Restaurant in Bondi Road
Merivale's buzzy, share-style Italian tucked into the back of The Royal on Bondi Road, built around a wood-fired oven and a leafy, olive-tree-lined courtyard.
This is the original Totti's, and it's still the one locals name-check when they want relaxed Italian done properly a short stroll up from the beach. The kitchen (a Merivale project fronted by chef Mike Eggert) leans on a wood-fired oven and a menu made to share, so we'd choose it for a long, unhurried table rather than a quick bite. The big skylit courtyard and pub bones give it energy without the fine-dining formality.
The famous wood-fired bread is the non-negotiable order here, ideally alongside the burrata; from there we'd build a table of antipasti (sardines, scallop crudo, marinated peppers), a grilled snack or two, and a couple of pastas to share.
Warm, lively and social, with a sunny Mediterranean-courtyard feel under skylights and olive trees.
Local tip: It's on Bondi Road, roughly a kilometre back from the sand rather than beachfront, so book ahead and treat it as a destination sit-down rather than a post-swim walk-up, and angle for a courtyard table on a clear day.
Worth knowing: Prices sit at the higher casual end and portions are made for sharing, so it works better for a group than a solo or budget meal; some diners rave about the bread more than the mains.
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 Spotted something out of date?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.
bakery · Bondi Road
A tiny weekend-only micro-bakery on Bondi Road built around soft, cold-fermented cinnamon scrolls and viral cold drinks, with queues to match the hype.
Best for: A weekend treat run for scroll-and-coffee lovers who don't mind a queue
Mexican · Bondi Road
A hacienda-inspired Mexican restaurant on Bondi Road where the whole kitchen orbits a woodfire grill, turning out charcoal-kissed tacos, share plates and wagyu steaks.
Best for: Woodfire Mexican for a lively group dinner or a date night
Hungarian · Bondi Road
A family-run, old-school Austro-Hungarian cake shop on Bondi Road, baking strudels, tortes and poppy-seed rolls the same way since 1979.
Best for: A heritage Hungarian cake fix away from the beachfront crowds