Marine Parade

Hotel Description

Look, I’ll be straight with you about Marine Parade – it’s one of those places that grows on you once you figure out what it’s actually about. When I first walked up, I honestly wasn’t expecting much from a 3-star spot, but the location hit me immediately. You’re literally a two-minute walk from Manly Beach, and I mean the good part where locals actually hang out, not just the touristy Corso strip. The hotel sits right on that quiet stretch of Marine Parade where you can hear the waves at night but don’t get the chaos of weekend backpackers stumbling around.

What surprised me was how the staff actually seemed to know the area – like, really know it. The guy at check-in told me about this little coffee spot around the corner on Pittwater Road that I never would’ve found otherwise, and he was right about the morning surf conditions too. The rooms are pretty standard for what you’d expect, nothing fancy but clean and functional. I mean, you’re not coming to Manly to sit in your room anyway, right? The shower pressure was decent (always a gamble in older Sydney buildings), and the air conditioning worked well enough during those sticky February nights. One thing though – if you’re a light sleeper, maybe ask for a room facing away from the street. Marine Parade gets a bit of traffic in the mornings, especially during school holidays when families are heading to the beach early.

Here’s what I really appreciated: the whole place has this relaxed, no-nonsense vibe that fits perfectly with Manly’s laid-back atmosphere. You know how some hotels try too hard to be something they’re not? This isn’t that. It’s honest about what it offers – a solid base for exploring one of Sydney’s best beach suburbs without the inflated prices you’ll find closer to the wharf. The walk to the ferry terminal is maybe eight minutes, which means you can actually get into the city for dinner and come back without it being a whole production. Plus, there’s decent parking (a miracle in Manly, honestly), and they don’t charge you an arm and a leg for it. I stayed here during the off-season in May, and while it was quieter than summer, you could tell this place knows how to handle the busy periods without falling apart. The 7.4 rating makes sense to me – it’s not going to blow your mind, but it delivers on the basics really well, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $335. Deluxe Queen Studio with 1 double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $348. Studio with Sea View with 1 double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $374. Studio with Ocean View with 1 double bed for Max persons: 2
• Estimated price from: $414. One-Bedroom Apartment with 1 double bed and 1 sofa bed for Max persons: 2

Reviews

• Place overall was a joy. Location 10/10, unit was cosy, bed very comfy and the unit was very clean – Davis from Australia – 5 January 2025 (8/10)

  Location was amazing. So close to Shelly Beach, and a brisk walk to Manly beach and surrounding cafes and restaurants. Bed was very comfy
  
  What could be improved: Weather was fine, not to hot, but lack of air conditioning on a hot day may be an issue.

• Very good – Trish from New Zealand – 20 April 2024 (8/10)

  Beautiful location, apartment nicely furnished. great breakfast place below. Good service support. 🙂

• Highly recommend – Andrea from Australia – 7 March 2024 (8/10)

  Location was amazing . Out the door and we were snorkelling

• Loved the location end of story – Andrew from Australia – 5 March 2024 (6/10)

  Location
  
  What could be improved: Like going on holidays in the 1960s. Under serviced, needs updating.

• Very good – Nicholas from Australia – 24 February 2023 (8/10)

  Great location, friendly staff
  
  What could be improved: Noisy with garbage trucks early on a couple of very early mornings

• loved location that was more important to me than the quality of building and other things associated with an old place – Helen from Australia – 6 November 2022 (7/10)

  location
  
  What could be improved: not well stocked tea coffee milk. no beach towels

• Ocean stay – Isabella from Australia – 13 August 2022 (8/10)

  Amazing location on the promenade with beautiful views and ocean sounds. Close to restauraunts and the ocean.
  
  What could be improved: Not amazingly clean, simple facilities but functional.

• Good – Buckley from Australia – 6 December 2024 (7/10)

  Location
  
  What could be improved: Needs updating

• Location, location, location. – Tina from United Kingdom – 16 November 2024 (8/10)

  The primary attraction for this property is its location, and that could not be better. The best Manly had to offer in terms of beach and views and atmosphere is right on its doorstep. We had the ground floor room and that was okay, and a little dated, but fine.
  
  What could be improved: The room needs updating but is okay. Bathroom is small and gets very wet.

• Unfortunately the weather wasn't good on the 2 full days that we were there but we still enjoyed it. – Robert from Australia – 13 October 2024 (7/10)

  Location is excellent.
  
  What could be improved: Facilities are run down. It's unusual for WiFi to be an extra and that is disappointing. It should be included as should be streaming services such as Netflix. To not have free streaming eg iView, SBS on Demand, amongst others is disappointing. To have to pay extra for these services seems penny pinching. All said, we would be likely to stay again but maybe with a bit of bargaining.

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities