Seamore's

Seamore’s in Henley Beach is a venture by the Vanzati family, which also owns local joints Hermanos Cubanos, Malobo and Swedish Tarts (plus New Nordic in Prospect)

It's a modern take on the surf clubs of 20 or 30 years ago; a hybrid bar-restaurants that bridges that awkward gap between afternoon and evening service. The expansive, 260-person-capacity venue is loosely broken up into several areas, with a DJ booth and a dance floor (with a disco ball) on one side, and a wide outdoor balcony (with its own bar) overlooking Henley Square on the other, plus a mix of booths and a tables in the centre.

The design revolves around the site’s best asset – the ocean view – while preserving the building’s bones (which are over a hundred years-old). The once dark and dank interior has been livened up with fresh paint and greenery throughout. Soft colours, loud paintings and plush leather booths are all intended to make Seamore’s suitable for any sort of outing. Come for a long boozy lunch, a casual dinner or a few drinks.

Neapolitan-ish pizzas and house-made pastas comprise the bulk of the menu. There are also meatball and parmigiana hoagies, share plates and pub classics. The pizzas – simply listed on the menu as #1 through #8 – reinforce the venue’s focus on approachability, with familiar favourites such as margherita and even a smoked ham and pineapple with smoked scamorza.

The cocktail list includes four different types of spritzes and a few fruit-forward signature concoctions, plus classics such as Bellinis, Margaritas and Mojitos. Barrel-aged Old Fashioneds and Negronis – on-tap – round out the list. As for the wine, there's a 50/50 split of local, mostly Italian varieties and imported Italian wines. Tap beers include an Asahi-brewed house session ale.