Australia’s oldest open boat sailing club has a new waterfront restaurant and café.
The transformation reveals a bright, family friendly restaurant that is open now and a new pier café that will open on 19 October at the Sydney Flying Squadron in Kirribilli.
Entrepreneur Adam Marshall, who many may remember from the beloved Bird and Bear café in Elizabeth Bay, spearheads the venture.
“The history and location of this building is truly special. It was crying out for something that breathed new life into its heritage and did justice to its remarkable views. Our inspiration was to transform the space into a harbour retreat for locals and professionals from North Sydney, which in turn would secure the ongoing viability of this unique community asset,” he said.
Founded in 1891, the Sydney Flying Squadron is the birthplace of the famous Sydney Harbour sailing skiff classes and, to this day, the sailors maintain the tradition with enthusiasm and dedication.
The venue will be overseen by general manager Mauricio Moreno and head chef Fernando Sanchez, formerly of Darlinghurst’s Food Society.
Sanchez brings a social dimension to the modern Australian menu, with large share plates like crispy roast chicken with chimichurri and slow roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary aioli. Paying tribute to its waterside location, the menu also boasts impressive signature seafood dishes such as the delicate starter of Tasmanian salmon cured in tequila, lime and cumin with crème fraiche, sourdough wafer and dill leaf and the more substantial seafood plate with grilled prawns, tender calamari, lemon and thyme BBQ octopus and pan seared market fish of the day.
The new décor complements the club’s heritage and surroundings with bright timber finishing and highlights, accentuating its biggest asset, the picturesque harbour view. The new format also sees the creation of several versatile function spaces which range in capacity from intimate gatherings of 30 guests to corporate functions and weddings of over 200.
Foys Kirribilli and the Flying Bear are located within the Sydney Flying Squadron premises at 76 McDougall St, Kirribilli NSW.
