Bianco, Rosso e Verdone: Bianco – a cheese-lover’s dream, smothered in creamy, decadent goodness; Rosso – Francesca’s signature tomato sugo, slow-simmered to perfection; Verdone – a fresh green pesto; and Tricolore – try them all with a tasting of Bianco, Rosso, and Verdone in one dish.

For dessert, indulge in Zuppa Inglese, a traditional Italian trifle, or the Maybe Affogato, where vanilla gelato meets a Maybe Sammy Espresso Martini for the ultimate boozy finale.

No Italian feast is complete without the perfect drink, and Francesca’s cocktail menu reimagines Italian classics with Maybe Sammy’s signature flair. Sip on playful twists of favourites like the Bloody Maria, Garibaldi, Bellini, Breakfast Martini, and Limonata Spritz, all expertly crafted to pair perfectly with Francesca’s irresistible gnocchi. 

For those short on time but craving a satisfying meal, a Quick Lunch with Francesca includes a choice of gnocchi and a drink—soft drink, wine, or beer—for just $18. Grab-and-go gnocchi is also available via the takeaway window on George Street.

“Francesca is all about that old-school Italian joint energy—where the plates are piled high, the cocktails hit just right, and the vibe is straight-up electric,” says Scatigna. “This menu has bold flavours, no fuss, just pure, feel-good eats. There’s nothing like diving into a bowl of gnocchi with your crew, passing plates, stealing bites and soaking up the chaos. And with Maybe Sammy in the mix? Let’s just say, Sydney’s about to get a serious taste of a hell of a party.”

Stefano Catino, co-founder of the Maybe Group, says, “For Vince and I, bringing a gnocchi bar to George Street—the heart of Sydney’s CBD—during the Maybe Cocktail Festival is something we never expected. But that’s exactly what the festival is about. Francesca is a little sister concept to Maybe Frank, our much-loved pizzeria, and this pop-up brings a food moment to the festival that feels true to our roots. It’s a love letter to Italian hospitality—cocktails in one hand, gnocchi in the other—right in the middle of the city.”

She’s mastered pasta, perfected the cocktail game, and rewritten the rules along the way. Now, Francesca is ready to share a taste of the city that never sleeps.

Francesca 

Dates: Monday 7 April - Saturday 12 April 
Time: 12:00pm – 2:30pm; 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Location: Georgie Wine Bar – corner of George and Bond Streets, Sydney NSW 2000
Bookings: https://sevn.ly/xtuLhbbM (walk-ins available)

ENDS 

For more information, please contact:

For Francesca, Accor, or Georgie Wine Bar: 
Amy Chilcott 
Senior Account Manager, Example
M: 0414 041 512
E: amy@example.com.au 

For Maybe Group and Maybe Cocktail Festival: 
Brooke Burns Founder, Savannah PR 
M: 0499 228 180
E: brooke@savannahpr.com.au