Waterfront northern beaches restaurants for Valentine’s Day

LOOKING for somewhere to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Here are five romantic waterfront restaurants on Sydney’s northern beaches to woo your loved one.

Beverley Hudec

2 min read

February 10, 2017 - 12:00AM

Manly Daily

So romantic: Isolated Cottage Point Inn is the perfect Valentine’s Day destination. Picture: Troy Snook

Manly

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WHEN it comes to romance the northern beaches does wooing with the “wow” factor.

It has some of the most romantic locations to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Cottage Point Inn, the waterside venue deep in Kuring-gai National Park, would have to be one of the most romantic spots.

There aren’t many places where guests can arrive by seaplane, step straight off the pontoon and have a glass of bubbly in their hand within minutes. Restaurateur Shane Olesen has seen many nervous guests pop the question.

Step off the seaplane at Cottage Point Inn and straight into lunch.

Proposals often happen between the main course and dessert. The public wharf, although it is in full view of the restaurant, is a popular spot for guests to get down on one knee, he said.

“People tend wander off to the public wharf to propose,” he said.

“They are generally greeted by a round of applause, it’s sometimes quite raucous when they get back to their table.”

With a number of seaplane bookings for Valentine’s Day’s $160 five-course degustation with bubbles on arrival, Mr Olesen is expecting loved-up diners to pop the question. Bookings will run into the evening, Mr Olesen said.

The Harbour backdrop is a perfect setting for couples at Hugo’s Manly and Manly Pavilion. Both restaurants have created menus for the special day.

Bistro at Manly Pavilion is perfect for all romantics.

Executive chef Jason Roberts has a three-course meal at Bistro at Manly Pavilion for $149 a couple. Diners will get a glass of Chandon NV rose on arrival. Booking are essential.

Across Manly Cove and Dave Evans’ restaurant Hugos has five set times for dinner bookings, starting from 6pm for the $85-a- head menu. Guests start with a sharing plate and then can choose from a number of mains including angel hair pasta with rare yellowfin tuna, rocket, chilli or one of the award-winning pizzas.

Jonah’s and Pilu at Freshwater have limited tables left. Dinner reservations are full at Jonah’s but there is limited spaces for the $140-a-head, three-course lunch with a glass of Bollinger.

Jonah's at Whale Beach has seen many marriage proposals.

Pilu can still cater for night owls with 9pm spots left for Giovanni Pilu’s $150-a-head, four-course meal. Match the meal with wine, and it will be $210 a person.

Middle Harbour fine-diner Ormeggio is open from 5.30pm on Valentine’s Day. The four-course degustation is $135 per person and $5 from each table will be donated to Heart Research Australia.