Hospitality consultant, award-winning mixologist and owner of Manly restaurant and bar Banco, Kurtis Bosley knows a thing or two about how to have a great night out in Manly. Here the local shares his knowledge for a memorable after-dark excursion to the nightlife hub of Sydney’s laidback Northern Beaches, now just as popular for its culinary scene as its buzzing late-night bars.
Salute the sunset with a drink in-hand
The night begins early at Banco on Manly’s Whistler Street, which serves a special sips and snacks menu until 6pm. “It’s our take on a happy hour, with a menu of bite-sized snacks that changes all the time — there might be a mini lobster roll, or maybe a steak tartare,” explains Kurtis, who recommends kicking off your evening with bar manager Jacopo Montis’s wine pick of the day.
“In the afternoon he’ll open a bottle of something that he’s loving to drink, and that usually that sits in the natural, biodynamic, minimal-intervention style of wine, and always has a really lovely story,” says Kurtis. “A big part of what we do in this space is have that extra interaction with guests; we talk about where the wine comes from, where your food comes from and how it might have been farmed. We want guests to feel at home here.”
Sunset tends to draw Manly locals and visitors alike to the seaside, particularly the suburb’s harbourside wharf, which offers stellar views to the southwest as the sun sinks behind the city. “Going into summer, it’s really nice to grab a beer down at Wharf Bar [also known as Manly Wharf Hotel], which was recently renovated,” says Kurtis. “The Manly Skiff Club, which has been there for over 100 years, is another good place for a sunset drink, with a great view across Little Manly.”
Across the road from Wharf Bar on Manly’s East Esplanade, also with water views, 4 Pines Brewing Company is another place you might bump into Kurtis: “They do some really cool small-batch brews here, so you can go there any day and try something new.”
Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Couple ordering cocktails at Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Couple ordering cocktails at Manly Wharf Hotel, Manly.
Manly Ferry, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
The Manly ferry service arriving at Manly Wharf.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Manly Ferry, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
The Manly ferry service arriving at Manly Wharf.
Move on to a memorable main course
With its moody lighting, cosy seating and elevated British gastropub-inspired menu, Banco is a fine choice for an intimate meal in Manly. Among Kurtis’s other top dinner picks is Manly Greenhouse, which has a contemporary restaurant, wine bar and rooftop cocktail bar spread over three lush levels overlooking Manly Beach. “They’ve got a great chef in there and it’s a beautiful space designed by [Sydney-based interior design firm] Luchetti Krelle,” Kurtis says. “They’ve got this big woodfired oven that they cook a lot of their food over — it’s really good.”
Tiny izakaya-inspired restaurant Waka on Pittwater Road is another local favourite. “If you can get a seat in this micro-restaurant, the Japanese food is excellent,” says Kurtis. For more memorable Japanese dining, Kurtis recommends heading to Sunset Sabi on Pittwater Road.
Buzzing café by day and candlelit restaurant by night, character-laden Belgrave Cartel on Belgrave Street is another Kurtis-approved dinner option. “It’s another popular local’s spot, with a good menu of Italian-inspired food and drinks,” he says.
Looking for something cheap and cheerful? Kurtis suggests another local Asian restaurant, Wokbar Manly on Belgrave Street. “It’s a go-to noodle spot that’s super underrated,” he says. “You just know you’re going to get a good meal here.”
Follow locals for a nightcap
When Banco shuts its doors for the night, Kurtis recommends following his staff to underground speakeasy-style bar The Cumberland on Central Avenue for a nightcap. “They’re only one street over and they serve some of the best drinks in town,” he says. “It’s also a beautifully fitted-out space.”
Repeat visitors to Manly might be more familiar with Hotel Steyne on The Corso, Manly’s original pub, which dates back to 1859. But you might struggle to recognise the historic watering hole if you haven’t visited recently, with a major renovation completed in late 2020 breathing new life into the venue’s multiple bar areas, bistro and 42 rooms.
“Coming from a pub background, I have a soft spot for those big venues,” says Kurtis. “The Steyne is one of the latest opening venues in Manly, so if we’re having a late one we’ll probably end up there.”
With the last ferry to Circular Quay in Sydney’s city centre pulling away from wharf after midnight, there’s plenty of time to enjoy a night out in Manly before heading back to the bright lights of the city. But if you’d prefer to bed down locally, Kurtis recommends booking into the centrally located Manly Pacific, formerly known as the Novotel. “They’ve got a good restaurant and it’s on the beachfront, so you get a really nice sunrise,” he says.
The Cumberland, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Couple watching a bartender preparing cocktails at The Cumberland, Manly.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
The Cumberland, Manly Credit: Destination NSW
Couple watching a bartender preparing cocktails at The Cumberland, Manly.
Manly Pacific Credit: Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific
Enjoying the view at the Manly Pacific Hotel in Manly, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
#feelnewsydney #ilovesydney
Manly Pacific Credit: Novotel Sydney Manly Pacific
Enjoying the view at the Manly Pacific Hotel in Manly, on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
More Inspirational Stories
Vivid Sydney 2025 In Conversation with Martha StewartCredit: Destination NSW
Vivid Sydney 2025
#ilovesydney
The world’s original global influencer, long before the term existed, Martha Stewart, is set to join Vivid Sydney for an exclusive, one off, In Conversation event.
Martha will reflect on her extraordinary career, the evolution of her personal brand and the changing face of food, design and home life. She’ll also share candid insights into her most memorable moments in popular culture—and what it really takes to stay relevant for over four decades.
“I have made some wonderful memories traveling to Australia over the years, so I am thrilled to return for Vivid Sydney. The conversation will be fun and honest, covering many aspects of my life and career”, says Martha Stewart. “I’m always looking for inspiration when I travel so I’m excited to see what Sydney has to offer.”
In Conversation with Martha Stewart will take place at International Convention Centre (ICC) Sydney on Wednesday, 28 May.
The first self-made female billionaire, Martha Stewart is an Emmy Award® winning television host, and best-selling writer of 101 books. The go to source for homemaking and culinary inspiration around the world, Martha didn’t just live the American Dream - she defined it.
From her first book, Entertaining, published in 1982, Martha Stewart has remained a household name. Never far from pop culture’s pulse, she graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2023 and, last year, was the subject of Netflix’s watercooler documentary Martha.
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini says, “Vivid Sydney is unrivalled in its ability to offer exclusive, unmissable, and one-of-a-kind events to visitors. It’s incredibly exciting to welcome one of the most revered and fascinating minds to Sydney. We could not think of a better figure that encapsulates this year’s theme of Dream more than Martha Stewart.”
Vivid Sydney Hero Images 2025 Credit: Destination NSW
Australia’s largest event will once again transform the Harbour City in 2025, from Friday, 23 May to Saturday, 14 June – with the theme of Vivid Sydney, Dream as it dares to answer the question: What’s in a dream?
#vividsydney
Vivid Sydney Hero Images 2025 Credit: Destination NSW
Australia’s largest event will once again transform the Harbour City in 2025, from Friday, 23 May to Saturday, 14 June – with the theme of Vivid Sydney, Dream as it dares to answer the question: What’s in a dream?
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper says, “Martha Stewart is a powerhouse of innovation and entrepreneurship, and her inclusion in Vivid Sydney 2025 reaffirms the festival’s ability to bring the world’s boldest characters to our Harbour City. With an array of experiences across Light, Music, Ideas and Food waiting to be discovered, we encourage every visitor to immerse themselves in all this year’s festival has to offer.”
Martha Stewart is the latest in Vivid Sydney’s Global Storyteller series, designed to bring together the world’s brightest minds and creative leaders to provide new forms of creative exchange and interactive engagement. Previous speakers include, pop culture sensations Jennifer Coolidge and Mike White, comedic visionary Amy Poehler, local superstar Troye Sivan, and Hollywood trailblazers Baz Luhrmann and Spike Lee.
Vivid Sydney will be held from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June. More festival announcements are set to be made soon.
Tickets to In Conversation with Martha Stewart are on sale Friday, 4 April at 9.00am AEDT at vividsydney.com.