A dream come true for coeliacs. Everything is gluten free. Many options and alternatives for other…read morefood allergies too. My only criticism is the meals are too large! So go when you're starving or take a friend to share.

Taken at face value, these guys fill a gap in the market for people eating RAW, sugar free or who…read moreare vegan, vegetarian or want to eat organic. Each menu item is labelled with dietary requirements making it super easy to make your choices without guessing. The servings are substantial and delicious, the vegetables are crisp, fresh and cooked with love. Everything about this place is earthy and organic which means it comes with the usual 'hipster tax'. There's a small market style store at the back if you get swept away and feel inspired to start making your own hipster food - make sure you have a spare child to sell or you are prepared to remortgage your house if you want to purchase anything. On the downside, the staff meet the minimum requirement. Getting menus, water and ordering is self-serve but the staff will dump/throw your order in front of you at your table. Each time we've eaten here and our order is thrown in front of us, parts of it will fall on to the table - this is now a running joke. Today when we ate here, I thought I was going to be bitten by the cook when our order came through to the kitchen dead on kitchen closing time. If these guys could get their act together on the service front, they'd no doubt be our favourite lunch spot and earn 5 star reviews.

Pure Wholefoods in Manly claims to meticulously select their predominantly vegetarian menu which…read morecannot be doubted for a moment. Walter and his wife Dini are an affectionate favourite among the locals and on occasions can be perceived as moody however I witness them both address each patron by first name and feel a little envious but for only a moment as Walter brings my perfectly made fair trade skim mocha my breakfast special of Eggs Florentine with Soy Pesto cream sauce and steamed English spinach. The kitchen is open from 7:30am- 3:30pm and the shop is open until 5:30pm. You can call ahead to have food prepared to pick up. Portions can vary in size however the food itself is unparalleled in quality and because of this - prices are premium also. Today talk in this vegetarian cafe is thick of the pending rugby league grand final and what the weather for the local Manly Jazz carnival will do. The founder of the jazz carnival was my music teacher in primary school Mr John Speight and along with the locals I will hope that its good weather for one of the only music festivals of its kind in Australia.

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%

Don't let this out of the way location put you off~ there's not much to look at while enjoying…read morepossibly the BEST CAPPUCCINOS we've had in Manly. Daily fresh baked breads, pastries and many glutton FREE options also. Sandwiches looked DEEEELISH & beautiful desserts. Located on the backside of the Corso make it a destination, you will not be disappointed. The staff is very welcoming with a cheery hello & brekkie suggestions.

My review is only about the coffee here. A friend of mine who lives in the area suggested we try…read moreit. I had a cappuccino takeaway and, in hindsight, should have ordered a double shot as, the single shot was a bit too weak, which suggests one of two things a) too much milk and less foam or b) coffee not strong enough. I think it was too milky to qualify as a cappuccino in my opinion making it a bit weak. The place itself is quite nice and has a good vibe to it. It's small and there is some outdoor seating. The breads and pastries looked good. Places like this never existed in Manly years ago when I lived there and glad that a few of these have come up in the last few years.

The new addition to the empire, situated right next to their Italian restaurant Grano is The…read moreFactoria - more of a casual, light affair offering a brekkie menu, pastries, pre made savory dishes suited for casual lunches & pastries that will make you drool & indecisive as to which one to devour! Oh did I mention the gelato fridge?? Will & Co. Coffee is served here & you can choose to sit inside amongst all the retro props or outside on the grass carpet lapping in the sunshine. But don't go home empty handed, take a browse through the cafe & back area for boutique products ranging from food to cleaning products. A lot of though, creativity & passion has been poured into these establishments so take your time when you drop in Bella & Bello!

This place is awesome!…read more The little shop right next door to Grano's (Italian restaurant) I think they are linked. Inside there is gourmet groceries (which I love), a gelato stand, fresh rolls and lots of delicious Italian pastries. The ladies are so lovely and helpful and you can watch them make the pastries through a large window. I think the best cannoli I have ever tasted!!! Loved loved loved this place

I love any company that makes an effort to cater to a minority; any minority. This is why I love…read moreChoices - people who see the need for those with gluten allergies or intolerances to enjoy breads and pastries like the rest of us! One can only imagine the life of solitude and distress awaiting those who cannot enter a regular bakery and order a bagel, or a lemon tart.. but no more! Choices to the rescue! Previously, I might've thought that gluten-free products would taste inferior to gluten-filled ones... but eh, not really! Gluten-free tastes almost exactly the same! I tried their apple & cinnamon danish pastry, and it was marvelous. Nothing inferior about Choices' products!

I've walked by Nalini's a few times and finally had the chance to eat here. The dosas are delicious…read moreand filling. I had the Greens dosa and Em had the Falafel dosa. Both were wonderfully presented and delicious. The owner is also a very nice person and happy to share the secrets of Ayurvedic food. The whole staff is nice and we went away full and happy.

Our Ab&B host was gracious enough to take us out for dinner on our first night in Sydney. It was…read morehard to select what not to eat looking at the menu and knowing it was all vegetarian. We order Masala dosa, Dosadilla and 6 taste thali. The food was yummy and quantity is meant to be shared. Only disappointment, I had was in the sambhar served with masala dosa was actually the same daal served with thali. Besides, quantity of dal with dosa was mere the size of chutney- which took me by surprise. I felt that was a joke. But oh well! We wanted to try ice creams but it was almost time for closing. But. Gelatissimo is right across the place. Seating is very limited and signage is not very clear. We walked past it the first time. Parking could be a challenge, but so is for any restaurant on that street.

Another cafe has popped up in Mosman but this time its gluten and lactose free and I'm pretty…read moreexcited. At Cafe Free you can indulge with an American diner style serving of gluten free waffles or enjoy a bacon and egg gluten free roll to feed your hangover. I'm proud to say I wasn't hungover when I visited Cafe free so I chose the waffle route - its not everyday you see waffles listed as gluten free on a menu. Ordering gluten free pancakes or waffles is usually disappointing as eateries struggle to create the fluffiness of normal pancakes. I am often faced with a small serving that is sparingly decorated whilst everyone else is enjoying a stack of buttermilk pancakes with banana, ice cream and maple syrup. Not fair. Cafe Free is exempt from this gluten free bias. To my delight I was greeted with an epic stack of waffles covered in caramelised banana, strawberries and decadent dollops of treacle butter. The waffles were thick and doughy (who knew something gluten free could be doughy?), the banana was perfectly crispy and THAT TREACLE BUTTER. The dollops were initially intimidating and I felt pretty guilty watching them melt amongst the grid of the waffle but I finished the whole plate. No regrets. I was full for the rest of the day but if you had to choose one meal to last you the day you want to make it waffles from Cafe Free. Outside of the waffle experience is a menu full of items that we are used to seeing as gluten full. At Cafe Free you'll find wraps that don't crack, gluten free Vegemite spread and a steak sandwich on the menu. Beyond their breakfast and lunch menu they offer $20 take home dinners and are looking at moving into the evening with tapas. There were also talk of gluten free lasagna - win. All of this is thanks to their Chef, Zoe, and her family and friends who have come together to provide a gluten and lactose free dining experience. On arrival I am greeted by Zoe's brother, Adam and am served by one of Zoe's friends and her mum. Even amongst people buzzing in and out for a late breakfast or takeaway coffee, you can really feel that family element. Speaking with Zoe I learnt about her seasonal menu and experimentation with the baked goods that are on display in store and on social media (so you can't escape that almond milk custard tart that you've been thinking about all week). There is certainly plenty to look forward to as Cafe Free grows. Watch this space.

Coffee's good, food's ok, service is terrible. Felt like we were inconveniencing whoever the cranky…read morebloke was who was running the joint just by being there

When I moved to the northern beaches from the inner west I was worried about my distance from…read moreLeichhardt and Haberfield. How was I going to get my quality Italian food fix, I worried? I needn't have, as it turns out. De Vita, right in the heart of Manly, delivered wood-fired Napoli-style pizza that delivered on all counts. There was a wide choice but I settled on the Contadina: pancetta, wood-fire-roasted potatoes, and fior di latte cheese. Very thin and flavourful. My wife had the Regina (cherry tomatoes, fior di latte cheese, prosciutto, rocket, Parmesan, olive oil, basil) and proclaimed it delicious. The calamari starter we shared was large but lightly battered, with fresh, tender squid chunks. The wine list looked good, but we brought our own as they're also BYO. The atmosphere and surroundings are OK; It's quite open to the street (at least during warmer weather) which is good if you like buzzy going-on, not so much if you want quiet romance. Service was quick, friendly, and happy to make recommendations. Pizza fix: acquired.

What. The. [...]. Manly…read more People are queuing 20 minutes for a tiny, average tasting $20 hot dog. Cafes serving glorified couscous salads at four times its market value are at 80% occupancy. Lukewarm, bitter coffee gets top rated and queues round the block. And somehow, I come to De Vita at lunchtime on a weekday and we are the only customers bar another table. This restaurant is fantastic. When the lunch special - all pizze at $15 - is on, it is even more fantastic. This is proper Neapolitan pizza, made to order, with ingredients that aren't bottom shelf Coles. I mean, there is not much else to say - if you know what Neapolitan pizza is, you will know, if you don't, I can't describe it in a way that would bring it across. It bears little resemblance to Domino's. At $15, on the overpriced Sydney market, you are almost robbing them. To be a fair reviewer, I have to add that the spaghetti gamberi were pretty average. Lacking in taste and salt, not the best prawns, small-ish portion. This is most definitely a pizzeria and that's what you should order (and an espresso afterwards). The service is Italian, that means efficient and a little direct, and the smile will be a little dry. This does not mean they do not like you. It's just how things are in Italy and the guys haven't quite adjusted to the matey Australian ways. Perhaps it is that it is on a side street, not on the Corso. Perhaps they need to hang a fixie upside down at the back and buy some tables made of century old wreckage wood fished out by divers wearing copper diving bells ironically. Perhaps what Australians (and the tourists and WHV expats that, to be honest, form 90% of Manly residents) want when they order a pizza is thick undercooked dough covered in low quality fat and protein, and they are surprised not to get that. Perhaps nobody reads TripAdvisor anymore (where they are in the top 10 restaurants for Manly, which is how I found them). I don't know. I don't care. Just go.