Melbourne’s Best Waterfront Experience
Get down to South Wharf this summer and experience The Boatbuilders Yard, the waterfront bar & kitchen on the Yarra River.
As a local, I have been enjoying coffees and breakfast at The Boatbuilders Yard for several years.
The quiet mornings, breezy open space with caring staff who often reminded me of how many lattes I have had (4 a day can be a worry), the human touches made the place feels like home to me. The crackling fireplace is my favourite spot during winter.
Eating Out with Adam Bilsy
Then I thought it’s time for a change. I brought #YesYouCan Ambassador and Gold Coast radio host Adam Bilsy to experience a true Melbourne evening. The Boatbuilders Yard has always been a busy venue later in the day and especially on the weekends. Their menu boasts fresh ingredients with funky presentation, filled with options for vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free. The small size and sharing style dishes are perfect for a sleeved stomach to enjoy.
Cocktails Got The Party Started
I must mention Shay who welcomed us and brought us to our table on the outdoor deck. Her amazing service has certainly brought a lot more fun to our experience.
I have always known that the Boatbuilders Yard has one of Victoria’s largest number of tap beer varieties. However, Shay got us got started with a cocktail each and we didn’t look back! The Passionfruit Splice made of frozen Absolut Vanilla, passionfruit and pineapple was the clear winner. The Freezling came second for me – it’s a cool cocktail but I still prefer to enjoy a glass of Riesling on its own. The Hibiscus Spritz added a happy colour on our table but the Passionfruit Splice won all our hearts.
The Good Food
For me, it’s all about good food when you’re in Melbourne. So to ensure my special guest get to taste as many dishes as possible, we’ve ordered 6 starters and a side to share.
First up, the sweet and sour gochujang Chicken Drumettes with sesame seeds and pickled daikon got the two boys’ approval. It didn’t last too long on the plate.
Next is my favourite dish – the Soft Shell School Prawns served with chilli jam, lime kewpie mayo and togarashi. I convinced Adam to try one, and yes – we eat the head, tail and everything, just like how you eat a soft shell crab. I’m glad he loved it!
And who is in for Haloumi or Fries? Well, what about the Haloumi Fries served with beetroot tahini, sprinkled with black sesame and spring onion? It was a crowd pleaser with the bring pink sauce making the dish look rather sexy!
The Heirloom Tomatoes was my new favourite dish. It’s simple and fresh, with burrata and fresh basil, anyone could make it at home but the black garlic dressing made an impact. If you want an unpretentious dish, this is it.
The feast continued with the Zucchini Escabeche with smoked almond cream, some falafel crumb and saffron pickled onions; the Kingfish Ceviche with Aji Amarillo (bright orange chilli from Peru) in lime dressing with sweet potato and corn nuts; and the Charred Octopus with salsa rosso, kipfler potato, nduja, kalamata and lemon.
I knew from the start that I would not get away from the dessert calories. The boys ordered the Macadamia Parfait and the classic Boaties Sundae, it was a perfect ending!
The Good Vibes
The DJ was spinning through the entire evening, totally in his groove. The vibrant atmosphere and attentive waiting staff weaving through happy guests, we had a very enjoying summer evening soaking up the warm Yarra River breeze.
Adam Bilsy made a vlog of his South Wharf experience, watch here.
With this, I will continue to enjoy morning lattes at The Boatbuilders Yard as well as adding it to my weekend hangout destination.
The Space
The Boatbuilders Yard is one of Melbourne’s premier waterfront venues boasting the charm and cultural
heritage of Melbourne’s famous Maritime precinct with a modern twist as its centrepiece – the original
historic shed.
heritage of Melbourne’s famous Maritime precinct with a modern twist as its centrepiece – the original
historic shed.
Check out their function space too, there are not many waterfront venues in Melbourne that could hold 1200 standing! #TheBoatbuildersYard
