Skimming across the harbour to Manly Cove is one of the most enjoyable things to do in our grand city, and with a stellar new focus at The Bistro Manly Pavilion awaiting your arrival, it’s even more reason to buy a ferry ticket and take the ride.

Owned by the Miramare Group, Heritage-listed Manly Pavilion was built back in 1933 as a pit stop for locals to slip into their bathers before diving in the surf. Now it’s place where long languid lunches or dinner dates whet their appetite and enjoy the views of the ripples outside.

Housed on the first floor space The Bistro has an alfresco balcony that hugs the Floor-ceiling glass windows while inside an understated fitout of polished concrete floors, banquettes, brown bistro chairs and hanging plants provides a canvas for the pleasing spin on Italian by Tuscan born chef Andrea Corsi (Cala Luna, Cavallino).

You can choose your own adventure – just make sure you order the gnudi – a Tuscan staple where light spinach and ricotta dumplings wade in a puddle of tomato veloute. Cherry tomato, chilli and caper stew do wonders with braised octopus tentacles, while pomegranate, mint and burnt butter labneh are bang on with roasted eggplant. Then a huge, tender veal Milanese (crumbed) arrives with a handful of fries and half a lemon to bring spark to your meat.

Finally Corsi’s ‘Manly Pav’ – a mix of meringue, champagne cream, raspberries and passionfruit curd – delivers a clever, yet satisfying swansong.

Must eat dish: Spinach and ricotta gnudi with tomato, basil
Instagram: @manlypavilion