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From Bondi to Balmoral, Palm Beach to Cronulla: The Best Beach Cafes in Sydney for Coffee, Brunch and a View
From Bondi to Balmoral, these are Sydney's best beach cafes.
The best beach cafes in Sydney include Bondi Beach-facing Beach Bar Promenade, Cronulla’s brunch destination Next Door and sand-strewn The Boathouse Shelly Beach. This guide covers the best beach cafes in Sydney by mood: coffee, brunch, and cafes with a view, as well as location, from the Northern Beaches and the Eastern Suburbs to the Sutherland Shire and the North Shore.
The Best Beach Cafes in Sydney
- The Best Beach Cafes for Coffee
- The Best Beach Cafes for Brunch
- The Best Beach Cafes With a View
- The Best Beach Cafes on the Northern Beaches
- The Best Beach Cafes in the Eastern Suburbs
- The Best Beach Cafes on the North Shore
- The Best Beach Cafes in the Sutherland Shire
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Beach Cafes in Sydney
The Best Beach Cafes for Coffee
Harrys, Bondi
Harry’s has been serving quality coffee to the Bondi community since 1997 and has grown its drinks coffering to include batch brew, espresso and cold drip, on top of a beloved menu of matcha and specialty lattes. With their own canner, you can now get iced version of Harrys favourite available to takeaway and store.
Suburb: Bondi
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Locals, Quick bite, Breakfast
The Best Beach Cafes for Brunch
The Boathouse Balmoral, Balmoral
Sitting right out over the water, The Boathouse Balmoral is one of Sydney’s most scenic cafes to enjoy your favourite brunch dishes. Breakfast is all about fresh granola bowls, plates of bacon and eggs and speciality drinks. When it comes to lunch, expect a South East Asian twist and a seafood focus. Think Thai beef salad, pad Thai with prawns and Sydney Rock Oysters with green nahm jim.
Suburb: Balmoral
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Waterfront
Next Door, Cronulla
Blurring the lines between cafe, restaurant and bar, Next Door is a casual, yet equally stylish eatery specialising in Modern Australian delicacies. The brunch menu, packed with classics, pairs beautifully with either a wine or cocktail. As for the view, you’ll be peering out across Cronulla Beach.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Locals, Brunch, Breakfast
The Best Beach Cafes With a View
Beach Bar Promenade, Bondi
Soak up views of Australia’s most famous beach, whilst taking advantage of Beach Bar Promenade‘s delicious all-day menu. Breakfast involves fresh takes on brunch dishes. Think avo toast and cured salmon scrambled eggs. Once midday rolls around, guests are invited to nosh on coastal-inspired snacks, moving from yellowfin tuna crudo to deli platters and pizzas. On steamy days, opt for a frozen cocktail.
Suburb: Bondi
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Waterfront, Cocktail lovers, Weekend plans
Bianchini’s Elouera Beach, Cronulla
With tables edging along the the very sands of Elouera Beach, you can’t compete with the ocean views at Bianchini’s. There’s plenty of coverage so you don’t need to be turned off by the weather.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Brunch, Breakfast, Locals
Best Beach Cafes in Sydney: Northern Beaches
Dunes, Palm Beach
Sitting atop Sydney’s iconic Palm Beach, Dunes Restaurant is beachside alfresco dining at its best. If you’re feeling fancy, head into the main restaurant for the likes of oyster tasting plates and Moreton Bay Bug spaghetti. If you’re looking for something a little more low-key (and are covered in sand), you can’t go past their kiosk which serves up great coffee, juices and delicious nosh perfect to keep you fuelled for a long day at the beach. Our pick? The beer battered fish burger and chips with a frozen watermelon margarita.
Suburb: Palm Beach
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Waterfront, Special occasion, Weekend plans
The Pantry, Manly
As far as ‘wow ‘factor goes, it doesn’t get more scenic than The Pantry, situated bang on the iconic Manly Beach. The perfect spot for your morning coffee and big brekky, or swing by for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
Watch as the waves crash right before your eyes as you feast on their delectable offering, which focuses on fresh, local, and seasonal produce.
Suburb: Manly
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Long lunch, Waterfront, Brunch
The Boathouse Shelly Beach, Manly
The Boathouse holds prime real estate on the sandy shores of Shelly Beach. A brunch destination where you can literally feel the sand between your toes, this is the place to sit back and enjoy the rustic-chic surrounds, incredible food, and trademark amazing hospitality the Boathouse has become so well-known for. They don’t take reservations, so get in quick to score a waterside table.
Suburb: Manly
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Long lunch
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Shaka @ Freshwater, Freshwater
There is an undeniable, otherworldly energy that Freshwater Beach radiates. The expansive coastline, which is flanked by a headland on either end, makes it one of Sydney’s most spectacular beaches.
Shaka @ Freshwater is located right by the beach, so you can soak up Freshie’s magical atmosphere as you sip on your latte and toss up whether to have the classic double bacon and egg roll, a toasted croissant, or an acai bowl. Come lunch, there are fresh salads, burgers, and of course, your classic beach meal of fish and chips. Yum!
Suburb: Freshwater
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Breakfast
Best For: Quick bite, Breakfast, Locals
Gusto on the Beach, Wee Why
Sip your morning brew as you watch the waves roll in over Dee Why Beach at Gusto on the Beach. Dog-friendly and open every day for takeaway and dine in, it’s the kind of place that fits seamlessly into your routine. Expect fresh bowls of yoghurt and seasonal fruits, crisp wraps, housemade fritters and fresh daily pastries.
Suburb: Dee Why
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Breakfast
Best For: Locals, Waterfront, Quick bite
The Best Beach Cafes in Sydney: Eastern Suburbs
Harrys, Bondi
Once a hole-in-the-wall café churning out coffee, Harrys has expanded into an ethical kiosk and bar, and their loyal following has come along for the journey. There’s always a queue, but it’s not just for the coffee; the brunch offering is equally as good.
Opt for the Harry’s hotcake, which is topped with seasonal berries, organic maple syrup, lemon balm, and double cream… and you can always round out your indulgence with a Botanica cold-pressed juice.
Suburb: Bondi
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Cafe
Best For: Locals, Quick bite, Breakfast
Sea Salt Café, Clovelly
For the best seat in the city, pull up a chair at Sea Salt Café in Clovelly. This buzzing eatery is North-East facing and looks directly out onto the beach, so you can soak up the sunshine and breathe in the fresh sea air.
Their all-day menu doesn’t disappoint either with classic bangers like fish and chips, eggs Benedict, house-made banana and date bread, plus your not-so-average offerings like maple-spiced granola and shakshouka. There’s also a takeaway kiosk if you’d prefer to grab and go park up right by the water.
Suburb: Clovelly
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Locals
Beach Bar Promenade, Bondi
Creating a venue that feels luxe enough for a date night, whilst also being appropriate for a beachside snack is no easy feat. But Beach Bar Promenade is just that — a flexible space incorporating intimate dining spaces, a beachside terrace bar and a kiosk for those with sandy feet. Expect reimagined classics from grilled king prawns to yellowfin tuna crudo as well as hot and cripsy pizzas.
Suburb: Bondi
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Waterfront, Brunch, Weekend plans
Best Beach Cafes in Sydney: North Shore
The Boathouse Balmoral Beach, Balmoral
For alfresco dining beside the sea, The Boathouse in Balmoral literally juts out over the water. It’s always heaving, especially on weekends, and for good reason; the chic, beach shack vibe comes complete with good food and incredible waterfront views. Don’t forget to pack your swimmers for a post-feed dip.
Suburb: Balmoral
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Waterfront, Breakfast, Brunch
Bathers’ Bistro, Mosman
For a more relaxed (but equally picturesque view of Balmoral Beach), the Bathers’ Pavilion offers all-day dining at their Bathers’ Bistro. Ideal for breakfast catch-ups, long lunches, and family gatherings, the morning menu has fresh juices, eggs, granola and the super popular Bathers’ blend coffee and more. At lunch and dinner, enjoy classics like steak and chips and gourmet pizzas.
Suburb: Mosman
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Locals, Waterfront, Brunch
Best Beach Cafes in Sydney: Sutherland Shire
Next Door, Cronulla
Blurring the lines between café, restaurant and bar, Next Door always has an enegertic atmosphere, with runners, walkers and surfers eagerly awaiting their takeaway drinks from 6:30am daily. It sits next door to flagship venue, Sealevel Restaurant, and offers a more casual, yet equally stylish vibe. The brunch menu is modern Australian and pairs beautifully with either a wine or cocktail. As for the view, you’ve got the best seat in the house.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Waterfront, Locals, Breakfast
Bianchini’s Elouera Beach, Cronulla
Bianchini’s is a household name in the Shire, and not just for the sweeping views from their Cronulla location. Their brunch menu is packed with classics, and the coffee is always incredible. Breakfast will see you chowing down on pancakes, bacon and eggs and corn fritters, whilst lunch offers an equally tasty offering of fresh prawn tacos, salads and classic burgers. Swing by for some takeaway and head down to the sand or enjoy from the balcony as you watch the waves roll in.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Waterfront, Brunch, Locals
Barefoot on the Beach, Cronulla
This small but mighty café is all about relaxed, laid-back vibes — no shoes needed! Located on Cronulla Beach, this busy beach kiosk is a great place for a fresh smoothie, a warm cup of coffee, a raw slice, or a healthy wrap. There are also loads of paleo and gluten-free options on the menu, too.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Breakfast
Best For: Breakfast, Locals, Quick bite
Frequently Asked Questions About the Best Beach Cafes in Sydney
Sydney has no shortage of brilliant beach cafes for brunch, with a handful of standouts rising above the rest. The Boathouse Balmoral literally juts out over the water and serves everything from fresh granola bowls to a South East Asian-influenced lunch menu. Next Door in Cronulla blends café, restaurant and bar into one stylish package, with modern Australian brunch dishes best enjoyed with a glass of wine overlooking Cronulla Beach. Sea Salt Café in Clovelly is another favourite, with a north-east-facing aspect, all-day menu and a takeaway kiosk for those who prefer eating beach-side.
For serious coffee by the sea, Harrys in Bondi is the undisputed local favourite. Open since 1997, it has grown from a hole-in-the-wall into an ethical kiosk and bar with a full drinks offering spanning espresso, batch brew, cold drip and specialty lattes — plus canned iced coffee to take away. Gusto on the Beach in Dee Why is another solid pick for your morning brew, with a dog-friendly setup, daily pastries and front-row views of the waves rolling into Dee Why Beach. Both spots reward early risers.
Few cities do ocean-view dining like Sydney, and its beach cafes deliver on that front. Beach Bar Promenade in Bondi sits right on Australia’s most famous stretch of sand, with an all-day menu running from cured salmon scrambled eggs through to yellowfin tuna crudo and frozen cocktails. Dunes in Palm Beach offers alfresco dining atop one of Sydney’s most iconic headlands, with a kiosk option for a more casual feed. Bianchini’s at Elouera Beach in Cronulla has tables right on the sand, making it one of the most enviable spots in the Sutherland Shire.
The Northern Beaches punch well above their weight when it comes to beach cafes. The Boathouse Shelly Beach in Manly is a brunch institution — you can literally feel the sand between your toes at your table, though no reservations means you’ll need to arrive early for a waterside spot. The Pantry, also in Manly, sits right on the main beach and serves fresh, seasonal produce from breakfast through to dinner. Further north, Shaka @ Freshwater captures the laid-back energy of Freshie beautifully, while Dunes in Palm Beach is the area’s go-to for a more elevated beachside meal.
Balmoral Beach is the North Shore’s café heartland, with two standout options sharing the same stunning harbourside setting. The Boathouse Balmoral Beach is the area’s most beloved spot, perched directly over the water with a beach shack aesthetic, excellent brunch menu and views that make it worth braving the weekend crowds. For something slightly more relaxed, Bathers’ Bistro at the historic Bathers’ Pavilion offers all-day dining with fresh juices, eggs, granola and the popular Bathers’ blend coffee in the morning, plus bistro classics at lunch and dinner. Both spots are particularly special on a sunny morning.
Cronulla dominates the Sutherland Shire’s beach café scene, with several strong options clustered around the beachfront. Next Door is the area’s buzziest spot, drawing surfers, runners and locals from 6:30am for takeaway coffees and a modern Australian brunch menu with an option to pair dishes with wine or cocktails. Bianchini’s at Elouera Beach is a Shire institution, serving pancakes, corn fritters and prawn tacos with sweeping beach views from the balcony. For something more low-key, Barefoot on the Beach is a compact kiosk with a strong smoothie and coffee offering and plenty of paleo and gluten-free options.
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