Why Australians DOMINATE The NYC Hospitality Scene - Eddy Buckingham (Owner of Old Mates)

Why are so many of New York's coolest bars and restaurants run by Australians? I sat down with Eddy Buckingham, the Australian hospitality operator behind Chinese Tuxedo, The Tyger, Soso's and Old Mates, the Aussie pub he co-founded in 2025.

Eddy explains why generosity is part of what keeps a venue profitable, and why going viral is not proof of quality while repeat guests are. We get into how dropping out of uni to manage bars led him from Melbourne to Sydney to New York, the rainbow latte that put his vegan cafe in Vogue before he closed it, and opening The Tyger in September 2020 with 120 seats outside.

He also tells how Hugh Jackman, Ash Barty and Pat Cummins became Old Mates investors, and why putting his family ahead of the venues made him better at his job.