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Sydney has always had an unbeatable beach lifestyle. After a couple of difficult years and far too much time spent inside the same four walls, we can think of nothing better than summer spent enjoying the beauty of Sydney’s glorious beaches. Of course, all that swimming, surfing and sunscreen-applying really builds up an appetite. Luckily there are countless options for beachside eats that’ll see you through from the start of your day to sundowners. Read on for ten of the best, Square style.
Feature Image: Skittle Lane
Melonhead
Coogee
The early bird catches the best waves. This comes with another big perk if you’re in Coogee: an early morning visit to Melonhead. On the beach side of Coogee Bay Road, you can practically step off the beach and grab yourself one of the best Acai bowls, smoothies or fresh juices you’re likely to find anywhere in Sydney.
This unassuming takeaway spot is popular with locals and beach visitors every day, but any waiting in line will be well worth it.
If you’re stuck for what to order, the Honeybee smoothie is an all-ages crowd pleaser and the perfect way to fuel a day of beach adventures. It’s a blend of banana, mango, cinnamon and honey. Plus a great range of salads and juices has your nutrition sorted for the rest of the day, too.
Melonhead
256 Coogee Bay Rd
Coogee NSW 2034
Image: Melonhead
Skittle Lane
Bondi and Manly
World-class coffee, roasted in Bondi, served a stone’s throw from the world’s best beach – it’s enough to make even Melbourne coffee snobs consider a northern migration.
Start your day in Sydney the right way at Skittle Lane. Clean, consistent, beautiful coffee is the mission of this popular coffee institution. Though they started out six years ago, at their namesake CBD laneway, the business has since expanded to four locations, including the beachside destinations of Bondi and Manly.
The coffee beans here are roasted in-house in Bondi, giving Skittle Lane the ultimate control of an exceptional coffee experience from bean to cup. The menu shifts seasonally, as curated by the Skittle Lane roasting team. Make it your first stop any beach day this summer for quality caffeination.
Skittle Lane (various locations)
Bondi
135 Curlewis St
Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Image: Skittle Lane
Freshie Max
Freshwater
Another beachside favourite is Freshie Mex in the Freshwater village. This friendly local spot more than delivers on flavour and a relaxed beachy atmosphere. Expect a taste of all your Mexican cuisine favourites, but with a Sydney twist. To cap off a long afternoon spent in the sun, grab plenty of Nachos and a round of the Jalapeno Margaritas if you dare.
Inside the restaurant, you’re greeted by a vibrant Frida Kahlo cut-out mural and a bar stacked with chilled Mexican beers. The comfy booth seating and contemporary lighting provide a cool and relaxing atmosphere out of the summer heat. Freshie Mex caters wonderfully to vegetarians, vegans and kids, too. The veg menu options – like the Jackfruit Burrito and Vegan Mushroom Fajita – means that nobody is heading home hungry.
Taco Tuesdays, Margarita Sundays, Saturday happy hours…there’s practically a new reason every day to head down to Freshie Mex for a tasty Mexican fix by the beach.
Freshie Mex
Shop 3/22-26 Albert St
Freshwater NSW 2096
Image: Freshie Mex
Favoloso Espresso Bar + Deli
Bronte
Favoloso has been delighting Bronte locals with fresh panini, great coffee, homemade meals and warm Sicilian hospitality for over 16 years. Today, it’s a classic case of a local favourite that was too good to be kept a secret.
In beautiful Bronte, this community favourite is on a leafy little corner, walkable from Mackenzies Bay. Outside dining on the kerb allows you to sip your espresso with the sea breeze in your hair. Grab some take-home meals from the fridge so you can avoid unnecessary cooking over summer. And while you’re there, enjoy a fresh panino or salad with your midday coffee.
The team at Favoloso are proponents of the Italian-born Slow Food Movement. This means that every step of the food sourcing journey is one that’s sustainable, healthy and purposeful. You can taste the care and community connection to local ingredients in every bite. Salute!
Favoloso Espresso Bar + Deli
43-45 Belgrave St
Bronte NSW 2024
Image: Favoloso
Madame & Yves
Clovelly
At the picturesque beachside enclave of Clovelly is a must-visit patisserie. Madame & Yves is the home of esteemed pastry chef Yves Scherrer, who has worked in some of the world’s best restaurants and patisseries. He has baked croissants for dignitaries and even taught at Le Cordon Bleu for a stint. This is no regular cake shop!
Exquisite eclairs are the specialty here, and we recommend filling a box with every flavour available on the day. But there’s a solid selection of pastry staples to be found here too: freshly baked bread, croissants, savoury pastries, tarts, cakes, brioche and even ice cream.
For the perfect petit-déjeuner this summer, go in early for oven-warmed pastries, grab your takeaway coffee and find a private vantage point to enjoy your breakfast with a beach view.
Madame & Yves
343–345 Clovelly Rd
Clovelly NSW 2031
Image: Madame & Yves
Astin Min Fine Foods
Collaroy
Got any picnics or parties to cater for this summer? Make sure you pay a visit to Astin Min Fine Foods if so. This much-loved local is a boutique delicatessen with a difference. Not far from Collaroy Beach, it makes a convenient pit stop to gather provisions for a gourmet seaside picnic.
Jodhi has curated a delicious selection of antipasti, charcuterie, cheese, fresh bread, cakes, drinks and other noshing essentials. Or go ahead and order a pre-arranged platter with a bit of everything.
If your social calendar is jam-packed, save some time and order online from Astin Min’s Square Online site. You can order and pay in seconds for convenient in-store pickup.
The Collaroy team can arrange platters and boxes with fresh, delicious provisions for any occasion: sandwiches for a beach party, grazing platters for events and even gift hampers. The only battle you’ll have is that the gorgeous platters might look too good to eat from.
Astin Min
2/998 Pittwater Rd
Collaroy NSW 2097
Image: Astin Min
Papa J’s Bar
Cronulla
There’s no need to battle the city traffic to indulge in fabulous cocktails this summer. Just a short stroll from Central Cronulla Beach you’ll find one of the Shire’s top after-dark destinations: Papa J’s Bar. Settle in for some seriously well-crafted cocktails and a delicious menu of small plates and bar snacks.
Papa J’s space is a luxe art deco immersion that hits you with its moody marble fittings, gilded accents and backlit bar. It sets the perfect backdrop for enjoying one of the many classic or ‘fresh AF’ cocktails and mocktails on offer. Sit at the bar and watch your cocktail get mixed, poured and garnished to perfection. Then treat yourself to something special from the ‘finer things’ menu – the Sydney rock oysters or kingfish ceviche perhaps.
In these glamorous surroundings, with plush seating and the perfect cocktails list, this is the perfect place to enjoy with friends on any special occasion, or just because.
Papa J’s Bar
Shop 7/2-6 Cronulla St
Cronulla NSW 2230
Image: Papa J’s
Rukus Cafe
Newport
Opening early to caffeinate and feed the surf crowd and early risers, Rukus Cafe is what good food in Sydney is all about: delicious hearty and healthy brunches, coffee, smiles and a relaxed beach atmosphere. You’ll feel at home here, set away from the crowds in a sunny side street. The coffee here is also on point – Rukus works with coffee beans from nearby Kingdom Coffee Co. which is a small-batch, high-quality roastery.
On the menu you’ll find all the breakfast and brunch staples; there’s eggs, breakfast bowls and burgers, smoothies, granola and more. For quick sustenance between beach activities or to refuel after a surf, you can grab a ‘lump of coal’ bacon and egg roll, served in a black brioche roll with the house BBQ sauce.
Rukus
2 Palm Road
Newport, NSW, 2106
Image: Rukus
Fika Swedish Kitchen
Bondi and Manly
Find your summer happy place at Fika – a multi-location Swedish cafe with a name that roughly translates to “a place to share a cup of coffee and a bite to eat”. The Scandi-influenced fare here is both hearty and healthy – helping fuel your busy summer days. The Fika cafes were born when three Swedish best friends who moved down under in 2007 fell in love with the Sydney beach lifestyle, but felt the ‘fika’ concept was missing from it. Fika delivers, and consistently serves up great food and coffee.
The Bondi location is a little local gem in the backstreets of North Bondi, while the Manly cafe is just a short stroll from the main beach. From a quirky hole-in-the-wall to Sydney cafe culture mainstay – Fika has come a long way. Its devotees love the Skagen roll, the delicious fresh pastries, or even the perfectly-poached eggs on toast. Sweet tooths can also be satisfied with a slice of Sweden’s famous dessert, the Kladkakka chocolate cake.
Fika Bondi
45 Gould Street
Fika Manly
5B Market Lane
Image: Fika
Fishbowl
Various Locations Across Sydney
When listing Sydney’s best beachside bites for this summer, it would be remiss not to include the amazing Fishbowl. Now operating at dozens of locations across the country (and counting) the story started back in Bondi in 2016, at what was then just a 30 metre square space.
The team has gone from strength to strength in the 5+ years since, holding strong to its vision to change fast food for the better and create quick, delicious and wholesome poke bowls with minimal intervention and maximum care. Fishbowl understands the importance of the beach lifestyle, which is why it serves you quickly so you can grab your lunch and get back to the beach action.
For warm summer days, the O.G. Bowl is a winner, with salmon sashimi, kale, beets, red onion, edamame,roasted sesame dressing, seaweed, tobiko and crispy shallots. You can also build your own bowl exactly how you like it.
Fishbowl – Various locations across Sydney
Image: Fishbowl
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