DAY 1
Coffee Shop: Gypsy Espresso
“Cute coffee spot! One of the locals said this was their favorite coffee place in Potts Point. They had food, but just looking at the menu, I was a little nervous so I just got a coffee with milk. It was great!”
Dinner: Endeavour Tap Room
“Menu said which items were gluten-free. My fiancé loves breweries and luckily this brewery has food and kombucha. I ended up ordering the quinoa and beetroot salad. It was vegan, so they used vegan feta. When I questioned what was in the feta (to make sure it was made without nuts) they were unsure, so they removed to be safe. The salad was also supposed to have pumpkin seeds in it and I guess out of them being nervous for my allergy they removed those as well. It was a safe salad and the chicken was so juicy. I actually craved this again throughout the trip. Glad they took the extra precautions (even if I’m not allergic to pumpkin seeds)!”
Sightseeing: Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
DAY 2
Breakfast: Melted Monster
“The menu lists which items are gluten-free or can be made gluten-free. We got breakfast sandwiches and chai lattes here. The chai latte was the best latte I’ve ever had. I ordered it with oat milk and cinnamon. For breakfast, I ordered the salmon, avocado, and egg, on a gluten-free roll and a side of bacon. It was okay-glad it was safe!”
Lunch: 4 Pines Brewpub Manly
“Menu listed which items were gluten-free and which items contained nuts! When I went to order, I reiterated my allergies, and they noted they had nuts in the kitchen, but my meal would be okay. We ordered an app of crusted Brussels sprouts with parmesan on top. They also had two drinks that were gluten-free on tap! I ordered the ginger beer. Both the drink and the appetizer were delicious.”
Coffee Shop: Café De La Fontaine
“Another cute coffee place. They did serve a ton of pastries and desserts with my allergens, so I did not order food. I ordered a chai latte and we sat outside to enjoy it. Great spot to relax for a little and grab some caffeine.”
Dinner: Manly Pavilion
“Cute spot on the water for food and drinks! The menu was super helpful listing the allergens and the waitstaff was great! Every time they brought out a dish they would reiterate “no nuts! No gluten!”. I felt so safe. We ordered gluten-free FRIED calamari!!!! Tasted soo good that I actually couldn’t believe it was gluten-free. Also had lamb skewers. Was a great spot for some apps to share with the table.”
Sightseeing: Manly Beach
DAY 3
Breakfast: Woolworths Metro Potts Point
“The Metro Market was near my Airbnb and had a ton of fruits, veggies, and meats. We stocked up for breakfast items and water for the room. They did have a couple of gluten-free bread loaves but didn’t notice a ton of allergy-friendly selections. Still great for fresh produce if you plan on cooking yourself.”
Lunch: Mad Mex
“Needed to grab something quickly before a boat tour (where lunch was included, but I didn’t feel comfortable partaking) and found Mad Mex. I was able to find their entire menu online, and it listed all allergy and nutritional information. It was sort of like a Chipotle. Every item they have is customizable to work with any allergy or dietary restriction you may have.”
Dinner: Tayim Restaurant and Bar
“To be honest, I was nervous at first to dine here. But my fiancé really wanted to try it so I decided to go when it was less crowded and talk to them before ordering. The menu listed gluten-free items but there were a ton of nuts on the menu. I had my allergy translation cards and asked if they wanted to take them back to the chef (even though there was no language barrier, I didn’t want my information to get lost anywhere or for there to be confusion!). We ordered the baba ganoush as an appetizer and there was a gluten-free bread option. The gluten-free bread was served warmed with a dash of olive oil on top and it was so soft—it was delicious!! For a main meal, I had the chicken shawarma with a side of potatoes and the meal was fantastic! I was impressed with how they handled my allergies.”
Sightseeing: Whale Watching
DAY 4
Lunch: Bulli Beach Cafe
“We booked a tour and the tour took us to this cafe for lunch. It was helpful because the menu listed which items were gluten-free. We ordered before going and I asked our tour guide to mention my allergies. I ordered the chicken thighs with a quinoa salad. When we arrived, the restaurant had our order and I asked the wait staff to confirm mine was being prepped with my allergies being considered. They came back and told me it was gluten and nut-free. It was a great location for lunch and food was decent.”
Dinner: The Rocks Cafe
“Came here for dinner and there weren’t as many gluten-free options as other restaurants, but they did have the items labeled on the menu. I ordered a gluten-free burger and a side salad. It was just okay, was glad it was safe.”
Sightseeing: Animal Sanctuary
Sightseeing: Fitzroy Falls
Sightseeing: Centennial Vineyards Winery
“We stopped here as a part of a tour and the tour guide had informed the staff of my allergies. When we arrived they had gluten-free crackers out for me and did not include any nuts in the cheese spread board. I usually don’t partake in the spreads during wine tastings, but I’m so glad the staff went the extra mile for me!”
DAY 5
Lunch: Bronte Belo
“If you’re near Bondi Beach you need to go here!! One of my favorite meals of my entire trip! They serve traditional Brazilian food and the menu lists which items are gluten-free. The waitstaff also told me there were no nuts on the menu. I ordered the burrito bowl and the brisket literally melted in my mouth. Great portions as well. Be sure to hit the cafe with the food, not just the storefront with smoothies and appetizers. I was a little confused since the two are not side by side but nearly identical in name.”
Coffee Shop: Preach Cafe
“Stopped here quickly for a chai latte and it was great! Ordered with oat milk.”
Dinner: Bistecca
“I think this restaurant is my favorite place I’ve ever dined at. Bistecca is a rustic Italian steakhouse for adults only. It’s a speakeasy entrance so don’t miss it! The ambiance is unreal, and the entire experience is unlike any other restaurant I’ve been too. When you make a reservation there is also a place for you to put your allergens. And the allergen list to choose from is LONG. As soon as we walked in they addressed us by name and asked who had the allergies that were listed. We waited at the bar for our table where the staff opened the cocktail menu for us and looked at me and immediately told me which cocktails I could not order (with nuts or gluten). They were on top of their game. Since it’s a speakeasy, once we sat down they gave us a lock box to put our phones. So I don’t have any photos to share! The only entree on the menu is steak, and you get to choose from some sides. You then get to watch them cook the steak over an open fire. We ordered the octopus, olives, and gluten-free bread. Note—you need to make a reservation to dine here and they fill up fast. You need to book about 30 days in advance.”
Sightseeing: Bondi Beach
DAY 6
Lunch: Feedwell Catering Sydney
“This reminded me of Pret back in the states—quick on-the-go options that are great for lunch. The only item I felt safe getting was soup, which was gluten-free and nut-free. I ordered the vegetable soup and it was really good. We got the pumpkin soup to go and brought it back to the Airbnb for dinner later on.”
Dinner: Opera Bar
“Helpful menu listing what was gluten-free. Great spot right by the opera house. Had live music and great ambiance. We ordered the gluten-free pizza which came out with a marker and made me feel extra comfortable. Also split the falafel. Both items exceeded my expectations.”
Sightseeing: Toured inside the Opera House
DAY 7
Dinner: Moku Bar + Grill
“Came here because I saw they had a menu with gluten-free options listed. It was connected to a hotel/ resort and great for a relaxing bite/ light meal. I had the poke bowl and citrus slaw. Food was decent.”
DAY 8
Lunch: Down and Under Cruise and Dive
“I was shocked at how well this company handled allergies. We did a full day snorkel/scuba tour at the Great Barrier Reef, so lunch was included. They made an announcement prior to leaving that if anyone on the boat had allergies or dietary restrictions to talk to the staff. I was able to talk to the workers who told me which food had nuts/gluten and which would be safe. I told them I was worried about cross-contact, so they prepared my meal on a separate plate prior to putting the buffet out. I also talked to the chef who was cooking the meat and she told me how they disinfect the kitchen prior to cooking each meal. I felt so safe! I was nervous to be in the middle of the water with no safe food or to have a reaction, but this company went above and beyond. Highly recommend!”
Dinner: Hemingway’s Brewery Cairns Wharf
“Came here after being on the boat all day—great location right on the water. Had the salmon salad. The food was decent, and the menu was helpful with listing allergens.”
Sightseeing: Intro to scuba course at the Great Barrier Reef
DAY 9
Late Lunch/Early Dinner: Dundee’s on the Waterfront
“It was really busy, which always makes me nervous with allergies, but ended up being okay. We waited for our food for a while, so I double-checked that my order included that my allergens were kept in mind. The menu listed gluten-free items—we had the bruschetta as an appetizer, and I had the salmon Caesar salad. Food was okay, definitely a better spot to go during the day so you can enjoy the view of the water.”
Coffee Shop: Envy Espresso
“My fiancé stopped here for breakfast and the menu looked great, but there were a ton of allergens (for me) present, so I didn’t feel comfortable ordering the food. I did feel comfortable enough to order a chai latte. It was packed, which to me meant it was a great spot. The chai latte was great!”
Sightseeing: Cairns Esplanade Lagoon
DAY 10
Coffee Shop: Three Beans Cafes
“Simple menu. Great location near other restaurants and bars. Stopped here just for coffee (ordered a chai latte, which seemed to be the theme of the trip!). Staff was so friendly and the drinks were delicious.”
Dinner: Tacoteca
“Menu lists all allergens that may be present in a dish (vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, contains nuts, contains gluten, vegan, etc.). The staff was also super knowledgeable! We ordered the taquitos and guacamole as an appetizer, and I had a pork taco and a beef taco. The food was delicious. I recommend making a reservation because it gets busy! The staff was also so friendly.”
Dessert: Giapo
“This entire menu is gluten-free! There are nuts on the menu, so I talked to the staff and asked if there were any safe flavors in the back that they could use a fresh scoop from. We split a chocolate and a coconut (I’m not allergic to coconut). They were both DELICIOUS. And the cone was sooo good and crunchy. If you feel comfortable talking to the staff and explaining your nut allergy, I highly recommend. If you’re only gluten-free and/or dairy-free, this place is a no-brainer!!”
Sightseeing: Sydney Tower Eye
DAY 11
Lunch: Soljans Estate Winery
“Stopped here during a wine tour and also sat down and had lunch. They serve Mediterranean-style food with a kiwi twist. I talked to my staff about my allergies, and they were very accommodating. The menu listed which items were gluten-free, and I made sure there would be no cross-contact with nuts. I ordered the free-range chicken and a glass of champagne! The food was great.”
Sightseeing: Soljans Estate Winery Tour
Sightseeing: Muriwai Black Sand Beach
DAY 12
Drinks: New Leaf Kombucha Tap Room
“Small batched brewed with only four ingredients! They never add any flavorings, added colors, or preservatives. This tap room was a great place to stop instead of stopping for a drink at a bar, it was refreshing and the flavors were all so good. We did a flight so it still felt like we were at a brewery, just without the alcohol. And because it was kombucha, they were all naturally gluten-free.”
Sightseeing: The Auckland Museum
Sightseeing: Ponsonby
“Cute town with shops and restaurants.”
