Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat

Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat Our place sits on a 1600 sqm block with views of the Blue Mountains National Reserve. Our focus is on creating a Mediterranean oasis in the heart of Katoomba.

Making it the perfect location for our Italian cooking class experiences. Accomodation available A touch of southern Italy in the Blue Mountains NSW

Our three bedroom house (plus converted garage living space) has everything you need to feel at home when all you want to do is escape the rat race for awhile. So much more personal than a motel, shared accommodation or large hotel. Lots of room to s

pread out with outdoor eating area plus a huge backyard for kids to explore. Set on 1020 sqm, overlooking Blue Mountains National Park and down the road from Minni HaHa Falls, this self-contained mountain retreat offers a relaxing backdrop to your stay. Air conditioning and free wifi. BEDROOMS:

One Queen, one Double and two Singles which can be joined on request. Plus our converted garage with double sofa bed, rug, curtains and wall mounted TV). All beds (apart from double sofa) are set up on arrival. Carpeted. Included in the price: sheets, blankets, doona, pillows. Cot set up in one of the rooms, with mattress protector. Cot linen is not provided. No charge for use of cot. BATHROOM:

Continuous hot water. Three way bathroom with shower, tub, toilet and vanity areas. Plus a second toilet in laundry. Heat lamp and floor towels. Included in the price: bath sheet, face washer, hand towel, body wash, hand soap, first aid. KITCHEN:

Goodies supplied in the pantry inc coffee, range of teas, Milo, honey, Vegemite, cereal, oatmeal, salt, vinegar, oil. Microwave containers. Take away containers. Fully stocked with crockery, pots and pans, glassware, cutlery etc. Electric oven and cooktop. Microwave, toaster, kettle, portable electric BBQ. Italian caffettiera for a good coffee. Dishwasher. DINING AREAS:

Large dinner table seating 10. Tablecloths provided. Outdoor chairs and ottomans. Two large gorgeous cane chairs nearby to lounge about in. Cushions provided. Overlooks our lovely large backyard with fruit trees, mini vineyard and seasonal veggie patch. Views to Blue Mountains National Park. Outdoor eating area under the deck: large table with room for 8. LOUNGE:

Flat screen wall mounted TV with internal DVD player. Video player provided. Two sofas with room for 8. Throws provided to rug up into. Large range of coffee table books and magazines to browse through. Movies for young and old provided. Music CDs provided. Family friendly - lots of games, puzzles and toys provided for some great family time. LAUNDRY:

Large washing machine and sink. Laundry powder, clothes basket and pegs provided. Outdoor clothes line. Indoor airer. Second toilet. BABIES / TODDLERS:

(Due to Covid, ask us at booking for any of the following which we will provide on request, cleaned and sanitised.) We provide a large range of items you won't have to pack including traditional cot, change mat, high chair, bouncer, stroller, pram, baby bath, potty and child toilet seat. Plus lots of toys, puzzles and books suitable for young children. WHY STAY WITH US? Read our reviews on Google or .citrus.flour.katoomba
We offer late check out when available. Impeccably cleaned by the owners after every booking. Public bus runs through our street, with nearest bus stop at Minni HaHa Road taking you into the town centre. So you can leave your car at home if you don't feel like driving. The bus driver may drop you off right outside our house on your return - they're good that way. Accessible by car from the Great Western Highway from Sydney. By train, Katoomba train station and town centre is a 5 minute drive away. The Edge Cinema is just around the corner. Huge backyard for your children to explore and let out some energy. NB ground level varies. Ask about our Italian home made meals all you need do is reheat. Some require a short cooking time. See our website (Accommodation Amenities) for details. ITALIAN COOKING CLASSES

Why not organise a group of 4 to 6 foodies with a passion for learning how to cook and eat traditional Italian home made meals? Nonna Maria will demonstrate how to make the pasta dough, set up and use the pasta machine, and how to make a basic but scrumptious tomato based sauce. To name just one of our classes. All participants will take part in a hands-on way, and the best part is, the class is followed by a long lunch of Italian foods. Class includes a three course meal and espresso after lunch. A day spent in great company you'll be ready to show off your pasta-making skills at home. These days make fantastic bonding sessions or a gift with thought. Check our www.fifthavekatoombaretreat.com/classes-and-products page for details.

06/01/2025

What do you get when you combine delicious food from southern Italy and Katoomba's newest gin bar? A great night out you won't want to miss.

Is there anything sweeter than spending time together as a family? This gorgeous young family from Cairns experienced ma...
05/01/2025

Is there anything sweeter than spending time together as a family? This gorgeous young family from Cairns experienced making pizzas from scratch with us at Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat this summer break. Which they then got to eat. You should have heard the “yum” and “great” 😀.

They say the more you involve young children in preparing their own meals, the more likely they are to eat a wider variety of foods. So let’s get them involved!

Book your next family experience with us in Katoomba. Fully self contained accommodation is also available. What a perfect summer break!

Availability: Jan 16 to 27.

Decided to put into practice what I looked up - how to prune a young tree. In this case it’s a persimmon. The good thing...
29/12/2024

Decided to put into practice what I looked up - how to prune a young tree. In this case it’s a persimmon. The good thing was it didn’t need pruning, just separating the two equally strong main branches. By staking them apart and bending them down. I had never seen this method before.

used pruned branches from my chestnut trees as stakes.

Credit: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iOzt-9d83T8

Our inaugural Italian Night at The Factory Bar was a hit with the locals! It kinda booked out very fast. Chatting with e...
23/12/2024

Our inaugural Italian Night at The Factory Bar was a hit with the locals! It kinda booked out very fast. Chatting with everyone there on the night, we got an excellent response, with our southern Italian finger food going down a treat. Couple that with a fabulous range of cocktails served by Murray, and it was a formula for a great night out.

See our bio link to reserve your spot for the next one, to be held on Thursday 30th January.

Thank you to the community around St Pats Mortlake, Fr Tom, Solange, Stephanie and the many volunteers who made this Xma...
06/12/2024

Thank you to the community around St Pats Mortlake, Fr Tom, Solange, Stephanie and the many volunteers who made this Xmas Festa such a wonderful event.

I loved seeing the Italian tradition of holding a procession with the statue of Mother Mary to begin the festivities. She gave birth to our Saviour Jesus Christ which often gets overshadowed by the commercialisation of Christmas.

And thank you also to the stall holders for their quality products which will make beautiful gifts. It was obvious many hours of attention and care went into their creation.

Thank you especially to my good friends for supporting my small business. By shopping small and shopping locally, you’re helping every day Australians survive as they really can’t compete against the big chains.

So thank you!


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What do you get when you combine delicious food from the south of Italy and Katoomba’s newest gin bar? A great night out...
26/11/2024

What do you get when you combine delicious food from the south of Italy and Katoomba’s newest gin bar? A great night out which you won’t want to miss!

Join us on on December 19th for “Italian Night” at The Factory Bar for a taste explosion of the best of our traditional appetisers from southern Italy. The perfect start to any great meal and ideally suited to the range of cocktails on offer.

See menu on link. Main photo: David Wallace.






Thank you to .twilight.markets and the local community for supporting my small business at their Twilight Market. We rea...
25/11/2024

Thank you to .twilight.markets and the local community for supporting my small business at their Twilight Market. We really enjoyed chatting with everyone who came to try and buy our handmade products. It’s what community is all about.

If you missed out, we’ll be at on Thursday 5th December from 5-8pm.

For those who are time poor, check out our Christmas Gift Boxes and Gift Vouchers on our website to buy, or DM for orders.
















A few more of our products you can purchase tonight at the Blackheath Twilight Market. Our Rosemary Salt (perfect on mea...
22/11/2024

A few more of our products you can purchase tonight at the Blackheath Twilight Market. Our Rosemary Salt (perfect on meat, fish, pizza and more); our freshly baked Pane di Casa to go along with our gourmet olive paste or chilli oil; and our Xmas Jam.

See you there 🎄.
















Our gourmet food products are hand made using the freshest ingredients and follow traditions handed down through the gen...
21/11/2024

Our gourmet food products are hand made using the freshest ingredients and follow traditions handed down through the generations. It’s slow food and it’s good.

100% of the contents are consumable as there is no vegetable oil used, no preservatives or colouring agents.

If you’re looking for something special to gift this Christmas or for your pantry, come say hello to us tomorrow .twilight.markets from 5pm.
















From apples, plums, blueberries, nectarines, grapes, figs, pears and peaches starting to pop out from behind their leave...
11/11/2024

From apples, plums, blueberries, nectarines, grapes, figs, pears and peaches starting to pop out from behind their leaves; to tiny critters resting on flowers; to the simple beauty of different grasses (and my Calendula sprouting more and more flowers!!), I’ve had a couple of good days in the garden.

What are you growing?



















From learning to make pizza dough and the sauce from scratch, to spreading the base, prepping the toppings and compiling...
09/11/2024

From learning to make pizza dough and the sauce from scratch, to spreading the base, prepping the toppings and compiling their own pizza, this is one fun class for practically all ages.

A great opportunity for father and son to do an activity together whilst honing existing skills which can only result in perfection at home! I can’t wait to see the photos.

The other young family, with toddler in tow, also learnt a few extra tips and tricks on getting their base just right for a typical home oven.

A most enjoyable day 😊.

If you’d like to taste the difference between a homemade pizza and store bought, you really should try it. It’s not that hard and personally, there’s no going back.

Book into our class or buy a gift voucher for Christmas. Skills for life ❤️.












Cleaning out the fridge. One big eggplant. Sliced and grilled. Enough to make up a couple of bread rolls for lunch today...
07/11/2024

Cleaning out the fridge. One big eggplant. Sliced and grilled. Enough to make up a couple of bread rolls for lunch today. What do you like to eat with eggplant?

Honestly, it’s great on its own with crunchy bread. Maybe with some pesto spread.

My favourite way to use eggplant in my cooking is on Pasta alla Norma. Which is basically pasta, usually Penne, topped with a tomato based sauce and fried cubes of eggplant. And a salty cheese added over the top of your dish. We usually skip this part as we’re not too big on dairy in our meals. One of these days though I’m going to remind myself what the dish tastes like with the cheese.

Happy Cooking. Or cleaning out your fridge. Whichever comes first 😉.











Fresh fruit break: Dad’s citron fruit. If you look it up they say it’s not really edible. Not sure why they say this. Cl...
07/11/2024

Fresh fruit break: Dad’s citron fruit.
If you look it up they say it’s not really edible. Not sure why they say this. Clearly they have not tried it sprinkled with salt. Or mixed into a bowl of fruit salad. It tastes just like any other citrus fruit to me. Admittedly I am partial to sour over sweet. But that’s where the salt comes in.

Try adding olive oil and vinegar for an “actual” fruit salad. Let me know what you think.



What’s growing this week:My “strawberry fields forever” continue to delight me. They make the BEST instant jam.Potatoes ...
05/11/2024

What’s growing this week:
My “strawberry fields forever” continue to delight me. They make the BEST instant jam.

Potatoes are coming along - aren’t the flowers pretty?

Our FIRST lemon bud in the large terracotta urn upstairs. Yes, it’s that small dark pink ball-looking thing. We’d just about given up on this tree but it looks like the recent addition of marigolds in the urn have done their magic.

A range of edible wild greens including dandelion buds (apparently they are called “false buds” but we’ve been eating them for years. A bit like asparagus shoots); dandelion including the “false” ones, fennel, parsley, mint, oregano and nasturtiums. Did you spot the dainty white strawberry flower?

Grapes are starting to appear - admittedly not the best photo. It’s hard to juggle the phone camera and secateurs at the same time ☺️.

Peas - in amongst the grapevines so they are protected against the birds etc .

There’s always something happening in the garden even when it might not be so apparent.

























Crumbed chicken breast fillet schnitzel. Coated in a breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese mix, after being dipped into beaten ...
02/11/2024

Crumbed chicken breast fillet schnitzel. Coated in a breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese mix, after being dipped into beaten egg, garlic and parsley.

Fried in olive oil, not vegetable oil.
Served with a mixed salad. Light and delicious.

ps: the pie is still cooking in the oven 😉.










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Fifth Avenue
Katoomba, NSW
2780

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+61414654904

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Salt of the earth - my mum’s garden #organicgardening #Homegrown #growfoodnotgrass

Who says Winter is drab! #wintercolour

Book an Italian cooking class this long weekend. Book via website. Sat: Pasta and Sauce www.fifthavekatoombaretreat.com/product-page/pasta-and-sauce-making-class-2 Sun: Pizza Making www.fifthavekatoombaretreat.com/product-page/pizza-making-class

Ravioli Making Class in Katoomba

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Our Story

Now more than ever, we are feeling the need to be in tune with each other and with Nature. Set with a backdrop to the Blue Mountains National Reserve and Minni HaHa Falls down the street, Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat sits on 1000 sqm block and is a relaxing space for 8 where you will experience that 'ahhh' moment instantly. Main tourist attractions are 5-10 minute drive with a peaceful aspect when you return from your Blue Mtns outing.

Presentation and cleanliness is everything to us (well before Covid-19). Our attention to detail could possibly be borderline obsessive – if you consider polishing all the taps til they gleam or lining up the coffee cups so the handles face the same way obsessive. I just call it thorough. ​ Suitable for small groups and the perfect family accommodation with holiday house essentials and little luxuries – encouraging you to unwind so you focus on time together. It's not too big for couples either.

Consider adding one of our Italian cooking class experiences to your stay. Run with the help of my mother, the quintessential Nonna, our classes give an insight into our southern Italian traditions which focus on food and family.

My grandparents lived in a small mountainous village in Italy and even though I only got to experience their way of life for a few months as a child, it must have rubbed off on me, along with my father's lifelong connection to the land. So what will you experience when you combine your stay at Fifth Ave Katoomba Retreat with one of our classes? Expect to immerse yourself in how we live – lots of fresh food (including homegrown) prepared in simple quick ways yet so full of flavour, you'll want to come back for more. Pasta alla Norma. Stuffed zucchini. Crisp arancini. Light and fluffy gnocchi. Homemade bread. Wine, espresso and tiramisu. Delectable. In an environment that makes you think of the Mediterranean – our "mini" vineyard, our fruit trees and coming soon, our olive grove. With so many walks and sites for you to discover in the Blue Mountains, your time in this part of NSW will no doubt include lots of outdoor exploring. Coming home to really good wholesome and delicious homemade food is certainly the icing on the cake! In fact, participants arrive as strangers and leave as family. They love the hands on aspect of the class and the sit down meal, a long standing custom throughout Italy. What better way to leave your usual routine behind than with such a memorable experience?