Restaurant
Mate's Baywatch Cafe
423 Esplanade, Manly QLD 4179, Australia
Find Mate's Baywatch Cafe
423 Esplanade, Manly QLD 4179, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Plan your visitAbout Mate's Baywatch Cafe
Mate's Baywatch Cafe delivers nostalgic waterfront milk-bar staples alongside Vietnamese street food right across from the Manly marina. Grab crispy crumbed snapper, hot chips, and potato scallops for the grass across the Esplanade, or skip the fryer entirely. Locals regularly go out of their way for crusty pork banh mi stuffed with coriander and chili, vermicelli salads, or an old-school burger stacked with grilled onions, beetroot, and a house-made beef patty. Round it off at the counter with a thick shake or scoops of hokey pokey ice cream.
- Vietnamese Meets Seaside Chippie: Crisp banh mi rolls and noodle salads served right alongside traditional battered seafood and chips.
- Scratch-Made Burgers: Old-school milk-bar burgers built with house-made patties, beetroot, and grilled onions.
- Waterfront Milk-Bar Fare: Set right across from the Esplanade parkland and marina, complete with scoops of ice cream and thick shakes.
What's On at Mate's Baywatch Cafe
Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.
No events or specials listed right now.
Why Choose Mate's Baywatch Cafe
Discover why visitors choose Mate's Baywatch Cafe for seaside classics, homemade burgers, and fresh Vietnamese street food along the Esplanade.
Fresh, Crispy Battered Catch of the Day
Cooked to order with crisp battered or crumbed fish and hot chips ideal for enjoying along the Manly waterfront.
super fresh, crispy on the outside and tender in the inside
Jess Juicy In-House Homemade Burger Patties
Traditional burgers stacked with house-made meat patties and classic milk-bar fillings rather than frozen substitutes.
Homemade patty, onions, beetroot, lettuce fresh bun and not too much sauce.
Noel Wood Crisp, Flavorful Banh Mi Rolls
Freshly assembled crusty rolls packed with savory barbecued meats, coriander, and crisp vegetables directly opposite the bay.
Roll fresh and crunchy, heaps of bbq pork, fresh crunchy cucumber/shallots/coriander and killer flavours.
Steve Bocking Fresh Vietnamese Noodle Salad Alternatives
Wholesome rice noodle salads and charcoal meats offer an invigorating fresh alternative to fried seaside takeaways.
Was in search to have takeaway by the esplanade other than fish and chips.
Simone Saverin Nostalgic Seaside Milk-Bar Atmosphere
A vintage milk-bar setting pairing classic seaside favorites with genuine neighborhood warmth.
Nice old school fish & chip shop with an ice-cream bar... the food tasted just like when I was a kid, very nostalgic.
Jessica Walden Rich Scooped Ice Cream by the Water
Generously scooped creamy ice cream flavors crafted for leisurely strolls along the Esplanade marina.
It was so rich in flavour and so creamy, it was delicious.
Chevy Chaudhary
Most popular items
Local waterfront favorites from traditional takeaway fish & chips to fresh Vietnamese dishes
Fish and Chips
The best fish and chips I’ve had in a long while.
Jess Hamburger
we both thought it was the best burger we can remember eating and was really well priced.
Guy Broadbent Banh Mi Rolls
Best Banh Mi ever.....
Steve Bocking Vietnamese Salad
I can highly recommend the Vietnamese Salad, charcoal chicken and rice noodle with a salad dressing, very healthy and very filling.
Simone Saverin
Before you head over
Practical advice for planning your visit to the Manly waterfront
Plan Around Sunday Market Parking
Street parking can be difficult along the Esplanade on Sundays when local markets are running and crowds head to the waterfront, so allow extra time to find a spot.
Head to the Waterfront Park for Seating
Indoor and outdoor cafe seating can fill quickly or need wiping during rush times, so consider taking your meal across the street to the shaded park overlooking the bay.
Look Beyond the Fryer for Vietnamese Dishes
If you want a lighter alternative to traditional battered fish or burgers, check the board for freshly prepared Vietnamese items like Banh Mi rolls and charcoal chicken noodle salads.
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