Donny's Bar

Manly’s having a bit of a moment. American barbecue palace Papi Chulo, the many faces of the Steyne and super fresh brews at 4 Pines are certainly getting non-locals on the ferry. And the fact there are more small bars in Manly than ever is making them stay.

So here’s Donny’s – Matt Clifton’s (ex-Merivale) striking little space on Market Lane. The bare brick walls, exposed Edison globes and a large cage filled with liquor give it a bit of an industrial pirate’s cove feel. Disappointingly, when we ask about the contents of said cage, thinking there might be surprise rare treats in there, the bartender bluntly tells us “booze”. Shut down.

They’re playing a whole lot of upbeat house on our visit, and while they’re not huge on the friendliness, they are big on serving drinks in jars. That’s jars for cocktails like the Jukebox – a hot and unbalanced muddle up of rye, lemon and cinnamon – and jars for the wine. It’s one thing to serve a Margarita (not on the list, but they’ll make you a good one if you ask) like this, but our drinking buddy isn’t wild about drinking a thick, stout jar of pinot gris. It’s just a bit clumsy.

While it might not be for us, Donny's has a loyal following – plenty of locals walk in and out, settling down for dumplings, burgers, bowls of pasta, and drinks.

Pop in for a few jars.