Went for Christmas Lunch and later for Afternoon Tea. The table was decorated nicer than anyplace…read morewe have been too. The food was great as usual. Can't go wrong here.

To be continued !!! ......... when did you need a booking for breakfast ??? ........ I thought it…read morewas a joke but no one was laughing. When you have this sort of attitude then long term it will fail. ....... ok .... I have calmed down now and am back to give two extra stars for the fantastic staff, awesome food, juices, coffee and friendly atmosphere. It's well worth a visit for a great breakfast experience...... I had the Color wheel which had so many yummy things ........ even had a kitchen sink in there somewhere. Hopefully the pics will tell a more colorful story.

yeah... I was a fan. And I still really like the place and what it has to offer but pretty peeved…read morethat I walked 20 mins to get here only to find that they closed earlier than advertised. Wasn't a happy camper. Ended up wasting an hour of my time trying to get what I needed in the local area. Really think you guys need to stick to the advertised opening hours.... not just for me. But you name it.. they tend to have it here. You can even do cooking classes or something of the sort here. Lots of interesting things to give you ideas for a great meal or inspire you to go beyond what you think you might be capable of. Fake it to you make it even. Staff have always been friendly and knowledgeable. There is ample parking behind the building too which is handy.

Finally a good cooking and foodie establishment has arrived in Darling Street Rozelle on the former…read moresite where The Barn used to be situated. That was a sad day in the community to see The Barn go due to council issues. For a period of time this site was derelict, and now The Essential Ingredient provides another social hole for coffee drinkers to unite and rejoice. Chic, cute, trendy and cosy for those of us who happen to have all the time in the world on any given occasion on a Saturday morning in particular. Am a fan of their cooking equipment in particular, although my preferred choice would still be Victoria's Basement in the city. Still a great effort, and a beautiful delicatessen and an array of tinned gourmet foods including the semi and sun dried tomatoes, and even the tinned jelly beans which will give Crabtree and Evelyn a good run for their money. Its elegant, and it is great to see another quality food establishment with a cafe come here on this massive site again; although nothing can really replace the Barn in my books anyway, and yet my food standards are much higher than they used to be, although still not that high. Look out for their chocolate making classes, they are divine.

Latitude is a boutique lifestyle store located within Sydney Road Manly just off the Corso. It…read moredraws inspiration from beach lifestyle with casual elegance. Its a pleasure to browse through this store on a lazy Sunday afternoon with its beautiful casual clothing, accessories and decorative pieces for the home. A particular lampshade has caught my eye with wooden ribbon of strips curling down from its base would love the beachside water front home to go with it. Latitude also stock Papaya homewares and Sweet Papillion jewellery.

Love this cute little shop. Great gifts ideas and beautiful things for your home. There are some…read moreamazing clothes as well. Some items are a little over priced but that's often the case in Manly!

Giftica is the place I go when I've left my chrissy shopping to the last minute or need a thank you…read morenecklace for my sister or a card for a wedding or gift for a new born. I like it because there are quality gifts that aren't outrageously priced (except perhaps the mini children's Xylophone... that was a bit overpriced at $60 for me to buy it though I would have loved to). They've got dress scarfs, journals, vases with sweet floral designs, wooden plates with a screen printed hummingbird, essential oil scented candles in glass jars, quality beads, bags, luxury soaps and Japanese tea pots. Some of the brands they stock are Aden + Anais, Ecoya, Nesti Dante, Jaye Neimi and Leslee. Definitely worth a squiz if your stuck for ideas on what to get that special sheila in your life. Complimentary gift wrapping available on request.

You don't have to have a "house" to shop here, but if you did it would be so awesome because you'd…read morehave more room to put stuff in! This store is great for anyone wanting to add some life and colour into the home life - whether that be finding new linen, throws, pillows or gowns, if you want to create a luxury feel to your special place you may find something here that will catch your eye. It's not cheap - so don't expect any bargains, but occassioally you can find a bargain that seems pretty good.... They have a great range and if you're looking to re/decorate I think you will be pleasantly surprised :)

My house looks nothing like the store My house. The store is gorgeous with decorated pieces and…read moreitems enticing me every time I enter the store. The lighting, flooring and possible newness (recently opened) adds to the sparkle. Since its opening, I have shopped there a couple of times, but I will definitely have to buy a whole lot more for my home to begin looking like that. I love their cushions! Amazing collection and range at affordable prices. Go on, feel their bathrobe, it's soft. You will find everything for your sleeping, bathing and homeware needs. Good products, good price, good service. Only downside for me is that their Advantage club is a paid membership.

Mrs Watson is constantly tempting passers by with a frequently changing, colourful window display…read morefull of pretty patterned pieces and funky ensembles. Located facing the busy Northbridge Junction intersection, I often find myself stopped in the car at the lights, drivers behind beeping me out of my fashion lust daze. This little boutique is a great place to pop into for high quality basics (Malene Birger and Skin & Threads tanks, tees and singlets) and silky, vibrant summer dresses (I'm currently obsessing over their après-beach perfect Tibi summer collection, alongside the regular Paul & Joe printed wrap dresses and tunics). The ever fashionable store manager Renee (aka the real life Mrs Watson) is knowledgeable about the brands stocked, and has also launched the store's namesake brand in recent times. You're also sure to find a good range of accessories, perfect for last minute Christmas and birthday presents.

To me, Northbridge is the home of my primary school, a little milk bar and a supermarket. It is not…read morethe place I expected to chance upon a boutique as cute as Mrs Watson! This little gem stocks labels like Paul & Joe, Tibi, Leona Edminston and even their own label Mrs Watson. With labels like this you can expect the price point to be upwards of $100 per piece. The clothing seems to be targeted at a slighter older woman - say 35-40 but still there are pieces in here I like and I'm 27. These guys also have 'Little Watson' stuff for kids which is really cute. Overall a really nice, unexpected find.

I know I'm going to sound like a girl when I say this, but...I love pretty little, shiny things!…read moreThat's why I can never stroll past Abode without a cheeky browse at whatever they have in there. It's hard to define what this store is about, it has home-wares but it also has plenty of awesome novelty gifts. I'll admit I am guilty of walking in there, buying a present for a friend and then falling so in love with it that I keep it. I'm a horrible person, I know, but you try it! You'll go bonkers for all the gorgeous, funny and random things in there. Whether you feel like adding something quirky to your home, buying a card for a loved one or getting a present for someone, you'll find it in Abode. Just make sure to give yourself at least half an hour in there, I guarantee you'll keep getting side tracked.

Abode is the home of pretty things! This is the sort of shop you could browse in for hours trying…read moreto decide on the right card or gift for someone. The wooden floors, non in-your-face staff and quirky Things make this a really welcoming place to hang out in. Much like a place called Abode should be really. I don't see the point of greetings cards that aren't tailored to the person being greeted, and Adobe has a great selection of fun/arty/beautiful cards on top of the wide array of unique gifts for another person (or yourself of course). If you're looking for the likes of a unicorn lamp to a Dali-esque "melting clock" or just have no idea what to get your funky friend for their birthday, Adobe is a damn good place to start.

I love the cards, the books, the gift wrapping paper, the jewelry, the soaps... pretty much…read moreeverything they stock in here. If you are looking for something unique and quirky, this is a wonderful shop to visit. They'll even gift wrap your items for you. Another Newtown gem. A must visit anytime I'm in the neighborhood.

Where else can you find quirky book titles…read more(http://yelp.com.au/biz_photos/qUwMo_ehjAcq3QRu58nfAQ?select=3BfrHgYU-JPUd8VE63urDQ), a stack of journals (http://yelp.com.au/biz_photos/qUwMo_ehjAcq3QRu58nfAQ?select=hq1Rm0TOTs-eUpeU3_Du_Q) and colourful homewares by Mud (http://yelp.com.au/biz_photos/qUwMo_ehjAcq3QRu58nfAQ?select=RpBmC-yA9LUS7TJBS2zYlQ) all under one roof? As far as I'm concerned, nowhere else. Pentimento in Newtown has got it all. Pentimento is one of those places I go when I need to buy a gift of some description for that friend who already-has-everything-and-is-so-darn-hard-to-buy-for. Unique and eccentric, you can guarantee to find a present that no one else has thought of - 'The Moustache Grower's Guide', anyone? There are things that will make your friend laugh, inspire them to create, give hints on their travel destination or provide them with something beautiful to display in their home. Whatever the case, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you don't know what to buy someone (or perhaps you would like a self present), wander through Pentimento, it is sure to stimulate some original ideas.