Overview
If you needed a new reason to make the journey to Palm Beach, we have it here. After six months of renovations from new owners The Boathouse Group, longstanding Palm Beach restaurant Barrenjoey House reopened at the end of last year — and now the adjoining hotel is open for business as well.
The heritage-listed restaurant and guesthouse is the eighth venture from the Sydney hospitality group, which, headed up by husband and wife team Pip and Andrew Goldsmith, runs various Boathouse venues around Sydney. Most recently, the group opened the Boathouse Hotel just across the way in Patonga.
Barrenjoey House has retained its original name, but the group has paid homage to the old building and its waterside location by refreshing the interiors with its signature coastal feel — think shell mirrors, wooden furnishings, banquette seating and local art.
The restaurant downstairs.
The restaurant, on the ground floor, is open for lunch and dinner daily. The menu has a focus on fresh local produce and seafood takes centre stage. The casual nature of the restaurant means that you can pop in for a snack — maybe kingfish ceviche or fried calamari — after a swim at the beach or you can book in for lunch or dinner. Main dishes include rare yellowfin tuna spaghetti, a Murray Cod with fennel, orange and cucumber, and an Eye Fillet with good old-fashioned mashed potato and green beans. Sweet tooths will be pleased with the dessert options that include a strawberry sundae and a peanut butter parfait.
The drinks list continues with the seaside atmosphere, with cocktails like a coconut mojito and a cucumber cooler on the menu. Beer, cider and non-alcoholic beverage options are available, too, and the extensive wine list could easily see you lose a lazy summer's afternoon.
If you're planning on having a few of the above, you should book a room for the night. The building's seven guest rooms have just opened for bookings — choose from either views of Pittwater or the private courtyard, or go all out and book the larger loft suite. While you'll be sharing the lounge and courtyard with other guests, you'll have your own bathroom. Rooms aren't cheap though, with standard ones going for $400 during the week and $450 on weekends ($350 and $400 in low season) and the loft for $650–700 ($600–650 in low season).
And seeing as you've ventured this far north, make a day of it and walk up to Barrenjoey Lighthouse for panoramic ocean views, or take the 15-minute ferry ride across to Patonga for more coastal vibes.
Find Barrenjoey House at 1108 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach. The restaurant and bar are open Tuesday to Sunday from noon till 9pm.