The Best Restaurants In Manly
From waterfront wine bars to flavourful Mexican cantinas, discover the best restaurants in Manly.
Nestled in the heart of Sydney’s Northern Beaches, Manly feels like stepping into a coastal oasis (without leaving Sydney). With plenty of spots to swim, snorkel and lap up the sun, Manly is one of our favourite weekend destinations boasting some of the best waterfront dining spots Sydney has to offer. No matter what cuisine you’re craving, discover the best restaurants in Manly below!
Chef Louis Tikaram brings his acclaimed Brisbane Cantonese concept to the former Queen Chow site, inspired by the waterfront charm of Hong Kong's Stanley Bay. Expect live seafood tanks, tableside Peking duck from a custom-built oven, and premium Australian produce across a 212-seat harbourfront dining room, bar and private space.
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From Alessandro and Anna Pavoni, the team behind Ormeggio and a'Mare, Cibaria is a hatted all-day Italian playground on the Manly Pacific beachfront. Order from dedicated bisteccheria, forneria and spaghetteria counters, finish with the tableside gorgonzola trolley, and cap it off with gelato from the in-house gelateria.
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Tucked down a Manly backstreet, this intimate 32-seat wine bar built its name on fire-based cooking from Executive Chef Dan Webb. Expect bold, charcoal-driven flavours, moody candlelit decor and an eclectic list of low-intervention wines and inventive cocktails. A refined date-night escape.
Hidden behind a fridge door inside Cove Deli, The Cumberland is Manly's prohibition-inspired speakeasy, reached via a spiral staircase into a candlelit basement. The whisky list runs to over 250 varieties, paired with a Spanish-leaning tapas menu of cured meats, empanadas and duck terrine.
If you're on the hunt for the perfect beachside spot for a leisurely long lunch, you can't go past The Boathouse at Shelly Beach. Step off the sand and grab a seat in this lofty dining room, serving a simple all-day brunch-style menu (walk-ins always welcome).
Right on Manly Wharf, Hugos pairs an unbeatable waterfront view with Italian favourites like crusty wood-fired pizza, fresh seafood and handmade pasta. The wine list leans into Australian and French producers, while cocktails like the Watermelon Smash and Hugo's signature frosé are the crowd favourites.
Right on The Corso, Chica Bonita is Manly's go-to taco-slinging cantina and bar. Whether it's lunch or dinner, expect an affordable, flavourful spread of Mexican eats, from loaded burritos to guac and chips and an epic line-up of tacos, best washed down with a margarita.
Hawker-style food with a beachfront view, Little Pearl is an all-day destination with share plates, Asian-fusion brunch dishes and bold cocktails that rotate seasonally. Choose between popcorn bug sliders, slow-cooked beef cheek or nahm jim oysters, and don't skip the Lychee Spritz.
Finding its home in a landmark 1920s-inspired space, The Herring Room is a quintessentially Manly restaurant. This family-run spot is located just off Manly Beach, delivering a contemporary Australian menu celebrating the best local, seasonal and sustainably sourced produce from nearby fisheries and farms.
Bringing a slice of New York's Little Italy to the heart of the Northern Beaches, Pocket Pizza is one of the best spots to score delicious Italo-American Pizza in Manly. Swing by for pizza, antipasto, pasta, cocktails in a can, vino and so much more.
For a playful spin on izakaya-style dining, head to Sunset Sabi, a local favourite from the team behind Chica Bonita. Expect clean, modern Japanese plates like salmon sashimi and seared tuna, plus a reimagined take on classic karaage, best enjoyed with a Sabirita.
Perched by Manly Wharf with sweeping harbour views, Garfish has been a Northern Beaches seafood institution for nearly a decade. The daily-changing blackboard menu spotlights fresh local catch and oysters on ice, best paired with a table at the SuGarfish bar for a leisurely sunset drink.
