A beachside paradise with a vibe that's distinct from the rest of Sydney, Manly/Kai'ymay is packed with restaurants from pizza joints to wine bars and charcoal grills that really step up to the plate.
This waterfront sanctuary is filled with burritos, fancy seafood spreads and a whole lot of spots for cocktail sipping—fitting, considering Manly was drawn up as a resort-style escape for Sydneysiders way back in the 1850s. These are Urban List's picks for the best restaurants in Manly.
Busta
10 Pittwater Road, Manly
Image credit: Busta | Instagram
A cool and contemporary Italian restaurant, Busta does loads of snacks perfect for aperitivo, house-made fresh pasta and easygoing spritzes and Italo-inspired cocktails.
You might perch around the circular bar or take up a low table in the dining room, perch in a window bar seat or pull up a streetside table in the sun to enjoy focaccia, Wagyu carpaccio topped with mushroom, lemon thyme and parmesan, fresh tagliolini with prawn, bisque, tomato, bottarga and lemon, and a classic scoop of tiramisu. The wine list is Italian and Aussie in equal measure, and aperitivo hour with snack and drinks specials runs between 3.30pm and 5pm on weekends.
Queen Chow
Manly Wharf, 22/23 East Esplanade, Manly
Image credit: Queen Chow | Website
A favourite among Merivale's massive restaurant portfolio, Queen Chow is one of Manly’s best (and best-loved) spots to eat with water views. Perfect for group gatherings, this buzzing waterfront restaurant is a goldmine of Cantonese eats, combining Hong Kong-inspired fare with nods to Australia's own unique Chinese/Australian cuisine.
The dumpling menu at Queen Chow Manly was crafted by Eric Koh, one of the world's greatest dim sum masters, so you’ll find platters of steamed or fried picks, or favourites from prawn siu mai to xiao long bao on the Sunday dedicated dim sum menu. Kick off with sesame prawn toast with fermented chilli mayo and move to the house-roasted duck with plum sauce, whole fish in your choice of preparation, and the requisite deep-fried ice cream in butterscotch sauce.
The Pantry
Ocean Promenade, North Steyne, Manly
Image credit: The Pantry | Instagram
The Pantry holds a sacred spot in the heart of Manly, having been the beach suburb’s dedicated beach house back in the '20s. In those days, the Manly restaurants served as a tea house and change rooms before it was transformed into a kiosk, then a restaurant.
The entire space opens to the beachfront and feels like a beach shack, but one that churns out breakfast staples in the morning and wholesome, coastal fare for lunch and dinner like chilli and garlic prawns, beer-battered zucchini flowers, spanner crab spaghettini and seared yellowfin tuna with old-school Nicoise salad.
Banco
17b Whistler Street, Manly
Image credit: Banco | Instagram
If wine-ing and dining is your idea of a good time, Banco should be on the list. This elegant but casual Manly restaurant and bar does tasty plates like lobster rolls with miso mayo, grilled octopus with romesco and share-friendly Wagyu steaks with horseradish cream, and (if the glowing neon bottle sign didn't give it away) wine is the main event on the drinks front.
The wine list heroes low-intervention makers (especially females, couples and families) from Australia and the typical Euro suspects, with the knowledgeable staff's recommendations scattered throughout.
Ripples Little Manly
Stuart Street Beachfront, Manly
Image credit: Ripples Little Manly | Instagram
A true-all day affair right on the sand of the picturesque Little Manly Beach, this waterfront cafe and restaurant (that happens to be completely BYO) is just south of the main Manly strip and so worth the wander.
You can grab takeaway from the Ripples Little Manly kiosk on weekdays, rise and shine with the breakfast on weekends, grab lunch every day, or settle in for a dinnertime feast Wednesday–Sunday, with the menu covering a daily crudo, nibbles like popcorn prawns with fermented chilli aioli, market fish dishes, and a Greek-style lamb shoulder—a specialty of the group. We'd suggest timing your visit for sunset and bringing few bottles of rosé.
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The Herring Room
94 Pittwater Road, Manly
Image credit: The Herring Room | Instagram
Edible works of art are on the menu at this family-run Manly restaurant. The Herring Room pulls flavours and dishes from all around the world and serves them up in a cosy, textural space with a gas fireplace going in winter and an outdoor courtyard for sunny days.
The menu changes often but might look like roasted beetroot tarte Tatin with goats cheese mousse, Davidson plum powder and seasonal blossoms, hibachi-grilled wild king prawns fermented chilli butter on shellfish bisque and warrigal greens, and crispy fried whole snapper with red Thai curry. Stick around for textbook desserts, or book in for one of the regular degustation events.
Norma's Deli
74/78 The Corso, Manly
Image credit: Norma's Deli | Instagram
We know she only stays open until 5pm, but we still reckon Norma's deserves a spot on this list of Manly restaurants. If you're chasing takeaway, you could grab a pastry, focaccia pizza, one of the best sandwiches north of the Harbour Bridge, or Greek treats from the cabinet.
Otherwise, settle in for breakfast, brunch or lunch to tackle the all-day menu with dishes like taramasalata toast topped with boiled eggs, anchovies, chermoula, lemon zest and bottarga; generous shared platters with eggs, mozzarella, tomatoes, olives, cucumber, labneh and a choice of mortadella, prosciutto, ham or salmon; and fresh pita bread with house-made Greek dips. Pair it all with a Greek coffee, or opt for a cocktail, glass of wine or Greek beer.
Manly Pavilion
West Esplanade, Manly
Image credit: Manly Pavilion | Instagram
Manly Pavilion is well over 90 years old, but still parties hard with a delicious Italian-leaning menu to match. It's now part of the Boathouse Group, so you can expect their high standard of seafood-forward coastal fare, with favourites like crisp calamari fritti with chilli and lemon, linguine with pipis and prawns, and old-school beer-battered fish and chips (plus plenty of turf-based options too, of course).
There are dedicated menus for kids, bar snacks, and the High Tide happy hour running between 5pm and 7pm on weekdays, all with a serious side of water views.
Pocket Pizza
46 Pittwater Road, Manly
Image credit: Pocket Pizza | Instagram
When an Italian restaurant has gingham tablecloths, you know you’re in for a treat. Pocket Pizza is a corner feasting haven that feels homey and casual, and serves banging Italian creations.
The set-up is perfect for catch-ups with mates because filling up with vodka pasta, anchovies, cacio e pepe arancini and a Chesus Christ pizza is always a good idea, whether you take away or nab a table outside in the sun. Drinks include slightly fancy twists on the usual, like the Good Negroni with Martini Bitter, Antica Formula and Four Pillars Olive Leaf Gin.
Hugos
Manly Wharf, 1 East Esplanade, Manly
Image credit: Hugos | Instagram
An icon of the Manly waterfront, Hugos has been serving up the good stuff (that's food, drinks and views) for the better part of two decades.
The menu has plenty of fresh Italian flavours that evoke a summer's day in Sicily, with picks like yellowfin tuna carpaccio with chilli and extra virgin olive oil on char-grilled crostini, surf and turf tasting plates of fried calamari, pork and beef meatballs, kingfish sashimi and fig, mozzarella and prosciutto salad, and a hefty pizza and pasta selection.
Chica Bonita
9 The Corso, Manly
Image credit: Chica Bonita | Instagram
Chica Bonita is one of the OG Manly goodtime restaurants, and packs one of the best margarita offerings in town.
The fun Mexican menu really shines when it comes to the packed burritos, tasty tacos and ever-epic carne fries—a local specialty that pops up around San Diego packed with steak, melted cheese, pico de gallo and guac. Visit between 4pm and 5pm on weekends for $10 margaritas and $5 tacos.
Saké Restaurant And Bar
Manly Wharf, West Esplanade and Belgrave Street, Manly
Image credit: Saké Restaurant and Bar | Instagram
You’ll find Saké Restaurant And Bar on Manly Wharf, so you can choose to take in the sea air and ocean views on the terrace, sit kitchen-side at the sushi counter, get the crew around for a more intimate experience in one of the private dining rooms, or sip a Big in Japan cocktail with Espolon reposado, junmai sake, yuzu umeshu, togarashi, lemon and grapefruit bitters.
Menu options include à la carte and banquet menus, as well as omakase dining, where you can leave your foodie fate entirely up to the chef. It’s all about premium produce and sustainable seafood here, with fresh fish sliced and diced by sushi masters.
Wharf Bar
East Esplanade, Manly
Image credit: Wharf Bar | Instagram
Manly’s Wharf Bar is the perfect spot to soak up the best of this suburb, with plenty of spots on the deck jutting over the water, pub classics, and bottomless margarita brunches.
The casual Manly restaurant's menu spans the usual pub favourites plus pizzas, seafood picks like fish tacos and prawns on ice, and fresh salad bowls for all-day dining. An $89pp bottomless margarita brunch on Sundays offers two hours of cocktails, wines and seltzers with pulled pork tacos, salmon ceviche, and churros with tequila caramel.
Sunset Sabi
26/28 Pittwater Road, Manly
Image credit: Sunset Sabi | Instagram
Sunset Sabi is a fun Japanese izakaya on Pittwater Road combining sushi, sashimi, cocktails and Japanese beers.
The menu has crowd-pleasers like karaage chicken with Japanese pickles, charcoal pork shoulder skewers, and an abundant raw and seared seafood selection. Don’t miss the sweet burger for dessert; a tasty stack of sweet potato doughnuts, whisky and matcha white chocolate and strawberries. Drinks-wise, there are cocktails loaded with yuzu, lemongrass and ponzu but you can also enjoy beer, saké and international and local wines in the bright courtyard on a sunny arvo.
Garfish
1/39 East Esplanade, Manly
Image credit: Garfish | Instagram
Water views call for seafood, and it's the main event at Garfish, which selects the best straight from the market floor.
Start with oysters (with four dressing options) and explore international influence in dishes like Hokkaido scallops with white kimchi, grilled pork belly, carrot vinaigrette, peanuts and chive oil, Eastern rock lobsters in lemon butter, and king prawn and clam linguine. You can BYO your favourite bottle of wine on Monday and Tuesday.
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Main image credit: The Pantry | Instagram