Trending in Manly: The food and drinks you don’t want to miss

Food, glorious, food

And drinks aren’t too bad either.

Together they sustain us. They also make for fun and memorable times.

In Manly, you’ll discover a cornucopia of food and drink venues representing Aussie flavours, international cuisines, trending tastes and local success stories that you won’t want to miss. They’re guaranteed to add flavour to any trip.

Aussie Aussie Aussie

If you want Aussie beach on a plate, look no further than classic fish and chips; it’s one of the most common food requests from visitors to Manly.

Thankfully, the suburb is brimming with offerings of this crispy, crunchy cuisine. Roll straight off the ferry and into freshly landed Manly Fish & Chips with their decadent beef tallow chips, or head to the beach via Manly Ocean Foods and grab a takeaway to enjoy with surf-front views … and a flock of seagulls.

If you want to push the boat out a bit, take it up market at Hugo’s on Manly Wharf or enjoy fine dining opposite Manly Cove at nearby Garfish.

International flavours

Cafes

New on the Manly scene is Queen Ester Falafel Bar, bringing bold Middle Eastern flavours to The Corso. It has the lunch crowds lined up down the street.

We’ve long been enthralled by the Scandinavian way of life, from Ikea to hygge to those special meatballs. Manly is fortunate to be home to Sydney’s first Swedish eatery, Fika, where they bake their own desserts and bread, hand roll every meatball and make all their sauces. They also host many Swedish traditions.

Don’t you just love discovering tasty little eateries tucked away down unassuming little laneways? Rollers is that jewel. It combines classic French pasty techniques with supercharged flavour profiles served in a shopfront inspired by modern Californian architecture.

When a simple slice of bread just won’t do, hello focaccia! For the tastiest Italian sandwich, head to Salumerie opposite Manly Wharf, or travel further south on the European map and indulge in the Greek version at Norma’s Deli, tucked away below street level in The Corso.

Continue your Mediterranean experience with Valentina Pastry Lab for Italian pastries with a modern twist paired with home-blend coffee.

Restaurants

New kid on the block Cibaria Manly brings the best of Italy to Sydney’s dining scene, embracing the European way of socialising where good food, wine and company take centre stage. We love it for a special lunch or dinner with friends and family.

Little Alice Yum Cha has been delighting us for some time now with their delectable dumplings and buns. With their move to a new venue within Peppers Manly Beach and separate fresh seafood menu, things have gone up a notch, literally, with its elevated position offering the perfect spot to catch an ocean breeze and a view while twirling your chopsticks.

Head north along Manly Beach for Kazzi Beach Greek, which showcases tasty Mediterranean offerings found along the blue shores of the Aegean.

Australia has long been obsessed with the flavours of Japan, and Manly is no exception. Kushi 2095 combines the aroma of the grill and the easygoing spirit of the Northern Beaches. Oh, and the flavour of sake. Their simple truth: No sake, no life.

With its casual vibe, red-checked tablecloths, rustic bar and fun pizza offerings like Netflix & Chill, Pocket Pizza has had loyal locals in a tizz since it opened its doors.

Local heroes

Nothing can top home made. And here in Manly we love to celebrate our own and invite visitors to do the same.

A fantastic local success story is craft brewery and hospitality business 4 Pines Brew Pub. Try one of their 13 on-tap beers accompanied by … well, does it really matter?

Being surrounded by water means many rooms with a blue view. The Pantry Manly boasts fresh, local ingredients in their modern Australian menu as well as “The best view in Manly”, sitting on the Manly Beach promenade with unobstructed views across the sand and to the horizon beyond.

On the harbour side, Manly 16ft Skiff Sailing Club is as Manly as they come, based on sport, water, great food and drink, a vibrant social scene and local community.

When musical superstars Beyonce and Jay-Z visited Sydney, they arrived in Manly by speedboat, stepping straight into local fave Hugo’s Manly, basking in the sunshine beside the harbour. While we don’t recall what they ate, we can highly recommend sharing pizzas and indulging in a cocktail.

Raise a glass

The current talk of the town is most certainly The Gopher, an Irish basement bar with live music located on the Corso. You’ll understand why Manly is all abuzz when you read The Gopher’s own description: “Beneath the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, where the Irish ran the nights and the law kept its distance, there was a crew who didn’t bow, didn’t blink and didn’t scare. The Gophers … the kind who knew every back alley, every shortcut, every way to make a good night louder.” Be a gopher!

It follows in the footsteps of other trending Manly bars where the cool kids hang, such as The Cumberland, an underground speakeasy with a Spanish twist, and dark and moody Henry G’s Wine Parlour.

Trending with the more mainstream crowd is the stylish 55 North Bar for pre-dinner cocktails, Hotel Steyne’s rooftop bar for drinks with a side of killer beach views, and Felons at Manly Wharf for overwater sunset drinks on their deck as the ferries come and go.

Sweet treats

For those who love dessert, is there any name more decadent and indulgent than Butterboy? With only five stores in Australia, Manly is fortunate to lay claim to one, conveniently located on the well-trodden path between wharf and beach. Get your mouth watering with a Snickerdoodle or the classic Milk Chocolate.

Beach and ice-cream go together like a teenager and an iPhone. For Manly Beach, that match-up is with the two big gelato chains Messina and Anita Gelato. Try either or maybe both!

Manly is fortunate to have one of the few the gluten-free artisan stores Wholegreen Bakery, founded by a nutritionist who also has coeliac disease. Passionate about food and the lack of good gluten-free options available, she started a bakery where everything tastes delicious, is made from scratch with real ingredients and is 100% gluten free and coeliac accredited.

When you come to Manly, be sure to experience not only our natural attributes but also our wide variety of culinary delights.