Jonah's

First published on 13 Feb 2009. Updated on 29 Oct 2010.

Palm Beach is to Sydney what the Hamptons are to New York: an exclusive weekend playground for the rich and famous. Less than an hour’s drive from the hustle and hassle of the city, it has the fresh air of relaxed exclusivity. And if you want somewhere suitably decadent but discreet to eat while you’re there, then Jonah’s is top of the A-list.

But why drive there when you can fly like the rest of the jetset? Soaring above Sydney’s coastline in a sixseater seaplane to lunch at Jonah’s is the ultimate indulgence. The only problem with the flight – apart from the price – is that it really doesn’t last long enough. It takes just 12 glorious minutes from the moment you take off at Rose Bay and climb away from the Opera House and Harbour Bridge until you get to Barrenjoey lighthouse and touch down on the millpond that is Pittwater where a car will be waiting to take you five minutes up the hill to Jonah’s.

Restaurant

Established in 1928, Jonah’s was originally a solitary roadside diner on an otherwise completely untouched part of the coastline. The archive pictures on the wall in the restaurant bar show how the area has been transformed in the last 80 years from a rough diamond to a tastefully blingencrusted sand-fringed bracelet.

Nowadays Jonah’s is the place to be – and anyone who’s anyone has been there. Perched on the cliff just above Whale Beach (the next beach down from Palm), it has perfect 180-degree views of the Pacific. The food, while pricey (we’re talking $36–$48 for a main without sides) does the vista justice. It’s mod-Oz made with a French influence and local ingredients. The cocoa bean crusted bass groper fillet with saffron and basil was sensational – we still talk about it at home now. And though we didn’t have room for the chocolate indulgent cake at the table, we were delighted when it was sent to our room afterwards in case we “felt peckish later”. General manager Sean Byrne sets the high service standard himself, buzzing around each table, pollinating the place with relaxed efficiency.

Hotel

For those who don’t have a plane to catch immediately, you can stay overnight and, following a brisk dip in the sea, settle down to a hearty brunch while you see if you can spot any of the whales for which the bay is named and famed. The hotel has 11 rooms and one penthouse which, although not spectacular, are all very well appointed with views and private terraces. The bathroom opens up at such an angle that you can enjoy a Jacuzzi bath with a glass of something equally bubbly while looking out to sea.

That’s how to live the high life – for a weekend at least. It was while topping up our glasses that we spotted our seaplane coming into land to take us back down to earth. C’est la vie.

An overnight package including flights, dinner and breakfast with Sydney Seaplanes is $700pp. The fly and dine deal with no overnight stay is $465pp.

Jonah's restaurant bookings can be made below.