Guidebook for Rose Bay
Food Scene
Catalina Restaurant
New South Head Road Fine dining at its best with outstanding views.
Regatta Rose Bay
594 New South Head Rd Views and romance. Great food.
Local fish and chips. it's excellent but not cheap. Also fishmonger.
6 locals recommend
Vaucluse Ocean Food
669 Old South Head Rd Local fish and chips. it's excellent but not cheap. Also fishmonger.
Sydney Seaplane terminal for brunch, lunch or dinner. Watch seaplanes take off and land, sparkling harbour views, enjoy the seafood platter or a drink with a spectacular view.
7 locals recommend
Empire Lounge
Sydney Seaplane terminal for brunch, lunch or dinner. Watch seaplanes take off and land, sparkling harbour views, enjoy the seafood platter or a drink with a spectacular view.
Beneath Regatta another waterfront gem down in the Marina. Enjoy brunch and watch the harbour. The nearby parkside beach is pretty.
10 locals recommend
Tide Cafe
594 New South Head RdBeneath Regatta another waterfront gem down in the Marina. Enjoy brunch and watch the harbour. The nearby parkside beach is pretty.
Best staff in Sydney - so friendly. Hearty brunch and great coffee. A spot to enjoy reading your newspaper too.
9 locals recommend
Jezve Coffee
596 New South Head RoadBest staff in Sydney - so friendly. Hearty brunch and great coffee. A spot to enjoy reading your newspaper too.
Mangia e Bevi
702 New South Head RdGreat pizza. Down to earth local.
Sonoma Café Rose Bay
New South Head RoadGreat brunch spot. Also selling bread and bakery items.
Sightseeing
Rose Bay Marina
594 New South Head RdFerry from Rose Bay to Circular Quay takes you right past the Opera House for outstanding views and photos. Walk around the beautiful sails of the building. Stroll further into the beautoful botanic gardens.
1998 locals recommend
Sydney Opera House
Ferry from Rose Bay to Circular Quay takes you right past the Opera House for outstanding views and photos. Walk around the beautiful sails of the building. Stroll further into the beautoful botanic gardens.
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour BridgeDirect ferry link from Rose Bay to Manly. Enjoy the beach, bars, restaurants at famous Manly Beach.
The ferry takes you out between Sydney's harbour headlands into the Ocean and accross to Manly - it is an exciting trip.
Manly acquarium is much lower key than the Sydney Acquarium and exhibits and staff great.
280 locals recommend
Manly Wharf station
West EsplanadeDirect ferry link from Rose Bay to Manly. Enjoy the beach, bars, restaurants at famous Manly Beach.
The ferry takes you out between Sydney's harbour headlands into the Ocean and accross to Manly - it is an exciting trip.
Manly acquarium is much lower key than the Sydney Acquarium and exhibits and staff great.
Short sightseing trip from the air around Sydney harbour or a longer and very special lunch trip to Whale Beach. Pricey and something very special. An experience you will remember forever.
36 locals recommend
Sydney Seaplanes
Short sightseing trip from the air around Sydney harbour or a longer and very special lunch trip to Whale Beach. Pricey and something very special. An experience you will remember forever.
Parks & Nature
Bondi Beach
Milk Beach
Along the Hermitage Foreshore walking track.
An easy walking or running track from Rose Bay to Neilson Park along the harbour foreshore. Discover pretty little harbour beaches and spectacular views.
Hermitage Foreshore Walk
Hermitage Foreshore WalkAn easy walking or running track from Rose Bay to Neilson Park along the harbour foreshore. Discover pretty little harbour beaches and spectacular views.
Hire a paddle board from Rose Bay beach and enjoy great views of the harbour from the water. You can trace the same foreshore as the Hermitage Track all the way to Neilson Park, Watsons Bay if you're able. Get great arms doing it :) wear loads of sunscrean, please.
15 locals recommend
Rose Bay Aquatic Hire
Hire a paddle board from Rose Bay beach and enjoy great views of the harbour from the water. You can trace the same foreshore as the Hermitage Track all the way to Neilson Park, Watsons Bay if you're able. Get great arms doing it :) wear loads of sunscrean, please.
Around the corner from Watsons Bay. You'll have to look up directions to find it. it's the most European scene of all our beaches. Look back from near the end of Sydney's eastern headland all the way to the Harbour Bridge.
50 locals recommend
Camp Cove Beach
Around the corner from Watsons Bay. You'll have to look up directions to find it. it's the most European scene of all our beaches. Look back from near the end of Sydney's eastern headland all the way to the Harbour Bridge.
Getting Around
Rose Bay Wharf station
Essentials
Woolworths Rose Bay (Metro)
757 New South Head RdSupamart IGA Rose Bay
1-5 Dover RdBetter selection than Woolworths, i think.
Most delicious fruit and veg in Sydney with prices to match. Also, European products particularly Italian food items.
24 locals recommend
Parisis Food Hall
19-21 Dover RdMost delicious fruit and veg in Sydney with prices to match. Also, European products particularly Italian food items.
Drinks & Nightlife
Pinch-yourself view of Bondi and the ocean. Great cocktails and a reasonable selection of bar food. The restaurant is something special too but much more pricey of course.
468 locals recommend
Icebergs Dining Room and Bar
1 Notts AvePinch-yourself view of Bondi and the ocean. Great cocktails and a reasonable selection of bar food. The restaurant is something special too but much more pricey of course.
Mrs Sippy
Bar with DJs for some dancing.
The Golden Sheaf
429 New South Head RdCasual and good pub food. Sometimes live music - see listings.
Quick ferry trip to Watsons Bay to enjoy beautiful views and drinks and dine at the Watsons Bay Hotel. Do check the return ferry timetable (especially on a Sunday (I think) or be happy to catch a taxi or Uber home though.
193 locals recommend
Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel
1 Military RdQuick ferry trip to Watsons Bay to enjoy beautiful views and drinks and dine at the Watsons Bay Hotel. Do check the return ferry timetable (especially on a Sunday (I think) or be happy to catch a taxi or Uber home though.
Who can resist a bar right on Bondi Beach? The food is pretty good. The drinks a bit more so so (i think). the vibe can be so chilled and a lot of fun.
437 locals recommend
The Bucket List
1 Queen Elizabeth DrWho can resist a bar right on Bondi Beach? The food is pretty good. The drinks a bit more so so (i think). the vibe can be so chilled and a lot of fun.
Great bar. See listings for live music but this will be quite chilled. Its not a music venue but I've enjoyed some good stuff here. Fantastic location, accross from Bondi Beach.
232 locals recommend
Hotel Ravesis
118 Campbell ParadeGreat bar. See listings for live music but this will be quite chilled. Its not a music venue but I've enjoyed some good stuff here. Fantastic location, accross from Bondi Beach.
Right alongside the Opera House. Get there by Ferry from Rose Bay Wharf. Check return ferry times! Iconic bar and great summer vibe.
403 locals recommend
Opera Bar
Macquarie StreetRight alongside the Opera House. Get there by Ferry from Rose Bay Wharf. Check return ferry times! Iconic bar and great summer vibe.
Inside the Opera House. Get there by direct ferry from Rose Bay Wharf to Circular Quay. Its right inside the Opera House with breathtaking views framed by the "sails" of the Opera House over the harbour. Great menu of interesting bar nibbles. It's not cheap but not really more expensive than any other bar around Sydney's stunning waterfront (prime real estate). I only started going recently and just loved it. It's not really a secret spot but maybe not something you'd think of
23 locals recommend
Bennelong Restaurant and Bar
Inside the Opera House. Get there by direct ferry from Rose Bay Wharf to Circular Quay. Its right inside the Opera House with breathtaking views framed by the "sails" of the Opera House over the harbour. Great menu of interesting bar nibbles. It's not cheap but not really more expensive than any other bar around Sydney's stunning waterfront (prime real estate). I only started going recently and just loved it. It's not really a secret spot but maybe not something you'd think of
Arts & Culture
There is a reasonable section on Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Art. The main galleries also reveal how Europersn settlers adapted from painting "romantic" European-style landscapes to learning to reflect the colour and light and nature of Australia quite differently. The ticketed exhibitions can be good. The cafe is great but often busy. The restaurant is part of the Chiswick family - excellent food, but pricey. Set in the beautiful Botanic Gardens
32 locals recommend
Art Gallery Of NSW station
There is a reasonable section on Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Art. The main galleries also reveal how Europersn settlers adapted from painting "romantic" European-style landscapes to learning to reflect the colour and light and nature of Australia quite differently. The ticketed exhibitions can be good. The cafe is great but often busy. The restaurant is part of the Chiswick family - excellent food, but pricey. Set in the beautiful Botanic Gardens
Direct ferry trip from Rose Bay Wharf to Circular Quay. Take in the Opera House and Harbour Bridge view on route. Walk past the parade of buskers (sometimes great) to the MCA. The exhibtions are usually fantastic. The setting is stunning.
829 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art
140 George StDirect ferry trip from Rose Bay Wharf to Circular Quay. Take in the Opera House and Harbour Bridge view on route. Walk past the parade of buskers (sometimes great) to the MCA. The exhibtions are usually fantastic. The setting is stunning.
Easy bus trip from the bus stop on New South Head Road. Great with kids. Great on a rainy day! Not exactly a world renowned Museum (depending on where you come from and your point of view). The local content could be improved. However, its a beautiful old snadstone building and the dinosaurs are sure to please.
320 locals recommend
Australian Museum
1 William StEasy bus trip from the bus stop on New South Head Road. Great with kids. Great on a rainy day! Not exactly a world renowned Museum (depending on where you come from and your point of view). The local content could be improved. However, its a beautiful old snadstone building and the dinosaurs are sure to please.