Overview
Manly's reputation as a tourist destination is firmly established - but what about us locals? The next generation of Manly born-and-bred restaurateurs and bar owners are staying at home to offer us a whole new breed of places to drink and feed. Steering away from the cookie cutter tendencies of their forefathers, this lot are carving their own paths.
Here's Concrete Playground's pick of the bunch, giving you a new set of reasons to take a ferry for a day trip (or three) across the harbour. We strongly recommend you tick all of these boxes.
Hemingway's
The atmosphere of a writer's den, insanely long opening hours, fun and flavorsome food, a drinks menu that will keep even the most inspired drinker guessing, and not even the slightest degree of pretension. In short, Hemingway's must be one of the best spots in town right now.
For a start, the prices. The house cocktails are $15 and the suggested mixers, almost good enough to be cocktails themselves, are a mere $10. Hemingway's Cup is the ten to one favourite cocktail, spotted in the hands of almost every lady in the place. It's gentle mix of Hendrick's gin, rose and apple tea, sugar, and spice, served in a tea cup and saucer with slices of cucumber alongside. While it's very good, my pick would be the Miffy: house-infused vanilla rum, Falernum, orange, lemon and egg white whisked into a cloud-like dream. On a summer's day, the Creaming Soda might be more your style, with vodka, crème de cassis, home-made lemonade, wild berry foam and a paper cocktail umbrella. As far as mixer ideas go, Aperol and Fanta isn't a bad choice, and neither is Rum, Spicy Bitters and Ginger Beer. Both pack a flavoursome punch.
For full review and details, click here.
Miss Marley's
Its location is discreet. Retro furniture sits scattered outside the doors of a shopfront on Manly's Belgrave Street. Step inside, and you'll find yourself surrounded by silver patterned wallpaper, amber lampshades and a cosy atmosphere. People lounge around on low couches as waiters weave between, delivering the plates of share food that visitors pick at casually between sips and conversation. At the far end of the room sits the bar, with a glowing wall of tequila bottles set behind it. This is Miss Marley's, where the cocktail options are dizzying, the Central and South American food is worth fighting for, and the tequila list would satisfy even the fussiest aficionado.
The interior channels that particular style of retro-kitsch 50s glamour that makes places like Porteño such a hit. And while the atmosphere is good, it's the menus that are worth the ferry trip. My first pick from the cocktail menu, the House Margarita ($18), is snappily served up on a black leather coaster. It's a shaken blend of Herradura Blanco, pressed lime, Grand Marnier and agave water, served straight up with a salt dipped rim. No wonder they call this place a 'tequila bar' - there's no turning back from here.
For full review and details, click here.
Jah Bar
Take a typical tapas bar in Barcelona then polish slightly, adding cut crystal glasses and a pinch of Almodóvar references. Add one chef with a talent for experimentation, a selection of well-sourced, top notch ingredients and a crowd willing to stay all night, then mix well. Serve up atop a plate in the shape of a leaf, and you have Jah Bar: one of the best of Manly's new breed.
Turn up just after 5pm and you can expect a peaceful dining experience. While the interior is tempting, in summer we recommend the courtyard to make the most of the fading sun and the cool evening breeze. Spanish tapas is the speciality, though there's a few sections of the menu to choose from. The tapas dishes are supplemented by options from the boqueria and the oven, as well as the chef's specials, so it's worth taking your time to choose. While you're browsing, try one of the signature cocktails ($15). There's more than enough on offer to sustain you throughout the night, from Mint Juleps to rum and sherry-based concoctions.
For full review and details, click here.
Belgrave Cartel
The Cartel is bringing a slice of Melbourne and more than a hint of Italy to Manly's streets. This shopfront-turned-cafe is the passion project of two Italian brothers, Nick and Jo, who were born and raised in Manly. You'll find them here every morning, serving up home-style favourites alongside Jo's own coffee blend, Escobar, or at the local pub later in the afternoon. Taking the opportunity of a downtrodden strip, these lads have moved in and set up a hipster haven with odds and ends of retro furniture, display shelves filled with stuffed toys and figurines, bright, bold artworks and a fixie, which hangs along one wall.
But there's more to this place than just the two of them. Their mum, Rita, is cooking out back and her Baked Bacon and Egg ($12) comes highly recommended. In fact, there's few dishes that don't have a name to them: Drew's Mushies ($12) is a plate of pan-roasted mushrooms with herbs and marinated feta, served up on toast, while Scott's 'Pesto In It' Jaffle ($6) is described as 'like Joe's Goey Egg but with pesto in it'.
For full review and details, click here.
Cantinero
Something about Cantinero feels a little bit... illegal. It could be the fact that this is a coffee house by day, occupied by this underground crowd only in the late hours. Or it might be the makeshift film projector, which shows Mexican gangsters flickering across the back wall. Either way, we like it. The bunker atmosphere and a relaxed courtyard combine into something that feels like an Alice in Wonderland-style rabbit hole in the Manly landscape.
That said, there's no chance of wandering in by accident. While Cantinero lies on the main strip, you need to know what you're looking for to find this dimly lit restaurant slash bar. And once you do, there's no going back.
For full review and details, click here.