Just open: Showbox Coffee Brewers

Justin Hemmes fell for its charms and opened Papi Chulo, now Manly has nabbed Bo Hinzack, the talented former owner of Mosman's The Penny Royal.

Hinzack opened Showbox Coffee Brewers last week at 19 Whistler Street, Manly. If you think it is just about the coffee - and there's plenty of that with Mecca, Reuben Hills and Marble Street all on offer - save some room for buckwheat tacos with snow crab.

Chef Alex Rispoli has a background in pastries, so reviewers will have high expectations of the compact menu.

Interior designer Arthur Koutoulas (Ten Buck Alley) describes his latest creation as "retro 1940s-1950s with a bit of the '80s thrown in''.

It's dripping with steel tubing, concrete and custom-made furniture. Hinzack says he chose Manly after selling Penny Royal because he wanted a community-based suburb.

"There are a lot of people who live and breathe Manly," he says.