BACKING BONDI A community guide to eating, drinking and supporting Bondi right now

This week, we made the call to pause our usual on-the-ground coverage. In the context of everything that’s unfolded in Bondi, and across Sydney more broadly, a regular weekend or weekly guide just didn’t feel right.

As a small, independent outlet, we’ve spent the past few days thinking about what actually helps in moments like this. Not noise. Not hot takes. But community. So instead, we’re doing what we know best: backing local.

Bondi has always been more than a headline. It’s a place built on connection, ritual and showing up for one another: whether that’s a morning coffee, a long lunch, or a familiar local spot that feels like home. And behind those places are small businesses and people who rely on the support of their community, now more than ever.

So this is our Bondi local food guide: a roundup of some of our favourite places to eat and drink in the area. Whether you’re a local, heading to the beach this weekend, or simply looking for a small way to show support, consider spending your time (and money) with the businesses that make Bondi what it is.

Speedo’s Cafe

A Bondi institution in every sense of the word. It’s the type of cafe you’ll find barefoot surfers and Eastern suburbs mums alike. Since what feels like the dawn of time, Speedos has been serving up some of the best coffee, avo toast and tiramisu iced lattes in town. Annie and the team there do the best work at serving up Instagram worthy food that actually tastes good. Go for the food and views, stay for the people watching.

Lox in a Box

Jewish-owned Polish cafe Lox in a Box consistently proves that you don’t need a waterfront fit out to get locals through the door. It’s a no-frills Bondi staple that’s been feeding the neighbourhood for years with generous servings of Jewish deli favourites. This Sunday night, they’re also hosting an end-of-Hanukkah menorah lighting ceremony that you can buy tickets to here.

The Depot

The Depot has been holding court on Warners Avenue since 2008, quietly outlasting food trends and brunch fads by doing one thing consistently well: being exactly what the neighbourhood needs. It’s part cafe, part deli, part all-day hangout. The kind of place where locals grab their morning coffee, linger over breakfast meetings, and come back later for a casual drink or bite.

North Bondi Fish

North Bondi Fish isn’t trying to be trendy. It doesn’t need to be. It’s the go-to destination for local socialites, ladies who lunch, and hungover swimmers who’ve just come from the beach. The staple destination is known for its reliably good seafood, unfussy vibe, and of course, spitting views of the ocean. Think fresh fish and chips, oysters, prawn cocktails and grilled seafood done properly.

Raw Bar

One of my personal favourite restaurants in Sydney, Raw Bar perfectly encapsulates Sydney summer. Tucked away just off Campbell Parade, it prioritises serving up fresh Japanese food with smashing cocktails. In other words, it’s the type of place you stop by for one drink and accidentally stay for three rounds and half the menu. Small, local, unfussy: everything we want. It’s also been around for 30 years, which says it all.

Rocker

One of Bondi’s true stalwarts, Rocker is the kind of place that’s equal parts neighbourhood local, date-night go-to, and reliable “we’ll just see where the night takes us” spot. The menu leans Mediterranean, with lots of fresh seafood and share plates sans the flashy-ness that often comes with it. There’s a reason why locals keep coming back to it, year after year.