The Crows Nest
Welcome Letter
Welcome To The Crows Nest
Thank you so much for choosing our home for your next holiday! We cannot wait to have you stay with us! GETAWAYZ is NSW’s highest rated holiday rental agency, and we pride ourselves on making sure all our guests have the best possible experience!
If you need anything at all throughout your stay, please feel free to contact us anytime on:
guests@getawayz.com.au
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Any complaints or problems - every effort has been made to ensure that you have an enjoyable and memorable holiday. If, however, you have any cause for complaint it is important that remedial action is taken as soon as possible. It is essential that you contact us if any problem arises so that it can be speedily resolved. It is often extremely difficult (and sometimes impossible) to resolve difficulties properly unless we are promptly notified.
About Crows nest, and surrounding areas
Crows Nest is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is also part of the North Sydney region, 5 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of North Sydney Council.
Crows Nest is a significant commercial district which is noted for its variety of shops and restaurants. It is centred on the junction of five main roads about 1 kilometre north by northwest of the original site of Crows Nest House.
Prior to European settlement, the lower north shore of Sydney was home to the Gorualgal in the east and Cammeraygal around the middle and north shore. The creeks, harbour inlets and mangroves made this an abundant and fertile land for these original inhabitants, but the original European settlers of Sydney found the land too rugged for agriculture or easy settlement.
Settlement of the North Shore was slow, and while the North Shore line was completed in the 1890s, active settlement of Crows Nest and the surrounding suburbs didn't really take off until after the completion of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932.
THINGS TO SEE AND DO
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BYO cheese, wine and artistic flair to this new art class
Unfortunately, liquid courage doesn’t make a great artist (as we found out), but that’s not the point at Cork and Canvas’s newest Sydney location. The point is to relax and allow the professionals do the hard work while you enjoy your BYO drinks and nibbles.
The concept of paint and sip has really taken off over the past few years, but Cork and Canvas was the first studio in Australia to pair bubbles and brushes when the craze started in Melbourne in 2013. The cost of a class is $50, which is a little exxy, but you get access to unlimited paints in a class lead by professional artist Ben Walsh. And, let’s be honest, the novelty of having a glass of wine while you paint is probably a one-time spend.
If you’ve never painted before it can be a little daunting, but the organisers have made the process simple. When you arrive, your painting station is already set up with an easel and some primary colours, and all you have to do is don your apron, and set up your wine and cheese. All the cutlery and crockery is provided.
The studio is available for parties and company team-building exercises, but feel free to come with a date, a group of friends or fly solo.
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Where only the best three designs of any one product are on display
Everything you see in store at Top 3 By Design has been selected by Terri Winter, a leading name in the design community who regularly appears on design award panels and at design events around the world. Winter favours innovative design, quality and style in a product. And the store’s ethos is to show only three items of any one design – hence the name ‘Top 3 By Design’.
The brand has four stores in Australia; two in Sydney and two in Melbourne, and the Crows Nest store is the head office as well as the flagship location. After 13 years in operation, Top 3 By Design is still one of the best shopping spots for homewares and kitchen products north of the bridge.
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A great new addition to North Sydney, this little street plaza has gaps to clear, banks to hit and rails to grind at low enough heights for beginners. It’s bright green so your targets are clear, which makes it a little easier to practise landings.
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On the third Saturday of every month, Ernest Place is transformed into a bustling marketplace with food stalls, clothing, bric-a-brac, antiques and more. The market is organised by The Rotary Club of North Sydney who is also responsible for a number of other markets in the area.
Take a leisurely stroll browsing through the market stalls, grab a bite to eat from one of the many food stands and maybe relax in a nearby pub afterwards. The market offers a lively and diverse space to catch up or meet new friends and take in some excellent artisanal products and rare finds. Or, if you're looking to kick-start your passion project or new business, new stalls are always welcome and encouraged to get involved.
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Workout smarter, not harder is the ethos of KX Pilates, which is a leading pilates instruction group in Australia. The company employs a fusion of cardio and pilates with most sessions totalling under fifty minutes, tailored perfectly to fit in with your busy schedule.
The Crows Nest branch of the company is located conveniently on Willoughby Road and features a number of different classes for different needs — all taught by KX trained professionals. KX takes inspiration from the Kaizen philosophy and applies it to reformer pilates, making it accessible and flexible to accommodate people at all stages of their fitness journey.
Click HERE to check out their website
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Comprising 100 spa locations in Australia, Endota is one of the largest companies offering pampering treatments across the country. At its Crows Nest spa, you can book in for relaxation, remedial or deep tissue massages on any day of the week. Its team uses certified organic products across all its facials, massages and beauty treatments, and if you're rushed for time they offer express appointments, too. But you should plan in some time to truly relax. Endota Spa at Crows Nest has six treatment rooms all up, plus two double treatment rooms with luxury spa baths — perfect for sharing the experience with a loved one. Simply here for some crucial maintenance? You can also get manis, pedis, waxing and spray tans.
Click HERE to check out their website
RESTAURANTS & CAFES
OWNERS PICK!
Annata
69 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW 2065
While everyone's been wining and dining in Surry Hills, Darlinghurst and Newtown, Crows Nest has been sitting on one of Sydney's best-kept foodie secrets. Hailing itself as "the best dining experience north of the bridge" (big call), Annata brings inventive Italian dishes from an exciting young chef and an unbridaled love of wine to its humble neighbourhood surrounds.
Unlike many of the other long, narrow spaces on Willoughby Road, this one doesn't sell hand soaps or have a half-price leg waxing special. Instead, you'll find a brick-walled wine cave serving seasonally-driven food and cocktails, a snazzy jazzy soundtrack and a crowd of happy, somewhat tipsy patrons.
Cavalier 1.0
Shop 1/34 Oxley St, St Leonards NSW 2065
Cavalier is a bustling espresso bar championing small-scale local produce. Not only does it churn out specialty coffee, but also has next-level sandwiches and baked goods. The coffee comes way of a number of local independent roasters including (but not limited to) Five Senses, Stitch, Market Lane and Double Tap. So, it's great spot for a morning coffee as well as spot of lunch, and there is a particular focus on some truly spectacular toasties.
The team has also opened a second space dubbed Cavalier 2.0. The second outpost is more of a restaurant, but still has the same sustainable and local ethos. It's got more of a fine dining menu, alongside a smart list of minimal intervention wines. Both Cavaliers have a relaxed, neighbourhood feel and are easily accessible from the heart of Crows Nest.
Mschief
G03/105 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Owner and operator Adelle Ly quit the corporate world and decided to create delicious and healthy food. The aptly titled Mschief is known for serving up all manner of tasty treats that are both lower in sugar and extremely decadent. This is evident in the arrangement of the glass counter, which showcases a number of beautiful cakes, tarts and pastries fulfilling both categories.
Housed in a bright, modern space, with a mixture of indoor and outdoor seating, Mschief has a relaxed atmosphere that lets the food do the talking. One of the highlights is the Bacon and Oats, which is a congee cooked in bone broth served with a sous vide egg and topped with back bacon (check its Instagram if this doesn't already have you drooling).
Kurtosh Crows Nest
110/112 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW 2065
The enticing treats at Kürtősh are sold by weight, which is bliss for indecisive types who can't resist a slither of everything. Start with a savoury bureka, filled with potato and mushroom, ricotta and feta or sweet potato, rosemary and thyme. Then, sample some slices of the slab cakes. Flavours include espresso, almond and chocolate roulade, strawberry and pistachio sponge, and lime and ginger meringue. Kürtőskalács, the titular treat, is a chimney-shaped cake made of brioche-like ribbons of pastry, finely coiled and caressed with a luscious coating. The traditional cinnamon and sugar is reminiscent of an old-school doughnut, but you can opt for pistachio, Nutella or caramelised hazelnut for a next-level treat.
Turka
4/6 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Traditional Turkish fare with a modern Australian twist is what's on offer at this sprawling, laidback Crows Nest eatery. The bulk of the menu is inspired by the recipes of the owner's mother. For breakfast, think Yengen toast, a toastie with traditional Turkish cheese, chorizo and tomato. There is also a build your own option or a set breakfast banquet menu which is great for groups.
Lunch sees a mixture of dips, salads, rolls and plates all featuring traditional Turkish fare, while dinner sees more large meze plates featuring seafood, lamb and chicken. Some Turkish wines are available as well as Efes beer and a selection of local and imported beers on tap. Dessert is a must and regularly features poached pears, Turkish ice cream and baklava, with a different dessert special of the day, too.
Ms. G’s
155 Victoria St, Potts Point
Ms. G’s has brought five floors of fun to its Potts Point neighbourhood. The funky noodle bar displays an irreverent edge, with super-charged Asian classics and an ‘anything goes’ kind of style.
Vietnamese banh mi are re-imagined as zingy sliders and Thai green curry is sandwiched into a jaffle with braised beef and buffalo mozarella. The cool decor, with its graffiti, pink neon and veggie garden, is just a bonus.
Yakitori Yurippi
7 Falcon St, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Yakitori Yurippi is a tiny slice of traditional Japanese street eating in the most unlikely of places. Situated in the heart of Crows Nest, this hole-in-the-wall six-table restaurant has a surprisingly authentic charm thanks to some incredibly friendly staff, which includes a few Japanese yakitori veteran chefs and a sake sommelier to boot.
As you'd expect with a sommelier-in-residence, the display of sake is quite impressive, as is the extensive list of Japan's finest whiskies — which, if you love whisky, you'll know is some of the finest in the world. Choose your own sake glasses amongst a hodgepodge of drinking vessels and get a tasting flight to enjoy while you chow down.
Garfish
6/29 Holtermann St, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Garfish is something of an institution to Crows Nest locals. Famed for its fresh seafood selection, great wine list and outstanding service, it's a hard place to beat.
The current menu boasts starters such as seared scallops with yuzu kosho mayo, prosciutto, rockmelon and pickled cucumber. And for the mains try either the blue swimmer crab linguine or the Sri Lankan fish and king prawn curry. If seafood doesn't float your boat, opt for the rack of lamb or the sirloin.
Make sure to leave room for dessert because the dark chocolate bomb with blood orange sorbet is a must. BYO is available but only on Tuesdays and for $5 per person. But the wine list is pretty extensive, so it's likely to have something you're after. Or, opt for a cocktail or Aussie craft beer.
Salmon and Bear Crows Nest
Shop5/105 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Those who are familiar with the Zetland log cabin-style eatery will be delighted to hear that it has finally made its way to the north shore, taking up residence in the dining strip of Willoughby Road. In its own words, the second outpost is 'more restaurant like', with the bright, airy interior once again brought to life by Otto Design Interiors. If you're craving a simple (but delicious) meal at a reasonable price, you'll want to make tracks here.
Practically all bases are covered with offerings of seafood, salads, steaks, burgers, tacos and poke bowls on the menu. Standouts include the classic fish and chips, fish pie and the Ora King salmon.
Johnny Bird
48 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Last year, this Crows Nest favourite swapped out its namesake lobster rolls and dedicated itself to the fried chicken business once and for all.Penny and the team will cut your cheese to order, organise platters small and large and help with catering and cheese-tower building.
The menu's centrepiece is fried chicken, which is served with sauce — such as Sticky Sichuan or Nashville Hot — and sides, including fried pickles, sweet potato fries and mac 'n' cheese. On top of that, there are burgers — the staple being the Johnny, packed with fried chicken, pickles, coleslaw, tomato relish and chipotle mayo.
To match such carefully prepared offerings, there's a selection of craft beers from Young Henrys and Moon Dog, plus a bunch of signature cocktails, including the Waist Not (gin, watermelon rind, vermouth, soda) and the Cold Fashioned (Mr Black coffee liqueur, rye whiskey, orange bitters).
Luho Restaurant
77 Willoughby Rd, Crows Nest NSW 2065
Mama's Buoi Crows Nest is no more. In its place is a new Southeast Asian eatery by the brand's former chef Dennis Tan and his wife Serene. And they've enlisted PS40's Peter Seabrook to design the cocktails.
The hawker-style eats combine flavours from Tan's Malaysian heritage with the Vietnamese influence of Mama's Buoi. The share menu spans small plates, curries and wok dishes, along with a dedicated vegetarian menu.
Double Cross Espresso Bar
Shop 1/31 Albany St, Crows Nest NSW 2065
The shop opened in 2016 after co-owners Quinton Ng and Samuel Lee — who had had both been working in the hospitality industry for years — decided that it was time to run their own place. The cafe's name is representative of the owner's identities; Ng's family hails from both Hong Kong and Australia, while Lee is Korean–New Zealander. Designed with minimalism in mind, customers can order at the white marbled counter where there are maybe 100 stamped loyalty cards — a testament to the quality of the coffee on offer, and the number of return customers. Seating is available both inside and out, which is a perfect perch from which to people-watch during the lunch hours, which are less hectic than the mornings.