Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Manly

"Candlelit tables, rich wood panelling and endless French elegance, are a few things you’ll find at the oh so charming Restaurant Hubert. Renowned Chef Dan Papperell gives classic French dishes a facelift that is sure to have you raving in no time. From the escargot served with the house XO sauce to the duck parfait with maple jelly, modern French fare is taken next level at Restaurant Hubert."

"Whether midday or midnight, a frisson of celebration is ever-present in the parallel universe of Hubert. Descend the winding staircase and come hither into a faux Belle Époque salon of perpetual candlelight and popping Champagne corks. Lovers canoodle in the tête-à-tête booths; a band limbers up for jazz and chansons; a magnum of Louis Roederer arrives at an already lively table of revellers."

"Considered one of Sydney's most romantic restaurants, Hubert provides the ultimate in date night settings; think mood-lit lamps with velvet and fringe drapery. The old-world feel and sheer opulence of the interiors will set hearts aflutter. Classic bistro-style dishes go down a treat with their selection of French wines and classic cocktails."

"Circular QuayQuay set the bar for fine dining in Sydney and still remains one of the city’s most celebrated restaurants. Helmed by renowned chef, Peter Gilmore, the waterside restaurant sits in the Overseas Passenger Terminal, commanding views of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. There is an eight-course menu available for lunch or dinner and includes highlights such as the poached marron, smoked eel cream, southern squid swimming in chicken broth and Maremma duck served with preserved Morello cherries."

"The view of Sydney Harbour from Quay's dining room is spectacular, and the award-winning "nature-based" modern Australian cuisine created by Chef Peter Gilmore is equal to the setting. Unique menu items include reworked classic dishes and new dishes for each season, including such items as slow-cooked quail with fermented mushroom custard, wild Tasmanian green-lipped abalone, and congee of hand-dived scallops. The wine list is extensive, and wine and food pairings are offered."

"When one thinks of fine dining, Quay instantly comes to mind. It could be the many awards that it has received or the fact that chef Peter Gilmore makes some of the best food in Sydney. The menu here features fantastic foods like Maremma duck served with preserved blueberries, black garlic, Kampot pepper and ice plant."

"If you're treating yourself to lunch at Bennelong in Summer 2021, make it a Sunday when they're running the Live at Bennelong' concert series on a Sunday afternoon. An extra $30 concert fee on top of your set menu will ensure your repast is paired with live ragtime, blues and tango from curator Phillip Johnston (Microscopic Septet, Wordless!) and friends. Pro tip: A walk around the Botanic Gardens is socially distant, beautiful and a great way to finish your love affair with the city."

"World-renowned chef Peter Gilmore’s artful, imaginative interpretation of Australian cuisine, under the soaring sails of the Sydney Opera House. Why we love it: Much like a ride on the Manly Ferry or the coastal walk from Coogee to Bondi, eating inside the Opera House is a Sydney rite of passage. Both the food and the service are every bit as polished as the magnificent setting."

"Josh Niland is slinging his Mr Niland at home spin off menu again to help us get through the lockdown. Think big eye tuna wellington, mirror dory schnitzels, smoked Murray cod pie, and much more. Each meal serves four people and you can expect a different menu daily."

"How about dry-aged murray cod or moonlight kiss rock oysters?. You’ve got all that and so much more at Saint Peter. Famous for their fresh, locally sourced seafood, this is definitely the place to get your ocean bites."

"The team behind this Newtown eatery are established masters of American cuisine and verified wizards with a charcoal grill. The crew at Hartsyard take an enticingly different approach to Southern essentials, as evident in dishes like the smoked pork jowl or the BBQ duck. For the indecisive among us, they also offer a ‘chef’s menu’ option, a showcase of the best of the a la carte offerings."

"There is no denying Hartsyard's heritage; it is palpably American in taste, substance and style. As soon as you push open the glass door, the smell of hickory smoked pork greets you with open arms. You'd be forgiven for thinking you had mistakenly stumbled across a classic American backyard cook-out, but that's what’s beautiful about this Newtown newcomer."

"After a four year hiatus, Pub Life Kitchen is back at its previous home—The Lord Wolseley Hotel in Ultimo, with an all-new menu and a few of its much-loved dishes for locals to enjoy including its cult burgers and chicken wings. They will do takeaway for the first time this weekend, including specials daily featuring really affordable and delicious meals and snacks. A $10 Vanella burrata special starts tonight."

"Anyone familiar with the roots of Sydney’s vigorous and nationally famous burger scene knows the name Pub Life Kitchen. Many a greasy tear was shed after the business exited the Lord Wolseley Hotel back in 2017, with burger king Jovan Curic heading out west to open the excellent Superior Burger in Wakeley. Through a combination of shitty timing and hardy resolve, the cult burger kitchen is back."

"Your favourite pub eats right from burgers to steaks will be available for takeaway and delivery. 📍 Pub Life Kitchen, 265 Bulwara Rd, Ultimo NSW 2007"

"In person they're an Instagrammable wonderland, but even as a take-away joint they're a feast for the eyes. Come breakfast time you can order up all the brunch classics or their bougie French toast with brulee, hazelnut crumb and cointreau curd, burrata with crispy serrano and pomegranate or their seriously decadent Mayflower roll piled high with poached lobster. 2/303A Liverpool Street, Darlinghurst"

"Get your coffee at this very lush and classy cafe in the heart of Darlinghurst. 📍 The Mayflower, 2/303A Liverpool St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010"

"For smart casual dining in Sydney, be sure to stop in at The Tilbury Restaurant on Nicholson Street in Woolloomooloo. A crisp, clean design typified by varnished wood, linen-draped tables and soft lea..."

"Italian inspired cuisine is the main focus on the menu at The Tilbury. You’ll find local produce turned into delicious dishes, like ricotta gnocchi with garlic prawns and buttermilk panna cotta."

"Lone Pine Lawn at Vaucluse House is another beautiful garden wedding ceremony venue for those who love nature and want to have some old world charm with the Vaucluse House as the backdrop with the gardens. The estate is away from the busy city so you and your guests can feel like you’re in a different world without being too far away from home."

"The Vaucluse House is a heritage-listed home and country estate with a museum. It’s one of the few 19th-century mansions still surrounded by its original woodland and gardens. The museum has been in operation for over a century, showcasing the original 19th-century estate, home, kitchen, stables and buildings on formal gardens."

"Built between 1803 and 1839 in the Gothic Revival style, the Vaucluse House is a 19th-century estate surrounded by 11 hectares (28 acres) of formal gardens and grounds. It is one of the only remaining houses of the period that has retaining a significant part of its original setting."

"Sprawling across the North Head hillside, near Manly, on the edge of Sydney Harbor, this historic Quarantine Station has seen a creative reimagining. A state and federal heritage site covering 277-hectare (680-acre), the Quarantine Station is a crucial piece of Aussie history. The complex operated as a quarantine station from 1832 to 1984."

"Some of the best takeaway in Sydney is actually the cheapest, but what Zueus lacks in price, it makes up for in flavour. When your tummy’s growling, Zeus Street Greek, which has locations all across the city, is the place to be. Be warned, you’ll want to order everything, and there’s zero judgement in that."