The Best Restaurants in Coogee

Louie brings coastal sophistication to Coogee with Italian-inspired plates, seafood-driven specials and cocktails worthy of sunset hours. Beachside, with interiors that mix seaside chic with European flair, attracting a crowd that appreciates good food and even better ambiance. Share-style dining means snacks, dips and woodfired breads rarely leave the table. The wine list is thoughtful, the service attentive and the overall vibe effortlessly stylish. It’s a polished yet relaxed space built for long lunches, late dinners and seaside celebrations.

Just a stone’s throw from Coogee beach, Osteria is an authentic Italian restaurant on the Eastern Suburbs. Chef Regan Porteous (of Toko, Riley St Garage, Surly’s, Tequila Mockingbird, Stanton & Co) is making his first venture as a restaurateur, alongside General Manager Carolina Angelucci and Head Chef Stefano Gagliardi. The menu, which is designed to be shared, delivers Italian classics with a modern Australian approach.

Photography: Kitti Gould

Just a short stroll up from the beach, Coogee Wine Room is a sophisticated venue serving Mediterranean-inspired fare alongside a stellar list of wines. From Coogee locals Tom Hardwick and Michelle Morales, the ground floor will be for the salty toed, bikini-clad to enjoy a drink while upstairs will lead to a more formal dining area. The 400-plus wine list is what draws the crowds, with drops to represent every key wine region across the world, including 30 wines by the glass.

Rick Stein at Coogee Beach is a cruisy, coastal dining destination perched above Sydney’s iconic shoreline, bringing legendary chef Rick Stein’s philosophy of fresh seafood, prepared straight to the Eastern Suburbs. The airy and ambient dining room flows into a sunlit courtyard and laid-back bar, which is perfect for long lunches or golden-hour cocktails by the sea. The menu champions the best local catches with classics like sashimi, oysters and Singapore blue swimmer crab alongside seasonal shellfish, fish pie and nostalgic desserts. With an open kitchen, curated wines and creative cocktails that suit the coast, Rick Stein's beachfront feast is done right.

As day morphs into night, Coogee restaurant Barzura is going through a transformation of its own, from a sandy beachside cafe into an elegant waterside bar and dining destination. All the food here is Modern Australian, with influences from Asia, Europe and the Middle East. There's a concise but decent list of cocktails, beer, wine and spirits, all the better to enjoy when the floor to ceiling windows are opened to the ocean views.

Purportedly Coogee's oldest Italian owned and operated restaurant, La Spiaggia has been serving delicious, traditional Italian food to locals since 1993. On any given night, you are likely to meet at least one of the Lombardo family, hailing from Calabria in southern Italy. The menu presents a selection antipasti, woodfired pizzas, pasta, and larger meat dishes. To complete your authentic dining experience, choose from the impressive wine list that features Italian wines.