Thursday, July 26, 2012

Bird and Bear




If, like the rest of Sydney, you were sorely disappointed by last summer's offering of grey, cloudy and rainy days spare a thought for the guys from Bird and Bear Boathouse who opened a cafe in arguably the worst summer holiday weather in 20 years [or living memory if you can lay claim to being a 'millennial'].

Owners Dale Hunter and Adam Marshall knew they were on to a winner with this impossible-to-beat location by the water in Elizabeth Bay. They just didn't factor in the cruel Sydney summer....luckily for them, winter has turned on some dazzling days and I suggest at the first sign of a blue sky, you pack a cardi and head on down!



The cafe is a delightful mix of rustic and nautical themes.... rough hewn tables, aluminium chairs and a few vintage props, that reflect nicely it's function as an operating marina and a place to idle away a few hours in the middle of the day. It's also a place to hire kayaks, if a trip round yonder island takes your fancy.



The word here is laid-back which is exactly what we want on a saturday morning as we ease into the rest of the weekend, right gang?



The set-up is pretty basic and the menu covers off the essentials. Kids will love the coconut drinks presented in a real coconut shell.... there's also coffee and juice; and toasties; and the salads are pretty generous. Somedays, you may even be offered a treat from the free fruit platter!


Order at  the counter and grab a perch by the water - the cafe is on a deck that is surrounded on 3 sides by the glistening and always inviting Sydney Harbour.


There has been some online debate about the quality of the coffee or the servings of food, but to me it seemed like good honest fare, pretty reasonably priced.  And if you can sit by the water with a multi million dollar view and relax uninterrupted for the price of a bottle of mineral water.....who's complaining!?




It's pretty busy on the weekend - filled with locals and visitors alike......so always a good sign.

where: Elizabeth Bay Marina, 1 Ithaca Rd
when: every day
good for : couples, groups, singles, kids that can swim



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