An insider’s guide to the best cafes and restaurants in Cronulla Beach.
When the weather warms up, Sydneysiders head south to Cronulla for an easy coastal escape. With beautiful beaches, iconic ocean pools and a thriving food scene, it’s no surprise the suburb fills up early on weekends. Whether you’re strolling the esplanade with a coffee or settling in for a long lunch, Cronulla’s dining scene delivers every time.
The Best Restaurants In Cronulla
Bobby’s
Bobby’s opened on The Esplanade in 2023 and has been packed ever since. With striking waterfront views and a buzzy crowd, it’s quickly earned a reputation as one of the coolest places to eat in Cronulla. Take a seat by the water and dig into Mediterranean-inspired seafood, from stracciatella and cherry tomatoes to grilled octopus, rigatoni and market fish. Add a strong wine and cocktail list, and this one deserves a spot at the top of your visit list.
Homer Greek Taverna
Homer Rogue Taverna brings charcoal-grilled meats, punchy Greek cocktails and a fit-out inspired by an Athens laneway with a Sydney postcode. It’s the latest venue from brothers Harry and Mario Kapoulas, the duo behind local favourites HAM and Rushi. Expect souvla rotating over coals, crispy spanakopita and smoky octopus straight from the woodfire. With a walk-up wine fridge and house lager made with Young Henrys, this is the kind of place made for long lunches that turn into lively dinners.
Hurricane’s Grill & Bar
This Hurricane’s feels unlike any of the brand’s other venues. Set opposite the golden sands of South Cronulla Beach, it’s a relaxed coastal spot with a Mediterranean edge. The space feels chic yet breezy, with a white island bar, plush banquettes and alfresco tables perfect for people-watching. Come for a beachside burger, sunset spritzes or a long family feast, then dive into the raw bar, fresh local seafood and their famous steaks and ribs.
Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare
Pino’s al Mare brings the feeling of a seaside villa on the Puglian coast straight to Cronulla. The space feels warm and inviting, with breezy interiors, terracotta pots and olive trees setting the tone. The menu focuses on generous Italian cooking, with an emphasis on seafood and handmade pasta. Expect dishes like spaghetti with Moreton Bay bug or maccheroncini alla vodka elevated with sweet spanner crab.
Benny’s
For a laid-back spot where you can head straight from the beach to the table, Benny’s is a great pick. Located on Tonkin Street, it pairs sweeping views over Gunnamatta Bay with lush greenery for an easy lunch or dinner. The menu blends Mediterranean and Australian flavours, with standout dishes like tuna carpaccio, barramundi with fresh clams and a classic rib eye. It’s also an easy walk from Cronulla station, and there’s a takeaway menu if you’d rather eat by the water.
Fred’s Providore After Hours
Fred’s Providore is a Cronulla favourite, loved as a café, grocer and butcher — especially for its loaded focaccia sandwiches. By night, Fred’s After Hours takes over and turns the space into a relaxed wine bar and bistro. Expect European-inspired share plates, premium cuts from the in-house butchery and a low-lit, intimate vibe. Highlights include caviar-topped crumpets, tuna crudo, grass-fed tartare and hibachi-cooked bistecca, plus a strong wine and cocktail list to match.
The Pines
The Pines is a newer addition to Cronulla, sitting just steps from North Cronulla Beach. Inspired by The Hamptons, the space feels light, coastal and relaxed. The menu focuses on fresh, seasonal local produce from top Australian suppliers. Expect standout dishes like Rangers Valley rump cap, Humpty Doo barramundi, plus oysters, scallops and lobster for seafood lovers.
Alphabet Street
Famous for putting Cronulla on the foodie map, Alphabet Street serves up some of the best modern Asian cuisines in Sydney. You’ll get a selection of dishes designed to share including betel leaf with prawn, coconut and lime, chicken roti, crispy fish with three flavour sauces, massaman beef, and more. For $75pp, let the chefs feed you and take you on a culinary journey with all of the Alphabet signatures. And the restaurant is equally as well known for its apple martini with vanilla vodka, fresh apple and lemon.
Giro Osteria
Just metres from the esplanade opposite North Cronulla Beach, Giro Osteria is a go-to for some of the best pasta in the area. The cosy space feels straight out of Italy, with red-and-white check tablecloths, hanging deli meats and warm hospitality. The menu is made for sharing, starting with sopressa and stracciatella before moving into pasta specials worth ordering every time. Don’t skip the house-made gnocchi, ragu or prawn linguine — and don’t leave Cronulla without a visit here.
Johnny Hu
Who’s Johnny Hu? Wouldn’t Hu like to know? Located towards the end of Cronulla Mall, Johnny Hu is a restaurant and bar serving a modern twist on Chinese cuisine. Start with cocktails, you can’t go past the chilli martini, chilli coco margarita or one of their fun bubble tea drinks. Their dumplings are made from scratch, in-house daily and are delicious, as are their BBQ pork buns. Order the duck pancakes and san choy bow (the vegetarian option is just as good as the chicken).
Summer Salt
Summer Salt delivers an elevated dining experience with a relaxed coastal feel right on Elouera Beach. Recently reimagined, the space pairs sleek modern design with uninterrupted ocean views from every table. The interiors feel light and effortless, with cool tones and minimalist details that let the scenery shine. Whether it’s a special occasion or a long lunch by the sea, the contemporary Italian menu adds a fresh chapter to this Cronulla favourite.
Salt Meats Cheese
Salt Meats Cheese Cronulla brings a slice of the Amalfi Coast to Sydney’s south, set in the stunning Heritage-listed Banc Building on Cronulla Street. This breezy 100-seater blends Aussie beachside charm with Italian indulgence, serving up wood-fired pizzas, handmade pasta, antipasti, and classic cocktails.
The Best Cafes In Cronulla
Next Door
Situated pretty much on the esplanade, Next Door is an iconic location for breakfast waterside. You may have to wait 30 minutes for a table, but it will be worth it when you’re dining alfresco, gazing out onto North Cronulla Beach. Head Chef Luke Arnull says, “We only serve what we’d love to make our friends”, which guarantees the food is good and the service is welcoming. The all-day brunch menu brings you all the staples, from avocado toast on sourdough and corn fritters with poached eggs to their famous Pepe Saya buttermilk pancakes with caramelised banana and vanilla mascarpone.
Call Me Mama
A consistently popular pick in Cronulla, Call Me Mamma brings modern Italian dining to a lively first-floor setting at Parc Pavilion. The menu balances classic comfort with fresh twists, making it an easy choice for long lunches, celebratory dinners or casual catch-ups. With its upbeat atmosphere and crowd-pleasing plates, it’s a spot locals keep coming back to.
Blackwood Pantry
A brunch spot that consistently impresses is Blackwood Pantry. With a seasonally rotating menu, there’s always something new to look forward to. Whether it be strawberries on toast in the summer sunshine, or warm Turkish eggs to beat the winter chill. They also have extensive menu options for vegans/vegetarians, with the ‘falafel balls’ being a standout.
Rushi
Owned and operated by the same team behind HAM, it’s no surprise this cafe is on our list. This Japanese-inspired cafe is hidden inside a bike shop as the perfect disguise for its deliciousness. For breakfast, chow down on the egg yariman roll served on a fresh milk bun or the okonomiyaki waffle. All the dishes feature signature Japanese flavours and ingredients, including the lunch menu with highlights including spicy salmon avocado sushi, miso-glazed cha shu pork ramen and to-die-for fluffy bao buns with katsu chicken. For something a little different, we’d opt for RUSHI.
