Poolside Cafe — Restaurant in Sydney

On the shore of Wooloomooloo Bay in the Domain Sydney, you will find Andrew “Boy” Charlton Pool. Named after the Olympic swimmer, this facility has a 50 metre pool with lanes to swim laps, a swim school and even yoga classes. We visited the pool for another reason, to eat brunch in a prime café location overlooking the ocean. The poolside café is nestled within the Royal Botanic Gardens above the pool, and with a outside deck as well as interior seating and floor to ceiling glass, you can watch the swimmers in action or simply enjoy the prime views of the harbour.

It is a casual dining space with plenty of people grabbing a bite to eat after their swim so it was a comfortable space to do that. We do read though that they are available to hire out for more sophisticated events.

We called and reserved a table, but there were walk-ins available on the day. The staff were friendly and very helpful and certainly kept on their feet that day with plenty of customers. The menu is very appealing, with lots of fresh and healthy options, using seasonal and local ingredients. There’s also a few naughty options if you’re more inclined for a burger or pancakes. The menu does have dairy free, gluten free and vegan dishes available.

We enjoy the beautiful “blush bircher muesli” made with almond milk, and topped with raspberries, kiwi, strawberries, coconut, pistachio & roasted hazelnuts. It was presented really nicely and the flavour was lovely. The nuts on top gave it good flavour and crunch too.

We also order a savoury option; the poached eggs and brown rice topped with a tempura like crispy enoki, sage burnt butter, natural yoghurt, toasted paprika crumbs, fried shallots and umami salt. The ingredients worked so well together and it also was presented really well.

Drinks wise, there’s coffee, tea, smoothies and milkshakes to accompany your breakfast.

If you’re there for lunch, they do have a separate menu and you can get wine and beers then as well.

We’d absolutely return, for the food was excellent, and it really is in the most...

Never thought I'd feel strongly enough to review negatively on Google! Sadly this place has damaged my faith in humanity, it was so disappointing. That's right! I've lost my belief in the inherent goodness of the human spirit!

The Only good thing about this cafe is the location. Waiter got our coffees wrong (large skim latte & large strong latte), which in many cultures is grounds for the declaration of war.

In this case the fun was only beginning- the interesting menu included reference to breakfasts that included fried or poached egg - that's right, egg. Singular. My face fell and i briefly considered flipping the table in outrage- crimes against breakfast should be prohibited under the Geneva Convention.

In the end, exasperated, i ordered poached eggs (plural this time) on toast with bacon on the side. Safe choice, i thought, and I've never been more unprepared for the damage to civilisation that ensued.

Two enormous pieces of (admittedly delicious) bread, a single egg, and a SINGLE rasher of overcooked bacon. The side order of bacon was priced at $4.50, which i think means that the bacon was responsible for the crash in gold prices that coincided, as brokers switched to the more secure currency.

All in all a terrible crime against humanity- fighting the local seagulls for their breadcrumbs and eating them on the nearby grass would be a more entertaining and probably delicious experience!

1/10 - at least the...

For years now, whenever I visit Sydney I make a bee line for this cafe. In fact I choose my hotels so they are not too far from here, so I can have a swim then enjoy the amazing location of the poolside cafe and the delicious food, while reading the paper and just enjoying this little paradisel. I have highly recommended the place to visitors to Sydney too. Sadly as of this morning, not sure I will be back. I have given 2 stars for location as it is obviously unchanged. So...I ordered my brunch and asked if there were any newspaper. I was told they no longer supply 'to save the environment" hmmm... Out came my coffee which was good, followed by a "health bowl" which looked amazing. Sadly it tasted awful. Cold hard, chick peas, raw and large pieces of broccoli and the most tasteless hummus and some other dip I've ever experienced. $21.50! The service was perfunctory and no smiles here. Actually have always found the service this way but overlooked it in the past. Please bring back the newspapers, the flavour filled food and warm service...until then I'll just...