Seven Must-Visit Spots in Manly for Every Occasion
Curb a brekkie jaffle craving and restock your bar cart with boutique booze — all just a few steps from the beach.
Seven Must-Visit Spots in Manly for Every Occasion
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Curb a brekkie jaffle craving and restock your bar cart with boutique booze — all just a few steps from the beach.
In every way that matters, Manly is the heart of Sydney's northern beaches. Despite its close proximity to the city, Manly has a distinctly small-town vibe that you won't find in many other areas of Sydney. In addition to the beach (which we all know is a stretch of heaven), the coastal suburb is also home to great cafes, boutique grocers and plenty of long lunch spots.
To show some of Manly's best small businesses some love, we've teamed up with American Express to put together this list of spots that'll help you out, no matter the situation.
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Belgrave Cartel is basically a Manly institution at this point — and it’s for good reason. Founded by three brothers who grew up in and around Manly, the cafe combines all of their great loves: good food, good music and community. By day, Belgrave Cartel serves up cafe classics like jaffles (there are ten to choose from) and eggs on toast, with plenty of options to customise the standard breakfast dish to your cravings.
Once the sun goes down, this place is all about small plates and pasta, which it serves alongside craft beers, local wines and a selection of cocktails. There’s also a hefty list of whisky, tequila and rum — basically, Belgrave Cartel successfully takes you from the morning to night with ease.
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Before long lunches were standard affairs at bars and restaurants around Sydney like they are now, Manly Wharf Hotel was the go-to for birthday celebrations and warm afternoons spent in the sunshine enjoying good wine and good food with friends. One of the best spots for sundowners is a well-earned title that, in our minds, Wharf Bar (as it’s now known) still holds today.
Located on the harbour side of Manly, this spot was made for groups, with a menu that champions everything from freshly shucked oysters to pizza and pub classics like chicken schnitzel. Weekends are prime time for visiting with a flourishing live music roster and menu specials, including bottomless sangria and guacamole and chips for $39 per person on Sundays.
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Winona Wine is a chic bottle shop that every Sydneysider wishes was within walking distance of their front door. Decked out like a very cool (and extensive) home bar, Winona is not like the bottle-os you’re used to hitting up before a big party.
With minimalist shelving that lets the beautiful bottles do all the talking, Winona specialises in natural wines, craft beer and artisanal spirits. So, you’re spoilt for choice when selecting a bottle made with love by small producers working with organic, biodynamic or sustainable practices. Winona also does a monthly wine subscription, in case you want the wine but don’t want any of the decisions.
Image: Kitti Gould
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We asked Winona Wine‘s Cam Walsh for his recommendation of the neighbourhood, and he picked The Artisan Cheese Room. “Cheese. Need I say more? You can sniff your way to The Artisan Cheese Room, a little store opposite Manly Wharf brimming with fromage from all over the world,” he says. “Grab a chunk of 24-month comte, and a bottle of savagnin (from Winona, of course), and have yourself a very good time.”
You don’t need more convincing to visit The Artisan Cheese Room than that. This little slice of heaven was born from a genuine love of cheese, a passion for the distinct flavours of each different type and deep respect for the craftsmanship that goes into every single wheel. The cheese is all stored in a temperature- and humidity-controlled cheese room, so freshness is always guaranteed.
The exact cheese varieties change with the seasons, but there are about 60 different cheeses at any one time and you can either buy them as is (a great choice) or as part of a hamper or cheese board. It also sells those spectacular cheese wheel celebration cakes if you’re not sold on a sweet cake.
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Friends, we have three words to say to you: uninterrupted ocean views. Manly Greenhouse is located on South Steyne and overlooks the main reason we’re all here: Manly Beach. There are three levels at this spot. The ground floor is dominated by the Greenhouse, an all-day spot for food, craft beer, cocktails and organic wine. The middle floor is known as the Wineroom and is, unsurprisingly, a wine and tapas bar — it has over 400 bottles to choose from. Meanwhile, the rooftop’s airy fit-out makes it the ideal spot for a long lunch in any season, since it’s light and bright but also has ample heaters to keep you cosy in winter. Plus, the top-level bar often sees DJs spinning tracks, should you want a little ambience with your leisurely lunch.
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A gallery with over 20 years experience, this gallery represents First Nations artists from the Central and Western Desert regions of Australia and art centres such as Utopia, Yuendumu and Papunya Tula.
If the walls at your place are looking a little bit bare, you can order pieces directly from the gallery online, or head to the bricks-and-mortar spot located on The Corso. The works here range from small- to large-scale, with a focus on contemporary Aboriginal art by prize-winning artists. There is a range of paintings from emerging artists, too. You can also leave with your new art knowing that Aboriginal Dreamtime Fine Art Gallery is dedicated to the ‘on-going development of the Aboriginal Art movement’, and maintains ethical selling practices.
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If you’re looking to support small local businesses (which we hope you are), then you can take it to the next level at Manly Farm, a local, family-run minimart. For such a small store, the range is impressive, and whether you head in store or order online, you’ll have your choice of the lot. Specifically, it stocks plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, but also simmer sauces, pickles, meat, seafood, eggs and fermented vegetables.
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Located inside Harris Farm in Manly, The Butcher & The Chef specialises in grass-fed and ethical cuts of meat. With over 20 years of experience in the butchery industry, this place is for anyone who wants to make better choices regarding what they’re putting on their plate.
Head here to do your weekly meat shop — or to stock up the fridge and freezer. Beyond prime cuts, you can also grab handmade pies, bone broth and fancier meats like chicken leg fillets with chorizo and gorgonzola, and cold cuts like saucisson, pancetta and truffle salami. And, yep, you can order it all online, too.
