The Boathouse – Palm Beach

About the prettiest place you can be in Sydney on a sunny day. The Boathouse at Palm Beach sits on the water on the bay side of Palm Beach right on the tip of Sydney’s northern beaches peninsular. There is a very nautical feel to The Boathouse. Old row boats and lobster pots line the entrance to the cafe. On a Sunday you need to be patient, with a chalkboard out front suggesting a 30 minute wait for food. Luckily I am not eating but the wife is. Despite the crowds my coffee arrives quite quickly in a generous cup. A dedicated barista is a good sign where seemingly everyone is opting for seafood platters or fish and chips.
My cappuccino is good without scaling the heights of the coffee you might have in the city. There is a definite bitter aftertaste that accompanies each sip. The milk is nicely textured and adequately smooth. If you are up this far on the peninsular though it’s quite good quality. The latte art is a nice touch and there’s more than enough coffee to last more than a few sips.
While the coffee is good I think it’s the food here that is the hero. The wife has flathead fish with chips. She’s quick to proclaim that The Boathouse’s chips are some best chips that she’s ever tasted. I will go out on the limb and say the presentation is about the best i have seen of fish and chips. A cute little wooden tray contains the fish, chips, and a tangy pesto mayonnaise. Both the fish and chips have light beer batter that is crunchy yet devoid of any oil. It’s the first time I have seen the wife completely finish a fish & chips, a real testament to the quality of the food.
The service is friendly despite the crowds. There is a lots of seating both inside and out but get here early if you want a seat inside with the views to the water and West Head.
The Boathouse is a fantastic all rounder, really good seafood and decent coffee. On a cool May day it’s packed to the brim so I can imagine lines would be long in the spring and summer.
The Boathouse is about 40km from the city but definitely worth the drive. Budget the whole afternoon to have a slow lunch, and laze around the beaches in the area. For the kids, there are lots of green parkland to play around in.

Recommendation : One of the best places to be on a sunny Sydney day. Food wins out over coffee though.