The vibe
Summery and fun, as the name suggests! The team behind some of Sydney’s best cafés, Soulmate in Newtown and Superfreak in Marrickville, are behind this kiosk-like café at the Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre, which is in the glorious Petersham Park. If you’re going for a swim, you can order from the Fanny Durack side and eat on the grass or at one of the poolside tables (that’s what I do!); otherwise, there’s also indoor café seating on the park side, or they’ll lend you a picnic blanket. I’m an Inner Westie, so in my ’hood there’s nothing else quite like ordering up a fish sambo and eating it under an umbrella to a soundtrack of happy kids splashing around in bright aquamarine water.
The food
Drawing inspo from Aussie kiosks and milk bars from “the good old days”, Splash’s menu is absolutely jam-packed with picks that will satisfy your hunger for nostalgia (as well as a good feed). Our favourite thing we’ve had is the fish sandwich – it’s a huge fillet of golden-crumbed fish with slices of tomato and beetroot, onion, iceberg lettuce, American cheese and a creamy, dill-forward “Splash sauce” on thick-cut, spongy white bread (the type of bread you loved as a kid). The fish fillet is so big, the bread slices can’t contain it, so panko-crumbed perfection spills out the sides. We’ve also had the chip butty, packed with crunchy, golden chips (also on thick white bread) – of course we add curry sauce, which tastes a bit like a sauce Granny would make if she's whipping up some curried egg. The "Bradman burger" is also a winner – and old Don would approve, it’s piled high with salad (yes, beetroot) and a fried egg, as well as an Angus beef patty and all the usual trimmimgs.
The drink
Splash serves up elevated, modern takes on milk bar classics – there are milkshakes, fresh juices, and a Splice shake (with pineapple, ice-cream, lime syrup and coconut milk). We love their cold-coffee selection: a black cold brew served with loads of ice; their ace iced latte; and their oat milk cold brew that’s jazzed up with maple and a little cinnamon.
Time Out tip
If you want to pair your butty with a splash in the pool, you’ll need to go during the warmer months. Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre closes for the winter (in summer 2024-2025, the swim season wraps up on April 30). That doesn’t mean you can’t still head over to Splash and eat on the park side.
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