
Empire Lounge, Sydney Seaplanes Terminal
Sydney Harbour’s first seaplane terminal has landed in Rose Bay and is set to become a ‘must do’ experience for Sydneysiders and visitors alike. Australia’s first purpose built Seaplane Terminal is a fashionable harbourside destination and luxurious lounge, featuring a waterside oyster and cocktail bar, discreet VIP space and a flying boat museum paying homage to a historical site in Australian aviation.
25,000 people fly with Sydney Seaplanes each year making it the largest seaplane operator in Australia, with 75% of those being local residents falling in love with their home from a new height. The exclusive experience takes in some of Australia’s most awe inspiring views from the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the city’s pristine beaches including Bondi and Manly. The terminal also acts as a gateway to some of Sydney’s most premium dining experiences including Jonah’s at Whale Beach and bespoke picnic options at some of Sydney most secluded beaches.
We recently ventured out to the terminal’s Empire Lounge – an amazing seaside dining spot where you can have a nibble while soaking up the views and watch the Sydney Seaplanes take off and land. It’s a true gem for Rose Bay locals and has some decent prices for a place with a more upmarket feel sitting right near the water.
We turned up at 2pm on a beautiful Sydney day and were ready to sample some of the finest seafood in Sydney. The lunch menu (served after 12) is mainly comprised of seafood options with some lighter dishes, salads, and cheeses also available. We started with a few oysters which were dry shucked to order with champagne vinaigrette. They effortlessly slid off the shell and created pure heaven in our mouths. They were delectable, even without the champagne vinaigrette, but it certainly added a certain oomph to the flavour.
For the main part of the meal, we sampled the Prawns which were served with paprika mayonnaise and lime and the Raw Fish with a side of wasabi. It was deliciously fresh and of the highest quality. Adding to the experience was our friendly waiter who described each dish as it was brought out. The service and food were just outstanding.
We couldn’t leave without also sampling one of the menu’s salads to go with our seafood. We opted for the Heirloom Tomato Salad which comprised of heirloom tomato, buffalo mozzarella, olives and sourdough. A slightly different take on the Italian Caprese Salad, it was a refreshing way to end a highly satisfying meal.
Empire Lounge also offer an extensive range of quality beverages from champagne to red & white wine to sparkling. And the coffee is just to die for – one of the finest quality coffees we’ve experienced in Sydney to date. Highly recommended!
The Empire Lounge, Sydney Seaplanes Terminal
2 Vickery Avenue, Rose Bay NSW
Open Sunday-Wednesday (8am-5pm), Thursday-Saturday (8am-10pm)