The best restaurants with a waterfront view in the Shire offer a feast for the senses. From upscale diners designed for romance to more casual eateries for a cocktail and bar bites, the following eateries combine unforgettable dining experiences with great views.
Summer Salt
Must-try dishes: Oysters, lobster pasta, chargrilled octopus and limoncello tiramisu.
The experience of slurping down a dozen oysters or enjoying a fresh seafood platter is only ever enhanced when looking out over the ocean. Michelin-trained chef Andrea Trevisan brings a bit of star power to Summer Salt alongside group executive chef Adam Spencer. The coastal venue had a vibe shift when it was taken over by Sydney Restaurant Group, which has 16 restaurants dotted across the city. Visit the restaurant for a late weekday lunch or early dinner so you can watch the waves crashing onto Elouera Beach.
Address: 66 Mitchell Road, Cronulla
Benny’s
Must-try dishes: Kingfish carpaccio ‘barra in a bag’ and beer-battered fish and chips.
Benny’s is away from the main hubbub of Cronulla. The waterfront venue has had a vibe shift and is sitting pretty overlooking the towering gums of Gunnamatta Park and boats bobbing on the bay. Hatted chef RJ Lines (One Penny Red) is on the pans at Benny’s and he’s making his mark in the Shire with his honest assemblage of Mediterranean-driven menu. Head here to catch the last of the afternoon light when the houses across the bay start twinkling like constellations.
Address: 27 Tonkin St, Cronulla
Hurricanes Cronulla
Hurricanes Cronulla opened its doors opposite South Cronulla Beach in 2023. And, if you’re two people or 20 people, the restaurant can accommodate. The Luchetti-Krelle designed restaurant is just a short walk from Cronulla train station and about 100 metres from the sea. While Hurricanes is known for its succulent steaks, the raw bar curated by executive chef Allan Mikami is one of the best places in Sydney for oysters, sashimi and kingfish carpaccio. The colour palette in the multifaceted space is earthy and pared back and designed to encourage the choreography of the waiters.
Address: Shop 1/49 Gerrale St, Cronulla
The Pines Cronulla
The Pines Cronulla has made a name for itself in the Shire. The venue makes the most of the ocean views in its immediate vicinity while paying homage to the Norfolk pines in the opposite park. Nab a seat near the window so you can look down the barrel of Sydney’s longest continuous beach. While the views in the restaurant with the Hamptons-style aesthetic are indeed epic, executive chef James Metcalfe will do his utmost to distract you with signatures such as the crispy pork jowl served with nashi pear, Asian herbs and fragrant sticky sauce. The Pines signature modern take on a turf ‘n’ surf platter is also a crowd-pleaser.
Address: Unit 1, 8-18 Kingsway, Cronulla
Bobbys Cronulla
The bar has been raised in Cronulla thanks to a wave of new restaurants with waterfront views. Images of South Cronulla Beach are framed in the cut-out windows of Bobbys where designer Tom Mark Henry has paired playful pops of colour like orange and blue with natural stone and marble. At night, the elegant eatery is all soft, amber lighting, artworks and line drawings that provide a timeless touch. The nautical narrative is threaded throughout the menu with dishes such as kingfish ceviche as well as grilled king prawns with chermoula. Beachside Bobbys morphs into a Mediterranean beach club during a Sunday sesh.
Address: 6R The Esplanade Cronulla
Sealevel Restaurant
The floor-to-ceiling glass windows wrap around this waterfront restaurant which is braceleted in a backdrop of sea and sky on three sides. It’s for this reason a seat at a table at Sealevel Restaurant & Bar is one of the most coveted in the Sutherland Shire. The see-and-be-seen crowd converge here for seafood platters while the ocean crashes into view at high tide. Become the most glamorous version of yourself as the people-watching is a two-way street. Sea Level is the place for a special occasion.
Address: 2 Kingsway, Cronulla
