Guidebook for Manly
Shopping
Extremely well edited selection of men & women’s clothing, jewelry and other personal items. A lot of US labels. Run by locals.
Bow and Arrow
16 Whistler StExtremely well edited selection of men & women’s clothing, jewelry and other personal items. A lot of US labels. Run by locals.
Mr & Mrs Smith
11 - 27 Wentworth StreetWell edited lifestyle / clothes shop. Largely Australian & Danish labels.
Clothes, shoes & accessories for babies & kids. On the pricey side, but a really unique selection.
Little Frenchy
22A Darley RdClothes, shoes & accessories for babies & kids. On the pricey side, but a really unique selection.
This shop is out of Manly, up the hill in Balgowlah. If you’re a stationery/paper freak, then you will be in heaven in this shop.
Pulp Creative Paper
294 Sydney RdThis shop is out of Manly, up the hill in Balgowlah. If you’re a stationery/paper freak, then you will be in heaven in this shop.
The Modern Furniture Store
5-7 Raglan StreetAn original range of Scandinavian designed furniture & accessories.
Stocks the classic Scandinavian homeware labels like Marimekko & Iitalla. Great range of soft furnishings, fabrics, small homewares, jewelry and a limited range of clothing.
Nordic Fusion
2 Wentworth StStocks the classic Scandinavian homeware labels like Marimekko & Iitalla. Great range of soft furnishings, fabrics, small homewares, jewelry and a limited range of clothing.
Head straight to The Corso for big name stores like Billabong, Quiksilver, Seafolly, Tigerlily. The focus is very much on beach lifestyle clothing, as you would expect, as well as tourist souvenirs.
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The Corso
Head straight to The Corso for big name stores like Billabong, Quiksilver, Seafolly, Tigerlily. The focus is very much on beach lifestyle clothing, as you would expect, as well as tourist souvenirs.
Food Scene
This place is good, but, in my opinion, not quite as good in terms of ambience as Hugo’s or The Boathouse. But I’m being pretty fussy in saying that – it’s still a great place to eat. Especially if you don’t feel like walking very far, but feel like a good quality meal and a stylish interior to accompany your meal, go here. You can also grab a coffee from the coffee cart in the morning. Because it faces east, no sunset viewing from this restaurant.
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Manly Wine
13 S SteyneThis place is good, but, in my opinion, not quite as good in terms of ambience as Hugo’s or The Boathouse. But I’m being pretty fussy in saying that – it’s still a great place to eat. Especially if you don’t feel like walking very far, but feel like a good quality meal and a stylish interior to accompany your meal, go here. You can also grab a coffee from the coffee cart in the morning. Because it faces east, no sunset viewing from this restaurant.
When you just feel like Asian fast food and are willing to sacrifice great ambience, this place is great. I can highly recommend the vegetable laksa. Eat in or takeaway.
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Wockbar Manly
27 Belgrave StWhen you just feel like Asian fast food and are willing to sacrifice great ambience, this place is great. I can highly recommend the vegetable laksa. Eat in or takeaway.
Swedish food in Manly. Think pancakes, smoked salmon on pumpernickel bread. I’d classify this menu as comfort food but still healthy and fresh. A cosy, white washed sunny place. A nice place to hang out if the weather’s on the cool and drizzly side.
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Fika Swedish Kitchen
5B Market PlSwedish food in Manly. Think pancakes, smoked salmon on pumpernickel bread. I’d classify this menu as comfort food but still healthy and fresh. A cosy, white washed sunny place. A nice place to hang out if the weather’s on the cool and drizzly side.
On the other side of Manly Wharf to Hugo’s. Papi Chulo is a smokehouse and grill, so a lot of slow cooked meat and seafood dishes. Asian + American deep south + Argentinian inspired. Laid back atmosphere with a menu that focuses on share plates. Also great cocktails at the bar so a good place for a pitstop if, for example, you’re on your way into the city on the ferry in the evening.
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Papi Chulo
On the other side of Manly Wharf to Hugo’s. Papi Chulo is a smokehouse and grill, so a lot of slow cooked meat and seafood dishes. Asian + American deep south + Argentinian inspired. Laid back atmosphere with a menu that focuses on share plates. Also great cocktails at the bar so a good place for a pitstop if, for example, you’re on your way into the city on the ferry in the evening.
It’s tiny and really good. Super lovely staff serving raw food only. All organic. The raw sweets are divine – has become a snacking pitstop of mine on the way to the ferry!
Native - Feel Real Cafe
It’s tiny and really good. Super lovely staff serving raw food only. All organic. The raw sweets are divine – has become a snacking pitstop of mine on the way to the ferry!
Does one thing and one thing really well – freshly tossed salads with an Asian edge to them. Oh, and does rice paper rolls too. Grab and go or eat in.
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Banana Blossom Asian Salads
15 The CorsoDoes one thing and one thing really well – freshly tossed salads with an Asian edge to them. Oh, and does rice paper rolls too. Grab and go or eat in.
Pure is eat in and takeaway. It has a large menu of healthy fresh wholefoods, juices, smoothies, coffee etc. The food’s good.
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Pure Wholefoods
10 Darley RdPure is eat in and takeaway. It has a large menu of healthy fresh wholefoods, juices, smoothies, coffee etc. The food’s good.
Ora’s one of the newcomers in Manly. And a standout in it’s food ethos. All ingredients are organic and have been personally sourced by the owner to ensure their integrity of production. Everything is made from scratch using traditional preparation methods to maximize nutrition e.g. fermented oats, ayuverdic healing porridge, water kefirs.
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Ora
49-53 N SteyneOra’s one of the newcomers in Manly. And a standout in it’s food ethos. All ingredients are organic and have been personally sourced by the owner to ensure their integrity of production. Everything is made from scratch using traditional preparation methods to maximize nutrition e.g. fermented oats, ayuverdic healing porridge, water kefirs.
Recently opened and the most “sceney” place in Manly. Brought to you by the same team behind Chicabonita, Sunset Sabi offers clean, fresh, healthy Japanese food but done a little differently as only the guys from Chicabonita can do. A great space, super cool fitout, and a lot of attention to detail. It’s a little bit more of a walk than the other restaurants, but highly recommended. Best to make a booking for dinner (if you can get in), but there’s also spaces reserved for walk-ins
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Sunset Sabi
28 Pittwater RdRecently opened and the most “sceney” place in Manly. Brought to you by the same team behind Chicabonita, Sunset Sabi offers clean, fresh, healthy Japanese food but done a little differently as only the guys from Chicabonita can do. A great space, super cool fitout, and a lot of attention to detail. It’s a little bit more of a walk than the other restaurants, but highly recommended. Best to make a booking for dinner (if you can get in), but there’s also spaces reserved for walk-ins
Hipsters unite! Mexican style. We love this place even though we’re too old to be hipsters. Tiny hole in the wall with fantastic Mexican street food and margaritas (go the Cadillac rather than the regular margarita). Lunch time you should have no problems getting a table but expect to wait for dinner unless you’re waiting on the doorstep when it opens. But it’s worth the wait and the scene and all the staff are great.
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Chica Bonita Manly
9 The CorsoHipsters unite! Mexican style. We love this place even though we’re too old to be hipsters. Tiny hole in the wall with fantastic Mexican street food and margaritas (go the Cadillac rather than the regular margarita). Lunch time you should have no problems getting a table but expect to wait for dinner unless you’re waiting on the doorstep when it opens. But it’s worth the wait and the scene and all the staff are great.
Top quality café. No beachy vibe here, just very hip. The menu is small and sharp and every item on it has earned its place. Really great food. And really great coffee too. They are pedantic about their coffee to the extent the owner, won’t serve decaf because he can’t find one that he thinks is of a good enough quality. That’s integrity!
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Showbox
19 Whistler StTop quality café. No beachy vibe here, just very hip. The menu is small and sharp and every item on it has earned its place. Really great food. And really great coffee too. They are pedantic about their coffee to the extent the owner, won’t serve decaf because he can’t find one that he thinks is of a good enough quality. That’s integrity!
On Manly wharf right in front of where the ferry docks. Recommend for dinner especially if the weather’s nice as it’s the best place to watch the sunset. A modern Italian influenced menu with excellent gourmet pizzas (gluten free bases too). Hugo’s is as glamorous as Manly gets and always busy. Excellent cocktails too. Try to nab one of the outdoor tables on the wharf if you can. Recommend booking for dinner.
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Hugos
1 E EsplanadeOn Manly wharf right in front of where the ferry docks. Recommend for dinner especially if the weather’s nice as it’s the best place to watch the sunset. A modern Italian influenced menu with excellent gourmet pizzas (gluten free bases too). Hugo’s is as glamorous as Manly gets and always busy. Excellent cocktails too. Try to nab one of the outdoor tables on the wharf if you can. Recommend booking for dinner.
Out the front gates and turn right. Beautifully styled casual beachy vibe on Shelly Beach. Super popular on weekends so be prepared to wait. Fresh modern menu. Especially recommended for breakfast or a cruisy lunch with a glass of rose. Also recommend to get your morning coffee (or freshly squeezed orange juice) from the kiosk here.
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The Boathouse Shelly Beach
1 Marine ParadeOut the front gates and turn right. Beautifully styled casual beachy vibe on Shelly Beach. Super popular on weekends so be prepared to wait. Fresh modern menu. Especially recommended for breakfast or a cruisy lunch with a glass of rose. Also recommend to get your morning coffee (or freshly squeezed orange juice) from the kiosk here.
Drinks & Nightlife
Recommended for dinner if you’re looking for a casual pub style meal and a couple of beers. Actually, the menu’s better than you’d get from most pubs. They brew on site here and have all their beers on tap and you can also do a tasting flight of their beers. And it’s on the sunset side of Manly with an outdoor balcony you can eat on.
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4 Pines Manly
43-45 E EsplanadeRecommended for dinner if you’re looking for a casual pub style meal and a couple of beers. Actually, the menu’s better than you’d get from most pubs. They brew on site here and have all their beers on tap and you can also do a tasting flight of their beers. And it’s on the sunset side of Manly with an outdoor balcony you can eat on.
Industrial chic, dark, moody small bar also in the alleyways of Manly near Cured. Nothing sunny about this place. Great drinks though for a late evening drink on your way out to dinner or on your way home as a nightcap. They also have food in the restaurant upstairs, but I’ve never eaten there.
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Donny's
7 Market PlIndustrial chic, dark, moody small bar also in the alleyways of Manly near Cured. Nothing sunny about this place. Great drinks though for a late evening drink on your way out to dinner or on your way home as a nightcap. They also have food in the restaurant upstairs, but I’ve never eaten there.
Manly’s only true wine bar, located in the alleyways of Manly. Cured offers a well edited wine list and teams up the wines with bistro style shared plates of cured meats, cheeses, breads and pickles. Wonderful for a pre dinner or late afternoon drink.
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Cured Manly
Manly’s only true wine bar, located in the alleyways of Manly. Cured offers a well edited wine list and teams up the wines with bistro style shared plates of cured meats, cheeses, breads and pickles. Wonderful for a pre dinner or late afternoon drink.
If it’s warm and sunny but the nor-easterly wind is blowing straight in, then head over here for an afternoon drink because this (harbour) side of Manly peninsula will be wind still and beautiful. During summertime, the outside wharf area of the hotel is absolutely packed for sunset drinks on Sunday afternoons as well as Friday evenings as everyone has a drink on their way home from their city jobs. On Sunday afternoons, there’s also great laughs to be had watching the SUP ball competition happening in the water next to the wharf.
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Manly Wharf Hotel
East EsplanadeIf it’s warm and sunny but the nor-easterly wind is blowing straight in, then head over here for an afternoon drink because this (harbour) side of Manly peninsula will be wind still and beautiful. During summertime, the outside wharf area of the hotel is absolutely packed for sunset drinks on Sunday afternoons as well as Friday evenings as everyone has a drink on their way home from their city jobs. On Sunday afternoons, there’s also great laughs to be had watching the SUP ball competition happening in the water next to the wharf.
A big old pub, fully renovated, at the end of the Corso right on the beachfront. It’s everything that an Australia pub is. Great in winter when the fire’s roaring and the football’s on. Equally good in summer when the windows are thrown open and the internal open courtyard comes to life.
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Hotel Steyne
75 The CorsoA big old pub, fully renovated, at the end of the Corso right on the beachfront. It’s everything that an Australia pub is. Great in winter when the fire’s roaring and the football’s on. Equally good in summer when the windows are thrown open and the internal open courtyard comes to life.
Essentials
The closest to the studio (& they do a good job) is Manly Beach Laundry at 28 Darley Road. They do drycleaning and full service bag washing or you can use their self service washers & dryers. Open 7am – 10pm
Manly Beach Laundry
28 Darley RdThe closest to the studio (& they do a good job) is Manly Beach Laundry at 28 Darley Road. They do drycleaning and full service bag washing or you can use their self service washers & dryers. Open 7am – 10pm
SahSin Massage Therapy
9 Whistler StOur go to massage place in the centre of Manly.
Australia Post
5A Central AveOrganic, packaging-free fresh fruit & veggies, groceries, cleaning & body care products. Owned and operated by the Manly community. Buy only the quantity you need of everything. A real local shop!
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Manly Food Co-Operative
11-25 Wentworth StOrganic, packaging-free fresh fruit & veggies, groceries, cleaning & body care products. Owned and operated by the Manly community. Buy only the quantity you need of everything. A real local shop!
Getting Around
Ferries, taxis, buses all leave from this transport hub.
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Manly Wharf station
West EsplanadeFerries, taxis, buses all leave from this transport hub.
Parks & Nature
Take the trail from the Shelly Beach carpark up through the bush and follow the trails all the way to North Head, the entrance to Sydney Harbour. Stunning views all the way back down the harbour to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Be sure to pack some drinks and nibbles to have while you sit and soak up the views.
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North Head
Take the trail from the Shelly Beach carpark up through the bush and follow the trails all the way to North Head, the entrance to Sydney Harbour. Stunning views all the way back down the harbour to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Be sure to pack some drinks and nibbles to have while you sit and soak up the views.
A marine park between Manly Beach and Shelly Beach. Teaming with fish who live along the rocky wall that forms the walkway (Marine Parade) between Manly & Shelly Beach. A must do to go for a swim, snorkel and/or dive here
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Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve
1 Bower LnA marine park between Manly Beach and Shelly Beach. Teaming with fish who live along the rocky wall that forms the walkway (Marine Parade) between Manly & Shelly Beach. A must do to go for a swim, snorkel and/or dive here
Manly Beach
Surf. Swim. Sunbake. Be like a local.
Swim, snorkel, sunbake. Protected from the open ocean swell, Shelly Beach is an ideal place for young kids to have fun in the water. An abundance of underwater marine life along the rocks that edge the marine park/bay in front of the beach too.
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Shelly Beach
Swim, snorkel, sunbake. Protected from the open ocean swell, Shelly Beach is an ideal place for young kids to have fun in the water. An abundance of underwater marine life along the rocks that edge the marine park/bay in front of the beach too.
Arts & Culture
The old quarantine station played a fundamental role in the white settlement of Australia. All boats arriving in Sydney Harbour with settlers, convicts etc. were required to first dock and offload their people cargo for a mandatory period of quarantine before people could enter the colony. Very well maintained, it exudes history although I have to say there is a grim energy that hangs over the whole place. Dare you to go on one of the ghost tours one night.
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Q Station Sydney Harbour National Park
1 N Head Scenic DrThe old quarantine station played a fundamental role in the white settlement of Australia. All boats arriving in Sydney Harbour with settlers, convicts etc. were required to first dock and offload their people cargo for a mandatory period of quarantine before people could enter the colony. Very well maintained, it exudes history although I have to say there is a grim energy that hangs over the whole place. Dare you to go on one of the ghost tours one night.