Housed inside Sydney’s oldest boat sailing club, The Flying Bear is the perfect café in which to sip a coffee while taking in the stunning views of the water.
The Sydney Flying Squadron
Attached to the Sydney Flying Squadron sailing club in the prestigious Sydney suburb of Kirribilli, the café is open to both sailing club members and the general public.
The history and location of the café, which is housed inside the old clubhouse, is one that’s truly special, with the Sydney Flying Squadron having been founded back in the late 1800s.
Grab a coffee when your sailing regatta winds up for the morning, or dine on a healthy breakfast after taking your dog out for a stroll. The Flying Bear café is the neighbourhood’s best keep secret – and one that won’t stay a secret for long!
Views to die for
As you sit on the wooden deck to eat your meal, you can take in the breathtaking views across Careening Cove and out to Sydney Harbour.
Watching the yachts bob on the water in front of you, you’ll see why The Flying Bear is one of the most scenic cafes in the whole of Sydney.
Delicious food to savour
The Flying Bear serves both breakfast and lunches, both with a healthy twist.
For breakfast, you can expect acai smoothie bowls ($15), bircher muesli ($15) and maple-baked granola ($15).
If you’re after something a little heartier, why not try a breakfast burrito ($16) or free-range eggs on sourdough ($12)?
Or if bowl food is more your flavour, you can take your pick from a vegan bowl with kale, avocado, red quinoa, sauerkraut, plantain chips, butterbean dip and lemon dressing ($18) or a smoked trout bowl with sautéed kale, edamame, falafel, poached egg, lemon and kewpie mayo ($19).
You can wash it down with a barista made coffee or some delicious Beloka Water, fresh from the Australian Alps.
If you’d rather skip breakfast and head straight to lunch, then why not dine on a deliciously fresh quesadilla made with black bean, corn, Oaxaca cheese, kale and capsicum salsa on a tortilla with a side of guacamole ($14)?
If you’re more of a sandwich lover, you will have both a poached chicken sandwich ($15) and a Reuben sandwich ($15) to choose from at The Flying Bear.
And if you’re on a health kick, you can’t go past the scrumptious salads on offer at The Flying Bear.
There’s the fatoush salad with falafel and halloumi ($17), the vegan bowl ($18) or the soba noodle salad with smoked rainbow trout ($19) to choose from.
The kids won’t be left out either, with an extensive kids’ menu featuring milkshakes, smoothies, mini bacon and egg rolls, and more.
Run by experts in the restaurant business
You can rest assured you will receive the best in service when dining at The Flying Bear. With the café being managed by Adam Marshall, who formerly ran Bird and Bear Cafe in Elizabeth Bay, and also heads up the sailing club’s revamped restaurant, Foys Kirribilli, you are in safe hands.
“The history and location of this building is truly special,” Marshall told Good Food. “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.”
Priding itself on its service, The Flying Bear will go out of its way to make you enjoy your visit.
What you need to know
The Flying Bear is located at 76 McDougall Street, Kirribilli, and is open from daily from 7am to 4pm. No bookings are taken, walk-ins only.