The Best Restaurants in Manly for a Beachside Bite
Sun, sea and sublime food! Here are the restaurants in Manly vying for your attention.
Manly’s drawcards include the incredible beaches (Delwood Beach and Collins Flat are just a few of the suburb's hidden gems), charming village atmosphere and spectacular bushlands, but stay a little longer (until you get peckish) and you’ll fast discover that its food scene – the seafood in particular – is well worth sticking around for.
From woodfired crustaceans at Garfish to Japanese sashimi at Sunset Sabi, these are the best restaurants in Manly worth booking a table at.
Tommy's
Meey Manly's newest kid on the block, Tommy's. A buzzing Mexican restaurant and bar specialising in all things tacos, tequila, margaritas and mezcal. Kick things off with their super fresh and zesty guacamole (seriously, it's one of the best we've ever had) then work your way through the menu, which is ideal for sharing.
Our top picks are the kingfish tiradito with grapefruit emulsion, herb oil, confit sweet potato mousse and elderflower, adobada pork belly tacos with chicharron, caramelised pineapple, pico de gallo, watermelon radish and adobada sauce, the 36-hour braised beef short rib with miso-glazed Lebanese eggplant, picked onion and agave tamarind glaze and the smashed chat potatoes with truffle oil, corn spice and fermented five chilli. The cocktail menu is also well worth your time and while they're all delish, you can't go past the classic Tommy's margarita.
16 Belgrave Street, Manly
Ripples Little Manly
Tucked away on the harbour side of town, the newly opened Ripples Little Manly is the suburb's best-kept secret. Positioned on Little Manly beach (Manly's most underrated watering hole, in my humble option), Ripples is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and is all about affordable beachfront dining with contemporary cuisine.
Menu standouts include their cured ocean trout, homemade seafood spaghetti and their Little Manly chicken burger. Another win? It's BYO! Pack your swimmers because after a delish feed, the sparkling water right in front of you will be too hard to resist.
Little Manly, Stuart Street, Manly
Busta
The intimate yet lively eatery is all about authenticity, from the terrazzo flooring and Pugliese ceramics to the vintage Campari posters and retro glassware. The menu is filled with classic dishes that have delightful, modern twists, like the kale-infused spaghetti and burrata served with charred mandarin and salmon roe. Working closely with Winona Wine - Manly's natural wine bottleshop - the drinks list is filled with beautiful organic drops and boasts a delicious sgroppino that is theatrically mixed tableside (check it out on Instagram).
10 Pittwater Road, Manly
Hemingway's
A local favourite from breakfast to dinner, Hemingway’s is a relaxed, old-timey French bistro by the beach offering plenty of snacks and full meals to facilitate any imbibing. This popular waterside hangout takes inspiration from its moniker with book-lined walls and repurposed gin bottles as water jugs. Our recommendations? The goat cheese soufflé is a must as is the beef bourguignon and the steak frites.
48 North Steyne, Manly
Little Pearl
Combining beautiful interiors, a delicious menu offering and a picture-perfect location, Little Pearl is the place to dine when you find yourself on Manly Beach. Taking over the mantle from local favourite Manly Wine, Little Pearl Bar & Dining is fast becoming the beachside suburbs' new go-to destination. This all-day dining destination has hawker-style share plates, Asian-inspired brunch dishes, bold cocktails and easy-drinking wines. From the killer popcorn bug sliders and slow-cooked beef cheek, to the green papaya salad and signature betel leaves, you can expect fresh and vibrant cuisine.
Two things you have to try (which is non-negotiable) are the chilli fried chicken and the Little Pearl Long Island. You can thank us later! They’ve also got an epic weekend offering with live soul music during Saturday brunch and an incredibly sexy bottomless spritz and six-course brunch menu.
8/13 South Steyne, Manly
The Cumberland
If you're after something a little different, The Cumberland is your spot. Tucked behind a fridge door in an unassuming laneway, this venue brings an underground speakeasy to the heart of Manly - with a Spanish twist!
The stylish basement eatery has a selection of over 250 whiskies, natural wine, craft beer and an extensive cocktail menu, including prohibition classics, tipples inspired by original counties from Sydney as well as a section dedicated to ingredients that have been locally foraged and found. As for bites, you can graze from their tapas menu or their deli and cheese plates.
17/19 Central Avevnue, Manly
Hugos
A Manly icon, a long lunch at Hugos is a must. Situated smack bang on the wharf and overlooking the harbour-side of town, you can watch the sun set as you sip on your margarita and tuck into your pizza. A favourite among local and international celebrities alike, the atmosphere and buzz at Hugos - especially on a stunning summer's day - is electric. The menu is brimming with fresh, Italian cuisine (Sydney rock oysters, burrata, king prawns) that's perfect for sharing.
Manly Wharf, 1 East Esplanade, Manly
Manly Pavillion
When it comes to dazzling locations, it doesn't get better than this heritage-listed venue, which is run by The Boathouse Group. The interiors have been decked out in the trademark Boathouse style - think bright and bold wallpaper, shell mirrors, floating glass buoys, fresh flowers galore and crab baskets - which creates an uplifting coastal, beach-like atmosphere. While the inside is a visual feast for the eyes, the outside terrace is just as special thanks to its magical views of Manly Harbour.
Manly Pavillion, which opened in 2022 after undergoing extensive renovations, is open for lunch and dinner and boasts a fresh menu perfect for sharing with a focus on modern Australian food and seafood.
West Esplanade, Manly
Belgrave Cartel
A long-standing local institution, a meal by the twinkling fairy lights here will never disappoint. A cafe by day and a restaurant by night, Italian joint Belgrave Cartel is well known for its sublime pasta dishes (shoutout to the pork and duck ragu on rigatoni) and famous home-cooked lasagne. Always save room for dessert because their nonna Caterina's tiramisu with toasted hazelnut is a twelve out of ten.
6 Belgrave Street, Manly
Saké Restaurant
With dim lighting, little nooks and breathtaking ocean views, Saké scores top points for its intimate dining setting. The chic designer interior sets the tone for the beautifully presented dishes to come and the Japanese cuisine leaves you feeling satisfied yet light. The signature dishes from the menu like popcorn shrimp and hiramasa kingfish are perfect for sharing, and the extensive saké list is way too inviting not to indulge.
Manly Wharf, Manly
Queen Chow
Perched on Manly Wharf, Merivale's Queen Chow reigns supreme on the Chinese cuisine front. Elegant yet casual and drenched in natural light, the dining space fuses deep green timbers, dark woods and marble, to create a warm and contemporary feel. Fusing modern Australian with local, Chinese dining, classic Cantonese dishes are reimagined with a quirky Australian twist. Tuck into pillowy pockets of dim sum, fresh seafood, or for a taste of decadence, try their mud crab, steamed with white soy, ginger and shallots.
22-23 Manly Wharf, East Esplanade, Manly
Sunset Sabi
A trendy eatery set in a breezy loft-style space, Sunset Sabi dishes up delicious modern Japanese that’s designed to flow, Izakaya style. The team will encourage you to share within your group and sample a little something from every section of the menu – that way you get to try everything. Order the edamame with truffle, or the cheeseburger-inspired gyoza that comes with wagyu beef, cheese and tangy pickles. For seafood cravings, order the Smoked Trout Taco.
26/28 Pittwater Road, Manly
Pocket Pizza
When it comes to out-of-the-box pizzas that are not only hilariously named but next-level yum, Pocket Pizza know how to deliver on both fronts. The cool and intimate venue on Pittwater Road makes for the ultimate date night location or a catch-up with friends. Be sure to order the Can You Pig It and finish your meal with a serving of their ridiculously good tiramisu.
46 Pittwater Road, Manly
Chica Bonita
A Manly favourite, Chica Bonita is a raucous mingling of Mexican fare and Baja California charm. Rustic and vibrant, this is one of those places where it’s easy to get carried away with the lively atmosphere. The creative menu is a tasty mix of Mexican and Mexi-Cali ingredients and the flavoursome dishes regularly have the crowds lining up out the door.
9 The Corso, Manly
Garfish
For seriously good seafood, head straight to Garfish. Served just the way you want it, grilled, spiced or woodfired, the produce is fresh and dishes are flavoursome. Overlooking Manly Cove, Garfish has a woodfired oven and a cocktail and wine bar, SuGarfish. Another plus, the restaurant is BYO (bottled wine only).
1/39 East Esplanade, Manly
Finished eating your way through the best restaurants in Manly and after another beach-inspired meal? Have a look at our round-up of the coolest bars in Bondi and our edit of Sydney's best fish and chip joints.
