The Boathouse Shelly Beach

The Boathouse Shelly Beach is a café, bar and events venue on the sand at Shelly Beach in Manly, Sydney. Its setting is the main draw: the venue sits beside what it describes as the only west-facing beach on Australia’s east coast, with views across the water and a direct walk-in entrance from the beach. It is a natural stop for a relaxed meal after time by the water, or for anyone looking for a waterside setting in the Northern Beaches.

The café is open from 7am daily and does not take reservations, so guests can walk in and find a spot as they go. Breakfast and lunch are available, while the bar gives the venue a broader role beyond daytime café dining. The website’s visitor comments highlight the beach-style atmosphere, easy ordering, generous capacity and a preference for sitting facing the water. One review specifically mentions fish and chips, though the wider menu is not detailed in the supplied information.

There is also a dedicated event space on the upper level, with options for seated and canapé-style occasions. The venue hosts weddings and engagement celebrations, corporate meetings, conferences and workshops, as well as private functions such as baby showers, hen’s parties, birthdays, bar mitzvahs and engagement parties. The upper-level corporate space includes a covered balcony overlooking Shelly Beach and Manly, while event packages can include food, beverages and stationery.

The Boathouse Shelly Beach is part of the family-owned Boathouse Group, founded in 2008 by brothers Ben and Jono Isaac. The group operates hospitality venues across Sydney’s Northern Beaches, the Central Coast and the NSW South Coast, spanning cafés, restaurants, events, accommodation and homewares. For visitors, the Shelly Beach venue suits a casual beachside breakfast or lunch, a drink with a view, larger group gatherings and private celebrations in a distinctive waterfront location.