Gwyneth Paltrow’s Bondi Recommendations & One We Can’t Agree With
By Visit Bondi Beach Editorial Team · · Updated
When Gwyneth Paltrow put Bondi on her Goop city guide, most of her picks were spot on - Icebergs for dinner, the coastal walk, Bondi Wash and Playa by Lucy Folk. As a local, I'd happily send a first-timer to every one of them. But there was one thing about the beach itself that made me put my flat white down, and it's the reason I can't fully sign off on her guide.
The Goop picks I completely agree with
Her picks skew toward the stylish, design-conscious side of Bondi, and on that front she nailed it. Here's what she flagged and why I'd back each one.
- Icebergs Dining Room - the clifftop Italian above the famous ocean pool. It's a special-occasion spot with arguably the best view of the beach in Sydney. Book ahead and check the venue for current sittings and dress code.
- The Bondi to Bronte coastal walk - the sandstone cliff path south from the beach. It's free, spectacular, and the best introduction to this stretch of coast there is.
- Bondi Wash - the local, plant-based home and body brand. A genuinely nice, very Bondi thing to take home.
- Playa by Lucy Folk - the jewellery designer's Bondi boutique, mixing her own pieces with hard-to-find labels.
- Gwyneth's Bondi picks
- Icebergs, coastal walk, Bondi Wash, Playa by Lucy Folk
- The disagreement
- Steering dip-seekers to the pool over the ocean itself
- Coastal walk
- Free, clifftop path - Bondi south to Bronte
- Golden rule
- Always swim between the red-and-yellow flags
The one we can't agree with
Here's the sticking point. For anyone whose mind is set on getting wet, the guide leans heavily on the sheltered Icebergs pool - a day pass and some laps - rather than the ocean itself, and the impression it leaves is that Bondi is a place to sunbathe more than to swim. As someone who swims here year-round, that's the bit I can't let stand.
Bondi isn't a beach you look at. It's a beach you get in.
Bondi is one of Australia's great swimming beaches. Generations of Sydneysiders learned to read the surf here, the Bondi Surf Bathers' Life Saving Club is the oldest in the world, and on any given morning you'll see everyone from nippers to eighty-year-old ocean swimmers in the water. I suspect Gwyneth simply caught a big-swell day - Bondi does get punchy surf and rips, and on those days the water is for the confident only. But that's a specific day, not the beach's character.
And to be fair, when she skipped the surf she headed for the Icebergs pool at the southern end - a brilliant call. It lets you swim laps in salt water with the waves crashing over the edge, no rip-reading required. I just wouldn't want a single choppy afternoon to convince anyone that Bondi is only for lying on a towel.
How I'd actually spend a Gwyneth-inspired day
- 8:00am
Coastal walk to Bronte
Start early along the cliff path while it's quiet, then loop back.
- 10:30am
A proper swim
Between the flags on the main beach, or laps at the Icebergs pool if the surf's up.
- 12:30pm
Bondi Wash & Playa
Wander Gould and Hall Streets for the design-led shops Goop loved.
- 7:00pm
Dinner at Icebergs
Book ahead; arrive for golden hour over the water.
Frequently asked questions
What did Gwyneth Paltrow recommend in Bondi?
On Goop, she highlighted dinner at Icebergs Dining Room, the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk, the Bondi Wash store and Playa by Lucy Folk. As a local I'd happily recommend all four.
What was the recommendation you disagree with?
The way the guide nudges anyone wanting a dip toward the sheltered Icebergs pool rather than the ocean, leaving the impression that Bondi is more for sunbathing than swimming. Bondi is one of Australia's iconic swimming beaches; a rough big-swell day can give a misleading first impression.
Is Bondi Beach actually safe to swim at?
Yes, when you swim between the red-and-yellow flags where lifeguards patrol. Bondi does have rip currents, including the Backpackers' Rip near the southern end, so the flags matter. If in doubt, ask a lifeguard about conditions.
Where should I swim if the surf looks rough?
Head to the Bondi Icebergs ocean pool at the southern end. It's filled with sea water, sheltered from the rips, and you can swim laps while waves break over the edge. Check the Icebergs website for current public swimming times.
Is the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk free?
Yes. The clifftop path south from Bondi is free and open to the public. It's one of Sydney's best walks - go early to beat the crowds and the midday sun.
So: four recommendations, three enthusiastic yeses, and one gentle correction. Take Gwyneth's guide, hit the walk, browse the shops, book Icebergs - but don't you dare skip the swim. That's the whole point of Bondi.