The Shelly Room is getting all dressed up above Manly Wharf, hoping to give smaller celebrations their own waterfront setting from December. Opening as the second dedicated venue from Manly Wharf Events, it joins the larger Freshwater Room with a more intimate option for weddings, engagements, birthdays, private dinners and corporate functions. “The Shelly Room has been designed to capture everything people love about celebrating at Manly Wharf, but in a more intimate way,” said Adam Flaskas, founder of Artemus Group. “We wanted to create a space where smaller celebrations could still feel like a major occasion, with beautiful design, incredible food and spectacular Sydney Harbour views. “I love the feel, design and location of our event space so much that I chose it for my own wedding, which was the very first event held there. It’s a space that’s incredibly special to me, and I’m excited for others to now create their own memories there too.” The room sits on the upper level overlooking the eastern side of Manly Cove, with the harbour doing much of the visual work. Inside, Venetian walls, American oak panelling and aged bronze mirrors are paired with handcrafted Murano glass chandeliers and a bespoke Moiré carpet inspired by ripples on the water. A blush onyx bar sits at the centre of the room, while the rose-toned palette continues into the powder room through cream marble, stone flooring and sculptural shell wall lights. With capacity for 120 guests seated or 200 for cocktails, the Shelly Room fills the gap between a private dining room and a full-scale function space. The existing Freshwater Room remains the bigger option, accommodating up to 300 guests across an indoor-outdoor layout designed for larger weddings, corporate events and milestone celebrations. “Not every celebration needs 300 people. Some of the best events are the ones where everyone in the room knows each other, and the Shelly Room really lends itself to that,” said Sally Pulford, director of sales at Artemus Group. “The Shelly Room brings a new sense of warmth and intimacy to our events offering, while still delivering that unmistakable Manly Wharf experience. We can already see it becoming a beautiful setting for weddings, engagements, milestone birthdays and summer celebrations.” That gives Manly Wharf Events two spaces with quite different personalities rather than one venue simply divided by guest count. The food and drinks can be shaped around the occasion, with plated menus, shared feasts and cocktail-style canapés all available across both rooms. Hosts can add seafood and oyster bars or carvery stations, while drinks packages range from wine and beer to Champagne, bespoke cocktails and non-alcoholic options. Any event confirmed at Manly Wharf Events between September 30 and December 31, 2026 and held in 2027 will go into the draw for $20,000 off the booking. The Shelly Room opens at Manly Wharf in December, with bookings now open. Source: The Cru Find more dining out updates on Crumb Wire.