Fresh Catch: Manly Boathouse Launches New Seafood Market The Trawler

The Manly Boathouse is already known for its seafood, drinks, and bay views. Now, the restaurant is expanding its ocean offerings with The Trawler, a seafood marketplace selling the freshest catch.


Read: New Look For Moreton Bay Trailer Boat Club As Major Renovations Finally Begin


The Trawler is a refurbished fishing trawler that is now a marketplace for delicious local seafood, situated on The Dock at the back of Manly Boathouse. 

Run by owners Nikki and Greg, who have over 25 years of seafood experience, this new seafood market sources premium local seafood straight from their fishing boats and a small network of trusted fishermen.

Photo credit: The Trawler/Instagram

On offer is a mouthwatering selection of seafood like Mooloolaba ocean king prawns, green headless prawns, cooked medium or large sand crabs, knobby snapper, Sydney rock oysters, and whole Moreton Bay bugs. Prices are at wholesale rates, providing an affordable way to shop for the very best seafood.

Photo credit: The Trawler/Instagram

Beyond the fresh catches, they also offer accoutrements like sauces whipped up by Manly Boathouse’s head chef Braden White. You can also pick up Trawler-branded gear like eskys, buckets, and caps to complete your seafood experience.

Before or after shopping at The Manly Boathouse’s seafood market, grab a coffee or brekkie at Manly Boathouse’s Patio. Or enjoy the seafood at the adjoining restaurant and soak in the spectacular bay views.

Photo credit: The Trawler/Instagram

For seafood lovers, this new seafood marketplace at Manly Boathouse is a new weekend ritual. Swing by the pontoon to shop for premium catches straight from the ocean at unbeatable prices.


Read: Inside SeaVibes Manly, The Esplanade’s Go-To For Fresh Seafood


The Trawler operates every Saturday and Sunday from 6:00 -10:30 a.m. Visit Manly Boathouse’s website to view their menu or follow them on Instagram @thetrawlermanlyboathouse for updates.

Published 21-January-2024

Take A Look Inside The Newly Opened Manly Boathouse

Manly Boathouse is now open and ready to welcome guests! Check out their new space — a sophisticated and spacious dining area that boasts breathtaking views of Manly boat harbour and Moreton Bay.

The whitewashed interiors are bright and airy, giving the restaurant a classic look and relaxed feel. This Hamptons-styled restaurant provides the best views of the bayside from every table, thanks to the giant wall of windows.

Inside Manly Boathouse (Photo credit: opentable.com.au) Inside Manly Boathouse (Photo credit: opentable.com.au)
Outdoor dining (Photo credit: opentable.com.au)
Photo credit: opentable.com.au

Owners Nikki and Greg Kay, who also run the Reef Seafood and Sushi restaurant in Newstead, opened Manly Boathouse on 8 February 2021. The opening was delayed three days due to a burglary, causing the owners to reschedule bookings for the grand opening.

The highlight of the place is ‘The Patio,’ which includes a fish and chippery, a cafe, a gelato bar, and a patisserie. As with the indoor dining area, it has a beachy vibe with its stripey umbrellas and white picnic tables. All patisserie and gelato products are freshly made on site.

The kitchen has Chef Braden White at the helm. Chef Braden is the talent behind the simple yet packed menu with a focus on carefully curated seafood produce cooked over local timber on custom-made barbecue grills. Think a bucket of prawns and oysters or a serving of the superb crab linguine. 

Photo credit: opentable.com.au
Photo credit: opentable.com.au

In addition to seafood and vegetarian options, they also have special menus available on request. For drinks, they have an impressive list of cocktails and CUB beers, as well as wines and spirits.       

Manly Boathouse is open breakfast through dinner seven days a week, from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm. No reservations are required at The Patio but bookings are encouraged if you want to dine in the restaurant or at the bar. Bookings are done through Facebook and OpenTable

Manly Boathouse: Bayside’s Newest Seafood Go-To Opens

Despite some unexpected structural issues during the redevelopment and a burglary days before its scheduled opening date, Bayside’s newest restaurant, Manly Boathouse, has finally welcomed diners at the site of the former Wilson’s Boathouse.



Bound to be the new seafood go-to, Manly Boathouse is from the team behind Newstead’s Reef Seafood and Sushi, Nikki and Greg Kay, both old-timers in the seafood industry. 

Braden White is the talented chef heading the kitchen, where he will be creating and cooking up mouthwatering culinary treats, such as this winning sand crab linguine. 

Photo Credit: Manly Tastetest/Instagram

Diners can expect to order a plate full of fresh sashimi, buckets of prawns, hefty seafood platters, and wood-grilled seafood goodness like barramundi or swordfish, as well as a range of roasted BBQ chicken, slow-cooked lamb shoulders or premium steaks. (SEE MENU

To complement the food, the restaurant also offers a wide selection of wines from France, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and some local favourites. The choices for cocktails or craft beers are extensive as well. 

The boulangerie serves a rotating selection of pastries like croissants, danishes and cream puffs.

Photo Credit: The White Boathouse/Instagram

Within the next few days, Manly Boathouse will open its outdoor kiosks right by The Patio section. The kiosks will feature a fish & chippery, a coffee bar and a gelateria boasting of freshly-made cold treats. 

The casual open-space dining area, set with picnic tables and striped umbrellas, requires no reservation and promptly opens at 5:00 a.m. for breakfast lovers who can enjoy classic dishes with a gourmet twist.  



Follow @manlyboathouse on Instagram for updates and book a table online via OpenTable.

Former Wilson’s Boathouse to Open as Manly Boathouse This Summer

A new food and lifestyle precinct at the former Wilson’s Boathouse site will open at the Manly Harbour this summer. New tenants Nikki and Greg Kay, who run the popular Reef Seafood and Sushi in Newstead, have moved in to establish Manly Boathouse. 

Wilson’s Boathouse lost its bid to remain in the waterfront after the Supreme Court stepped in and ordered the owners to vacate the premises. The restaurant closed permanently after 18 years of operation.



The award-winning seafood restaurant, which was once visited by Hollywood star Angeline Jolie, lost its tenancy effective 15 Oct 2020. Despite fighting to stay open, Wilson’s Boathouse owners Neil Jedid and Diane Mansfield said it was an unequal match against the government. 

The Department of Transport and Main Roads owns the land where the restaurant stood. 

“This is a heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported us for the past 18yrs,” the owners posted on Facebook. “We appreciated your loyalty immensely, we love our community. Everyone knows what happened to us, and we thank everyone who helped us with our cause. We’re looking forward for another venture, you’ll see Wilson’s Boathouse somewhere soon.”

Photo Credit: Facebook

Meanwhile, refurbishments and renovations are on-going for the new restaurant. The Kays are adding picnic tables by the waterfront of the Manly Boathouse, which will have a gelateria, a French patisserie and a fish and chippery.  

Photo Credit: Reef Seafood and Sushi

Two private dining rooms will be added to the main building where intimate parties like weddings and other functions can take place. 



Chef Braden White will head Manly Boathouse’s kitchen, which will open from breakfast to dinner for the whole week. The Kays also plans to add a drive-through service for boaties.

Manly Boathouse‘s redevelopment is expected to be completed by the end of the year and will open in time for the summer. For store updates, follow their Facebook page