We got an awesome picnic table overlooking the water- but heck- the whole place overlooks the water! We were happy to share our table with a family as there were only 2 of us and had a great time! Ordered squid, salmon and prawns as our starters- OMG delicious!' Had Aperol Spritz.. excellent!!! We could have been done but saw the barramundi get delivered to a nearby table and had round two- barramundi and an awesome green salad. My hubby loved the barramundi but I thought it was a little dry but so so tasty! Salad was heavily dressed but still really nice. Service and staff were really great. LOVED this experience! read more

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This place is pretty cool to eat at. Expensive, even for Sydney. I would give it a 3.75. If you are going to eat there I would suggest the following 1. Get there early as in before 8:30 2. Select a table before you order and have someone mind it 3. Meals are large enough to share I ordered the poached eggs with toast and bacon. The presentation was superb The toast was super thick. There were two slices One was nice the other was like eating a giant dry cracker. The bacon was amazing. After eating American bacon for years I can honestly say that Australian bacon is BEST. Very generous in the amount of bacon. read more

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We absolutely loved it here! The Boathouse has the perfect view of Balmoral Beach, overlooking the water and a boardwalk. Food (6/10): The food was cute and fresh. Their fries are delicious and their pastries, while tiny, are really good too. I also got some sort of fennel with veggies and a beat spread sort of thing that came with some sort of energy ball... whatever it was, it was tasty! We've come a few times, and I've liked everything I've tried. Atmosphere (6/10): The seating is a bit crowded, but on a beautiful day, The Boathouse is perfect to grab a bite with friends and overlook the water and people watch the passerbys on the boardwalk. Service (5/10): You order inside at the counter, and then they bring you your food. While we did have a server, we didn't get much attention other than when they brought us our food. You have to find your own table so that is somewhat stressful. I also hate how as we began to finish, people started lurking to stake out our table. read more

The Boathouse Balmoral Beach - Modern Australian Near Me - Balmoral, NSW

Very unique place with a beautiful location and great ambience. Service was ok, you had to order and take a seat with a table number then they bring the food to you. Which would be great if there was anywhere to sit! It gets so busy and people stay longer to enjoy the outdoor seating, there is never room to sit. When we finally found a seat, it was dirty and it took forever for someone to clean it up and wipe it down. The food was pretty good, not that great, most of the stars is for the location and ambiance they've created. read more

The Boathouse Balmoral Beach - Modern Australian Near Me - Balmoral, NSW

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Okay food with great views. You'll have to seat yourself after ordering and they'll bring your food to you. Everything is on the pricey side, which I guess they can do given the nice location by the water. The food itself is decent, although I wish the portions were bigger given what they charge. It was cold when I went so they had these heating pad things turned on facing the tables, as well as blankets laying around. The server was friendly. Overall an average place when considering everything, but I'm sure they'll continue to get customers since they're right by the beach. read more

The Boathouse Balmoral Beach - Hot chocolate - Modern Australian Near Me - Balmoral, NSW

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Bloody seagulls. The food is excellent, the view is amazing, and this place would get five stars if it wasn't the local seagull and pigeon wildlife sanctuary. They can be seen (and heard) savagely attacking leftovers like a pack of vultures as soon as the patrons leave their tables, to be chased away by the poor staff but not before they've had their fill. The food is rather on the pricey side. It's to be expected from such a neighbourhood and the accompanying views, but at least it's actually delicious! The service is inviting, nice and prompt. Despite its flying shortcomings the Boathouse is hard to beat on a sunny afternoon. read more

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First time in Balmoral, so my friend and I decided to go to this little cute beachside cafe for brunch. Such a nice environment! You order at the counter then find a table anywhere you want. We were there early so only the breakfast menu was available (ends at 11.30am). Ordered the croissant French toast which is like a French toast but using a croissant. Coupled with some ricotta cream, berries, poached pear and maple syrup - it was a very nice dish. Not too heavy. I'm a fan of chai latte so whenever it's on the menu, I will order it. It's so hard to find good chai latte as sometimes they add too much milk that overpowers the chai. The Boathouse Balmoral Beach makes great chai latte! Good for families, romantic dates, groups. Would definitely come here again to try the lunch menu which starts at 12pm. read more

The Boathouse Balmoral Beach - Croissant French toast with ricotta, berries, poached pair and maple syrup | carrot cake | chai latte | cappuccino - Modern Australian Near Me - Balmoral, NSW

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THIS is my favourite places to go to breakfast in all of Sydney. But I'm biased. I grew up with each holiday visiting family in Aus playing at Balmoral Beach and now when visiting, take almost daily walks down there from the house. In the previous establishment we would partake in a bacon butty, a fruit pate and Bircher Muesli, grabbing a Golden Gaytime for the road on the way out. Imagine my surprise arriving in Australia, walking down to the beach being greeting by THE BOATHOUSE. Damn, it is BEAUTIFUL. And the part of Balmoral Beach it sits on is my favourite part. I can go for a swim after my walk and then grab a delicious meal. The view is spectacular and the restaurant opens all the way around the back - its huge! The menu is SO GOOD. It has everything I could dream of having in a breakfast menu and its so close! The only thing that almost made me give this place 4 stars is that it is SUPER BUSY. Especially on weekends you can expect to get there early and expect to queue. And fight for tables. But you can hardly take off a star for running a successful business. Good for them! As long as you bring me my coconut and then cut it in half for me to eat it out afterwards.. I am a very happy girl. I feel like I should highlight something on the menu but seriously, everything is good. Whatever your preference, it will be good. Great even. And believe me when I say there is something for everyone. And the portions are humongous. Actually, I take that back. SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO THEIR COCONUT YOGURT. It is so good! On top of fruit, in their raw breakfast (yes, they serious have it all) or their quinoa bircher (QUINOA BIRCHER!??!). Their branding is adorable and I always get jealous when people order hot chocolate, milkshakes or drinks that come in pretty bottles with playful straws or with cool toppings/decorations. Kids even get this little honey bear thing which is the cutest. I literally couldn't resist going full asian and taking a bazillion snapchats to send to my sister "OMG LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RESTAURANT NEXT TO THE BEACH?!". Go to Balmoral Beach. Go to the Boathouse. But not on a Sunday. read more

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I'd love to give these guys 4 or 5 stars, but they really don't rate it. I have been here several times now, and to the original in Palm Beach, so have a good feel for the spot. As Ben says, the location is the star, and for that they get 5. However, service is atrocious, and the cleanliness is diabolical, so for that they get 1 star. To balance this out, the food is actually pretty good, albeit a bit pricey, if you can stand the wait on a busy day. We have twice lucked in late in the day close to closing (3pm) and had reasonable service and got a table fairly quickly. However on other occasions we have spent 30 minutes waiting/looking for a table, then another 30 minutes + waiting for food. The concept is great, the food is generally pretty good, the decor is beach chic, the wait and service is tragic. We keep going back there though :-) Worth a try if you are hot and hungry at Balmoral - a cold beer and fush and chups is hard to beat. read more

Going to the boathouse is like escaping the hustle and bustle of busy Sydney life and stepping into a luxurious, relaxing beach getaway. Take a short drive down the windy road off the main drag in balmoral and you'll find yourself at this little oasis. Be warned though, parking can be difficult and there is always competition for spots (unless you arrive super early!) but once you do finally park the location is phenomenal. Walking along the esplanade you can look out on the bay to see the boats racing or over at the myriad of people under umbrellas on the sand or youngsters jumping off the wharf. It truly is remarkable how you instantaneously feel relaxed. When you arrive at the boathouse you'll see a beautiful array of fresh flowers out the front before exploring the beachy interiors and bustling atmosphere. You order at the front and then fight for, I mean find a table. Be patient. Things do come up but swoop like a seagull on a hot chip when it does. The Croissant French Toast and Green Eggs & Ham have been the stand outs for me. We love that the portion sizes here are really good for what you pay. For two having breaky with drinks you'd be looking at around $60-80 so it isn't cheap but it's always been good. As other reviewers have said service can be slow at times but it's never been outrageous in my experience. Cleanliness (especially if water cups) could be better too. Overall we love it here and will definitely frequent back despite the 45 minute drive! read more

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I've been to the Boathouse Balmoral Beach twice now, and had mixed experiences. First up, I went on a sunny winters afternoon for a glass of wine. Sitting down the back of the deck (the middle, outside section is "family friendly" and alcohol free), next to the water, the sun shining in a blue sky, it was perfect. There's even 3 different rosé options - they know what I like! It's great that you can also just order wine & beer, without needing to order food. The only possible issue is that is does get crowded, so you may need to sit on the edge of the deck, legs dangling above the water, but who cares if the weather is lovely... Last weekend, I went back Saturday at lunchtime. I was surprised that we were able to get a table straight away (although it was about the only one free), but it was a bit disappointing that we just missed out on the breakfast menu - it doesn't go all day, but stop when the lunch menu starts. Taking a proper look at the lunch menu, the prices are too expensive, despite the lovely location and Instagram-worthy presentation. $26 for a burger and fries, when you need to queue to order and take a number to your table?? Everything deserved to be at least $5 cheaper. We ended up getting the bucket of prawns to share, which was $39. Not too bad, but rather exxy. When we added on chips, a watermelon juice and a smoothie, for a total of $64. Everything was delivered quite quickly, except for the juice that mysteriously arrived when we were nearly finished eating. Everything was quite tasty, and left up full, but you would expect for the prices we paid. Would we go back? Probably to try out the breakfast, but otherwise we'll stick to wine only out on the back deck. it's far cheaper to do fish and chips at the Bottom of the Harbour fish shop nearby, plus BYO from the bottle shop. DOG TIP: There's a sign saying no dogs inside, but we had no issues in the outside section (although probably only smaller dogs). read more

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So, so torn. This experience was as bittersweet as . . . as . . . a sour gummy cola bottle? I could probably do better than that if I had more time but I need to get into this review. The location is an utter star here. Right on the water, like literally built on the sand and extending out into a large salt-bleached wooden jetty, this place is all long sunny afternoons, relaxed people in loose-flowing cotton clothes and Aviators and salt-kissed hair and interesting silver rings, great maritime-y decor, a champagne bar out on the far corner near where small yachts can moor, and a full set of gorgeous blonde waitresses plucked right outta some Scandinavian Ralph Lauren catalogue. But . . ugh, the service. Admittedly, this was on a stunning Sunday afternoon and the place was packed, but even so, surely they plan for being that busy. We ordered 2 x iced coffees and a mango smoothie ($24 total). Nothing fancy. And waited half an hour for them. Thirty freaking minutes at the pickup counter with the barista there assuring us that "they're literally being whipped out right now out the back, they're literally on the way out." Well pal, after you'd told us the same thing three times in 15 minutes without ever leaving your machine or going out back to check for us, I began to suspect that you literally didn't know what you were talking about and literally didn't give a shit. The dude that eventually brought our drinks was apologetic but, y'know, damage done, man. The iced coffees were great, by the way. Really great. Woulda tasted better half an hour ago though. read more

Love the atmosphere and location of this place. This is just the type of ambiance I would want if I started my own little beach side cafe and bar. I felt like I was on the east coast of the US watching the yachts sail in and out of the harbour. Not that I've actually ever done that, so I can't even say that's what it would be like- but I've seen movies- that's what I imagine it to be. I also love the food and the fact that you can order a cheese board with a bottle of wine and just spend a lazy Saturday afternoon in the sun. But that's the thing... I went here on a Wednesday, and it was NOT sunny... in fact, it started pouring rain. Perhaps that's the reason we found it easy to find a table, had quick service and really enjoyed ourselves. From what I hear, on sunny days (and weekends) this place is a bit of a beast to get into and the service is super slow. Well... I didn't experience that, so based on my one rainy afternoon here- I'd definitely go back. read more

4.25 Stars. No, it's not cheap, but it's totally worth it... If you can find a place for you and your party to sit. I recommend following the tip here to arrive early and get super fast service, otherwise you could very well find yourself waiting around for a table for quite a while. Aside from that, my visit to The Boathouse was a standout for me. It was a picture perfect day, I ordered the beef carpaccio and a green juice, and it made me incredibly happy as I looked out on the epic view of Hunters Bay. I really thought, how can it get better than this? If you're visiting Sydney, it's totally worth it to stop by here, even over the location on Shelly Beach, in my opinion. Balmoral is gorgeous, and I love the layout of this location. The food is delicious, and if you're looking for a great way to spend a picture perfect afternoon, you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere better than this. read more

What's the deal with this place? Be prepared for dirty tables/cups, long wait times and shitty service. I've been here multiple times because the view's fab but it is consistently bad - and doesn't get better either. That being said, the food is alright and decor is relaxing but it's not really enough to make up for the rest of the experience. To the owners and management, fix it please! I want to be a loyal customer but you aren't making it easy to love the experience. read more

Tough place to review as your experience can vary so widely. Some tips to make the visit better. 1. Grab a table before ordering 2. If prices look steep get the fruit platter. Huge and excellent 3. Get meals to share. As some meals are large, some are super tasty. But it is hard to tell from the menu. read more

The Boat House is a great spot - but have noticed that food is very overpriced. If your looking for a breakfast or lunch for a big group of people - I would not recommend as prices can be a little on the heavy side. Actually a lot on the heavy side. Overall - great food with very friendly staff , and amazing views of Balmoral. I definitely recommend going to the Boat House - it was delicious. read more

So it's probably a five star but I was there post a run early in morning on a cloudy cold(ish) day. Great food but more importantly great view. Am sure on a sunny day it would get five stars, nice spot to relax. Avocado on toast and banana bread a winner. Coffee at bathers pav was better tho. read more

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It's very relaxing. The tea comes out in a nice iron pot and it looks like T2 tea. It's nice by the ocean. Excellent menu as well. But there is limited seating indoor so if it's raining be prepared. The staff will do their best to dry off the outdoor tables which have umbrellas to shield from the rain. read more

First of all we'd like to say that the food was delicious, the service prompt and the view spectacular. That being said, it is certainly not inexpensive, the menu board outside the door are the take away prices only, the choices are the same however the prices are 10.00 higher for eating there. You stand in line to order and are given a number to place on your table and you seat yourself, the problem is that it is very busy and you may end up (as we did) looking for s table only to find none available and your food is given to you. As soon as we saw someone finishing we ran to the unclean table but it was a mad dash as several other people were also waiting for tables. I'm not sure if we'll return but once again the food was very good and the view was simply amazing. read more

The Boathouse Balmoral Beach - Modern Australian Near Me - Balmoral, NSW

My boyfriend and I came here on a sunny Sunday and weren't disappointed! Balmoral on a sunny day is all about the hustle and bustle, so if you are after a quiet cafe, then this isn't your best bet. However, once seated, it doesn't feel as crowded and you can ignore the crowd and have a private conversation with the group you are with. Despite the long line to order, the cashier is extremely friendly and more than happy to accommodate meal changes or suggest options when some items have run out. The menu is extensive, with good twists on classic favourites - such as poached eggs teamed with fennel, parmesan, and baked mushrooms. The scenery - both the people, and the beach - is captivating, and makes the wait for food extremely entertaining! The staff are obviously feeling the pressure of being so busy, but are always polite. There is something for everyone - be it kids who just want some toast, or a group of women out for their morning fitness session looking for some quinoa with coconut yoghurt and fresh fruit. The vibe and the delicious food make this a place worth visiting time and time again! read more

Expensive but partly paying to be by the water. Thai is what I got and what I thought: Beef carpaccio was great, enuf for 4-5 to share pre entree. Beef burger was also excellent. Red cabbage salad was disappointing. Fish n chips was average at best, the fries tasted like large slices of deep fried mash potatoes. Sorry when you pay that much you expect delicious for everything you order. If splurging and eating next to preying seagulls at the next table, go for it. read more

The Boathouse Balmoral Beach - Modern Australian Near Me - Balmoral, NSW

The Boat House is a beach-side gem at the Balmoral Beach, one of my favourite beaches. It's hard not to fall in love with this charming establishment filled with abundance of exotic flowers, fresh fruits and the soothing seaside breeze. read more

The Boathouse Balmoral Beach - Modern Australian Near Me - Balmoral, NSW

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Waited an hour for a $14 bacon and egg roll, take away. No seating, AND the roll was cold. Pretty poor form.

not special. very long time before to be waited. Very bad service . And the food is too greasy！ ！ I felt a little sick after eating them

Expensive but food is tasty except I ordered the rice bowl which had poached eggs over cooked. I asked for bacon on the side and it came piled on top of the small bowl. Also coffee came out the same time as the food and waitress had a bit of attitude. I'm not normally a fuss pot and I didn't want to send food back because of the eggs but I did expect better service at that price. Maybe they're resting on their laurels which is a pity as it has a lot to offer with location and normally great food. read more

This place is just about the best breakfast and lunch place I think I've ever been to. A bit of a battle to find a table, but the food is fantastic, and the location is perfect. Eat, then head to the jetty to bomb into the water with the kids. read more

We went to Balmoral for lunch yesterday and disappointed again after agreeing to give it another go. We had the bucket of prawns, $40 for a bowl of unpeeled prawns, very ordinary, but worse it took over 40 minutes and all the time while the staff chatted away, seemingly more interested in their social life. Positive note is that it is a great spot. Won't be going again . read more

Oh wow. Of any takeaway shop I've been to so far in Sydney, this is the best! The coffee is absolutely superb and so are their famous bacon and egg rolls. The staff are all young yet talented workers and always bring a smile to your face. They know the locals so well they give them their own coffee cups and treat newbies with warm welcomes. A great place to come with kids and the food is exelent, perfect for a warm day in the sun! Would definetly come here again. 10/10 for everything! Nothing was wrong with it! read more

Same owners as the boathouse at Manly and Palm Beach. Menu is the same as at Manly. Food is good, service is quick. Getting a table with a view is relatively easy. Check serving times as they're strict with breakfast vs lunch menu and they shut down at 3. read more

We had a pleasant Sunday breakfast with the family even though the weather wasn't great. The meals were well cooked and generous size and a plus was the cost wasn't huge. The only other issue was our party of 7 ordered one after each other but the meals came out quite apart and even the coffee came after the meals. read more

The ordering process was a bit annoying but over all, enjoyed the view. I wasn't a fan of the salad but the scones and coffee was good. Too crowded on a summer Saturday for my liking. read more

Great place for lunch. Casual, better than "fast food", but the service is quick; nice variety of food from healthy to naughty, great location. Nice! read more

Busy, terrible service, not worth the prices that they charge. The food is not worth going through the pain.

I went here on a Thursday morning in September for breakfast. It wasn't too busy so we were able to secure a table with a view. The view was the only good thing about my experience here. The coffees were weak, my eggs were cold, my grandmas toast was burnt, the side of avocado i ordered never arrived ($4 wasted), the drinks we ordered did not arrive until after our meals and after we reminded the staff, they must have run out of decent toast because we got stuff you wouldn't even serve to ducks and the seagulls swooped at our meals the entire time. I will never be returning here. It is overpriced and overrated. I recommend you stay away. read more