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Bar in Bondi Beach

Besa

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.

Type
Bar
Area
Bondi Beach
Price
$$$ ($$$)
Cuisine
Spanish, Tapas, Seafood
Good for
Lunch, Dinner, Late night
Where
Hall Street

Why we’d go

This is Bondi's polished take on a Spanish tapas bar, from the team behind Aalia, Nour and Henrietta, with executive chef Ibrahim Kasif (ex-Porteno, Bodega, Stanbuli) running a produce-driven kitchen of croquetas, crudo, tinned seafood and Basque-style fish. The 65-seat room is moody and mid-century with a wine-led list and Don Quixote-inspired cocktails, and it flexes easily between a proper dinner and a drop-in drink. We'd choose this when we want the energy of a tapas bar rather than a beachfront view.

What to order

Lean into the "picoteo" tinned seafood (anchovies, razor clams, house-pickled sardines and mussels), the croquetas and crudo, a Basque-style seafood dish such as John Dory with pil pil, and finish with Basque cheesecake or churros.

The atmosphere

Moody, mid-century and buzzy, with Spanish-leaning funk and house on rotation.

Local tip: It's on Hall Street in the Bondi Beach hub rather than on the beachfront, so come for the food and vibe, not a sea view — and the midday-open Saturday and Sunday sittings (including a bottomless lunch) are the easiest way in.

Worth knowing: No ocean outlook and a mid-to-upper price point once share plates and drinks add up; it's a dinner-and-drinks bar rather than a family or kid-focused spot.

Good to know

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How we verified this (High confidence · checked 2026-08-10)

Hours, prices and menus change — always check the venue’s own site before you go. Spotted something out of date? We keep this directory current; details reflect our last check.

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