The Boathouse Balmoral Beach

The Balmoral Boatshed was once a plain, kiosk-style cafe filled with ice-cream cabinets. That changed when the landlords offered the space to beachside specialists Pip and Andrew Goldsmith, the husband and wife team behind The Boathouse Palm Beach and The Boathouse Shelly Beach.

The project was a homecoming of sorts for Pip, who grew up around Balmoral. The duo brought in Ici et La striped stools, white picnic benches, wooden deckchairs, blackboard menus and potted vegetation to create a smart but casual eatery with an inclusive nature. It’s easy to pass an afternoon here drinking a bottle of rosé (there are four to choose from), surrounded by vases of fresh-cut blooms.

The menu keeps it light. At breakfast an egg-and-bacon roll is the odd one out next to a vegie bowl, Bircher muesli and a seasonal fruit plate. Lunch riffs on the beach location with beer-battered flathead; a trout board with pâté and crème fraîche; and the expressively named “Bucket of prawns”. Salads and burgers round out the selection. The usual fresh juices and milkshakes are also available.