The Bathers Pavilion Cafe

This is such a lovely spot for breakfast. Very pretty outlook over the ocean, with a relaxed vibe. Interesting and varied menu. They make their own granola, and it’s delicious, served with fresh strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.
My Sister had the polenta porridge. She said she was not a big fan of it, but I didn’t taste it, so can’t really comment. It certainly looked nice enough. The juices are good, they serve Champagne by the glass or bottle, and make a wicked Virgin Mary.
Thoroughly recommend it.

After two dinner visits in the last couple of weeks, I can say that:
1. the food will be acceptable, slightly pricy but as expected for the area
2. service will cause me to raise an internal eyebrow as the mostly foreign staff a. doesn’t know what they are selling and doesn’t much care b. can treat the patrons somewhat roughly compared to the norm in Sydney, whether because they can’t be bothered or because I always go there wearing more casual wear after a trek and clash with the mostly shirt and slacks-​wearing clientele.
Since there aren’t that many options in Balmoral without trekking back up the hill or waiting for the free shuttle bus, and since after something like 7 attempts I’ve yet to try Public Dining Room (it’s wedding season…), it is still my default option when on the Beach.
The location is great as is every location on Balmoral Beach. The area itself is just stunning. It’s not *that* far from CBD when there is no traffic. Would I go there specifically, probably not, but it’s an acceptable way to end a day that somehow finished in the area. Shrug off the service and just enjoy the food and location. Life isn’t always perfect, and to be fair, for a place that has a guaranteed audience the food is pretty good.

Location, location, location. What a view! Lovely little café right on the beach~ perfect for lunch. We were greeted and seated by Serge. Im not sure what his position is, but he was very kind and chatted with us for a good bit before we ordered. Such a beautiful day and wonderful light and the breezes coming through the windows all made for a great ambiance for certain. My friend ordered a pizza which looked good and she seemed to like and I ordered the pasta bolganese and a bloody mary~ both very good and quite filling. I wish I could have looked at the dessert menu but I was totally full.
I could have stayed there all day :) I hope to return.

I really wanted to like this place. My favourite beach, a semi-​special occasion and a lovely evening for dinner. And scored a great park! Bonus!
Boo! Seriously disappointed. The maître d’ was sloooowww and quite rude. When he eventually seated us, we enquired about another vacant table. He said he would check and let us know. Never came back. Eventually we retrieved the menus he had left on another seat nearby and figured we would just go with it. Bit slack IMHO.
When someone finally took our drinks order I was starting to get seriously cross, then a 20 minute wait for them to arrive and before we had our meal orders taken. Grrrrr. I was steaming. Combined with really unruly kids at a nearby table it was a shocker. Look I know they were busy, but for gods sake hire enough staff if you are going to turn your tables two or three times a night.
Oh yeah the food. To be honest by now I just wanted out. The salmon was ok, nothing special, my companions cannelloni was ok, and the vegetarian pasta passable.
Shame about the shit service and crappy ambience. And the rally expensive bill.
Will probably try again just because it may have been an unfortunate confluence of badness.

Great café but overpriced for me. The Real Hot Chocolate is to die for. Get a big mug of it and enjoy the rich and moreish hot chocolate. The food is also usually pretty good. The lunch menu can be a bit lack luster at times and can get expensive.

As far as Sydney Harbour locations go, they don’t get much better then Bathers at Balmoral. This beach side café has views from most tables of Middle Harbour, Manly & the Heads. The menu has a good range of choices albeit at prices reflecting the café’s location.

Great location, but we were disappointed by the food which was mediocre at best, over-​salted and ridiculously expensive. The service when it eventually arrived was of the «what do you want?» variety by our French working holiday waitress whose poor English combined with an attitude unfortunately prevalent in «La Grande Nation» left us feeling ripped off and cranky.

Qualité exellente blondes Et mecs barraqué propre sur eux, face a la mer …
certainemant un des endroits style 16éme de sydney mais façon australie :
ici regne le well been: pas de junk food, du bio partout, de l’asiate pointu et sport a mort ‚ça c’est pour le quartier ‚
le bathers pavilion est quand a lui très tradi british mais avec de beaux produits dans un décor annees trente pas etouffant…
avec des vieilles de 80 balais qui ont font 20 de moins, des couples parfait et la plus belle de toutes: josiane qui se la coule douce …

The Bather’s Pavilion is a restaurant, café and a popular spot for weddings, receptions and other events.
I was at the café for breakfast, a very popular weekend treat for lower north-​shore Sydneysiders. We had a sunny table right by the window, looking out at people walking their dogs up and down the beach esplanade. We arrived about 10am and had to wait 5 min for a table for two.
I ordered Serge’s oven baked beans with smoked ham hock and sourdough, for $ 20. It defeated me; I could not finish it all. The beans were incredible, rich and flavourful. The chunks of smoked ham were very substantial. It was also chock full of sweet roasted onions.
Top spot for a special brunch once in a while.

If reviews were only about location, Bathers would be 5 stars as its gorgeously situated across from Balmoral Beach. Unfortunately for them they also require reviews on food and service and thats when I get let down.
The food is good but it’s not great and the same can be said of the service. Although its a beautiful place to get a meal you’ll probably spend most of the night talking about the view then the food you’re eating.
$ 35 dollars for appetizers and $ 48 for mains and let me tell you — it’s not worth the price… If you like the view so much maybe grab takeaways from somewhere up the road and enjoy it on the beach… you’ll probably end up having a better time (and food)

It’s 11am on a sunny Sunday morning and I’m wending my way down Awaba Street, dreading what I’ll soon see before me. Yup, as predicted, glistening Balmoral Beach is positively teeming with people and cars are circling in a desperate dance for a park.
Why in gods name am I trying to meet up for brunch with my girls HERE? On a Sunday? Especially when the Bathers Pavilion Café doesn’t take bookings. Madness!
I’ll admit to cursing my friend who organised it, when lo and behold I get a park! Ok it’s on the waterfront and I’ll pay $ 10 for the privilege, but I’m not going to look this gift horse in the mouth.
Then, you could have struck me dead when I amble into the beautiful surrounds of Bathers Pavilion only to be told, «Table for 6? No problem, I can seat you right away.»
No. Way.
I couldn’t believe my luck. My friends didn’t have the same fortune, mind — it was a long trek down the hill for them, but once we were all together it was time to gossip and to EAT.
I’m a little bit obsessed with the blueberry pancakes here. Oh sod it, I’m obsessed with the entire breakfast menu. Every item is the height of delectability, and all is served by staff who are as sunny as their glorious surrounds. Just take a look at the photos from our brunch. Mouthwatering doesn’t even begin to describe it, right?
Look, it’s by no means the cheapest brunch spot around, but when you factor in the quality of the food and your drop dead gorgeous view, it’s absolutely worth it. Just make sure you save enough time to stroll the beach and work off your amazing meal!

Sunday morning the sea is glistening, the water crazy kayak, swimmers do laps, people jog and families swim. And then there it is a group surface in the glistening mass as fins break water and then arc back into sea. A pod of dolphins head towards Manly. This is the view we have before us at Bathers Pavilion Café. Our little family have been for their dip as we dry off and come into Bathers for breakfast. Carl who is the floor manager is one of the hospitable people we have ever been in the company of. He runs to us as we roll the pram in to the waiting area, takes it from us and notifies that there is the perfect table for us being prepared. And perfect it is.
Saltwater makes one famished so I order the baked polenta with dates, poached pear and cinnamon yoghurt and my husband decides to share a croissant with our daughter (though I think his intentions were to consume my breakfast). While we wait for our food we watch Carl attend to tables and new guests, he certainly treats each person and group like angels have entered into Bathers and he wants to bring them their best. We love the relaxed and elegant atmosphere of Bathers, the sun filled room and colourful paintings — so much so it’s a monthly visit for us.
The polenta arrives and I scoop my spoon into a corner of the Polenta. Oh so divine — smooth, creamy and dense. The dates are slightly stewed and the pears are firm, perfect combination. Of course a fork comes from my right hand side from the opposite side of the table and sinks into my breakfast. My daughter with her babycino moustache looks eagerly at me to share as I feed her Polenta she bangs her highchair for more. After all that Im not sure how much I had but I know one thing for sure I’m returning back for breakfast without these two.
After breakfast we go to the upstairs gallery to enjoy the Indigo collection and enjoy the view from the Terrace.
Bather’s is a Sydney institution that is unrivalled in location, experience, service and food.

The Kiosk sells a good selection of ‘luxury’ cold drinks including the delicious San Pellegrino range. Hot Chocolate from here is particularly decadent and comes with a take-​away marshmallow. The Coffee lacks a little for my tastes. It’s not bad, just not good. In fact I’m surprised it isn’t better given the great offerings from the Café and Restaurant.
They sell a range of beautifully presented: wraps, sandwiches and salads. The Moroccan Chicken wrap is massive with a lovely zingy sauce.
Gelato from here is cute as a button in sealed tubs and unlike the liquid version, the Coffee is the one to try.
A variety of Bathers Pavilion beach supplies complete the high-​end offering here.
Beware: They sell the Swizzle Lollies. My son cannot go by without ‘requesting’ one.