We confess to having had quite the soft spot for Le Kiosk, the original restaurant at Shelly Beach, Manly (Sydney), so when we heard the talented team behind The Boathouse (Palm Beach and Balmoral) had won the leasing rights to reinvigorate the heritage-listed sandstone and timber structure we were torn…sure, we seriously love The Boathouse in all of its incarnations – but would the decidedly chic, crumbling beachside decay of Le Kiosk be lost to us forever? Thankfully not.

The Boathouse crew have managed to reinvigorate this gorgeous site without sacrificing any of its cottagey, nautical charm. Walls have come down affording pretty-as-as-picture ocean views from virtually every table within the eatery, while quirky odes to the seaside location – think oyster shell chandeliers, understated rattan chairs, sandstone and timber paneling – deliver a sweet ode to the seaside charm of yesteryear, without being twee. And the best news? The food – at last – is as good as the interiors and the view!

The Boathouse Shelly Beach is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7am, 7 days a week. We love the Trout Board with a glass of Dominique Portet ‘Fontaine’ Rosé. Long lunch heaven!

For further information on The Boathouse Shelly Beach or The Boathouse Group Restaurants + Events, head to their website or follow The Boathouse Shelly Beach on Instagram.

Photo: @blycarpenter