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Lox in a Box
Bagels · North Bondi
A tiny, much-loved North Bondi bagel deli slinging Polish-style bagels stuffed with house-cured lox and Jewish-deli classics.
Best for: A pre- or post-beach bagel run in North Bondi
Café in North Bondi
Ciao Bella
A light-filled Italian cafe and aperitivo bar tucked on Wairoa Avenue in North Bondi, pouring illy coffee by day and turning into a spritz-and-DJ spot on weekend evenings.
- Type
- Café
- Area
- North Bondi
- Price
- $$ ($$)
- Cuisine
- Italian, Mediterranean, Cafe
- Good for
- Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
- Where
- Wairoa Avenue
Why we’d go
Owner Nico Balbo, who grew up on the Italian Riviera, has built a genuine neighbourhood cafe a few blocks back from the sand, and it wears two hats well: an all-day Italian breakfast-and-lunch room, then a Friday-Saturday aperitivo bar with live DJ sets from 4pm and a Thursday pasta night. We'd choose this over the busier Campbell Parade strip when you want an unhurried Italian coffee and a plate that actually tastes considered rather than churned out for the beach crowd. It's the kind of place that rewards regulars.
What to order
Our pick here is the illy espresso alongside something from the Italian breakfast side — think burrata bruschetta or the carbonara-style scrambled eggs; come Friday or Saturday evening the Amalfi spritz made with house limoncello and the aperitivo small plates are the reason to stay.
The atmosphere
Bright and airy by day, cosy and intimate by night, lively during weekend DJ aperitivo.
Local tip: Time a visit for Thursday pasta night (from 5pm) or the Friday-Saturday aperitivo from 4pm if you want the evening version rather than the daytime cafe — the two experiences are quite different.
Worth knowing: It's a couple of streets back from the water with no ocean view, so come for the food and vibe rather than a beachfront setting.
Good to know
LocalsCouplesGroupsVisitorsSoloOutdoor seatingLivelyWalk-ins
How we verified this (High confidence · checked 2026-08-10)
- https://www.ciaobellabondi.com.au/
- https://www.ciaobellabondi.com.au/menu
- https://illy.com.au/blogs/newsroom/ciao-bella-north-bondi
- https://www.instagram.com/ciaobella.bondi/
- https://www.agfg.com.au/restaurant/ciao-bella-134856
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 Spotted something out of date?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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