Spanish Strings & Nikkei Nights: Inside Ayllu’s Weekend Affair

Beneath the polished streets of Paddington lies a secret worth keeping—though you’ll want to tell everyone you know. Ayllu, the intimate, low-lit dining room tucked under Smith’s Bar & Grill, has found the perfect way to soundtrack the weekend: Spanish Guitar Fridays & Saturdays.

From 7pm each night, the first resonant chords slip into the air, weaving through a dining room draped in deep greens and quiet opulence. The guitar doesn’t clamour for attention—it seduces it—becoming the pulse beneath each pour of pisco and each passing plate of delicately rolled sushi or citrus-bright ceviche.

It’s a mood built for unhurried evenings. A table for two in the corner where conversation drifts as slowly as the cocktails; a larger group sharing plates, laughter, and that unspoken agreement that no one’s rushing home. The music is live, yes—but it’s also lived in, giving the sense of a night that belongs entirely to you.

Ayllu’s allure has always been its marriage of Peruvian warmth and Japanese precision, rooted in the spirit of the Inca ‘Ayllu’ community—a celebration of connection, generosity, and shared tables. The result is Nikkei cuisine at its most sophisticated: clean-edged presentation that hides a riot of flavour, the kind of dishes that demand both appreciation and another bite.

For those who believe a restaurant should be more than a place to eat, these weekend sessions are an invitation. Not just to dine, but to experience—sound, taste, and setting in perfect harmony.