Lavana is a stylish waterfront tapas bar in Sydney’s Walsh Bay, offering Mediterranean inspired small plates, seafood, all with great friendly service. With its relaxed harbour views and welcoming atmosphere, it’s an ideal spot for lunch, dinner, or drinks with friends.
This post may contain affiliate links, to read more click here.
I’m with my friend Susanne celebrating the first of four 50th birthday parties I’ve organised for myself! It’s a beautiful Summers day, so we start off sitting alfresco, at least until the sun emerges from behind the clouds and the staff very obliging to move us inside onto the balcony for some shade.
Walsh Bay, between Dawes Point and Millers Point, was once as a bustling port of finger wharves, cargo sheds, and docks. After decades of decline, it was transformed in the 1980s into today’s Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, offering theatres and performing-arts companies such as The Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Dance Company, dining, and scenic waterfront walks in a beautifully restored historic setting.
We begin with the marinated wild mushrooms, served with fresh thyme, confit garlic, herbs, grilled baby capsicum, cold-pressed olive oil, and sea salt. The flavour is excellent, with some mushrooms perfectly charred—just how I like them. They do appear to be standard button mushrooms, not wild, but they’re still absolutely delish!
The halloumi and smoked eggplant is an ideal shared dish, beautifully layered with smoky eggplant, Riverina halloumi, chilli jam, and cold-pressed olive oil. The chilli jam enhances rather than overwhelms, letting each flavour shine. I especially love the halloumi’s crisp edges underneath the soft, luscious, smokey eggplant .
When we first arrived at the restaurant and looked at the menu, my eyes went straight to the WA Lobster Roll on Brioche. This dish was absolutely divine. The large chunks of lobster enriched with a chardonnay aioli, topped with Yarra Valley Caviar was the type of dish you don’t want to share.
Afterwards, Susanne and I wander through the precinct before enjoying a drink in The Historic Rocks area. Although I’m living away from Sydney for now, I can’t wait to return—not just to Lavana, but to the whole Walsh Bay precinct with its great food, harbour views, and vibrant arts scene.
Matty Somewhere 