Toni's guidebook to Manly, Fairlight & the Northern Beaches
Food Scene
Wonderful place to eat or have a cocktail, the food is Japanese Fusion - book to avoid disappointment or turn up early as they keep tables for walk-ins. Very cool and popular with the 30 somethings locals.
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Sunset Sabi
28 Pittwater RdWonderful place to eat or have a cocktail, the food is Japanese Fusion - book to avoid disappointment or turn up early as they keep tables for walk-ins. Very cool and popular with the 30 somethings locals.
Great breakfast and coffee - if it's later in the day, they have some wonderful cocktails!
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Belgrave Cartel
6 Belgrave StGreat breakfast and coffee - if it's later in the day, they have some wonderful cocktails!
Yummy poke bowls and dumplings. Eat in or takeaway or just call Uber or Deliveroo to deliver to your door. Be sure to have a good look at the other places in Market Place too.
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Momo Bar. Dumplings & Pokè
28 Market PlYummy poke bowls and dumplings. Eat in or takeaway or just call Uber or Deliveroo to deliver to your door. Be sure to have a good look at the other places in Market Place too.
Good Mexican food - lots of young people love this joint and there are queues at night. Young people = well priced.
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Chica Bonita Manly
9 The CorsoGood Mexican food - lots of young people love this joint and there are queues at night. Young people = well priced.
This Justin Hemmes owned restaurant is worth a visit. On the more expensive side but great food never the less.
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Queen Chow Manly
23 E EsplanadeThis Justin Hemmes owned restaurant is worth a visit. On the more expensive side but great food never the less.
Great pizza and location but a little on the expensive side. Sit outside on the wharf if you can. Cool and popular spot.
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Hugos
1 E EsplanadeGreat pizza and location but a little on the expensive side. Sit outside on the wharf if you can. Cool and popular spot.
This restaurant has wonderful views up the harbour and delicious contemporary Japanese food. Make sure to ask for a seat on the balcony if the weather is good. We thought it quite reasonable unlike the other Sake venues.
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Sake Restaurant and Bar Manly
West EsplanadeThis restaurant has wonderful views up the harbour and delicious contemporary Japanese food. Make sure to ask for a seat on the balcony if the weather is good. We thought it quite reasonable unlike the other Sake venues.
Phulkari Indian Cuisine
328 Sydney RdGreat Indian food. Very reasonably priced and BYO.
Maestro & Co
50 E EsplanadeGreat Middle Eastern food. Very popular and reasonably priced.
Great Thai food - try the Thai tapas - it's our favourite. With courtyard tables, it's perfect on a sunny day. Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Sunday.
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Yok Thai Restaurant
21 Wentworth StGreat Thai food - try the Thai tapas - it's our favourite. With courtyard tables, it's perfect on a sunny day. Open for lunch and dinner Wednesday to Sunday.
Great bar with great food, craft beer and cocktails in Freshwater - very popular with the locals
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Stowaway Bar
1-3 Moore RdGreat bar with great food, craft beer and cocktails in Freshwater - very popular with the locals
Great Italian fusion restaurant - owned by the Sunset Sabi people. Fabulous food - they own the wine shop next door too but you can only BYO on a couple of mid-week nights.
Busta
10 Pittwater RdGreat Italian fusion restaurant - owned by the Sunset Sabi people. Fabulous food - they own the wine shop next door too but you can only BYO on a couple of mid-week nights.
The most popular Pizza place for miles. Great pizzas and very popular with locals. Join the queue or book ahead.
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Pocket Pizza Manly
46 Pittwater RdThe most popular Pizza place for miles. Great pizzas and very popular with locals. Join the queue or book ahead.
Great for breakfast in the sunshine. Very popular with locals for both lunch too. Great coffee, good service and you can sit in the laneway or inside.
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Market Lane Cafe
Market LaneGreat for breakfast in the sunshine. Very popular with locals for both lunch too. Great coffee, good service and you can sit in the laneway or inside.
Alice Dumpling Bar
Great inexpensive Chinese food on the beachfront. Definitely try the dumplings!
Very new Mexican restaurant with fabulous cocktails - very popular with the locals and young people.
Tijuanas Manly
Very new Mexican restaurant with fabulous cocktails - very popular with the locals and young people.
New Mexican Restaurant (Manly seems to have so many now) but really good food - probably best shared with friends so you get to taste most of the menu. Lots of magaritas on offer.
Tommy's Manly
New Mexican Restaurant (Manly seems to have so many now) but really good food - probably best shared with friends so you get to taste most of the menu. Lots of magaritas on offer.
Drinks & Nightlife
Great location on Manly Wharf for Sunday afternoon drinks, especially if you sit outside. Better than your standard bar quality food.
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Manly Wharf Hotel
East EsplanadeGreat location on Manly Wharf for Sunday afternoon drinks, especially if you sit outside. Better than your standard bar quality food.
Spectacular location and relatively cheap drinks - great way to spend an afternoon with friends. The food is fairly standard pub food.
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Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club
Stuart StreetSpectacular location and relatively cheap drinks - great way to spend an afternoon with friends. The food is fairly standard pub food.
One of many Brookvale Breweries to visit.
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4 Pines Brewery - Truckbar Brookvale
9-13 Winbourne RdOne of many Brookvale Breweries to visit.
Hidden behind a fridge door in the laneways of Manly, The Cumberland is an underground speakeasy with a Spanish twist. I haven't actually been there but it's very popular.
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The Cumberland
19 Central AveHidden behind a fridge door in the laneways of Manly, The Cumberland is an underground speakeasy with a Spanish twist. I haven't actually been there but it's very popular.
Manhattan vibe in Manly. Tucked in the back street of Manly, they serve wonderful cocktails and food.
Banco Manly
Manhattan vibe in Manly. Tucked in the back street of Manly, they serve wonderful cocktails and food.
One of the many breweries in Brookvale - book a brewery tour and try them all.
Bucketty's Brewing Co.
One of the many breweries in Brookvale - book a brewery tour and try them all.
One of the many small breweries popping up in Brookvale - worth doing a pub tour or just wandering between them to find your new favourite beer.
7th Day Brewery
9 Powells RdOne of the many small breweries popping up in Brookvale - worth doing a pub tour or just wandering between them to find your new favourite beer.
Craft beers brewed on the Beaches - one of the many craft breweries popping up in Brookvale. Do the tour!
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Nomad Brewing Co
5 Sydenham RdCraft beers brewed on the Beaches - one of the many craft breweries popping up in Brookvale. Do the tour!
Craft beer made on the premises - visit the Brewery or drop in for trivia, live music and burgers. See their website for events.
Dad and Dave's Cafe
Craft beer made on the premises - visit the Brewery or drop in for trivia, live music and burgers. See their website for events.
Yet another craft brewery in Brookvale - Live music, beer and trivia. Check out their website.
Freshwater Brewing Company
Yet another craft brewery in Brookvale - Live music, beer and trivia. Check out their website.
Sightseeing
You can't come to Sydney without going to the Opera House - catch the Manly Ferry and you're right there!
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Isakhiwo se-Opera eSydney
You can't come to Sydney without going to the Opera House - catch the Manly Ferry and you're right there!
Take a walk, cycle or drive up to North Head. Take in the stunning views out through Sydney Heads and Sydney. Call into the Visitor Centre located at North Fort for more information and ask for directions to the Australian Memorial Walk. Stop at the cafe at the top for coffee, breakfast or lunch or visit the Quarantine Station on your way back down the hill. Be sure to visit the new Fairfax Lookouts - rebuilt after a bushfire - they are stunning as are the views.
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North Head Scenic Drive
North Head Scenic DriveTake a walk, cycle or drive up to North Head. Take in the stunning views out through Sydney Heads and Sydney. Call into the Visitor Centre located at North Fort for more information and ask for directions to the Australian Memorial Walk. Stop at the cafe at the top for coffee, breakfast or lunch or visit the Quarantine Station on your way back down the hill. Be sure to visit the new Fairfax Lookouts - rebuilt after a bushfire - they are stunning as are the views.
The Rocks area is the traditional home of the Gadigal people, and the place of first European settlement in Australia. From the roughly-laid cobblestone laneways, the solid wooden beams in the warehouses, and the crushed cockle shells that make up the mortar between huge and hand-carved sandstone bricks, The Rocks is well worth a visit. As far as Australian history is concerned, this is about as historic as we get. There are markets every weekend.
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The Rocks
The Rocks area is the traditional home of the Gadigal people, and the place of first European settlement in Australia. From the roughly-laid cobblestone laneways, the solid wooden beams in the warehouses, and the crushed cockle shells that make up the mortar between huge and hand-carved sandstone bricks, The Rocks is well worth a visit. As far as Australian history is concerned, this is about as historic as we get. There are markets every weekend.
Palm Beach is well worth a visit - it's where the rich and famous holiday. Walk up to the lighthouse for a stunning view and on the way down go to The Boathouse Cafe for brunch or lunch.
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I-Lighthouse ye-Barrenjoey
1199D Barrenjoey RdPalm Beach is well worth a visit - it's where the rich and famous holiday. Walk up to the lighthouse for a stunning view and on the way down go to The Boathouse Cafe for brunch or lunch.
The most stunning zoo location ever! Well worth a visit, especially for overseas guests.
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ITaronga Zoo Sydney
Bradleys Head RoadThe most stunning zoo location ever! Well worth a visit, especially for overseas guests.
Parks & Nature
Definitely worth the walk - one of Sydney's best walks - and it starts just outside the back gate.
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Manly To Spit Bridge Costal Walk
Reef Beach TrackDefinitely worth the walk - one of Sydney's best walks - and it starts just outside the back gate.
A wonderful place for a picnic with the family - there's a playground, harbour pool and beach, kiosk, marina and cafe. The Manly to Spit walk also passes through Clontarf Reserve.
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I-Clontarf Reserve
Sandy Bay RoadA wonderful place for a picnic with the family - there's a playground, harbour pool and beach, kiosk, marina and cafe. The Manly to Spit walk also passes through Clontarf Reserve.
The views from the Royal Botanic Gardens over Sydney Harbour are stunning. Wind your way around via the Opera House. There are cafes, tours, etc or just go exploring. Visit https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/visit
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The Royal Botanic Gardens, Macquarie St station
The views from the Royal Botanic Gardens over Sydney Harbour are stunning. Wind your way around via the Opera House. There are cafes, tours, etc or just go exploring. Visit https://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/visit
Arts & Culture
Just because you love the Arts! You might be lucky to catch the Archibald Prize.
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I-Art Gallery yaseNew South Wales
Art Gallery RoadJust because you love the Arts! You might be lucky to catch the Archibald Prize.
Located next to Circular Quay on the opposite side to the Opera House - well worth a visit and the cafe underneath isn't too bad either. There's also a cafe at the top with wonderful views but it's a little more touristy so not sure I'd eat there.
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Iziko lezobuciko zomzantsi
140 George StLocated next to Circular Quay on the opposite side to the Opera House - well worth a visit and the cafe underneath isn't too bad either. There's also a cafe at the top with wonderful views but it's a little more touristy so not sure I'd eat there.
Shopping
This is a large shopping centre with all the major stores including David Jones, Myer, Target and Big W. Go if you love shopping but otherwise I'd wander up side streets of Manly if you're looking for something different.
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Warringah Mall, Green St station
This is a large shopping centre with all the major stores including David Jones, Myer, Target and Big W. Go if you love shopping but otherwise I'd wander up side streets of Manly if you're looking for something different.
A small local shopping Mall which Coles, a fresh fruit and vegetable market, clothing stores, cafes and takeaways. Or there's the little local store at the top of Hill Street or Fairlight Shops which are both a short walk away.
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Stockland Balgowlah Shopping Centre
197-215 Condamine StA small local shopping Mall which Coles, a fresh fruit and vegetable market, clothing stores, cafes and takeaways. Or there's the little local store at the top of Hill Street or Fairlight Shops which are both a short walk away.
Getting Around
Manly Car & Truck Rentals
65 Kenneth RdReasonably priced car rental not too far away.
Not sure who set this up as Manly Wharf "Station" however catch the ferry to Sydney CBD or take a ferry to Watson's Bay or Barangaroo. Best value harbour cruise around.
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Manly Wharf station
West EsplanadeNot sure who set this up as Manly Wharf "Station" however catch the ferry to Sydney CBD or take a ferry to Watson's Bay or Barangaroo. Best value harbour cruise around.