Doyles on the Beach Restaurant

The service and food quality does not match the place itself! Or maybe our expectation was too high. Besides it being by the sea and tables with white clothes.. nothing else to brag about. The chips tasted frozen not freshly cut… the rest of the food was just ok, below average for a restaurant that’s family owned.. they sat us on the front row which was great but it became sunny really quickly and they couldn’t care less about moving us.. until we complained twice, then they got us a sit inside.. meanwhile outside on the second row the tables were pretty unoccupied until we left.

We enjoyed an amazing dinner here at this historical restaurant that we have heard about so many times but had never visited until now. The setting was perfect and we were so fortunate to have a table with a fantastic view of the sunset. The food was fresh and delicious. The only thing I would comment upon would be the way the butter was served with our Artisan Sourdough Cob - it was a hard piece of butter that was in its wrapper that was difficult to spread on an already messy starter. I realise this is such a small thing, but given the standards of this restaurant with everything else, I wish to just express this as feedback and not a complaint in anyway at all. The staff were so lovely in their manner and hospitality and the ambience of the restaurant was just fantastic also. Definitely a place to experience a wonderful meal, at the same time experiencing some of Sydneys dining history.

Doyle’s on the Beach offered fresh, good-quality seafood and lovely views of the ocean. The entrée platter provided a nice variety of seafood and was overall an enjoyable experience, however it did not quite stand out given the price. Overall a pleasant experience

Good views of Sydney city across the harbour and the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Not really impressed by the food, I had the Surf and Turf which consisted of a few measley prawns chucked on a pretty average steak with sharp fragments of bone in it that almost cut my mouth. My wife had the Red Emperor fish with "Doyles plum sauce" that was alright. Got a bit of bill shock at the end and we didn't even have any alcohol or dessert.

I would have given 5 stars, however the guy delivering drinks was SO RUDE and told my partner and I to queue for the bar the other side in a sarcastic manor. My partner said there are no signs or lines on the floor of where to queue and he pointed to the floor and said there's the line! There was not is no line. Im one of the top 10% Google reviews in the world and with the location, the aesthetics of this place wouldn't have thought this was possible.

Stunning view, but horrible service. We ordered the barramundi fillet but asked for sauce on the side as it contains alcohol (we let the waitress know our reasoning for not wanting sauce as well). Still, the barramundi arrived with sauce on the dish. We informed the manager about this mishap and instead of replacing our food he said the best he could do was to replace the kipfler potatoes with chips, and all the other side vegetables with salad. Not sure how he thought this was a reasonable substitute - we would have ordered fish and chips if that’s what we wanted. Chilli garlic prawn and grilled salmon tasted good, but there’s great restaurants in the Lower North Shore with great food, similar views, and much better service…

The fried platter was very generous in portion. The first layer came with a curry sauce, which was quite unique. It’s definitely too much for two people, so I’d recommend it for at least three. Since everything is deep-fried, it can feel a bit heavy after a while, but overall it was tasty.

On the beach for a day out with the family , got hungry and decided to try this . The service was fast and polite , reasonable price given the location , fresh food , served in front of you , proper chips and one of the best fish I’ve had and we do try the fish and chips around places we travel . Will definitely have the meal again and absolutely recommend.

Lovely location Lovely calamari Friendly staff Do recommend this place Great for all ages

We came here because it is a classic. Being from the US, my uncle wanted to show us one of his favorites. We ordered family style and shared most of it. Everything was very flavorful, but I enjoyed the whole Thai fish the most. The sponge cake was delectable. I wish it wasn't an overcast day, because I hear the views of Sydney are gorgeous. It's right on the beach and there's a more casual dining option. Make sure to make a reservation!

My go to place when trying to give someone the best Sydney beach experience. We took the ferry from Circular Quay, which for visitors is always a great experience, and Doyles is one of the few places where you can get a truly good meal, not just a beach meal, yet still have great views. The views are ideal, as you have a wonderful picture of the Sydney skyline. My starter was the tuna tartare, which was a large portion though I found it slightly too much on the mayo side, not bad but not great. My wahoo main was perfect, fresh fish cooked excellently. Side of asparagus was very nice, they were slightly charred, again a very hearty portion. Overall, a great a great experience.

Great place to stop rain or shine for classic fish and chips, a great Coopers beer, and seafood chowder! Been around since the 1800s for a reason!

I had high expectations for this restaurant because it's highly recommended by many travel blogs. The restaurant is located right at the beach next to the dock for Watson Bay so as soon as you land, you'll see the beach and the restaurant. Location wise it's great. There is an outdoor area and indoor area. I sat in the outdoor area overlooking the beach. It's a great place to eat before heading back to Sydney town center. Service wise it's alright but I'm not overly happy with the fact it was never mentioned that the bread costs extra. It's not super expensive but should at least let us know. Also I had to repeatedly tell the waiter to turn on the outdoor heater and by the time I left I'm still not sure whether it's turned on. Also while I made a reservation I wasn't offered whether to be seated inside or outside just told it's here. Food wise that's where I'm a little let down. The fish and chips is only so so but coupled with the $50AU price it's just not worth it. And the baked whole fish is also so so. Basically nothing is good enough to warrant the location or the price. In comparison the fish in chips at the beach shack at Victoria Island in Vancouver was way better. There were several choices for the fish and somehow the waiter wasn't able to describe the difference of the fish well. I chose John Dory because it was like 50 cents more expensive. Overall it's a beautiful place to rest and enjoy the beach but don't expect high culinary standard.

First of all, I NEVER have given a negative review..... until now. My 10 friends and I from The U.S. arrived at Doyles for lunch. I am allergic to all fish and seafood. I was not allowed to order off the children's menu which had chicken on it. They were adamant and I even asked the owner to reconsider. She told me NO. I was told I could have pasta or a steak which I don't like. My friends wanted to leave but I didn't want to cause a scene. Obviously customer service lacked. Shame on you Doyles. A bad experience in our only day in Australia.

We had a fabulous lunch in the Garden room section of Doyles. This is a wonderful spot right on the water, only steps from the ferry stop on Watson's Bay. We made a reservation for the outside dining, and in the garden section you must go to the bar to order and pay, and they deliver the food to your table. The twenty minute ferry ride from Sydney was fun, and this lively restaurant did not disappoint. I had amazing Tasmanian mussels, and my husband enjoyed the Barramundi. We shared the scallop appetizer and it was all delicious. The Limoncello spritz was terrific, cold and refreshing Highly recommend Doyles!

Great locations. The Whiting Fish n Chips is very good. There are two sections upstairs too. The restaurant must be very popular judging by the no of customers.

What a treat. Just steps from the Watson ferry and a mere 20 mins from Circular Quay harbor, Doyle's is a throwback to old school Sydney fishing town fare. We started with the calamari and garlic bread. Next was a very fresh spring salad. This was follow by the main course of paella. Not a traditional paella, the ride cones separately. The tomato based boulibase was very creamy with snow crab, mussels, scallops and fish. The rice was extraordinary. All in all a great meal for a reasonable price.

Today I had the most disappointing fish (battered and fried) as part of a fish and chips order I've EVER had, in any nation, and that is ridiculous considering this place is an institution. The batter was completely flavorless, and the fish filets inside were woefully thin, and unbrined. Usually an order of fish & chips has so much fish it's absurd - this was barely enough for one person. But it was the taste that was such a letdown: Coles' frozen battered fish is tastier. The chips were good. Had to pay $1.80 more EACH for tomato sauce and tartar sauce, which was ridiculous. 2 stars are for price (on the pier; the prices at the restaurant are criminal) of the fish & chips, the taste/cost of the bucket of king prawns, and the reasonable wine/beer cost, and the location. I felt embarrassed to see foreigners eating this fish & chips and thinking this was representative of the British/Aussie classic.

It's a little pricy but we loved everything but the Chips. Wonderful service and we sat practically on the beach looking out at Sydney on the skyline. It was Father's day and I think we got the last uncommitted table. The reception staff were so kind to fit us in. As for the food we loved the Doyle's Sampler entree. The Salmon Pate was OTT. The Jewfish special made for a wonderful Fish and Chips though the chips tasted like they had been fried hours before and just kept warm. Totally recommend getting the Sougdough, extra charge, but worth it. Maybe not a value but view and service had us at 4 stars before we ate a bite.

IT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND ! If you have never been to Australia you don't don't know what you are missing. And if you ever do make it to Australia then make sure you see the SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. And while you're there jump on the ferry at Circular Quay and head to Watson's Bay where you will enjoy the seafood meal of your life. And that's exactly what we did a few years ago. Being a Queenslander all my life I didn't have much reason to travel to Sydney, NSW...apart from being a diehard Parramatta Eels Rugby League team fan. When I met my American born wife in 1998 it was great that she became an Eels fan too. We eventually made it to Sydney one year to watch Parramatta play in the NRL Grand Final. Of course there are some great restaurants in Sydney but the one I had heard of the most was Doyles on the Beach. On the weekend of the rugby league grand final we made a reservation here for 6 pm in the upstairs dining room. I was pretty excited because I had wanted to eat at this iconic beachfront restaurant since I was a young guy. IT'S THAT FAMOUS ! We took a cab from our hotel in Parramatta to Manly where we checked out the incredible Sydney Opera House...must be one of the most spectacular structures ever built. Of course while you are standing there gobsmacked you can't help but notice the amazing Sydney Harbor Bridge...in case you didn't know...Sydney harbor is the biggest naturally occurring harbor in the world. BEHOLD ! So we jumped on the ferry to Watson's Bay and enjoyed a beautiful scenic cruise across the bay...took about 30 minutes. We then walked along the pier to Doyles on the Beach. They even have a take-out joint on the pier. WOW....there were dudes on jet skis zooming around in the ocean in front of the restaurant. We arrived a bit early and were shown to our reserved table upstairs. I kicked things off with a Jack Daniels & Coke while my wife was content with an iced water. For starters i ordered a bowl of Steamed Mussels. For our mains we decided to share a fresh seafood platter. My Steamed Mussels ( from Tasmania ) tasted amazing. It was hard to eat and not keep looking at the incredible ocean view. Our seafood platter really hit the spot....big chunk of juicy lobster, huge succulent shrimp, lovely oysters and more. Another Jack Daniels & Coke and I was having a great time. Hey it's not cheap but we didn't come for the price...this is what Australia is all about. It's a unique dining experience you will not get anywhere else. JUST DO IT !

1986. I first came here in 1986. I have been back to Sydney MANY times since, and I have eaten at Doyle's every time. It is much easier to get to because of the ferries these days, but I suggest having a romantic dinner at sunset, and then take a water taxi for 2 back to the Harbour. First of all, the view is incredible. And if you can manage to get a table on the beach at sunset, you will have a lifetime memory. Now, the food- I have never had a bad meal here- specifically the lobster. I have had small ones and big ones, all incredible. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? YES! The lobsters I have had here have become legendary among friends and the people I have worked with. I have celebrated birthdays here, as well as many meals with friends and coworkers. I have had romantic dinners here. The staff are wonderful and they go out of their way to make sure you have a good time. My suggestion- if you are in Sydney, Doyle's is a must visit.

Sorry, when I think fish and chips I think, fish chips, scallops and potato cakes etc, well I can't believe the do not do potato cakes or scallops! Overpriced fish, chips are bland and the own brand tomato sauce appears and tastes watery and as it's extra I thought a well known brand sauce would be provided. Check my photo for sauce ingredients and yep #1 ingredient is water....looks like catering for tourist dollar. Better options close by.

Loved every aspect of this cute little beach cafe. We were seated upstairs by the window and had a great waiter, Joaquin. Food was cooked to perfection. We ordered the oysters on the half shell for appetizer and they were fresh and tasty. I ordered the garlic chili shrimp and Greek salad for my meal. Outstanding!! FYI. There are a lot of shrimp in that little bowl and you will eat every one of them. I'm drooling as I write this, lol

Racist establishment. While I was sitting at an empty table outside waiting to be seated, a worker comes at me and yells at me to move saying that they weren't open. I responded with a smile "okay" and stood up. He then turn to my white friends and said nicely, "how can I help you?" We were all so disgusted, we walked away. I saw that he was embarrassed when he realized that we were a part of the same group. If racism is your cup of tea, this place is perfect for you.

The place is well marketed. You will be told about this place by everyone. It is located on the watson bay ferry stop. The place has a gorgeous view and is well decorated inside. When we walked past the place even though we read the bad reviews we still were tempted and made a reservation. The staff that does the registrations is not friendly. They lie about how full the place is and treat patrons poor. The gave us a table in the full sun and told us no other table was available. The restaurant was 90% empty. After I complained non stop they moved us as we were leaving if they did not. They were even taking people that walked up with no reservations and giving better seats. It was such a fraud and poor lie to get the front row of tables full so the restaurant looks busy and popular. Now for the food. Overpriced and below average. We ordered a bunch of food cause we like food and it all was not good. They even charged me 8.50 for a load of bread when I did not order it. If you must eat at this place get the scallops or oysters. The fish and chips is nothing special and for all those calories this dish was an insult to long john silvers. I hope the owners and managers read this review along with every other yelper to save them from this trap of a place.

I was attracted to Doyle's first for the sign that reminded me of "Doyers" (yes I'm an LA native) and second for the food. It's one of the first restaurants to your right when you walk into the fish market and it was delicious. All fish and oysters were fresh, caught in the morning and served for lunch. Must go!

Came to Doyles on Boxing Day after the Sydney Hobart Yacht race in Watson's bay! It was absolutely packed and we unfortunately didn't think about making a reservation. We beat a lot of the crowd from the race thankfully and were the second party to get on the no reservations line. We only waited ~25min to sit, which we were super thrilled about. All of the tables inside were full since it was a scorcher of a day but we got an outside table with a prime beach view with a bit of shade. Will take what we can get!!!! We ordered bread to start and then each got an entree. I went with the grilled filet served on top of sautéed veggies. Absolutely delicious and the two pieces of filet were huge! My husband got the fish and chips with the same filet. Two huge pieces with fries on the side. Totally recommend coming here in Watson's bay! Perfect spot to enjoy a cold beer or glass of wine with some seafood.

Crazy huge line so this must be a favorite among locals and visitors alike. 99% sure though that the salmon gave my boyfriend food poisoning... I ordered the fish burger which looked great but definitely needed more sauce. Luckily for me, my boyfriends salmon came with extra tartar sauce that he wasn't planning on using, so I put that on my burger and it was instantly perfect. Tasted amazing. Doyle's fries were disappointing, they were completely without seasoning and very thick, so the texture was off. Maybe a ploy to make you spend more than a dollar just for a little tub of tomato sauce?

YES. YES. YES. Checked out Doyle's at a friend's recommendation and JUST YES. We were lucky enough to get a table for two closest to the beach and the view was spectacular. Monday night was not overly crowded, so we scored a prime seat without a reso. Apps: Oysters were on point, garlic bread was the best I've had in a long time. Entrees: I had the John Dory grilled fillets. Not only were they super tasty, but the veggies were also tasty (likely because they swam in butter) and there was so much food I literally didn't eat a whole fillet... I have a healthy appetite, I always finish my food. My dinner date had the surf & turf and, almost to the point of annoyance, wouldn't shut up about how perfect the steak was or how fantastic the prawns were. Seriously annoying, but he's not even a foodie so I'm led to believe it must've been legit. Service: everybody there was beyond friendly. Do yourself a favor and make the trek!! You can thank me later.

TOURIST TRAP! Don't do it. I spent my $14 so you wouldnt have to. Actually probably best if you eat before or after this stop (there aren't many choices here). I had time to kill waiting for my ferry so I went in at about 4pm on a Monday and ordered the combo. After waiting for about 10 minutes I was utterly disappointed. The oil probably wasn't hot enough so what came out was a pile of semi soggy fried mess that just flaked off. The calamari's batter fell off when I picked it up and the calamari itself was borderline too chewy/slimy...undercooked! I couldn't even bring myself to eat it. While the fish was cooked, it had no seasoning, and the batter wasn't even crunchy. Even the steak fries were limpy and soggy. It was just a hot mess. Do youself a favor, and skip this joint!

This was the best place to end our two week honeymoon in Australia! We were staying in Bondi but knew that we wanted to get to a quieter location and Watson's Bay was the best place to go! The restaurant has the most beautiful view of the bay and the Sydney skyline. We had great service and our server gave us tons of recommendations. My husband and I shared the prawns, half a dozen oysters, the lamb and the Cajun kingfisher special, which was freaking delicious and suggested by our server. I loved reading the history of this place too! We would recommend this to other visitors!

Travel by ferry, find a table and one of you place the order! This little gem is famous for its seafood and numerous competitions it has won. The cafe itself is very open aired and the scenery is beautiful. Wine, beer and soft drinks are available...even tap water is available for the thirsty. The food is wonderful. Fish and chips is always my favourite. A good test for a cafe is to see how they cook the fish. Perfect!!!

This easily wins the best meal we have had while in Sydney for the last week. Doyle's is located on Watson's Bay (more information on arriving there below) with ample outside seating. You absolutely need a reservation as they get very busy. When you make your booking, make sure you ask for outside seating as you have an amazing view of the Sydney skyline. Drinks: We had Pimm's Cup and mojitos, both of which were delicious. The Pimm's was definitely the winner, though, as it came with tons of fresh fruit slices and was just so refreshing after a really long day. Appetizer: We went crazy and order a dozen of the Kilpatrick oyster which are topped with bacon and Worcestershire sauce. These were unreal. The oysters themselves were massive and there was so. much. bacon. If you even marginally like bacon, you have to try these. Mains: The Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon is the largest piece of salmon I have ever seen and the most delicious I have tasted. They cook it medium rare and it just tastes so fresh. It is served over potatoes and broccolini. It also comes with a lemon butter sauce that I ordered on the side so that I could control the salmon:sauce ratio. We also had the South Coast Snapper grilled but substituted a salad for the fries. The snapper was similarly delicious, but the salmon was the real standout here. Dessert: Tipsy Strawberries are the perfect way to cap off your night. The strawberries are soaked in liqueur and served over a vanilla gelato with whipped cream in a martini glass. These is easily shareable between two people. Getting here: If you are staying in CBD, take the F4 city ferry from Barangaroo to Watson's Bay. Doyle's is immediately adjacent to the ferry station. This should cost roughly 5 AUD/person. Use this website (http://www.railmaps.com.au/routedetails.php?RouteSelect=244) to help plan your trip and align the timetables. Alternatively, you can pay for the Captain Cook cruise tickets, but that wold be more expensive. Driving form CBD is about 35 minutes and costs about 35 AUD on uber. TLDR: 100% go. No questions asked.

The best part about this place is the view if you eat outside, but I think that it's a bit of a tourist trap. It reminds me of eating at a seafood restaurant in Pier 39 / Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. I thought the food was just fine, but you do pay a premium for the view, so as long as you know that you're going to pay a premium for this, then that's fine. Fried Calamari ($20.50) - Pretty standard fried calamari. Nothing too special about this dish. Doyle's Selection ($41.80) - Blue swimmer crab, king prawn, smoked salmon, golden fried whiting, chips, stuffed jumbo prawn. This dish is small for the price and half of it is breaded. I would pass on this. Fine for a sampling of stuff, but kinda difficult to share and I didn't find it that special. John Dory Fillets with Vegetables ($44.70) - I know seafood is generally expensive, and this dish is no exception, but this was just fine and nothing to write home about. All in all, the food here is good, but expensive for what you get. You can probably get better food by not eating at somewhere with a million dollar view, but you have to pick and choose your battles. They also charge an additional 10% weekend and public holiday surcharge, so just beware.

Known for their fish and chips, Doyle's is a Sydney favorite! This location in Watson's bay is right on the waterfront and offers a great view of the water and city. The park behind it is a great place to relax too! We started off with the calimari, which was excellent!! The fry was nice and light and not too crunchy or oily. This was definitely the best. The fish itself was quite a large piece of snapper. The fish was fresh, flaky, and warm, but wasn't very seasoned. It didn't come with any sauce or anything so it tasted as bland as a white fish looks. The chips were too thick and tasted sort of stale -- very below average. Overall, I wasn't blown away by my experience. I appreciated the beautiful atmosphere and the large portion sizes, but the food just didn't quite do it for me. It's a local favorite for a reason, so definitely still worth a try!

Lovely view! And Watson's Bay is a very cute quaint town ~ Doyle's has been around since the 1800's interesting menu known for the Fish & Chips. 4 fish options for selection, never seen that before!!! Had the John Dory filets ( fillets, as they're called here) good not gr8, and they leave the skin in the fish, which didn't float my boat at all. I have said this country does chips incredibly well.....these were NOT!! I will go out on a limb & guess these were frozen?!?!? Dessert was the hi-lights~ CHOC brûlée with mint? Ice cream....the brûlée was FAB, choose a different flavor ice cream cuz the one served was nondescript~ Service is OK, but I always say you can't blame the servers, as most have not be trained, in this case I think our girl is just EXTREMELY DULL, however she was quite pretty ~ the VIEWS are what you come here for, it's a shame the food can't be better. This has become a bit of a tourist destination ~ the beach makes a gr8 play area for the kiddos tho.

The location is beautiful but the fish and chips really were the worst we've had in a long time. The fish fillets were very thin and the batter was very soft, not crispy at all. The chips were soft and mealy. Everything seemed bland and underseasoned. I realize that everyone has different taste but unfortunately I did not enjoy the fish and chips here.

Yelpers are a savvy and informative lot and I can do little more than echo previous sentiments here - the fish & chips are very nice, tasty and well-battered and light and flaky and the little tub of chilli plum sauce is a nice touch, but I wanted a leetle bit more for my cashola, especially in the chip department. Chips are plentiful and cheap and it's our God-given right not to be able to count a serving on two hands. It's still a damn fine option on a summer's day, especially with Camp Cove and Nielsen Park so close, and boy howdy, if you like seagulls you are in for one hell of a treat. I'll keep coming back here, and bringing out of towners and tourists, because really the place is too good not to, but will I keep wanting more than I'm getting from ol' Doyley? Probably. Which is to say, definitely.

The parking lot at the restaurant is very hit & miss as is the street parking due to the great location which is picture card perfect for the restaurant and the area. The food is always fresh and well cooked with huge portions but a little boring as mainly only come with chips. We had a outside table without an umbrella or awning for sun protection which with Sydney's hot sun made it unpleasant towards mid afternoon. The staff did recognize this issue & offered to move us to recently vacated table with an umbrella which was great. I would recommend all tourists to experience this venue and local Sydneysiders to take in the view at least once.

Killer location, amazing views, but the food was, in a word, "ordinary." If you don't speak Australian English, I'll translate that for you: the food was not that good. Not terrible, just bland, boring, and waaaaaay overpriced. Of course, if you want to come here to enjoy the killer location, it still might be worth it. Just know that you are paying for the view and set your expectations accordingly. For my friends in SF, this is the equivalent of one of the overpriced seafood places over at Pier 39 where no self-respecting local would be caught dead. :)

The service at this place sucks, big time. All the front staff should be fired and get replaced with staff that understand that tourists are what keeps them in business. Unfriendly, miserable people. However, the cooks are good. The fries are excellent, the fish not too bad. 4 stars for the food, zero stars for service.

Doyles on the Beach looks to be an extremely crowded, hip place for food and lots and lots of drinks. This review is for the smaller branch of Doyles on the Wharf, located--you guessed it--on the Watsons Bay Wharf. Doyles is a solid option for a tourist waiting for the next ferry or just looking to enjoy Watsons Bay. Although most people get their food takeaway to picnic at Watsons Bay, they also have a dining area outside along the side of the restaurant and an indoor one farther along the wharf. The food is overpriced, and they only take cash! But let's be honest, there aren't too many other options in the area. The fish and chips were all right -- battered and fried well, but they don't give you too much and charge you $14 for it. It comes with their house sauce, the chili plum sauce, which is pretty good but personally not what I'd like to dip my chips in. Too bad tomato and tartar sauces both cost money (and it's not as cheap as most other restaurants in Sydney!).

During my many trips to Australia pursuing my main career as a professional scribe for a Media organization, I've managed - gratis my well-earned expense account - to eat at some fabulous places in that vast continent. From Darwin in the far north, to Hobart in the far south. Not being a lover of certain unmentionable types of food that is part of the daily faire of many cultures around the globe, I can say that fresh Seafood 'vraiment superbe' always entices me. I have never found better than at this famous family restaurant located at Watson's Bay in Sydney. Right on the beach. Which, considering the amazing variety of fish that comes out of the never ending coastline of the 'Land Down Under' where fish restaurants are as prevalent as a 'G'Day mate' for me to rate Doyle's establishment so highly, is something very special. They've been in the business since 1885 - yes, quite a few generations - which means, they've learnt a lot about how to prepare fish. Throw in the magnificent view of Sydney Harbour, right through to the tremendous City skyline and the fact you have to either drive from the city through the plush suburbs of 'Double Bay' and 'Vaucluse' to get there - or catch a ferry from Circular Key in the heart of the city - and you have a combination of scenery and really superb sea food, and all in the one day. To go into the menu is easy. Name any shellfish in the world or anything that lives in the ocean and has gills and they have it. Whether we are talking delicious Deep Sea Bass, or Tasmanian Scallops the size of the Sydney Opera House, it's at Doyle's. Atlantic Salmon. Barramundi Blackfish, Yellowtail Bream, Flathead,Flounder,Gemfish, Jewfish (Mulloway) John Dory, Kingfish, Mackerel, Mullet, Pearl Perch (My favourite) Tasmanian Trout, Whiting, or Yellowfin Tuna. Yep! I think I may have almost tried most. Battered or grilled. With English Chips or vegetables...you name it they will cook it. I might mention at this point someone may tell you while you are there, that you are within walking distance of 'Sydney Heads' and 'The Gap.' The former is the magnificent entrance to one of the world's deepest and most scenic Harbours imaginable. No.The latter is not named after a popular message often heard on the London Underground rail system or even after the once famous funny-man 'Terry Thomas,' but because it was once Sydney's poor man's version of a Swiss Suicide Clinic. That is, until many years back, a high rail was put around it, hundreds of mentally disturbed people found an escape from this strange world by dropping onto the rocks far below. But, that is a matter of ancient Sydney history, not a note of morbidity about your visit to Watson's Bay or Doyle's. I can assure future patrons after a meal there, the last thing on your mind will be to 'Gap yourself.'

I asked a friend who has lived in Sydney 40+ years where to find the best fish & chips with a beach location and she immediately recommended Doyle's at Watson's Bay. We went here on Australia Day and realized there was two Doyle's dining experiences to choose from. We chose the more casual Doyles Takeaway option. I ordered the fish & chips + garden salad ($18.80). My partner was trying to decide what best to fill his empty stomach and when we asked the cashier, she was not very helpful in selling the menu. He ended up getting the Mixed BBQ Selection ($19.50). While we waited for our order we found a table with a view of the beach & bay. Bring your sunglasses! The food was pretty good. I wish the fish had been a little more crispy, but it was tasty. The chips were plentiful. The salad was packed with goodies and just the right amount. The staff in the bar was a bit rude when I asked where to find more napkins/serviettes (only ONE provided with meal) Despite the less than hospitable staff, I would return. The location is excellent, the food good, and the price was to be expected.

I first came here back in 1971.Doyle's has played a part in most major events of my life. The location is pure magic. On the sand at Watson's Bay looking back at Sydney Harbor. Dinner at Sunset is the best time to visit.Book a table outside on the patio.It is now very expensive,but worth the splurge. I suggest sharing the cold seafood platter,grilled John Dory,and some Fried Prawns. The wine is a good selection of local Aussie Winemakers,at reasonable prices. Afterwards go for a walk along the beach and relax with your feet in the sand and water. Cap off the night with a local brew next door at the Watson's Bay Hotel.

Unfortunately getting by on its name got the walkup. Greasy, not fully cooked, service lacking (doing you s favor). Should have tried the other across the way. Not inexpensive.

Went here with our family of 5, including 2 little ones. They had coloring packages and a kids menu. The service was excellent. We started with two orders of the sourdough - you get a fresh baked loaf that loosely cuts into 5 slices. Completely delicious. For drinks I ordered a passion fruit bellini. My husband a mimosa. Both tasty. For our 3 year old, we ordered the fried fish and made some substitutions to attempt to make it healthier- milk for soda and veggies for chips (no upcharge). The veggie selection was excellent: cauliflower, broccoli, green beans and snap peas all in a cup. She got to keep the ice cream at the end. Our other little one shared a satisfying portion of tomato based clam chowder with me. It came with some crab legs in the shell, a scallop, a couple of calamari rings, some mussels as well as a water dish to scrub off with lemons at the end and a paper bib - two unexpected touches. This was the first time I liked the tomato based version and my 18 month old did too! We dipped some bread in the broth near the end - Mmmmm. For my husband who hates seafood, Doyles offered a beef fillet as the only option on the menu, which he happily ordered. (I think they maybe had a non-seafood salad too...). My father in-law ordered scallops, which he enjoyed as well. For desserts I had a chocolate mouse cake that came with vanilla ice cream and a raspberry compote. Wow. Perfect was to cap the meal. Our group agreed that although it was expensive, it was definitely a 5 star experience. Recommend making reservations for the best view.

We visited Australia and a friend brought us to Watson Bay to visit this restaurant for lunch. The ferry ride and view at Watson Bay was pleasant. Food: We ordered seafood platter for 2, figs salad, seafood pasta, and some seafood stew. The seafood platter was very large with lobster, scallops, prawns, bugs, oysters, fish and chips, can easily feed 3 people. I recommend the seafood platter and the seafood pasta because of the fresh seafood. However the figs salad and the seafood stew were disappointing. The salad had arugula leaves that turned yellow and the seafood stew was bland. Service: Service was fast and the waiter was friendly. Reservation is highly recommended, especially on the weekend. Price: The food was quite pricey. I think the bill came out to be $400+ AUS for the four us. There was a 10% weekend service charge, so be aware of that! Ambience: The restaurant was right on the beach, so the ambiance was relaxing and casual. It's great to sit outside to enjoy the breeze on a nice day. Conclusion: For the price of it, I had expected higher quality of food. I think it's quite nice to visit if you are around the neighborhood, but I'm not sure if it's worth the ferry ride to go there. There's not much else to do on Watson Bay besides the beach and a small park. I am sure you can find larger beach and better seafood restaurants near Sydney.

What better location to dine on sensational, top quality, fresh seafood, than right on the waters edge of Watsons Bay with gorgeous Harbour views. We arrived in style by water taxi, and I highly recommend it. It's always a treat being out on the harbour, especially on a lovely summer's day, and stepping off your boat onto the sandy beach is a great way to make an entrance. Book ahead to secure a great table with views, especially if you're part of a larger group as I was. Try and book a table with a view at Sunset, so you can enjoy the beautiful sunset on the harbour against the city skyline. The service here is great and the seafood is incredible - from a great range from classic fish and chips choices, to more complex seafood dishes and of course, the seafood platter. My picks are, to start, the Bass strait Tasmanian Scallops, lightly grilled and served with an asian style dressing and sesame marinated wakame seaweed $20.50, Jumbo Prawns filled with bacon, sultanas, egg, spinach, leeks & pine nuts - golden fried in beer batter $19.80, Salt & Pepper Calamari deep fried & served with a rocket & fennel salad with homemade passionfruit & mango dressing. $20.50, or sample the best of everything with The Doyles Mixed Plate, with jumbo prawn, salt and pepper calamari, smoked salmon, sydney rock oyster & king prawn $20.90. For Mains my picks are Doyles Own Fish & Chips, with your choice of today's catch, golden fried in our light & tasty beer batter made with hahn premium lager and served with old fashioned chips $41.50 - 43.50, the Tasmanian Atlantic Salmon Fillet, pan fried & served with a smoked salmon and potato galette, homemade mango and apple chutney $40.60 , the South Coast Yellowfin Tuna, marinated in soy sauce, garlic, ginger & mirin wine then grilled (served rare) on a bed of bok choy with seared white scallops $39.80, or the Doyles Selection, with blue swimmer crab, king prawns, smoked salmon, whiting and our stuffed jumbo prawn $41.80. Also on offer are the Doyles Fishermans Platter, hot & cold (with whole lobster mornay, blue swimmer crab, scallop mornay, smoked salmon, fresh prawns) $138, and the Doyles Cold Seafood Platter (with whole lobster, blue swimmer crab, fresh prawns, mussels, smoked salmon, fresh oysters) $145. If you're on a budget, enjoy the Doyle's experience by taking the ferry over to Doyle's Takeaway and enjoying your meal on the beach at sunset.

This is going to be a relatively short review. Simply put: Amazing seafood!!! My parents, brother and I all got Doyle's selection, a platter with different kinds of seafood (fish 'n' chips, squid, prawn, crab...). Every piece was delicious and tasty (the smoked salmon was remarkable). Sure, it's quite expensive, but well worth the price. Not to mention the superb view on the beach and Watsons Bay and the ideal location (it's right next to beautiful walking paths leading to South Head). The desserts were overall very good, expect for the marinated strawberries (my dad could barely take the marinade). The mango cheesecake was not too sweet and very creamy and light, so was the vanilla bean ice cream. As for the service, it was impeccable. Highly recommended

Best takeaway seafood shop! All ingredients are fresh and these guys know how to cook seafood. I ordered the grilled seafood with salad and chips. For $20 it's very filling. There are nice chairs to sit on facing the water. This is an excellent option on a hot day if you're craving seafood.

Wow just wow, Sydney skyline in the background, the top of the bridge as well, an amazing harbor and that's just the ambiance. The waiting staff was more than accommodating as we requested a front row seat and waited the extra 15min to have an un-obstructed view!! We had our baby as well which was the highlight of the staff. Mussels were fantastic oysters were amazing and the calamari was incredible. Shout out to our waiter MYKE!! as well with a great tips and a friendly staff

I had the Prawn and Chorizo Pasta $38.50 my husband had Doyle's Selection @ $42.80 both meals were very much enjoyed, we had no reservation and got lucky to get a table, I would recommend to book especially in the warmer months. The guy that seated us made us feel very special by arranging a table on the balcony - fantastic views - we unfortunately had to ask to move due to the sun going down and being directly on us, they couldn't have handle that any better and reseated us still on the balcony however in the shaded side. The only reason I didn't go the full 5 stars was due to no water or offer of water the whole time we were there, that would not prevent me from going back. Fantastic view whilst we ate. Very special place

Yes pricey so don't go expecting anything less, but the view, service and food make it totally worth it. On a lovely Sydney day this is a place you shouldn't miss and the service is amazing staff deserve 5 * and portions of food are very good

It's surely a sad day when a good friend who lives overseas (in this case England) sees it as her civic duty to recommend places for you to go in the city you've lived in your entire life. But self-pitying aside, Doyle's on the Wharf happens to be a wonderful place to chow down on some fish and chips even if you don't happen to ever eat fish or if you happen to mostly never eat chips. The take-away joint sits on Fisherman's Wharf right over Watsons Bay and is the Pretty Woman equivalent to Doyles on the Beach, which is much more My Best Friend's Wedding. You go to Doyle's on the Wharf to scrounge for a table in the makeshift seating area (overlooking Sydney Harbour) after standing in line at the cafeteria and then waiting to pick up your take-away order of fish (2 long, scrumptious, fried and battered, pieces) and chips once someone is reader to call your number. You can dress up or down, guffaw, show some grit, sit with a minx or a millionaire, and deliberately place your fork and knife in the wrong order. Doyle's on the Beach, on the other hand, is where you go to celebrate an up-and-coming wedding and to round up all the guests in a rousing rendition of "Say a little prayer for you".

Perfect setting for a very special New Years Day lunch. The flathead was delicious and beautifully presented with a rocket, pear and Parmesan salad as a refreshing accompaniment . A chilled Pinot Grigio added to the experience. Staff were. Friendly and discreetly attentive. A wonderful experience.

This is a must when in Sydney, watch the sunset, sip your wine and enjoy the yummy seafood

Watson's Bay is my happy place. Like, I had lunch here, went back to my hotel room, and started looking at Watson's Bay real estate that I definitely cannot afford. Doyle's was absolutely outstanding. Overpriced for sure, but well worth it as a treat on a nice day. I went for lunch, started with the stuffed prawns as an appetizer, got a whole fish for the main course, and had a few Hahns beers to wash it all down. I was seated with a great view of the bay with the Sydney CBD in the distance, and after paying my slightly aggressive tab, spent some time walking around the cliffs before catching the ferry back to Circular Quay. If you have some cash to burn, I can't recommend this place enough. Food: 5/5 Value: 3/5 Service: 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5