Just In: The Corner at Palm Beach Is Closing After Five Months

The aesthetic for The Boathouse Group’s eponymous venues – white-washed walls in waterfront spaces, relaxed service for an easy, refined menu – was given a switch-up when the team welcomed The Corner in Palm Beach last September. The venue was more big-city wine bar than the other Boathouse venues (which are now spread across NSW’s coast), with local chef Sam Kane (ex-Berts, Bistro Moncur, Guillaume Brahimi) captaining the kitchen. But five months in, the group has called time on the venue.

“As our first summer at The Corner draws to a close, we’re so grateful for the incredible season we’ve shared with you,” the group said on Instagram. “We will be taking a pause with our final summer service planned for Sunday, March 1.”

The concept was not intended as a pop-up or summer residency, with bookings not strong enough to sustain the venue outside of peak summer trade.

The Corner was a one-off in the 2108 postcode: open from breakfast through to dinner, with a Euro-style, ever-changing menu. It’s an approach we’ve seen recently at newish Potts Point spot Paradise, and favourites like Farmhouse, Seans and 10 William St. After the closure announcement, locals were quick to share their disappointment.

“The Corner has been such a wonderful thing,” one said, while others commented with their shock: “The Corner has been so wonderful – can’t believe that it’s taking off and now it’s closing! Thanks for the amazing food and gorgeous vibes.” Some begged the team to reconsider. “I can’t believe it, finally Palm Beach gets an awesome hatted restaurant which is 5-star all-round brilliant for locals and visitors to the area. We need this to stay. Sam does such a wonderful job and all the staff and meals are incredible, it’s a real shame for all of us here in Palmy, we love it and visit often. Please stay open, it’s the best.”

Kane’s cooking was dictated by the deliveries of the day, ever-shifting. There was house-baked sourdough with butter and radishes, grilled prawns and local bonito, all available à la carte at lunch and in a set at night. When Broadsheet visited, Coppertree Farms steak arrived just-seared, with a hulking chunk of bone marrow, a dinner plate-sized serve of skin-on fries and a herby side salad.

“I began a collaboration with The Boathouse group with a vision to build a new community offering focused on quality, innovation and effortless hospitality,” Kane wrote on Instagram today. “I am proud of what we have built in such a short period of time. It’s been exciting to work with some of the finest producers in Australia. I admire their commitment to quality and integrity and sharing their offerings with a wider audience has been a privilege. The Boathouse Group have called time on this shared venture … I’d like to thank all those who have supported me in this endeavour, it has been such a great honour for me and my team.”

The pointy end of the northern beaches is known as a holiday destination – many of its houses are rentals, sitting empty for the cooler months. In 2021, there were only 1652 permanent residents in the suburb, likely contributing to the mixed fortunes of venues in the area.

The Corner’s final service will be Sunday March 1, 2026.