Revamped Bondi Icebergs reopens on its 20th birthday: pictures

Its extensive million dollar refit took seven months to complete— but Bondi Icebergs is back. Take a sneak peek at the iconic venue’s new look.

If you’re one of the many people who have dined at Bondi Icebergs over the last two decades, you may not notice a dramatic difference after its extensive million-dollar renovation.

That’s because owner Maurice Terzini wanted “to keep the DNA” of the iconic venue, beloved by celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Mick Jagger, and Oprah.

For it to feel refreshed, but familiar.

The glitzy Italian restaurant, which boasts panoramic views of Bondi Beach, was entirely gutted and refit by the same architect who designed it two decades ago.

Pictured is the new Pacific Dining Room and Bar, seen for the first time today after seven months of renovations at famed Bondi Icebergs. Picture: Tim Hunter

“I love that this room is the same-same but different,” former chef Karen Martini told Confidential at a re-opening party on Tuesday morning.

“It still feels as it was 20 years ago, but with a fresh, vibrant face.”

The Italian restaurant was entirely gutted and refit, but styled by the same architect who worked on it two decades ago. Picture: Tim Hunter

The old Icebergs terrace is now the ‘Pacific Dining Room’, a private 50-seater event space that has its own entrance, bathroom, and bar.

The white tablecloths are gone, replaced with sleek tile tabletops and, and a glass feature wall emblazoned with ‘20’, to mark the restaurant’s 20th birthday today.

The signature blue banquette seating remains, but additional tables and stools have been added to the terrace, facing out to the view European-style.

The new blue-green colour palette brings the ocean indoors, and the furniture changeup feels modern, but still beachy.

Most of the cash, though, has been splashed on the completely overhauled kitchen, and its new charcoal oven in the name of top-tier service.

Chef Karen Martini. Picture: Tim Hunter

Bondi Icebergs owner Maurice Terzini. Picture: Tim Hunter

“When we opened here, no one predicted that we’d do 150 people a service,” Martini continued.

“We were always slightly under equipped. I’m a bit jealous of the new kitchen.”

Terzini had planned to step away from the restaurant at this milestone, but became reinvigorated by the changes.

“When I started I thought, that’s it, I’m going to do 20 years, and then I’ve accomplished something. We’re just custodians. We don’t own the Icebergs, it belongs to the people,” he said.

“I really wanted to hand it over to somebody else. But it took so many years to put these renovations together, that I felt like I had to see it through.”

The Pacific Dining Room also features a brand-new seafood bar. Picture: Tim Hunter.

The hospo boss said he’s served many big names over the years, but as far as he’s concerned, “nights when the moon’s come out, and I’ve sat down after a service,” are the most special.

“My children’s first meals in restaurants were here. Now I’m serving the third generation, the kids of kids of my friends. It’s unbelievable.”

One of those is PE Nation designer Pip Edwards, who cites Terzini’s New Year’s Day party as unmissable.

“Every monumental family and social milestone of mine has been held in this establishment. I’m Bondi born and bred, so where else?” she said at the reopening.

To mark the occasion, Terzini has released a coffee table and recipe book that charts the history of the restaurant and its sustained success as one of the best in Sydney.

Martini, the brain behind Iceberg’s signature No 8 cocktail, revealed the beverage was “born out of necessity after a very long shift” in 1996.