Australians are spoilt when it comes to good breakfast. While the yanks do a lot of things well, there are some rather large limitations to their gamut in the breakfast (and coffee!) departments…and living in the States the ache for a good solid breakfast injection was ripe. Returning to Sydney each summer for a smorgasbord of great breaky options was always a godsend.

The Balmoral Boathouse is a perfect package of Aussie goodness. Unbeatable real estate right on the water of Balmoral’s Esplanade, delicious modern Australian bites, and a fusion of rustic beachside furnishings and fresh garden flowers and fruit. I’m a ruthless critic when it comes to the way in which my flowers are arranged, and these guys have hit the nail on the head: simple and earthy, with no sign of nasty ribbon. To top it all off, the coffee here is sensational – and while I’m almost certain my standard of drinkable coffee diminished miserably since moving to the US (thank the lord for Blue Bottle!), I’m pretty sure the coffee here is top-notch for Aussie standards too.

/ Some breaky favourites