Drinks
From sunset wine on the sand to a proper late one, these are the Bondi bars worth planning an evening around - and what each is really like once the beach crowd rolls in.
Our top pick right now is Hotel Ravesis - a long, view-soaked afternoon that turns into a night out. Below are 16 places we rate for this, ranked on the food and how well they suit a visit. Prices shown are a rough guide ($–$$$$); always check the venue’s own site for current hours and menus.
Spanish · Campbell Parade
An iconic 1914 beachfront hotel on Campbell Parade whose light-filled level-one dining room now houses Alzado, a coastal-Spanish seafood diner, above a classic public bar and late-night club space.
Best for: A long, view-soaked afternoon that turns into a night out
Spanish · Campbell Parade
A Spanish coastal seafood diner upstairs at Hotel Ravesis, trading share plates, sherry and oyster martinis against a wraparound balcony view of the Bondi surf.
Best for: Long boozy lunches and sunset dinners with a view
Seafood · North Bondi
A Matt Moran seafood restaurant perched at the quiet north end of Bondi Beach, with arguably the best sand-and-ocean outlook of any dining room on the beach.
Best for: Long beachfront lunches, oysters and cocktails with a view
Modern Australian · North Bondi
A member-and-guest RSL club perched above the northern end of Bondi Beach, serving affordable modern-Australian bistro food with some of the best ocean views in the area.
Best for: Affordable ocean-view lunch or early dinner with kids or a group
Contemporary Australian · Bondi Beach
A multi-venue beachfront complex inside Bondi Pavilion, pairing an all-day contemporary-coastal Beach Bar with Etheus, a smarter Greek dining room, both looking straight out over the sand.
Best for: Beachfront lunch, sunset drinks, or a Greek dinner with a view
modern-australian · Bondi Beach
A long-running back-street cafe on Curlewis Street that pours coffee and comfort food by day and slides into a cosy organic-leaning wine bar by night.
Best for: A relaxed local wine-and-plates evening away from the beachfront crowds
Bar · Bondi Beach
The ocean-facing, walk-in bar terrace inside the restored Bondi Pavilion, pouring cocktails and an all-day coastal menu straight above the sand.
Best for: Sunset drinks and grazing straight off the beach
Spanish · Bondi Beach
A lively Spanish tapas bar on Hall Street from the ESCA/Aalia group, pouring Basque- and Madrid-inspired share plates, seafood and cocktails a couple of blocks back from the sand.
Best for: Share-plate dinners and cocktails with a group or a date
Mexican · Bondi Junction
A colourful, cacti-filled rooftop Mexican restaurant and bar atop The Eastern in Bondi Junction, big on tacos, mezcal cocktails and an 80-strong tequila list.
Best for: Rooftop margaritas and shared Mexican plates with a group
Modern Australian · Campbell Parade
An all-day café, bar and Modern Australian restaurant on Campbell Parade that runs from sunrise coffee straight through to late-night cocktails opposite the beach.
Best for: Casual all-day eating and sunset drinks across from the sand
Cafe · Campbell Parade
A long-running, family-owned beachfront cafe on Campbell Parade serving all-day breakfast, brunch and lunch with some of the most direct sweeping views straight across Bondi Beach.
Best for: Beachfront all-day brunch with a view
Cocktail bar · Bondi Beach
A tiki-leaning small bar a block back from the sand on Curlewis Street, pairing native-ingredient cocktails with easy bar food like fried chicken, burgers and its signature jaffles.
Best for: A cruisey cocktail session with mates just off the beach
American · Campbell Parade
A scruffy American-style dive bar just off the Bondi strip, pairing $1 wings and smash burgers with 100-plus bourbons and boilermakers.
Best for: Cheap wings, bourbon and a boozy night out with mates
Mexican · Campbell Parade
A first-floor Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurant and cocktail bar on Campbell Parade with a balcony looking straight out over Bondi Beach.
Best for: Sunset margaritas and share plates with a beach view
Canadian · Bondi Road
A long-running Canadian dive bar on Bondi Road slinging poutine, burgers and Bloody Caesars in a kitschy, Americana-meets-ski-lodge room.
Best for: Casual drinks and comfort-food grazing with a group
Tapas · Bondi Beach
A cheeky, cheap cafe-bar a block back from the sand on Hall Street, trading tapas-style plates and stiff cocktails from midday into the night.
Best for: Post-beach drinks and grazing with a group