Sydney Eat Street: 10 things to eat in Coogee
The beachside suburb of Coogee is a haven for backpackers who seek more bang for their bucks and the variety of eateries ensures that prices are always competitive. It’s pretty popular with the locals too.
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The beachside suburb of Coogee is a haven for backpackers who seek more bang for their bucks and the variety of eateries ensures that prices are always competitive.
It’s also a pretty popular destination for Sydneysiders and suburb locals as well.
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Cozzi Cafe
It’s impossible to walk past this adorable cafe and not smile — whether it’s the brightly coloured picnic tables out front, the tablet-sized chalk board that reads “Free fruit for kids” or the unbridled enthusiasm of cafe co-owner Travis Martin you’re bound to at least pause. If that doesn’t get you to stop, well then maybe the smell of Vicki Martin’s freshly made muffins, will be the clincher. Once inside, you’re likely to feel closer to the beach than the actual two blocks it takes to walk there. “We wanted something that spoke to us about Coogee,” says Travis, “so we brought the beach inside”.
On the back wall, Vicki has painted colourful beach huts while along the front counter is a canary yellow picket fence. Upright and off to the side is an old longboard with the menu written on it. The fresh sweets are a draw but there are also plenty of healthy offerings for the fitness set including their own granola with specially imported oats, homemade yoghurt and the brown rice, salmon and poached chicken dish. Of course, there are also the banana muffins and cookies that started it all. — 233 Coogee Bay Road
The Little Kitchen
You’d never guess from the humble interior that behind the scenes is a decent collection of pure-bread talent with years of experience in some of Sydney and London’s top restaurants. Quite a switch from the exhausting hours and long commute that came with working in the city which of course, it no quite ideal with a new baby. So, with that in mind, Amy and Neil Thompson, gave up the fast lane to open up a British restaurant in their own neighbourhood. With Neil being from London, it seemed appropriate and novel that the menu would have a British influence.
It wasn’t quite the laid back scene they’d anticipated with Amy admitting that when they first opened, “breakfast was one of the hardest services … It’s hard and fast and it’s the first meal of the day so we feel it sets up your whole day”. But they must being doing something right as the British specialty, kedgeree (house smoked fish, curried rice and egg) is a hit, while the English breakfast is generous enough to challenge the heartiest appetite, including the rough and tumble Sydney Roosters who are known to make a go at it. — 275 Arden Street
Taste of Coogee Festival
With such a large variety of cafes and restaurants in this beachside suburb it’s a foodie’s blessing that the culinary community comes together in September for the annual Taste of Coogee Festival. There are iconic dishes from local favourites, like the gnocchi from La Spiaggai Restaurant — which is made on sight — as well, as boutique items like Table Top in a Box’s table decore.
“Normally food festivals are huge commercial events, put together by private companies. Taste is the complete reverse of that.” Says, Bernadette Summers, the event’s manager,
It’s about the community, food and highlighting fabulous Coogee venues,”
Far from being a mere local fete, Taste lures some of Australia’s renowned chefs and celebrity foodies, including, in previous years, former MasterChef contestants and the “Godfather of Australian cuisine” Tony Bilson. — Coogee Oval, Dolphin Street
Coogee Pavilion
Whoever said that you shouldn’t try to be all things to all people, has never been to the Coogee Pavilion. What once the rather run down Palace Hotel has had an innovative makeover creating a sort of family friendly food marketplace with a collection of distinctly different, defined and subtly themed sections. At the entrance there is a flower stall and coffee stand but towards the back, you can have a burger while sitting in a 1950s diner. Next to that is a gaming area with restored ping-pong tables, and a giant magnetic Scrabble board.
In the bar area, the whitewashed and weathered woods are reminiscent of an old fishing villages albeit the neon lit smiling whale above the lounge and the contemporary cocktails bring it back to the 21st century.
After you’ve done a lap and checked out the scene, including the awesome rooftop balcony bars, it’s time for food. You can order from the main menu with dishes such as Bundaberg Prawn in garlic or grab a pie from “Vinnie’s Pizzeria”. The true specialty though is the Daily Sashimi Platter as the chef changes it everyday depending on what he deems to be the freshest. — 169 Dolphin Street
Barzura
It has prime position overlooking Coogee Beach and right along the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. Yes, it’s a tourist magnet and caters accordingly with dishes such as seared kangaroo fillets, something you don’t normally find on Sydney-centric menus, but that’s part of the lure. There are traditional breakfast staples like eggs Benedict and pancakes, but you can take a bit of a global culinary tour and instead, have eggs prepared with a Mexican influence with chilli beans and salsa or with tomato puree like the middle-eastern dish of Shakshuka. But as staff at Barzura will quickly point out, the true winner on the egg charts that gets both visitors and locals coming back for more is the Nasi Goreng with fried egg. And the view of course. — 62 Carr Street
WHEN IN COOGEE, YOU MUST TRY
Thai Perch
There’s a good variety of fish fillets in the display case, ready to be prepared to your liking, better yet, opt for one that’s been marinated in tasty sauces like the hot and spicy, sambal salmon or perch with lime, coconut, chilli and turmeric. — A Fish Called Coogee, 229 Coogee Bay Road
Gnocchi
The menu is impressive with a range of Italian offerings, but despite the best of intentions to try something different, locals somehow just can’t get past the handmade gnocchi. It’d be a sin to drown these in a heavy sauce so thankfully, it’s prepared with a simple yet, appropriate tomato and basil sauce. — La Spiaggia Restaurant 248 Coogee Bay Road
Bavarian Bratwurst
Anywhere else, you might be reprimanded for demanding a “brat” but at Square Peg, that’s just local code for the popular Bavarian Bratwurst. From his tiny 18 square meter cafe, and with other menu items like the Kransky with Hungarian spices, owner Gil Laishevsky is sure offering some big and bold flavours. — Square Peg Cafe 250 Arden Street
Crepes and coffee
It’s no cliche that the crepes and coffee are so popular here, it’s just that they are so darn good and would be desirable on any menu. The croquet monsieur, made with smoked ham and Gruyere cheese is a house speciality but you can never go wrong with a breakfast crepe and a bowl, yes a bowl of coffee. — Cafe de France, 19 Havelock Avenue
Honey Bee Smoothie
A hot day at the beach isn’t quite the same without a cold smoothie on the way home. The standard fruits are on hand, but by adding slightly unusual ingredients, like the cinnamon that is blended with banana, mango, ice cream and honey, you get something a bit more special.
— Melonhead, 256 Coogee Bay Road
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