History

Catalina was established by the late Michael McMahon and his wife Judy, both fixtures in the Sydney dining scene, in 1994.  Having owned and operated Barrenjoey House in Palm Beach and Perry's in Paddington, and worked together at the fabled Bilson's in Circular Quay, Michael and Judy purchased Catalina in 1994, transforming a tired old space into the magical harbourside restaurant that it is today. Their goal was simple - to be Sydney’s favourite place to eat great food by the water – and Catalina is, to this day, the perfect realisation of their dream.

Catalina’s location has a fascinating backstory also. Rose Bay was the site of Australia's first international airport; from 1938, flying boats, including the famous Catalinas ruled the skies. Later, in 1957, local identity Jim Bendroit built a restaurant and nightclub called Caprice, jutting out over the water. Caprice captivated Sydney-siders for years and was the hottest spot in town.

Following the heyday of the Caprice era and long after the last of the big flying boats had ceased service, the McMahons acquired and extensively renovated the building in 1994 with architect Leigh Prentice. Catalina was born, and the restaurant was designed as a homage to the beauty of Sydney Harbour, offering diners a unique, panoramic, water-level view of Sydney Harbour, punctuated only by the comings and goings of a working harbour and commuter sea planes based in front of the restaurant.

Catalina’s original, minimalist design has largely been retained for the past 30 years, and a recent refurbishment by leading Sydney interior architects Bedbrook + Bunting has refreshed the dining space with a luxe, contemporary feel.

Michael McMahon, who was one of the hospitality industry’s true visionaries and was awarded the Vittoria Legend award at the Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Awards in 2011, sadly passed away in 2020. The McMahon family continues to run the business and are committed to keeping Michael’s vision alive. Judy leads the business alongside her son James, Restaurant Manager, and daughter Kate, Event Manager, bringing a wonderful intergenerational energy and spirit to the team.