The Boathouse Shelly Beach

Everytime I come to Manly, I bring friends and relatives for the best experience. On the beach, amazing food (easy ordering), fits a lot of people, semi open and in door. The food and atmosphere is the best. Dogs (outside)and bush turkeys allowed 😀

The Boathouse at Shelly Beach is one of those places where a simple meal feels like a small holiday. You wander off the path from Manly, sand still on your feet, and step into a bright space filled with flowers in jars, striped umbrellas and sea breeze drifting through the open windows. Ordering happens at the counter, the line moves quickly, and staff stay cheerful as they point out specials and suggest a good table if you are juggling towels and a pram. Grab a spot facing the water and you are set for a very easy hour. Mornings shine here. Coffee lands smooth and hot, and the bacon and egg roll comes on a soft milk bun with a tangy relish that actually tastes like tomatoes. Avocado toast is generous with lemon and chilli, and the ricotta hotcakes have that cloudlike centre people make detours for. Later in the day it turns seafood forward in the best way. Fish and chips arrive crisp and not greasy, the prawn roll tastes fresh with a touch of dill and lemon, and the salt and pepper calamari stays tender with a proper squeeze of citrus. Bowls and salads are built with bright herbs and crunchy greens, so you never feel weighed down before a swim back at Shelly. A few little things make visits smoother. It can get busy on sunny weekends, so earlier arrivals win the best tables and easier street parking. The place is largely cashless, water jugs and glasses are self serve, and families fit right in with plenty of high chairs and space to park a stroller. Bring swimmers because the marine reserve out front is perfect for a quick snorkel, then circle back for an iced drink and something sweet from the cake display. Good food, relaxed service and that view add up to an easy favourite.

Lovely cafe/restaurant. Good quality tea, nice service and a calming atmosphere. Very clean, and the food looked amazing - if we were hungry, we’d have definitely ate here. Recommend!

Got the crab scramble and it was incredible! Subbed the toast for hash browns to make it gluten-free and it was the perfect meal. So much flavor. I also got the green juice and loved it.

This place was really good. It's near the Shelly Beach facing the beach and the view is amazing. We had some drinks , coffee and chips. They have a variety of food options for breakfast and lunch to find from. There's different drink options available, the vibe the place and service is really amazing. Although I felt it was a little undermaintained as they have turkeys going around everywhere and they make a lot of mess, but they did well they also have a turkey spray if they try to annoy you while enjoying your time. Must visit place.

Hello fellow food enthusiasts. Todays Review will be on the Bacon Egg Roll, Mocha and Iced Latte. The Bacon egg roll was amazing. Bacon was perfectly crunchy, egg perfectly goey. Chilli jam/sauce gave it that perfect spice touch. Mocha was good (said Grace) i dont drink coffee but i also agree. Iced Latte was also very good not too dilute. Overall 10/10. Would come again. Run dont walk. Good Food. Good Views. Good vibes. Happy Karen and Grace. Thanks for taking the time to read my review. And see you next time. Off to dessert place now..

The Boathouse was our wedding venue and we wouldn’t change a thing. The food was exceptional and the service and staff were phenomenal - they ensured the day ran smoothly all while wearing big smiles on their faces.

A good place to stop after the walk down from Manly on the ocean path. Catch the happy hour drink specials from 2pm to 4pm. Food finishes at 3pm, so the happy spot is between 2pm to 3pm for a bite to eat (standard pub fare) with a cheaper drink. Great views and brush turkeys galore...

A great place to stop for a drink or snack while wandering the Manly beach area. The interior is bright and open with great water views. Place any orders directly at the bar, or at the food service window and they'll give you a number for everything to be brought to you. We didn't eat here but the drinks prices were reasonable considering the prime waterfront location. Very dog & family friendly as well.

I love this little cove (Shelly Beach) and anytime I am in Australia - I make the effort to come here and eat at the Boat House. The seafood is always super fresh and I love the laid back vibe and nautical/ sea decor. We went overboard and got the seafood platter which is suggested for two but can safely feed 3/4. The prices (in my view) are still relatively reasonable for the quality of the food. We popped a bottle of Bollinger and had quite a fare! This little nook of the world is beautiful and such a pure little treasure that it always makes even a drab day turn into something special. As long as the Boat House is still there, the pilgrimages will continue. Love love love it

Excellent! The food was amazing as was the fresh pressed juice! The ambiance and decor were both top notch. This is a MUST VISIT if you are near Manly Beach. You won't be disappointed!

The setting makes this worth the trip. The food and service are solidly four-star. For two, lunch, AUD 84.7: Roaring Meg Sauvignon Blanc 10.00 San Pellegrino 8.00 Boathouse Salad -- Salmon -- Half Avocado 32 Dory Burger with chips 27 TIP: Counter service with food served at your number-flagged seat TIP: Bikes prohibited from Manly Beach to Shelly on the weekends

If you're debating to stop and eat somewhere in Manly or in Shelly Beach, definitely check out The Boathouse in Shelly Beach!! Cute spot to hang on the beach and there's a rainforest like garden behind the restaurant. It was such a lovely place to relax and have a drink while hanging on the beach. The staff was super nice and lovely as well. Would highly recommend checking this place out!!

FAB! For brekkie. Lovely food & service people all friendly. Lots of selections and they open @ 7 am serve Brekkie till noon, then switch to lunch menu. Lunch also GOOD! Really a pretty place comfy beach like atmosphere and clean, very clean which is a HUGE + for us!!' Walked over from Manly about 30 min door 2 door, which is an added bonus watching the morning surfers & swimmers. Been to the Boathouse years before when it was La Kiosk don't remember it looking this good ~

Not sure what everyone is complaining about, I enjoyed myself at this restaurant!! Beware that just cause they're open till 4, they stop serving food at 3!!!!! I was lucky enough to be the very last order. Shelly Beach is adorable and worth visiting. The boathouse is prime location for people watching on this beach! There are wild turkeys walking on the beach. People are scuba diving, snorkeling, laying out, hula dancing, surfing, etc. This restaurant is adorable!! The food was decent enough, I ordered the market fish which was barramundi in an interesting almond spicy sauce with vegetables. I enjoyed some wine and spoke to the people next to me, it was a lovely atmosphere overall and the service was outstanding for me!

Incredible beach side cafe in the perfect corner of the sand and boardwalk across to Manly Beach! We got the perfect table outside with an umbrella on this warm day! Started with a bucket of local beer and ordered fish and chips, a burger and the salmon salad! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu here! I tasted all three but really loved the Smoked salmon! Probably the best I've ever had! Perfect Smokey taste then it's grilled and placed on top over a bed delightful greens, edamame, and pomegranate seeds! Beautiful to look at and incredible explosion on your palette!! The burger looked bomb too as it's got grilled pineapple, special sauce, and bacon on top of the beef! Are you hungry yet? I would love to come here again!!

Avocado, tomato, feta, basil with lemon on toast was worth the walk! Of course the walk here is so nice!

This place has to be one of my all-time favorite places the Decour and the detail not even to begin with the food was outstanding. The cappuccino was absolutely beautiful . I had the poached egg which was cooked perfectly and arranged beautifully. I managed to slip in a bite of their banana bread which was out of this world. I highly recommend this place for breakfast I wish I could give it 10 stars it was that good

Awesome lunch or breakfast spot at Shelly beach. The service is great and the food is on the lighter/healthier side. I really enjoyed the beet root salad today. They have a nice selection of cocktails, wine and beer too!

Absolutely delicious! We had the quinoa Bircher from the kiosk, for $13 I thought a little steep for a takeaway breakfast, but it was huge! It was also amazing. The actual Bircher was crazy yummy, then fruit, Greek yoghurt (or coconut yoghurt if you choose), and dried fruit! There was even a fig, it was one of the best breakfasts I have had in a while! The service was great, friendly and prompt. The location is lovely, plenty of benches to eat at when you get takeaway. This was 8:30am on a Friday, so no one in line and very quick service. Walk around from manly beach for a nice stroll.

Unbelievable breakfast. Simple preparations done excellently. We had the poached eggs on toast and they were perfectly done, with thick rustic bread slices. The granola was better than any other I have had. Crispy bits of buckwheat, chopped nuts, bits of crunchy goodness (magic?) and topped with edible flowers. Can't beat the location either!!

Lovely setting, food and service. Hard not to love. Get the avo tomatoes and goats cheese toast. Amazingly simple yet very delicious. Get in early to make sure you get prime table. Otherwise bring your hats, sunnies, and sunscreen if you're coming in the summer. Some tables can be under direct sun!

This is a wonderful place. The location is one of the best in Shelly Beach and has great people watching. Not the most haute cuisine, but the food is certainly good and on point. The atmosphere reminds me of some of the beach restaurants I've been to in California.

Severely overpriced and disappointing. I arrived at 11:40 am and was told that breakfast was over. Breakfast isn't over until noon. Ok fine. I ordered from the lunch menu and was told my order would take 40 mins to come out because they were severely backed up. I walked for miles to try this place and I really wish I would have passed.

If you're hanging out at Manly beach, take the path down to Shelly beach for an amazing lunch here! I love how open and bright this place is. They always seem to pack a full house and I can see why. Place your order at the front, grab a number and find a seat. We got a few things to share because everything looked so good. The fig flatbread with ricotta is such a delicious combo. The prawn flatbread has giant pieces of shrimp and was surprising amazing. I didn't think I would like shrimp on pizza, but was proven wrong! The boathouse salad is light a fresh and the pomegranate are the perfect touch. The autumn salad was my favorite, being Lebanese and that it has labne in it. I had no idea a salad with labne would be so delicious! Also, don't forget the watermelon margarita, so refreshing!

Amazing location on the beach, garden tables with a waterfall and beach front tables. Nice upstairs dining roim too. Think Doyles but nicer food

I have been here a few times and it's pretty great to be honest. Service is slow but that's due to it being massively popular!! I waited for a while to get a table and it was worth it!! Just like in Palm Beach at the beach house the manly beach house has food that is to die for! Full of flavour and sooo filling! Highly reccomend coming here! 9/10 all round!!

Stellar location and ambiance and decor are on point . The lunch menu could be better - some of the food is great and some is a bit of a miss. If the location wasn't so great I would give 3 stars. Worth coming to for the atmosphere. I got the bucket of prawns which were really good. The fish and chips was far too oily and the batter was too thick. The drinks are really good!

Fantastic beach front restaurant. Nice hamburgers and fries. Nice kale salad with salmon. My husband and I truly enjoyed it. Watch out for the mascots. They're so cute.

This is quite possibly my new favourite place on sunny days. Located right next to the sweet spot that is Shelly Beach, this place is an ideal lunch spot which will satisfy anyone's palate, whilst surrounded by beauty all around. The food is fresh, tasty and the portions are generous. These are the glory attributes I hope to find in a meal all the time, but rarely we get all 3 of them. There wasn't much of a waiting time, and I guess it works out for the style of restaurant, but it's only fault (for me) is the queuing self-ordering stand system. It was easy to find a table and order our food when we went but I can imagine it will be mayhem in summer weekends. I'm sure to visit this place many times.

A fantastic place that keeps excelling its self, fantastic and friendly staff, continuing fab price structure, great ambience. We've been here 6 times this holidays for breaky and once for a laid back lazy afternoon cupa . Not been here ??? Why ? ........... just remember they only do breakfast and lunch. Closes at 1630.

Took the ferry from Sydney harbor to Manly. Had a stroll along the water and had a great breakfast and coffee here. Can't beat the view, the open seating looks out over the beach. Would recommend sitting out on a nice day. Be wary of sudden wind though.

I really enjoyed my visit. Could easily sit there all day. Casual yet chic. Must order the cappuccino. So cute! The beer battered fish and chips are really good as well but better if you are sharing with friends coz the portion is H-U-G-E! But the walk back to Manly makes a good workout!

Awesome fish and chips, plus a spectacular view! It gets pretty busy on the weekends. Be warned. They have take away (take out) or sit down. I saw this walking and came back after a scuba dive. Even my local scuba divers loved this place. The fish and chips are great. They ran out on the weekend I went scuba diving. The seating is open and very close to beach/shower/pathway.

Fantastic place. Great views, great food, friendly people. Went here on a recommendation and was wowed by it. A must visit.

Other than the people circling nearby constantly looking for an available table and the hassle to get one on a Sunday noontime, this place is great. (Our fault for being there at noon on Sunday, right!) Great wine list, excellent food selection. Nice burger, stacked with cheddar cheese, grilled onions, a slice of bacon, lettuce, pineapple, beetroot, relish, and pickle,. Very tasty green spaghetti with clams and scampi. The seating areas vary, many with great beach views. Everything is clean and comfortable once you get seated. You order self-service style, then staff brings drinks and food out. Plan on a long wait between ordering and getting your food.

The seafood platter was amazing, fresh fish and tasty. The walk there and the swim after lunch are definitely a bonus too. we really enjoyed it!

The chips taste like mash potatoes that have been reshaped and fried. Soo buttery and creamy. Top notch location and the rest is just lovely too.

Salads are superb - fish and chips... I can't even describe it - get early because finding where to sit is kind of an adventure. Get ready to wait 30 to 40 mins for food. Super friendly service. We will be back.

Mmmh ... I love this venue! The location is amazing and the decor fantastic. My favourite dish to order: the prawns basket! What a delight!

Love the look, feel and vibe of this beachside cafe. Passionfruit Caprioska was to die for...still dreaming of it now. Fish 'n Chips were crispy and chips were huge. Burger had a nice charred meaty taste and went down well with a Corona! Will definitely be back! Friendly attentive service. Lots of littlies and young families, girls day out luncheons to dates. Great for everyone :-)

Perfect place for breakfast after a walk from Manly. Also good to refuel before walking back to Manly. Great service. Well prepared dishes. Nice space.

Shelly Beach is just a beautiful location and the new mob running The Boathouse in what was the once famed Le Kiosk have done a wonderful job with creating a decor which treats the old building in which it is located very fittingly. Sitting and looking north over the ocean and up the coast a little is a very relaxing backdrop to enjoy a very nice meal. Ordering and paying is via a window near the kitchen but food is then delivered to your table. Service is friendly an efficient. On this occasion we visited for breakfast on a Sunday and whilst it was a little busy there was no issue grabbing a seat near the window. The food is fresh and tasty and the size of the portions was more than enough to fill us up, even when quite hungry. The dishes are somewhat based on the classics but there is enough imagination to make them a little different. It's not cheap but then it's nowhere near break the bank prices. Taking into account the gorgeous location, the classy fit-out, the quality of the service as well as a little bit of creativity in the dishes, it is reasonably priced. A lovely spot and well worth a visit.

In all Manly, that is definitely my favorite place by far....In the morning the breakfast is simply delicious ( Avocado smashed on toast / eggs benedicts etc) and at lunch the salad are huge and so delicious. (full avocado and kale)....It can get a bit busy, so be patient to be able to find a table. But thats definitely a place to try if you are around...Unmissable. :)

I went to The Boathouse at Shelly Beach with my best friend to try out a new lunch spot and we had a wonderful experience! As soon as we walked in we were greeted by the staff and they were so friendly and made great recommendations. We ended up going with the Beef Burger which was delightful and very unique! I also got a cappuccino which was marked with a lovely anchor on top of the foam. The intricate detail from the food to the interior design is beautiful. I still haven't even mentioned the best part.... the view of Shelly Beach is spectacular! I would 100% recommend if stopping in Manly because the walk from the Wharf to Shelly is beautiful as well!

You can't not live The Boathouse, a great location, with great views. Obviously, great to get a table outside. Reasonably priced and tasty food.

Great place next to Shelly beach. My discovery of Sydney Rock oysters will make this place stay in my mind forever. Lovely service too.

After a quick, leisurely stroll from Manly Beach over to Shelly, the Boathouse is the perfect place for lunch, that offers stunning views, great food and a nice break from the sun. It really is the quintessential beachfront restaurant. I imagine it gets really packed on weekends or during the summer months, but luckily we were able to score a great table outside . While an outside table is best, the interior of the boathouse is also nice, so it wouldn't be horrible if you had to sit inside. After you glance at one of the menus written on the wall, place your order at the counter and one of the servers will bring your food and drinks to the table. While the menu is small, the offerings are plentiful, and there is something for everyone. The summer salad was light and delicious, composed of broccoli, greens, couscous, and toasted almonds with a light pesto, the veggie burger was similar in taste to a falafel, and was delicious with a beetroot spread and guacamole, and lastly we sampled trout board, which had a combo of pate, smoked trout and toasted sourdough bread. Everyone loved their lunches. This boathouse is a must if you are in the area.

Forgot my order, ended up paying for food i didn't receive. Food looked great if you actually ended up getting it.

100% recommend!!! Not only is the food amazing but so is the atmosphere. An easy 20 minute walk from the ferry & views of 2 amazing beaches. Grab some lunch by the ocean & walk around after! Best of 2 worlds.

Good food, great view - cheerful service but slow due to popularity. Burger excellent taste but overpriced @ $28

What's not to love. Easy to order, food is quick to arrive, the staff are friendly and the view is amazing.