Award-winning chef Louis Tikaram will return to Sydney this September with the opening of Stanley at Manly Wharf, bringing the acclaimed Cantonese restaurant to the Northern Beaches.
Inspired by the waterfront atmosphere of Hong Kong’s Stanley Bay, Stanley will open on the harbourfront at Manly Wharf. The new site will span 212 seats across indoor and outdoor dining areas, plus a private dining room and a dedicated bar. The restaurant will also feature live seafood tanks, a custom-built duck oven and tableside Peking duck service.
The restaurant will join the growing hospitality portfolio of Artemus Group, the team behind Howard Smith Wharves and the revitalisation of Manly Wharf.
For Tikaram, the opening marks a return to the city where he spent a decade working in some of Australia’s most respected kitchens, including Longrain, Bentley Restaurant + Bar and Tetsuya’s.
“Opening Stanley in Sydney is incredibly meaningful to me,” says Tikaram. “Sydney shaped me as a chef. I arrived here as a young apprentice and spent ten years learning from some of the best people in the industry.
“It’s also where I first fell in love with the energy of Chinese restaurants. Whether it was breakfast in Chinatown before work or celebrating milestones with family and friends, those experiences have stayed with me throughout my career.
“To return with Stanley, a restaurant that reflects my Chinese heritage, my travels and everything I’ve learned over the years, feels very special.”
The Manly venue takes inspiration from Stanley at Brisbane’s Howard Smith Wharves while evolving the concept for Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The menu reflects Tikaram’s philosophy of great food, friends, fishermen and farmers. It aims to showcase Australian seafood, meat and seasonal produce through the lens of Cantonese cooking traditions.
Growing up on the NSW North Coast, Tikaram says Manly was a natural fit for Stanley’s Sydney home.
“Surfing, fishing and being around the water have always been a big part of my life. Being back in a location so closely connected to the ocean is inspiring both personally and professionally. I’m excited to reconnect with producers and suppliers across Sydney and build a restaurant that feels connected to both the harbour and the community around it.”
Artemus Group founder and director Adam Flaskas said Stanley will be an important addition to Manly Wharf’s growing hospitality offering.
“Louis is one of Australia’s most respected chefs, and we’re proud to welcome him back to Sydney to create something truly special for Manly Wharf,” says Flaskas. “From premium Australian seafood, signature Peking duck and live mud crab to an exceptional wine program, every detail has been carefully considered. Our goal is simple: to create a restaurant locals are proud to call their own, and one that’s worth the trip across the harbour.”
Tikaram and the team have scheduled Stanley to open at Manly Wharf in September 2026.
For more information and bookings visit stanleyrestaurant.com.au/manly-wharf and follow @stanley_manlywharf on instagram for the latest updates.
