Café in Bondi Beach
A beloved, book-lined Bondi cafe and second-hand bookstore just off Hall Street, serving all-day breakfast, honest lunch plates and its famous chai amid stacks of new and used books.
This is one of Bondi's genuine institutions — nearly two decades of shelves crammed floor-to-ceiling with new and second-hand books, tables tucked between them, and a warm, unhurried literary feel you won't find in the beach's polished brunch rooms. We'd choose it when we want somewhere to actually linger: read, work, or nurse a pot of their well-known chai without anyone rushing the table. It's the antidote to Campbell Parade's see-and-be-seen crowd.
Our pick is the G&A famous chai served in a pot, alongside a breakfast roll (bacon or the halloumi veggie version) or the avocado smash; leave room for the home-made sweet treats like banana bread.
Cosy, bohemian and quietly literary — books on every surface, low-key and unhurried
Local tip: Come on the earlier side of a weekday morning if you want a table to yourself with a book; weekends fill up and the charm is in staying a while, not queuing for it.
Worth knowing: It's a block back from the sand with no ocean view, and the busy, browsed-in setting won't suit anyone after a slick, spacious brunch.
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 Spotted something out of date?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.
Italian · Bondi Beach
The hatted, ocean-front Italian fine-diner perched above the Bondi Icebergs pool, serving hand-rolled pasta and seasonal seafood with the best beach view in Sydney.
Best for: Milestone celebrations and long lunches with a view
Gelato · Bondi Beach
The Bondi outpost of Sydney's most celebrated gelato maker, tucked into the Hall Street hub a short walk back from the sand.
Best for: A post-beach dessert walk on Hall Street
Modern Australian · Bondi Beach
The original bills, the Hall Street cafe where Bill Granger reinvented Sydney brunch, still turning out its ricotta hotcakes and creamy scrambled eggs a couple of minutes back from the sand.
Best for: A landmark Bondi brunch a short walk from the beach