Winnie's takes its name from Winifred Atwell, a ragtime and honky-tonk pianist from Trinidad and Tobago who became the first woman, and the first pianist, to perform on the Opera House site - in 1964, before the building itself was finished.

Atwell trained as a pharmacist before turning to music, studying under Alexander Borovsky in the United States and later at London's Royal Academy of Music. Her signature recording, 'Black and White Rag', was made on a battered upright piano with several non-working keys, after a grand piano take didn't sound right. That piano became her trademark instrument and travelled with her on tours through the US and Europe.

By the 1950s, Atwell was the highest-paid entertainer in both Australia and the UK, with two UK number-one singles and a run of top ten hits. Her hands were insured for a sum large enough that her contracts banned her from washing dishes. She was also an outspoken advocate against racism in every country she worked, including support for Aboriginal rights during her time in Australia. Elton John later named her as one of his musical idols.

For her Opera House performance, Atwell's own piano hadn't made the trip, so she played a locally sourced instrument instead. It stayed on site for years afterwards.

Winnie's sits on the Lower Concourse beneath the Opera House sails, overlooking Sydney Harbour. It's an all-day venue with 330 seats, a dedicated coffee program, pastries, seafood-driven share plates and an all-Australian wine and cocktail list, open from morning coffee through to sunset drinks.