Schooner’s Bar and Grill

LOCATION
Five minutes from the city at Cullen Bay.

PROFILED BY DE GROOTS MEDIA
Shift those gams up to Schooner’s and you’ll be grunting “Away there me hearties!” and internally hoisting sails before you’ve ordered a beer. With an engaging nautical theme and marine setting (between the slipway and the beach at Cullen Bay), Schooner’s Bar and Grill offers hearty food and a capacious and comfy bar. A relaxed family atmosphere couples with value-for-money meals. And it’s also charming to find a touch of retro in fashionable Cullen Bay. However, passengers must be neatly attired – this is a reputable rig. So all aboard…

Schooner’s serves seafood, naturally: oysters, prawns, wild-caught barramundi… Speaking of which, the barra is a Top End must-have, and this Darwin restaurant offers diners a choice of the fish in four styles. Steak lovers are also well catered for and other dishes from the grill include lamb shanks and pork medallions. So drop by for a pleasant lunch on the verandah, or retreat into the spacious air-conditioning on steamier Darwin days. Happy hour is 4.30 to 6pm Monday to Saturday. Schooner’s also caters for all kinds of functions, with sit-down seating for up to 70 and a cocktail party capacity of 120. Later diners are welcome.

Merridy Anne Pugh