Manly Wine Bar - Miss Marleys

There's a first time for everything. I didn't even have time to blog about (or even mention) a fabulous little small bar/restaurant in Manly and you took me there for our date on Friday night. Bonus brownie points are definitely in order!

I first stumbled across Miss Marley's when looking for event spaces to hold your 30th. I was after something edgy, intimate and fun, but just not in Manly! I took a mental note of it to add to my must visit list.

At risk of being all style and no substance, what attracted me to Miss Marley's is the distinct nod to the 1950s. It looked like you'd be dining in someone's lounge room. Miss Marley's decor is one part homely, one part glam and one part quirky. The white leather studded ottomans, silver pedestal tables and antique coloured glass ashtrays that sit above a custom Miss Marley's red carpet makes quite the first impression. It has to be noted that what they say on their website is entirely true "Miss Marley's - another place that's so discreetly signposted you'll walk up and down all night unless I tell you that it's at Number 32 Belgrave St, opposite the tennis courts."

When we did eventually locate Miss Marley's and were seated at our table that's when I could really appreciate the level of detail that has gone into the design. The Florence Broadhurst wallpaper had been distressed so that it looked like it had seen its fair share of dinner parties, the original 50s wine fridge next to the functional gunmetal credenza surrounded by a mismatched collection of ottomans, chairs and lounges were so expertly placed that you really could believe that they developed organically over time as Miss Marley moved from place to place. Then there were the small touches - the 50s lanterns, the cut glass brandy decanter, the books.

However, just when I thought that I had Miss Marley's all summed up, a trip to the bathroom brought a new level of quirkiness to the equation! The walls & ceiling were covered in astroturf! Hilarious! But it actually worked.

You'd done a lot more reading up on the food than I did (I know I should be ashamed of myself). Miss Marley's serves South American style tapas. We had the Empanadas (very tasty), followed by the Tunapica (diced raw tuna, coconut, dried raisins...yum) and then we shared the Aji de Gallina curry (which if I'm completely honest was a little bland but had a good texture and level of spiciness). The house bubbles were a lovely way to toast to the year of INR ;)

The service was very good (although we were pleased that we had the lovely English waitress and not the younger waiter - who was more interested in ruining the perfectly balanced arrangement of ornaments on the wine fridge than remaining attentive to diners vying for his attention - bless). 

Price wise it was in line with what you'd expect to pay at a Firefly or Gazebo etc. I'd love to go back with friends and plough our way through that tequila cocktail list...

My darling Fisherman you have outdone yourself. Keep choosing as well as you did on Friday and this blog might be made redundant!

xx