Best restaurants in Coogee
From beachfront icons to new local favourites, these are some of Coogee’s best bites.
The best restaurants in Coogee sit within just a few minutes’ walk of the sand, from a British chef’s first Sydney restaurant to a home grown neighbourhood Italian.
This is a suburb that eats well at every price point, whether you are after a long lunch with a view or a quick bowl of pasta before the sun goes down. Here is where the locals actually book.
Rick Stein has planted his flagship Australian restaurant right on Coogee Beach, inside the InterContinental. Head chef Colin Chun runs the kitchen on Stein's fresh seafood, simply prepared philosophy, from beef dripping fish and chips to Singapore chilli crab. Book ahead for the terrace, or walk in for a laid back beachfront fish supper.
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Merivale's beachside institution has three storeys of options, but the rooftop boasts incredible views of Coogee Beach. Up here, sip on cocktails or order eats from the Jimmy's team, who cook up Middle Eastern classics from Jimmy's Falafel inthe CBD.
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A Coogee local since 2008, Sugarcane brings South East Asian flavours to a beachfront room with sweeping ocean views. Owner and chef Milan Strbac's menu runs from wagyu rendang to crispy chicken in plum sauce, paired with Asian inflected cocktails. Weekend bottomless lunch is a local rite of passage.
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Coogee's first wine bar sits a block back from the beach on Coogee Bay Road and is spread across two cosy levels. The Mediterranean menu of shared plates is built to match a list running past four hundred bottles, with a daily happy hour that keeps locals coming back after work.
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Tucked into the middle floor of Coogee Pavilion, mimi's is Merivale's fine diner with a Mediterranean soul, led by executive chef Jordan Toft. Expect caviar service, a josper grill working through whole fish and quality meat, and a serious wine list. Book the private dining room for a proper celebration.
Coogee local Chris Lu turned a former pizzeria owner's know how into Louie, a breezy modern Italian room just back from the beach. Arched windows open to the sea breeze on warm nights, while the kitchen turns out share plates, house pasta and a well priced wine list built for long lunches.
A short walk from the sand on Alfreda Street, Osteria Coogee brings a proper slice of Italy to the Eastern Beaches. The seasonal menu leans on fire grilled polpo and porcini and truffle gnocchi, with pasta and focaccia made in house daily. Tuesday's all you can eat lasagne night has its regulars.