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The Best Restaurants in the Sutherland Shire
Go for the beach. Stay for the food! Get ready to feast your way through the best restaurants in the Sutherland Shire.
The Sutherland Shire‘s best restaurants offer a smorgasbord of coastal flavours, from the tiered seafood platters of Sealevel to the Mediterranean share plates at Bobby’s. There’s Puglian fare at Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, moreish Greek at Homer and tender steaks at Hurricanes. Beyond Cronulla, you’ll find a seasonal menu at Kareela’s Jensen and Italian long lunches at FIOR in Gymea. These are the restaurants our editors return to when swanning about this beloved slice of Sydney’s south.
Best Waterfront Venues in the Sutherland Shire
Sealevel
Seaside dining at its finest, Sealevel Restaurant is the flagship venue for the Allouche Family. Focusing on seafood, the modern Australian menu with French and Italian influence changes every two weeks, providing guests with something new every visit. Food aside, Sealevel has large windows that frame the stunning views of Cronulla Beach and the coastline.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Seafood
Best For: Waterfront, Special occasion, Group dining
Summer Salt
Summer Salt is a go-to for locals looking to celebrate. Not only is the food impeccable, but the floor-to-ceiling windows offer up 180-degree views out across the beach. Australian ingredients and top-tier seafood combine to create a feast to remember. The seafood platter is always a great choice. As for drinks, you can’t go past a paired glass of wine or one of Summer Salt’s seasonal cocktails. Their vegan menu is also to die for!
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Seafood
Best For: Waterfront, Group dining, Long lunch
Pippi’s
Known for it’s seaside fare and coastal vibe, Pippi’s has drawn a crowd since day one. Offering a fusion of Mediterranean and modern Australian cuisine, the menu has everything from acai bowls to kingfish crudo. Live DJ performances set the tone on Sundays, with the venue’s waterfront position giving the illusion that you’re somewhere else entirely. We suggest ordering a spritz, parking yourself under one of the umbrellas and imagining you’re somewhere in Europe.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Breakfast, Brunch, Weekend plans
Benny’s
Sitting pretty above Gunnamatta Bay, Benny’s is a long-lunch destination fantasy. Enjoy a crisp cocktail whilst soaking up sweeping water views and chowing down on the best (truly) focaccia in town. We recommend ordering the stracciatella to drizzle on top. Once you’re done with entrees, it’s onto mains with a menu curated by head chef RJ Lines. The tight curation of dishes ensures quality over quantity, with the exquisite Barramundi cooked in a bag a must-order.
Sitchu Tip: When the weather is turning it on head outside for some Benny’s fish and chips, homemade tartare sauce included, to eat as you watch the sun set.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Waterfront, Locals, Long lunch
Bobby’s
Just steps away from Cronulla Beach lies this Mediterranean-led seafood restaurant brimming with both style and substance.
What can you expect on the food front at Bobby’s? Brioche prawn rolls, Cantabrian anchovies on toast, ocean trout crudo and a very special lemon tiramisu. As for drinks, the focus is on Mediterranean wines and light and fresh cocktails.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Seafood
Best For: Long lunch, Waterfront, Cocktail lovers
Best Italian Restaurants in the Sutherland Shire
Call Me Mamma
Housed within Cronulla’s Parc Pavilion, Call Me Mamma is a very fun and vibey Italian restaurant that was made for brunch with the girls. The aesthetic is Italian chic, with beautiful plates, sorbet tones and framed pictures adorning the walls.
The house-made bread is a must-order and arrives still warm and perfectly puffed. Pair that with a side of burrata, a few small dishes and an Aperol spritz, and you’ve got yourself the perfect girl lunch. Oh, and there’s also a bottomless offering if you’re looking for some high-energy Saturday plans.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Date night, Group dining, Weekend plans
Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare
Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare is restaurateur Matteo Margiotta’s second Sydney venue, and this time he has turned to Puglia for inspiration. The interiors are all about warmth and comfort, with copper pots scattered throughout, mood lighting and a large wooden door welcoming guests. As for the menu, seafood is the star of the show with platters of the good stuff and build-your-own charcuterie boards a great place to start before moving into bowls of cacio e pepe and rich lobster pasta.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Date night, Group dining, Wine lovers
FIOR
FIOR‘s 120-seat venue manages the near impossible feat of being both intimate and spacious. The menu is modern Australian/Italian and boasts a swathe of seasonal dishes perfect for sharing. You can expect handmade pastas, a roving gelato cart, plenty of antipasto and an impeccable drinks list.
Sitchu Tip: The mafalde cavolo nero pesto with stracciatella and the barramundi in brown butter and capers are imminent return-worthy dishes.
Suburb: Gymea
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Group dining, Long lunch, Locals
Best Restaurants in the Sutherland Shire for Groups
Homer
Athenian soul meets Shire cool at Homer Rogue Taverna — a gritty, no-rules Greek eatery shaking things up in Cronulla. From the same team behind beloved café Ham, this 100-seat taverna is all about fire-roasted souvla, family recipes, and free-flowing fun. The fit-out channels urban Athens with terrazzo floors, exposed brick, graffiti art and a walk-up wine fridge that dares you to ditch the menu and pick your bottle straight from the rack.
Food-wise, forget starters and mains as Homer’s menu is made to mix, match and share. It’s bold and unapologetically Greek, with modern spins on everything from prawn saganaki flatbreads to tirokafteri-smothered koulouri, and a stifado cigar wrapped in crispy chicken skin. Their mum’s moussaka is here too (because of course), along with punchy cocktails, carafes of Greek wine, and even a house lager brewed just for them.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Greek
Best For: Date night, Locals, Long lunch
Hurricanes
Think steakhouse but with a major twist! Injecting a hefty dose of Mediterranean flair into both the decor and the menu, you can expect sculptural curves, sandstone and neutral colourways paired with an a la carte menu packed with fresh seafood, basted signature ribs and steaks. As for the drinks, Hurricanes has gone all out with over 80 wines curated by the incredibly knowledgeable sommelier and consultant Stéphane Pommier. Do yourself a favour and sample one of the seasonal cocktails, too, which incorporate local Australian-made (and even some Shire-made!) spirits.
The 300-seat restaurant manages to feel intimate and spacious at once with multiple dining zones including the bar area (perfect for a drink and some nibbles), the main dining room, outdoor area and the exceptional private dining space.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Steakhouse
Best For: Families, Locals, Group dining
Jensens Restaurant
It’s been more than three decades since owner Carl Jensen opened his first venue, Jensens Restaurant in Sylvania, bringing a fresh new approach to food and hospitality in The Shire. Today, his venues span dot The Shire, with Jensens Restaurant the jewel in the crown. Taking diners back to where it all began, the sizeable offering consists of retro classics from Jensen’s past mingled with contemporary cooking techniques. The modern Australian menu leans Mediterranean with gourmet pizzas, globally inspired entrees, dry-aged steaks and a decent vegan menu catering to every taste and appetite.
Suburb: Kareela
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Group dining, Long lunch, Locals
Alphabet St
Set in a pared-back, contemporary space, Alphabet St delivers delicious Thai food in a modern venue.
The traditional Thai dishes we all know and love make an appearance on the menu, but so too do Peking Duck Pancakes, Salt-and-Pepper Squid and Betal Leaf-wrapped Prawns and Peanuts.
Sitchu Tip: Order the Apple Martini, you won’t regret it.
Suburb: Cronulla
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Thai
Best For: Date night, Group dining, Locals
FAQs About the Best Restaurants in the Sutherland Shire
The Sutherland Shire has evolved into a genuine culinary destination, with standout venues across Cronulla, Gymea, Kareela and beyond. Top picks include Homer for bold Greek sharing plates, Benny’s for waterfront long lunches above Gunnamatta Bay, and Summer Salt for celebratory seafood with 180-degree beach views. Italian lovers should book Call Me Mamma or Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, while Hurricanes delivers a Mediterranean-tinged steakhouse experience.
Several Shire venues make the most of their coastal setting. Benny’s sits pretty above Gunnamatta Bay, pairing sweeping water views with the best focaccia in town, while Summer Salt’s floor-to-ceiling windows deliver 180-degree views across Cronulla Beach. Sealevel frames stunning coastline vistas through its large windows, and Pippi’s waterfront position makes you feel like you’ve been transported to Europe. Bobby’s is just steps from Cronulla Beach with a beach club for sunset cocktails.
Seafood is a Shire speciality, thanks to its prime coastal location. Sealevel is the flagship venue for the Allouche Family, with a modern Australian menu of French and Italian influence that changes fortnightly. Summer Salt’s seafood platter is a reliable crowd-pleaser, and regular order for locals celebrating something special. Bobby’s leans Mediterranean with ocean trout crudo and Cantabrian anchovies on toast, while Benny’s barramundi cooked in a bag is a must-order. For Italian-style seafood, Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare serves platters and rich lobster pasta inspired by Puglia.
For a romantic evening, the Shire delivers on atmosphere and food alike. Homer’s gritty, urban-Athens fit-out and share-style Greek menu make for a lively, memorable date, while Call Me Mamma brings Italian chic charm inside Cronulla’s Parc Pavilion. Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare sets a warm, intimate mood with copper pots and Puglian seafood, and Alphabet St serves impeccably presented Thai just off the sand . For special occasions, Sealevel’s changing seafood menu and coastline views make it a standout choice worth booking ahead.
Cronulla is the Sutherland Shire’s dining epicentre, with something for every occasion. Homer brings bold, share-style Greek to a gritty urban-Athens fit-out, while Benny’s serves waterfront long lunches above Gunnamatta Bay. Summer Salt and Sealevel are the go-tos for celebratory seafood with sweeping beach views. Italian lovers are spoilt with Call Me Mamma inside Parc Pavilion and Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, and Hurricanes delivers a Mediterranean-tinged steakhouse experience.
Loved our roundup of the best restaurants in Sutherland Shire and keen to sample more of what Sydney has to offer? Try out edits of the best restaurants in Sydney and the best restaurants in Bondi.
