Sugar Lounge Restaurant & Bar Review

Manly Beach Cuisine and Cocktails Review

42 North Steyne, Manly Beachfront
02 9977 7400

Beach Bar & Island Grill at Sugar Lounge Manly Beach Review

I and my buddy Bob from Vegas were strolling along the Manly beachfront a few weeks ago when we noticed this beach bar Sugar Lounge. Since we had just visited the gorillas at the Sydney zoo, we were in a dark continent kind of mood, so we cruised in looking for more primate action. No apes, but some fine food, superb rum cocktails, and a laid-back, torch-lit scene with Zulu frisson. The simians who served us were of the warm, erect variety who looked after us well all evening.

The grilled prawns were so tender and tasty that it felt downright luxurious having them with our wine looking out past the torches to the grand Pacific.

We had it all with a good bottle of NZ white - Secret Stone, Pinot Gris (limited selection of NZ whites and Aussie reds for $30 - $40). But being from Vegas and missing Barry Manilow, Bob was craving something a little more flamboyant. So we ordered a few of the rum cocktails which are one of the main attractions of the bar upstairs.

Atmosphere: Great drinks, fun atmosphere, exellent seaside location

Specials: Great deals on the Beach Bar Weekly Specials

Sugar Lounge Beach Bar Review

With the largest selection of world class rum in the Southern hemisphere (popular wisdom), Sugar Lounge adds a real "rum-punch" to Manly Beach. Sugar Lounge is sultry in fall and hot all year round. Sugar Lounge is guilty of being a little bit sexy, plays a strong diet of old-school reggae and attracts a large number of 20-to-30 somethings.

Rum and its various configurations are gaining some intrigue factor in the Eastern and Northern suburbs of Sydney these days. Sydney's very own The Rum Diaries are testimony to this. At Sugar Lounge, Kieran Bailey oversees the vision and is the creative force behind the elaborate cocktail menu. With his part-Jamaican, part-Birmingham background, high profile cocktail-bar resume and signature smirk, Kieran is completely at home playing with what he loves. He seems to be dwelling on his good fortune -- being able to combine a profound cocktail menu and Island style cuisine with a laid back and yet dramatic Sydney location. It’s a menu focused on working harmoniously with the rum intensive cocktail menu. But the upbeat and casual cuisine, playing on the UK Pan American cuisine trend, is no second place to the liquid attractions of the lounge.

I am a little concerned that our cocktails won’t either overpower or underpower our palates and Keiran proves able, while busy, to quickly provide gentle yet firm recommendations -- which prove excellent. You may be inclined to self-reflexively go with the most curious spicy white wine, as you usually would when considering a menu with strong Asian influences, but I’d encourage you to hold the knee-jerk and be creative or get some input from the attentive bar staff.

Keiran advises cocktails that, "aren’t too complex, serve as palette cleansers, provide a balance of sweet and sour, and have a clean fresh finish”.

He suggests:

1. Daiquiri Noir: Appleton Reserve or Mayer’s Dark Rum, Fresh Lime, Soft brown sugar

2. Chilli Bravo: Tequila base, complimented w slight kick of chilli. (Depending on who mixes the heat – ours was a decent kick of chilli).

Impressed by the guidance and not any too interested in the chocolate dessert liqueurs we asked for further recommendations on digestifs (well, what do you call ‘afters’ at a Rum Palace?).

The bar’s advice was a Roasted Pineapple Daiquiri (Roasted and fermented Pineapple, Fresh Lime, Appleton v/X, pineapple juice and vanilla syrup). The adjective sublime is not inappropriately used. If you could, you would keep this at home, but given the labour of love involved in the preparation it is likely you may just like to have Sugar Lounge do the labour while you enjoy the love.

Sample Menu

Appetizers

Hand cut chips w/ sweet chilli & sour cream $6.50

Chicken skewers w/ pineapple & lychee satay sauce $14

Louisiana popcorn squid w/ chipotle aioli $11

Seared king prawns skewers w/ a sweet chilli lime glaze $16

The Island Grill

Served with hand cuts, curly fries, sweet potato wedges, coleslaw or Island Grill chopped salad

Island Grill Burger w/ crispy pancetta, tomato jam & vintage cheddar $17

Cuban burger of chorizo, jalapeno & cream cheese stuffed portobello mushroom & aioli $17

Seared Black Angus Sirloin basted in our house sauce $26

Grilled spiced apricot lamb cutlets $25

Baby back ribs slow cooked in our house BBQ sauce $22

Jamaican bbq jerk baby chicken $21

Whole snapper grilled with garlic, herbs & chilli $24

Pizzas

Pizza flatbreads, garlic & rosemary or chilli cheese $12

Margherita w/ semi dried tomatos & buffalo mozzerella $17

Ham & Pineapple w/ buffalo mozzerella $19

Cayenne prawns & guacamole w/ salsa picante $21

Jalapeno & roasted corn w/ barossa chilli salami $20

Island grill supreme w/ bacon, pepperoni, sauteed mushrooms & olives $22

Food: Large range, delicate, well-appointed.

Service: Superb weeknights, efficient and polite weekends.

Atmosphere: Warm, sultry, rejuvenating.

Value: For location absolutely excellent! 
Opening Hours               

Monday - Wednesday 11.00am - Midnight 
Thursday  - Friday 11.00am - 03.00am
Saturday 08.00am - 03.00am
Sunday 08.00am - Midnight

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