This is a comfortable rooftop bar above Hotel Steyne overlooking Manly beach with a fun…read morenautical/pirate theme with swinging lanterns, crate wood furniture, caged glass bottles with fresh dripping candle wax, and ship sails adorning the ceiling with images of bar regulars who resemble sea captians. We were served from the cider-and-rum-only bar by a friendly, helpful bartender who totally looked the part! Delicious drinks, great atmosphere and not too pricey for the location. I highly recommend.

Upstairs at the Hotel Steyne, Moonshine brings its concept alive with murals of vintage…read morephotographs, sea faring craft, steel hanging lanterns and sea bottles strategically laid out in cages as if they have been discarded from a big night before. Big thick rope hangs from ceilings and walls. There a upraised chairs similar to those found on old ships and wooden beaming running throughout. Moonshine specialises in 16 ciders on tap and over 100 rums. It opened on September 1st and we are there on a Sunday evening and its heaving with the summer keen in platforms, denim cutoffs and mini skirts. The night is reggae and the crowd is enjoying the beats. We grab our Batlow Cider's (look out for these folks they are very good Summer beverage) and settle for a wooden crate to enjoy the music. Its a nice and much needed change from the Shore Club, Sugar Reef, Wharf Bar and the likes even if the same demographics grace Moonshine with their presence. Im not sure if this crowd will appreciate the variety of rums but its location is premium on Manly beachfront and Im sure the masses will be rollicking in this bar for summer 2011/2012.

The Charlie Bar is an old friend with a new face having had a complete overhaul in 2009 it is now a…read morepleasant space to have a drink that takes advantage of its location with lots of sunshine, hanging seats and bi-folding doors that can open to take the sea air in. Not that it wasnt before though in this area of beautiful furniture it used to be the tiles that we pounded for live bands. It's a great place to linger and at night it comes alive with music and dancing. The cocktails are great though I advise you get them made at the bar that is near the hotel reception as the young ladies and men in the Charlie Bar can get run off their feet looking for all those numbers on tables who have ordered drinks. Verdict: Sane and classy outfit to enjoy a wonderful afternoon into the evening.

Charlie Bar is a newcomer on the Manly nightlife scene, but has certainly made a place for itself…read morein the hearts of many locals. Located on the bottom floor of the Novotel Hotel Manly, it's what you'd expect in a bar affiliated with a high-end hotel: it's chic and sleek, a definite step up from some of Manly's other night life. The bar is beautiful - white-tiled floors, exposed wood and my favourite, chairs that hang from the ceiling. You've gotta be quick for these bad boys - every person in the bar has a quiet eye on them, looking for an opportunity to pounce! The drinks are pretty standard, and of a pretty normal price. If you're in Manly of an afternoon, head to happy hour for $5 beers, wine and champagne. Charlie Bar attracts a youngish, well dressed and well coiffed crowd who love a drink and a dance - on Saturday nights, what was seating becomes a dancefloor. Unlike the crowded dance floors of elsewhere in Manly, this is the perfect place to have a boogy with your girlfriends!

Yelp has this incorrectly across the road. It is on the water right behind ferry dock…read more Clean and busy with limited menu. Good view of ferry side of Manly. Away from the real beach and the chaos.

There were many reasons why we chose to go for lunch to this spot. One being it is right next to…read morethe ferry, the menu had great options, the space was clean, and the views were great. I loved the interior, the white paneling, and the uniform of all the employees. I also appreciated that they had a large menu with plenty of healthy options. I got greens and grains salad, which was incredible. The food came out quickly and it was such a beautiful day. Highly recommend a visit if you're in the manly beach area.

I was expecting something different...... something that felt inner west but wasn't ....... But as…read moreit worked out I did enjoy visiting Donny's as a pop in and few drinks sort of pass through. The cocktails were fun and beers were a good change featuring a few local ones but it felt like too many wines bars I had visited over the years ....... I guess half the challenge is looking for that venue that feels like an old shoe, comfortable and somewhere you want to spend a long time in.

Weekend happy hour?! Yes please. EVERYDAY from 5-7. I think the HH was 1/2 price signature…read morecocktails. Great dark space for an intimate feel but roomy enough that our big group was able to wander around and be comfortable. I believe on the Sunday afternoon when I was there, the patio bar was not open. But the crowd was small. I know I tried their espresso martini (without the dates since they had missed a delivery) and the Angry Pirate. I think our group went through all the drinks... and some beers and some ciders. Some folks had snacks but not me. Everything did look delicious. The folks who lived nearby said the food is very good.

Hubby and I were waiting on the ferry when we spotted 4 Pines Brewing Company. We naturally headed…read moreover for a pint. We found an open table on the upstairs outdoor patio with a gorgeous view of Manly Wharf. The bar staff took our order and poured our beers quickly. This location was perfect for an afternoon beer!

It's #thurstythursday and #throwbackthursday and I'm reminiscing about visiting my first brewery in…read moreAustralia. I was on an 8hr layover in Sydney on my way to Perth and decided to venture out to Manly via the harbor water taxi. It was in the middle of a hellacious rainstorm, so the ferry ride was definitely "lively". 4Pines Brewpub was the closest brewery to the quay, so I made a run for it and was greeted with a nice beer selection (did a flight #natch ), friendly staff, ample seating (w/a view), and respite from the storm. It was a great way to say g'day to beer in Oz! Definitely recommend stopping by if you're ever in that neck of the woods DownUnder as it is super convenient to the Corso which takes you to Manly Beach. The Draught Kölsch 4.6% The American Amber Ale 5.1% The ESB (Extra Special Bitter) 5.4% The Irish Dry Stout 5.1%

Manly Fisherman's and Sporting Association is a membership club that used to be located at…read morePIttwater Raod at the roundabout near the Manly Motor Registry. It supported upcoming and local bands and also local sporting associations. With its history dating back to the 1900's it seemed that the grass started to grow longer, the paint was painting and wiring use to hang from the walls and roof. Come September, 2011 it relocated to an enviable position next to the rugby union park and down the road from the bowling club. The live music remains a part of its legacy in the section called The Stones with Daryl Braithwaite due to appear in December. The Grill restaurant provides all night punters hearty meals. It also has its trivia nights and weekly raffles. Private functions and corporate events can be held within any one of their event spaces. If your looking for a quiet or big night out check out Manly Fishermans & Sports Association otherwise known to the natives at Manly Fisho's.

Was visiting the beach and needed some grub so I could have energy to dodge all of the bluebottles…read more After looking at Hemingway's menu online, it definitely fit the bill for me. It is literally right across from the beach but still away from the main tourist drag. I took a seat on the beautiful patio and ordered a cider and a salade niçoise and a fondant au chocolat for dessert. The food was fantastic. The salad was great and had that bright, salty bite you expect from salade niçoise. Two complaints though are that the portion was quite small and the pricing was quite high. My dessert was also quite good. Creamy, chocolatey, and just the right amount of sweetness without going overboard. The food paired with the Manly Beach people watching was a great experience and start to a nice beach day.

Yum!!! Four of us stopped in on New Year's Day for brekkie. It really hit the spot…read more We ordered 3 lattes, a Tropical juice, two bacon egg rolls and 2 of the roasted mushroom plates. The servings were generous and we all left very satisfied. The location is perfect, just across the street from Manly Beach. The interior is smartly decorated to reflect Hemingway.

Great Happy Hour: 2 for one cocktails! Espresso Wolftini:…read morepeanut butter whiskey is a great touch! Apple crumble: sweeter drink, dessert ! Cute bar and light music playing! Friendly service !

Walking around Manly one evening we noticed one place that seemed really packed compared to…read moreeverything around. That place was In Situ, we took the crowd as a vote of confidence and decided to have dinner there the next night. We were not disappointed! The place is adorable, with lots of plants and a very upscale boho vibe. We were eating early, around 5 pm and many of the tables were already reserved so I would recommend calling in advance for a reservation. They have a generous happy hour from 4-7pm which had $10 cocktails, discounted beer, discounted appetizers, and half off pizzas. The lychee Martini was fantastic and the goat cheese pizza was the best pizza we have had in Australia by a long shot! It was sweet and rich and had a great mix of flavors. I would love to go back to try more items on the menu.

Its like a fabulous Melbourne Wine Bar in the heart of Manly!…read more The wine glasses are the perfect size (none of this ridiculous small stuff here!) for you to smell the wine you are about to taste and the wine list is heaven. The staff are all well trained and willing to offer suggestions or even let you taste if you are unable to decide between wines. We came through on a lazy Sunday afternoon whole family and a plus one so a group of six and they easily fitted us, outside where we could watch the world go by - blankets incase we got cold but this location is out of the wind so we were fine. The bar inside is long and skinny, allows for conversation without becoming deafening. Friendly staff dropped by for a chat, ensuring we were comfortable and happy. We will be back for the cheese and the jazz!

From the owner: cured meat and cheese with an extensive, exiting international wine list to match.read more