Sails on Lavender Bay

My boss did not fancy the food here, then again she can be quite hard to please. Imagine my predicament. Sails’ standout is its location. Also a standout was its service from start to finish. Though we might just be lucky to get a great waiter. What I personally would not order again was the watermelon salad. Kudos to the chefs trying something left field. Did not sit well with us. However!! That moreton bug spag.. I loved it 4.5/5. That XO sauce (ok they call it emulsion!) with the light basil oil (supposedly Thai-influenced) were perfect dance partners with the spag n bug. If you have read enough of my reviews, you’d know I tend towards trad cuisines. This asian fusion spag was a rare exception which I thoroughly enjoyed. The more the ‘emulsion’ got absorbed, you find yourself discovering subtle hints of ‘asian noodles’. Please savour this slowly. Yeap, my boss did not like this either, too confusing was the comment. Me not a big fan eggplant in general. The eggplant here yum 4/5. Beef tartar 3.75/5. Octo 3.75/5. Seems like they ‘rotate’ their menu, either 2/3 courses. A re-visit? Bugs spag! No pretentiousness here, no expected tips as well though we did in cash. Eftpos was straight forward with no tips expectation. Hate those who force it on us.

Came down on a Friday night, dinner for two and had the 6 course tasting menu with wine pairing. Food was good but not outstanding apart from the beef dish and portions on the small side for 2 people (I know it’s a tasting menu!) representing average value for money. Needing improvement was the final desert which lacked richness and texture with the foam. Staff were great, cocktails good and enjoyed most of the wines particularly the Alsace Riesling.

An absolutely amazing place to enjoy great food. All the courses were delicious and the cocktails were tasty. Angus was very friendly & knowledgeable and Melissa has brought together a great group of front of house staff & was very engaging too.

Superb. We've eaten out a lot in Sydney over the last few weeks and this is the place that we would return to in a moment. From the welcoming at the door, through service, to leaving at the end of the night, service was exceptional, striking that delicate balance between attention and intrusion. Alex, our waiter, was the epitome of professionalism, approachable about the menu, friendly and warm, with a genuine passion for the restaurant and Sydney. Food was to the same standard. The bay bug pasta, where you stir the diced seafood into the hot pasta to cook it through, is a clever piece of food interaction and table theatre. All the other dishes were similarly imaginative, tasteful, and delightful. We would eat here every night if we could. Well worth catching the ferry to visit. Oh and the views over the harbour and bridge are amazing.

The food and views at Sails are absolutely amazing, just as stunning as in the photos! But what truly made our experience unforgettable was the exceptional service. A huge thank you to Angus and the team, who went above and beyond to make our special day perfect. I came in a day earlier to ask about getting a nice table, and Angus made sure we had the best spot in the house, along with a few thoughtful surprises as a congratulations gift from the team. These small but meaningful touches made a lasting impression on us. Sails will forever be our special place, and we’ll be coming back every year to celebrate our day. ❤️

It is glorious heading over on a ferry from circular quay to sails, I would highly recommend this. Service was impeccable and the recommendations were spot on. We share everything, so a la carte made sense for us. We really enjoyed the calamari and the snapper. Too full for dessert, highly recommend you visit.

It was a romantic spot by the ocean. The food was amazing, and the manager took great care of us with both the service and the recommendations. The chairs were a bit soft for dining but cosy for drinks. The night cityscape from our table definitely added to the date-night vibe. The snapper was very good, and the portion was perfect. I’d definitely visit again for lunch.

⭐ An Elegant Culinary Journey in Sydney ⭐ Lovely Sydney fine dining experiences. The six‑course tasting menu with premium wine pairing was exceptional, showcasing beautifully presented dishes with clean yet complex flavours. The steak was a standout perfectly cooked, rich in texture, and paired seamlessly with the wine selection. Attentive staff, refined ambience, and creative flavour combinations made this a memorable evening. Highly recommend for anyone seeking a world‑class Sydney tasting menu and premium wine pairing experience do note the price is on the higher end.

It's a lovely restaurant in a stunning location, food was amazing and staff were wonderful, can't wait to come back.

My local colleagues took a bunch of us US folks to dinner here while we were in town for meetings. This place is awesome. It overlooks Sydney Harbor, Luna Park, Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House. The views are spectacular especially at night. Service was very good and the food was delicious as well. Definitely a special occasion restaurant. I started with the SEARED SCALLOPS, - Jerusalem artichoke, pipi veloute, broad bean, dill. The scallops were cooked perfectly. Seared outside, soft inside. Loved the pea sauce around the scallops. For my entree, I had the PINK SNAPPER - prawn bisque, heirloom carrot and ginger puree, spring onion. The fish was nicely cooked, soft and tender. Loved the carrot and ginger puree. And the crispy onions on top added a good texture element. We also had some sides. All were good. TRIPLE COOKED POTATOES, roast capsicum relish FRIES, onion salt, chive mayonnaise I was too full for dessert so I just had their tea served with petit fours. There were three cute bites in a little box. Two cookies and a chocolate. All were very tasty. This is a wonderful restaurant and definitely worth the drive over to Lavender Bay. You can also take the ferry as there is a stop right outside the restaurant.

This place has a great view, it's the perfect romantic dinner spot. That also makes it perfect for a wedding reception. And that's how I ended up at Sails. The service they provided was nothing short of excellent. It was a little small but it worked out fine, call it cozy for a larger party. The food was top notch, the service was really good and they treated everyone with respect. From the servers, the bar tender, the way the interacted with the photographer and the DJ everyone at the restaurant was awesome. They were able to accommodate everyone's dietary needs and the food service for such a large crowd was smooth and easy. All of this made for a perfect party. It Also made it ideal for those of us at the wedding who had kids with us. The service staff was on top of it. I will go back someday, maybe just for lunch.

Came here with two friends and we had a pleasant, somewhat casual upscale meal, with a great view. The food was solid with some holdbacks but good overall. We ordered the Smoked Ora King Salmon, Seared Scallops, Bannockburn Chicken, Grimaud Duck Breast, Blue Eye Trevalla and Honey and Lavender Creme Brulee. The Salmon was way too salty, thought the balance of the flavors could have been better. The scallops were done well and quite tasty. The chicken was also great, the garnishes and additions adding a lot to the dish. The duck breast was very very salty and required several gulps of water per bite. The Trevalla and the Creme Brulee were solid versions of what had already been established good dishes. So overall...would come back but would not suggest this place out of all the other options available in Sydney.

We stayed a block away and it was husband's birthday weekend so we did the 7 courses. I asked if the chef could make a vegetarian menu and they were so very accommodating. Our first 4 courses were amazing!!! Unfortunately the kitchen had a snafu and a large party arrives that derailed dinner for about 40 minutes. During this time our stomachs settled and tiredness set in so we couldn't really fully enjoy the next courses however I'm sure they were lovely. Husband's Wagyu beef was the only negative comment (possibly it sat too long and overcooked). We would enjoy the experience again but for the price point and overall premise they fell a little short. Overall we understand things happen, how you handle the not so perfect evenings makes or breaks an experience. I would give them a second chance for sure. *** this review is also 2 years almost late ... things change ****

Without a doubt an iconic restaurant in terms of amazing views of Sydney Food - Menu is excellent and nice tight selections across entrees. mains and desserts. For those who need to try everything the Degustation Menu is pretty good. Wine List - good range and probably $5 to $10 over priced per bottle but that's life! My only disappointment was asking for a 2014 Sav Blanc and they brought out a 2015 instead and of course it was dispatched back to the kitchen. Service - pretty good service - meals delivered effectively and in good time in a busy restaurant. Our waiters - well they just didn't hit it off with us in terms of engaging conversation, probably miffed about the bottle of wine being returned but all in pretty good. Would I go there again? Yes would I recommend? Yes For people from outside of Sydney - this just be on the bucket list !

Um only one word can describe sails.... Amazing! Great service, delicious food with a view to die for.

I love this place great food, great wine,great service and the view is outstanding. Can't wait to go back For my favourite 7 courses and matching Wine.

I went here last week as part of a group of 12 work colleagues and had a wonderful dinner. The location of this restaurant is prime Sydney real estate! Although I live in the lower North Shore & see this view everyday there is nothing more special then enjoying this stunning view over a wonderful meal. I ordered the Seared Scallops, Roasted Grange Eye Fillet with a side of Fries & finished off with Caramalised Apple Parfait for dessert. My scallops were great, the eye fillet to die for & the apple parfait was interesting - I have to say I didn't love it but appreciated the concept. The fries were delish as well! The service was great can't really fault anything, would definitely return!

Great spot! A serendipitous discovery at the end of a long weekend walk along the harbourfront. Tucked away beside the McMahon's Point ferry wharf, it has spectacular views, fantastic food, and service to match. Don't want to set your expectations too high... but prepare to be impressed!

There isn't a bad seat in the place. Sails has that iconic view that should make anyone realise what a great place Sydney is, regardless if you live 10 minutes away, or 14 hours away.... A leisurely lunch here is well worth it! On both occasions that I've been here, the food was beautiful. Perfect place for a nice relaxed lunch (and a glass or three of wine!).

Great food. Great views. Relaxing atmosphere. Went there for a work lunch and it was fantastic. It is also next to the ferry so easy to get to from various points in the Harbour. I didn't want to leave. I will go back.

Very impressive! I went there recently with my partner. We caught the ferry there, lovely! I don't remember the entree but my main being the pork belly was amazing. In fact the best pork belly ever. The meat melted in my mouth, yum yum!!! I didn't really like their cocktail list as there was nothing sweet, so I had vodka cranberry all night. All in all fantastic view, great service, crusty bread, yummy food. Will return :)))

Incredible view, easily accessible by ferry

It has been over 20 years since I last visited Sails at McMahon's Point after a disappointing meal, even though I live nearby. It is under new ownership and has been refurbished significantly since then. Sails is well located with great views of the Harbour Bridge, Luna Park and the Opera House. Eight of us were celebrating my parents 60th wedding anniversary. I should have read as a portent of what was to follow by the table we were given. It was set for 8, with 3 down one side, 4 down the other and one at the head of the table! The food I had was great. Others though thought their main dishes lacked complexity and depth of flavour. There were 8 people seated at the table and 8 mains ordered but only 7 mains served. The 8th main was delivered when everyone else was finishing their meals. And, showing this was no mistake only 7 sets of cutlery for desert were set. Those eating meat had their knives replaced with meat knives that were blunter than a butter knife. It was a mild Sydney summers day nudging 29C with a strong southerly, the air conditioning system could not cope and we all were uncomfortably hot. The fix seemed to be to open the front door intermittently. Also, don't rely on the online menu, it is not the same as the one presented on the day. It will be at least another 20 years before I visit again. Go somewhere else where customers are a consideration.

I took my mum & grandmother here for lunch for my grandmother's birthday. It's a great lunch spot with the harbour views etc. I'll certainly be back! For appetisers, my cured salmon was too firm for my liking - that was the only disappointing thing about the whole experience. For mains, I had the barramundi, which was excellent, and my grandmother had the lamb, which was also very good. The chocolate espresso and hazelnut pave was also fabulous. The wine list is also great - a good selection of affordable wines and a few premium ones for those who really want to splash out.

Awesome degustation menu. Best value in a wine matching degu menu. Service is attentive and spectacular. Will return again and again. Great experience.

Beautiful location with a stunning view of the bridge and SOH. Food was just wonderful. I had a wagyu carpaccio drizzled with truffle oil that was fantastic. My main was a salmon that was a bit overlooked vs how i ordered it (medium rare). Good wine list, which we well tapped into!

Was here a few months ago for a friend'a 18th birthday - we booked out the entire restaurant! Beautiful restaurant with amazing service and a stunning view to accompany it! It's also quite easy to get to and it is literally right next to (2m away from) the ferry dock. The food is amazing! Must order the lamb - beautifully done!

This is our 3rd visit to Sails this week. Absolutely fabulous. Food, staff, location, view. 5 stars +. When in Sydney sail on over to Sails on Lavender Bay!!!!

I booked a table for two to celebrate my partner's birthday. The food was very disappointing. The service was fantastic and location but that means nothing if you are not able to enjoy what you are eating. $213 for a meal that you would send back to the kitchen in a pub. A special night ruined.