Sydney’s most complex dining destination

Square has announces its partnership with Prefecture 48, a multi-venue Japanese dining destination redefining premium hospitality in Sydney’s CBD. Built around precision and craft, Prefecture 48 partnered with Square to reduce operational friction and give teams more time to focus on what matters most: the guest experience.

Prefecture 48 brings together six distinct venues under one roof, from contemporary kaiseki at Garaku and chef-led dining at Five, to the sushi experience at Omakase, robata-focused Ibushi, the Whisky Thief bar and patisserie Dear Florence. Each venue operates with its own service style and pace while contributing to a single, immersive journey. Delivering that journey at scale requires technology that can handle complexity quietly in the background, without demanding attention from staff during service.

“We’ve always envisioned ourselves to be a one-stop for multiple destinations,” says Prefecture 48 Brand Director Cindy Tseng. “Square is a perfect integration into this concept because it allows our guests to move freely between venues with only one bill at the end of the night. To us, that is a big win.”

“Prefecture 48 represents the kind of sophisticated, full-service hospitality Square is built to support,” said Colin Birney, Head of Business Development at Square. “Running an operation of this calibre demands technology that can handle complexity without getting in the way. Square is designed to give teams time back to focus on craft, service and the guest experience.”

At Prefecture 48, the ability to handle complexity without disruption is delivered through Square for Restaurants, combined with Square Register, Square Terminal and Square Handheld, which connect the entire precinct through a single system. Orders, payments and menus flow through one platform, supporting everything from tasting menus and omakase service to bar tabs and dessert-only visits. By simplifying complex operations, Square frees teams to stay present on the floor and in the kitchen.

“I can detail that particular item description within literally 60 seconds,” says Prefecture 48 IT Manager Phil Chan. “That flexibility is critical for a venue like ours, where menus change frequently and accuracy during service matters.”

For front-of-house teams, that reclaimed time translates directly into better hospitality. “Square allows our front-of-house team to spend a lot more time with our guests instead of fussing over behind the scenes,” says Tseng.

In the kitchen, clarity and precision are essential. Head Chef Hiroshi Manaka highlights the importance of clean docketing and clear notes to support multi-course menus and dietary requirements, enabling his team to focus on craft, consistency and timing during service.

Beyond service, Square’s real-time insights give Prefecture 48 visibility across all venues, helping the group make informed decisions while protecting the creative and cultural vision behind the precinct.

The partnership reflects Square’s continued evolution as a hospitality platform built for complexity, not compromise. From neighbourhood venues to some of the most ambitious dining destinations in the country, Square is designed to give operators time back to focus on what matters most.