Cafe Da Vinci

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Manly is a suburb located south of Brisbane on the doorstep of Moreton Bay. Once a sleepy little village of fibro shacks and careworn cottages, Manly is now one of the more desirable (and expensive) suburbs to live in. Gone are the fibro shacks, and the cottages have now been converted into prestigious Queenslanders with colour-coordinated trim. Despite its revamp, Manly itself still has a sea breezy village feel to it, with plenty of cafes, boutiques and markets on the weekend.

Located halfway up the main street with a clear view to the water from the veranda, is Cafe Da Vinci. Da Vinci has a lot going for it, but has been let down in the past by poor service and average food. Recently bought by Kuy Cheng Thong, who has restaurant experience dating back many years, Cheng and his team are looking to turn Da Vinci around. Already the change is noticeable with a more positive feel from the staff and improvements with the food, like the green curry of tender chicken pieces served with fragrant jasmine sauce. Da Vinci is not a bad choice for breakfast either, boasting a comprehensive breakfast menu and great coffee.

Meagan Hepworth