DESIGN DESTINATION: THE BOATHOUSE ROSE BAY Inside Sydney’s most colourful over-the-water eatery
This addition to Sydney’s restaurant scene stays true to crisp nautical tradition
Pip Goldsmith, the creative director of The Boathouse Group, has hit the nail on the head again with the renovation of The Boathouse, an iconic over-the-water restaurant on a pier in Sydney’s Rose Bay. This is the ninth property in a group portfolio that includes fine-dining restaurants, beachside cafes, a hotel, a bakery and a homewares store – all reinforcing a warm, beachy style that veers momentarily into tropical kitsch but then settles comfortably into a clean, coastal vibe.
“The Boathouse is the sister restaurant to Barrenjoey House [on the Northern Beaches] so it feels similar, but we wanted it to be more polished for the local crowd,” says Pip. “It’s welcoming enough to make you want to settle in, but also feels a little bit special.” Helping this is the fact that every seat gets a water view.
Pip has no fixed design rules, though there are a few standards. “I like to play around, mixing colours and patterns and tones,” she says. “But there must always be a lot of white. I think it’s vital for a venue to feel clean – and a good white does that.”
Pip also employed some structural updates that became tools of transformation. Old sliding windows were swapped for new louvres, which deliver great airflow and don’t blast guests with unexpected weather. In addition, the ceiling was raised to open up the internal space, now covered with serious soundproofing camouflaged by a cluster of crab pots.
The menu, by head chef James Brownrigg, has a few local additions, but remains very fresh and simple. “You must try his taramasalata dip,” advises Pip. “It’s my favourite.”