While the Northern Beaches in Sydney/Eora is rightly adored for its famous glistening beaches—there’s far more to the peninsula than beauty alone. The coastal suburb is stacked with some of Sydney’s best restaurants, all the way from Manly’s cove to the tip of Palm Beach.
Spanning traditional cuisines that make the most of local produce to eateries that ply their trade in worldwide delicacies, OB真人视讯 has sussed out the best of the best. So, if you’ve been planning a trip over the bridge and are wondering where to eat in the north, let us set you up with a few local-and-visitor-approved reccys.
Here are 21 of the best restaurants on the Northern Beaches.
Cibaria
55 N Steyne, Manly
Image credit: Cibaria | Supplied
When it comes to Italian food, Alessandro and Anna Pavoni never miss. With heavy-hitters like a’Mare at Crown Sydney and Ormeggio at The Spit under their belt, their first Northern Beaches venture, Cibaria, has firmly planted itself among the greats.
Sitting pretty on the ground floor of Manly Pacific Hotel, this all-day beachfront powerhouse has it all—a modern trattoria serving antipasti, pasta, and a tableside gorgonzola trolley service; a laid-back caffetteria slinging coffee, pizzettes, and paninis; a gelateria whipping up house-made Italian gelato; a vibey cocktail bar called 55 North with regular DJ sets; and a 200-person upstairs terrazza event space with next-level ocean views.
Fat Pomelo
16 Ocean Street, Narrabeen
Image credit: Fat Pomelo | Trent V
Buzzy Narrabeen diner, Fat Pomelo, fully delivers when it comes to South East Asian food. The share-style menu is bursting with flavours and spans cheeky bites like pillowy bao buns and golden pot sticker gyozas to chubby mains like fragrant curries and hefty noodle dishes. The cocktail list boasts vibrant spritzes and a spicy marg with a tom-yum twist, but we must say, it's the dessert menu that seals the deal with deep-fried salted caramel ice cream.
It also helps that FP’s modern dining room is absolutely gorgeous—decked out with bold prints and pops of lime green, as well as a sit-up bar and private back room fit for special occasions.
Alma
47 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach
Image credit: Alma
Too often, Mexican restaurants in Sydney just mean some kind of combination of spicy meat and tortillas, which does the nuanced and daring cuisine a huge disservice. Avalon’s looks to marry the excitement of Mexican street food with the best ingredients Australia’s east coast has to offer, hence you see braised octopus with peanut mole or Pacific oysters with agave mead mignonette.
Sure, there are tacos and guac and salsa too, but all are offered with consideration and authenticity you can’t help but fall for. They’re clearly doing something right: after making a success of the Avalon joint, a sister restaurant, St. Alma, opened in the heart of Freshwater.
Pocket Pizza
46 Pittwater Road, Manly, 515 Pittwater Road, Brookvale and 1 Simmonds Lane, Avalon Beach
Image credit: Pocket Pizza | Instagram
Sure, you can’t really go wrong with pizza. Even bad pizza is pretty good. But there's something about the way Pocket Pizza loads their wood-fired dough with sometimes left-field yet trusty toppings that blows all other pizzas completely outta the picture.
Fior di latte, nduja, ricotta, salami, honey and chilli flakes sound pretty damn good on their own, but even more so when it’s called a "Netflix & Chilli" pizza. And however hard you try, you’re not going to come up with a better name for Brookvale's signature eggplant parmi pizza than “Parmaaaa! Just Killed a Man”.
And it's not even just the pizza that's good—there's a vodka pasta that Gigi Hadid herself would be proud of, a velvety bucket-list-worthy tiramisu, and a happy hour deal that's too good to be true with $5 antipasto plates and $10 spritzes.
Bert’s
2 Kalinya Street, Newport
Image credit: Bert's Bar and Brasserie
Located atop The Newport—one of the Northern Beaches' most iconic pubs—Bert’s matches the elegance of a Western European brasserie with breathtaking views across sparkly Pittwater. The Merivale-owned venue boasts a French-leaning menu heavily influenced by the big blue, with dishes including yellowfin tuna crudo, hand-picked mud crab, and Bert's signature lobster frites with a NSW live eastern rock lobster cooked in garlic butter and served with shoestring fries.
Boasting the ambience of dining from another era but without the stuffiness of some fine dining eateries, you can get top-class food at Bert’s and then always pop downstairs for a couple of post-dinner schooners.
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Suki
18 Barrenjoey Road, Mona Vale
Image credit: Suki | Supplied
Taking the reins at Rosa Mexican’s old stomping ground, Suki is a breezy two-storey Asian fusion spot along Barrenjoey Road in Mona Vale. To kick things off there’s raw delights like fresh oysters, kingfish ceviche, plump dumplings, and crispy prawn toast. Then the mains go hard with rich curries, duck pancakes, and braised short rib that falls apart in your mouth, and has to be finished off with strawberry matcha ice cream donuts or mango crème brûlée for dessert—we don’t make the rules.
The drinks lineup covers spicy marg shots, cocktail jugs, and high-ball mocktails, alongside beers and an easy-drinking wine list—best enjoyed on bottomless Saturdays, at a Sunday yum cha sesh or with $3 oysters during Suki’s golden happy hour.
The Pantry
Ocean Promenade, N Steyne, Manly
Image credit: The Pantry | Instagram
This is as close as it gets to dining on Manly Beach—unless you set up a picnic on the sand of course. Hidden in plain sight at the end of Manly Corso, The Pantry is a modern restaurant providing front-row ocean views from breakfast to dinner.
Helmed by ex-Popolo chef Francesco Armillis, the menu serves up modern Australian fare with an Italian spin—each dish a plate of art. Favourites include the wagyu bresaola carpaccio, grilled Tasmanian octopus, 250g grass-fed sirloin, line-caught snapper and a creamy carnaroli risotto.
Pair with a signature Shelly Spritz infused with Chambord, prosecco, elderflower liqueur, soda water and fresh berries, and finish with a decadent chocolate cannolo for dessert.
Pilu
Freshwater Beach
Image credit: Pilu | Instagram
You know a venue has great views when there are weddings taking place on a frequent basis and that’s exactly the case with Pilu. Set in a heritage-style cottage on the dunes of Freshwater Beach—the home of Australian surfing—Pilu offers the chance to gaze upon the dramatic scenery of Queenscliff Head.
Helmed by Sardinian chef Giovanni Pilu, the menu pays homage to la dolce vita and the importance of food in everyday Italian life. Star of the show, however, is the Sardinian tasting menu with unforgettable dishes including coral trout crudo with orange, mint and Camapri; spinach and goat milk ricotta ravioli; and slow-roasted suckling pig. It’s also hardly a surprise that the Pilu website has a page specifically for all the awards the restaurant has won.
Kushi 2095
1/10 Belgrave Street, Manly
Image credit: Kushi 2095 | Instagram
Borrowing its name from the Japanese word for skewer, brings yakitori magic to Manly’s dining strip. Open for lunch and dinner, the edgy izakaya serves up a stacked skewer ensemble including charred chicken with ponzu mayo and smokey MB9+ wagyu beef, as well as plenty of appetisers, fresh sashimi, tempura dishes, crowdpleasers like miso eggplant and crispy chicken karaage, plus a few curveballs like a tuna sashimi pizza with chilli mayo. As for drinks, you've got a choice between smooth-sipping sake, premium Japanese beers on tap, handcrafted cocktails and a curated wine list.
Bar Elvina
Level 1/50 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach
Image credit: Bar Elvina | Instagram
Life moves at a slower pace the further up the Northern Beaches you travel, as the skyscrapers and the noise of the CBD become little but a distant memory. That’s why you could be forgiven for thinking you’re in a Mediterranean taverna when you step into Bar Elvina on Avalon’s Old Barrenjoey Road. The whitewashed walls and light streaming through the windows feed into that dreamy laidback vibe.
But just because it doesn’t take itself too seriously, don’t think Bar Elvina doesn’t know its onions when it comes to produce. The menu leans heavily on local goodies (there are foraged ingredients on the plates and, if you order from the cocktail list, in the glasses, too). Bar Elvina is also extremely vego-friendly, meaning there’s everything you could want in a beachy bar-restaurant.
Chica Bonita
9 The Corso, Manly
Image credit: Chicabonita | Instagram
There's nothing like strapping in for a Mexican feed after a day at Manly Beach, especially when there's an unreal weekend happy hour with $5 tacos and $10 margaritas on the cards. Chica Bonita pays homage to traditional Mexican cuisine while revamping it a little with KFC and cheeseburger tacos.
At lunch there's a roster of burritos and bowls to eat in or grab 'n' go, and come dinner time, slow-cooked quesabirra tacos get added to the menu, stuffed with brisket and mushroom fillings, paired with a rich consommé straight from heaven.
The loaded carne asada and veggie fries are also a fave that have been on the menu since they opened over 10 years ago. We've thought many a time about asking for the recipe, but some dishes are best left to the pros.
Harry Gatos
8/1-3 Moore Road, Freshwater
Image credit: Harry Gatos | Instagram
You've probably clocked that is a cheeky play on 'arigato', the Japanese word for thank you—which is pretty accurate cause that's what you'll be saying after a meal at this Freshie gem.
The Asian diner has a tidy edit of small bites and large plates with an Aussie spin like outback prawn toast and Davidson plum pork buns, plus an OG Mongolian lamb, Indo mie goreng, and a top-tier chicken curry. Also doubling as a bar, this joint pours cocktails under $25 (a rare treat in this economy), alongside beers, sake and a solid wine list.
The Collaroy
1064 Pittwater Road, Collaroy
Image credit: The Collaroy
The Collaroy might call itself a pub but this Merivale venue is the kind of pub that didn’t really exist until a few years ago. No grimy floors and stubbies of VB here—instead, a welcoming, family-friendly establishment with stylish décor and a menu specifically designed to keep everyone happy.
Nevertheless, you can still find pub faves like schnitties and burgers, but they're happily sharing space with rigatoni alla vodka, braised lamb ragu pappardelle and kingfish carpaccio—that’s without even mentioning there’s an entire pizzeria with enough variety to charm even the surliest Neapolitan. And while you're there, check out The Collaroy's Tiki-inspired offshoot, The Surf Deck for a pina colada or banana split.
Banco
17b Whistler Street, Manly
Image credit: Banco | Instagram
The fact that a combination of natural wines and share plates is packing out this place night after night—while being hidden down an unprepossessing Manly side street—means they're doing something right at
To eat, you’ll want to order a bunch of the moreish snacks—like caviar-topped fried chicken and miso lobster rolls—to keep on coming. And on tap, you’re just as likely to find signature cocktails as you are small-batch ales. The wine list has a focus on independent producers, plus you’ll find arguably one of the most comprehensive digestif menus this side of the Mediterranean.
The Herring Room
94 Pittwater Road, Manly
Image credit: The Herring Room
If you’re going to be situated just a stone’s throw from one of Australia’s most famous beaches, you’d better be doing some pretty decent fish. Happily, Manly’s aptly-named certainly delivers on that expectation.
Originally starting life as The Sardine Room in Potts Point, The Herring Room focuses on freshness and quality of ingredients with an ever-changing menu bringing to life dishes such as Moreton Bay bugs tossed in squid ink spaghetti, charcoal roasted whole market fish with a koji miso caramel, and an incredible seafood platter packed with oysters, fish mousse crumpets, slow cooked octopus, and more. There’s also a degustation menu, a fantastically stocked bar, and an à la carte cocktail selection, all served in an intimate and friendly setting.
Queen Chow
Manly Wharf, 22/23 E Esplanade, Manly
Image credit: Queen Chow
is one of the first things you see when you pull into Manly Wharf on the ferry from Circular Quay (aside from, you know, the boats and beaches and stuff). This Merivale-owned Cantonese eatery pays homage to Chinese restaurants of the past throughout Australia, so there are nostalgic touches like bowls of deep-fried ice cream that are sharing menu real estate with incredible seafood options like pipis in XO sauce and steamed scallops with ginger and shallots. Add in a selection of banquet menus for larger groups and a killer wine list and you’ve got an experience fit to match the location.
Randy's
Shop 1/50 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach
Image credit: Randy's
This spot in sunny Avalon spent a hot minute being a vibey sandwich joint before becoming Randy's, the coolest wine bar on the north side of the Northern Beaches. It seems the locals prefer the boozier option too, as this buzzy joint from the owners of Bar Elvina is always brimming with punters enjoying the vibey tunes, oyster shell martinis (with optional oyster), gilda pinxtos and yellowfin tuna tostadas.
Expect a neat, concise menu, designed to be whatever you want it to be: a post-swim snack and aperitivo, an easy long lunch on a lazy weekend, or a fuss-free night out with mates.
Corretto
Shop 1/24 The Strand, Dee Why
Image credit: Corretto | Facebook
Anyone who’s spent a few hours tinkering in Duolingo can tell you that “corretto” is actually Italian for “correct”, which is a promising start when looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat.
Like many Northern Beaches restaurants, Dee Why’s marries incredible views with the renowned style and dishes of the Med—without straying too far from what we have to offer on these shores. So, you can hunker down for a classic Aussie brunch or a bottomless long lunch, or pretend you’re on the Amalfi for apertivo hour with an Italian Campari or a limoncello (from, er… Manly).
More than most places though, Corretto is particularly good for veg-heads, with a menu featuring falafel tacos, caponata bruschetta, mushroom ragu gnocchi and more.
Sunset Diner
41 Old Barrenjoey Road, Avalon Beach and 2 Rosenthal Avenue, Lane Cove
Image credit: Sunset Diner
Neon lights, blocks of solid pink everywhere, and a menu delivering shakes and sundaes. It’s fairly clear that Sunset Diner takes its cues from a retro-hued version of Miami. However, this is far more than pastiche (even if the shakes do come with whipped cream and a cherry on top), the burger selection includes crumbed mushroom or chicken katsu alongside more traditional choices.
There’s a beverage menu far more extensive than you might imagine from a place that leans into a particular kind of vintage Americana. Not convinced? We’re doubtful the diners from old Hollywood movies had green tea noodle salads on the specials board, let alone gave you the option of pairing it with a Clare Valley Riesling or a sour made with Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz gin.
Jonah’s
69 Bynya Road, Palm Beach
Image credit: Jonah's
Some restaurants are iconic, and then there are those that are famous because they offer a package with return seaplane flights thrown in. It clearly isn’t cheap, but Jonah’s on Whale Beach—which is also a boutique hotel—offers the kind of unique experience which is difficult to place a value on.
Unsurprisingly, given its oceanside location, the menu is brimming with irresistible fish courses, including rock lobster thermidor, grilled king prawns in miso and orange butter, and, the pièce de resistance, a three-tiered frutti di mare platter. After nearly a century on the Northern Beaches as a byword for luxurious dining, Jonah’s shows no signs of letting its crown slip.
Sunset Sabi
26/28 Pittwater Road, Manly
Image credit: Sunset Sabi | Instagram
Manly’s Pittwater Road may not seem like much at first glance compared with the attention-hogging beach on the parallel street behind, but it comes alive in the evening with a great selection of bars and restaurants. One of the finest is Sunset Sabi: a bar and dinner spot that describes itself as “a lot of Japan, a little bit not”.
Here, you can get well-loved Japanese favourites like sushi rolls, bao buns, sashimi and nigiri plates, plus more innovative creations like cheeseburger-style gyozas, parmesan-topped crispy rice and taco spin-offs. The beverage menu boasts arguably even more variation, with a wide range of drinks from the Beaches themselves, Japan, and even further afield. Sabi bomb, anyone?
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Main image credit: Bar Elvina | Instagram
OB真人视讯 Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.