Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel

Stripy umbrellas, schoolyard benches and tres cute Breton-striped waitstaff add to the beachside charm.
Zoe Bechara and Andrew Zuccala
May 01, 2023

Overview

The Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel has been an east Sydney stalwart for over 190 years — receiving somewhat regular refurbs to keep up with the times. The historic facade is now Miami mint green and is overall marked with an old-world seaside charm. Stripy umbrellas, schoolyard benches and tres cute Breton-striped waitstaff add to the retro styling.

The Beach Club is a place that serves up the kind of beachy-cool-baby thing that Sydney should do so well but doesn't always get so right. With sprawling outdoor seating, a fresh and simple menu and a view so palm-tree perfect it could be a postcard, the hotel just exudes easy elegance.

And the food always delivers. From breakfast through to dinner, you'll much on European classics made from local and seasonal produce. With its location by the water, you should also expect a smattering of seafood to adorn each of the menus. You can even rock up to Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel for takeaway dining options — with the pizzas being an ever-popular choice for those hitting up the local beaches.

Scenic views across Sydney Harbour to the Sydney CBD from Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel, Watsons Bay

Destination NSW

A long selection of local and European wines and the usual beer suspects line the bar – with the ever-summery Aperol spritzes taking over the decks each and every summer.

At its heart, the place is a pub, and that's what works so well. There are lots of mismatched tables, the order-and-pick-up-at-the-bar thing clicks and the crowd is cruisey. It's fun but not too flash with enough pearly whites around to know you're kicking it with the cool kids.

Appears in: 

The Best Pubs in Sydney
The Best Rooftop Bars in Sydney

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