Don’t be fooled by the jam-packed Campbell Pde. full of busses which are unloading tourists én mass right next to Hungry Jacks & McDonald’s.. There’s so much more to Bondi Beach than the main strip that runs through one of the world’s most famous beaches..
I’m here to let you in on all the best things to do in Bondi (read; life), so that you can escape the masses (mostly) and spend your day(s) living more like a local and experience why us residents never really leave the Bondi Bubble that we so dearly & die-hard call home.
Eat:
You know my favourite thing to do is eat & anything that’s got to do with food; count me in!
Organic Republic Bakery:
Because this is tucked away further back from the main-strip in more of a local area, you don’t get too many tourists wandering down here. It’s a very humble and simple bakery with a big personality. You can catch locals enjoying their ritual morning-coffee and breakfast here most mornings, and staff is always up for a good chat. They also serve the absolute best avo-smash on their homemade bread which I crave on a daily basis. Even better is that they have outdoor seating, so basking in the sun & reading the paper with a cuppa could be your morning-highlight.
The Depot:
Well, this one has been around for quite some time, but still, nothing really beats their lunches there. It’s only a short stroll from the north end of Bondi Beach, but I still find that it doesn’t get too touristy as it’s off the main strip in Bondi. Pop in and have lunch or breakfast that’s fresh, vibrant and uber-delicious any day of the week. I love the staff who’s always super chatty & friendly. They’re also great at catering for dietary requirements, just FYI.
Orchard St.:
This is the cutest little whimsical & magical elixir bar you’ll ever set foot in. Owned by Kirsten Shanks, a naturopath, herbalist & nutritionist, who’ve created a little sanctuary along with a full product-line of herbs, tonics, juices and more. I can’t express enough how wonderful, loving and calming this little place is. The staff are some of the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet, and if you’re into meditation, a morning or afternoon medi on their large Turkish Pillows outside in the sun (or shade) is just divine. You truly feel whole after you walk out there – raw cacao/salted caramel tonic in one hand and raw bounty-bar in the other.
Raw Bar:
The best sushi & Japanese you’ll eat in a long, long time. Raw Bar has been around since 1997 which is an achievement in itself due to the high turn-over of restaurants in the hospitality industry in Sydney, and Bondi in particular. They’re definitely doing something very right, because Raw Bar continuously draws locals down for lunch and dinner 7 days a week. Weekends are especially busy, ant there’s nothing quite like a set of chopsticks, a Tommy’s Margherita & the afternoon sun on their table & chairs outside for you to enjoy.
The Shop & Wine Bar:
Just at the name states; this is a one stop shop for all your favourite #FoodGoals. A breakfast, lunch & dinner watering-hole all in-one. You’ll mostly find locals here roaming around for their coffee or wine fox – all depending on the time of the day. It serves salads, delicious (huge) sandwiches and tapas-platters. It’s a very tiny place, so most of the seating is outside which is perfect for the summer-days and in winter, you get to sit outside snuggled up in blankets with a big heater over your head. Absolute perfection, because, really, Australians have a hard time letting go of Summer no matter how cold it gets… #truth
North Bondi Fish:
Ok, this definitely get’s a bit more touristy, but you’d still find a fair bit of locals heading down, especially for a Sunday arvo session. You cannot beat the view from North Bondi Fish. It’s beautifully situated at the North end of Bondi, and it get’s an amazing amount of sun during the day, and a beautiful sunset at night. Spritzs, drinks and seafood is there absolute specialties paired with some good music and kind staff. Make sure you book ahead, and get a table on the balcony so you can bask in all of Bondi’s gloriousness.
Porch & Parlour:
If you were unlucky to be in Bondi when Porch was closed, I’m so sorry for your loss. If you’re here now, or planning to visit soon; don’t miss this one. The wonderful people of Porch are loved amongst so many of the locals, which also means it’s always busy and packed. Go a little outside of the standard breakfast and lunch hours, and you’ll be able to get a seat a bit quicker. Although Porch is mostly known for their breakfast & lunches (which are YUM!), I actually really love to come up for dinner (Wednesday to Sunday), because it has a beautiful view over Bondi, it’s a great people-watching space and their dinner is just to die for. They also serve some pretty epic wines, so really, it’s all just a match-made in heaven TBH.
Do:
Bondi to Bronte Coastal Walk:
Okay, this is very touristy, but it’s really beautiful and should be one of those ‘bucket-list’ things that you want to experience if you’re ever in Sydney. From South Bondi to Bronte and back, is around 6 kilometres in total. It’ll take you around Bondi, Mackenzies Bay, Tamarama & Bronte – you can even continue to Clovelly, Gordon’s Bay and Coogee if you’re up fora . challenge.
Definitely wear walking shoes/trainers otherwise you’ll end up with blisters, and if it’ set to be a hot day, I suggest doing this in the morning around sunrise or in the arvo around sunset – both to avoid the sweltering heat (in summer) and the masses.
Insider tip: remember to walk on the left side in Australia, it really frustrates locals who run or power-walk the coastal walk when they have to basically dodge people all the time ;)
Bondi Icebergs Pool;
Don’t go on a hot & sunny day if you’re here in Summer, go on an overcast & rainy day, and do the Sauna & fit in a swim (or two) in the pool. It’s such a refreshing way to quicken up and a great health-kick for your body. If you’re here in winter, do the same thing. We love to swim and sauna in winter because it gets the blood flowing. Entrance is $7 (as of Jan 2019) and lets you use the sauna, pool and change-rooms with showers. FYI; on Thursdays the pool is closed for cleaning.
Lean Bean Fitness & PowerLiving Yoga:
If you’re anything like me, you probably still want to stay fit & healthy as well as move your body even if you’re on holidays. Get amongst the locals and sign-up for a few introductory classes at either Lean Bean Fitness or PowerLiving Yoga which both has discounted passes available for people who are holidaying or simply want to try a new studio before a long-term commitment. If you’re travelling around Australia, I suggest even looking into downloading and buying a membership with ClassPass as it’ll give you access to thousands of studios around Australia.
North Bondi Boatramp:
Get out here for a late afternoon/early nighttime swim and watch the sunset. It’s so beautiful and the water is amazing at this time of the day. You’ll find locals going for an after-work swim with friends or/and their dogs and the atmosphere is just beautiful.
Grab some Fish & Chips either from Fishmongers or Bondi’s Best and say ‘Hasta La Vista’ to another day in Paradise.
Bondi Farmer’s Market:
Every Sunday – Rain, Hail or Shine – The Bondi Farmer’s Market will be on (9am to 1pm). Here you can buy organic, fresh vegetables & fruit from various farms along with a multitude of other amazing produce & fresh flowers for your home.
You can also eat breakfast here which is normally something deliciously healthy, but there’ll also be a few naughty things in there to suit everyone #balance. It’s a beautiful atmosphere to soak up, and whenever I personally travel, I love to see what other people purchase and eat in different cultures.
Gould St:
If you’re into shopping, then Gould St. in Bondi is the place for you. Shops I absolutely adore includes Tuchuzy, Love Stories, Lucy Folk, Magali Pascal, Miss Brown’s Vintage, Watson x Watson , Bailey Nelson and probably a few more, but you get the gist of it. Round it off with a coffee at Drake Eatery and perhaps even a cheeky cheese-platter and some more people-watching.
Stay:
QT Bondi:
This is by far my favourite place to stay in Bondi. So much so, I sometimes have a staycation here. I love the genuine and kind staff here who are always super helpful and available at any time. I also love that the rooms feel more like small apartments, and genuinely make you feel like you’re in a home away from home. Most of the rooms also have beautiful balcony’s so you can either enjoy the sunrise or sunsets.
AirBnB:
There’s no way around it. Living in Bondi is expensive, and so is holidaying. If you wanna save some coin, and especially if you’re travelling a few of you together, look up AirBnB and find an apartment with everything you need. This also means you can save on dining out so much and buy produce from the Farmer’s Market to cook at home.
There are so many great AirBnB’s in Bondi, you’ll hardly have a hard time finding something, however definitely suggest booking well in advance in the summer-periods as Bondi does get very crowded.
Hope you enjoyed this little collection of nuggets in Bondi.
You can always email me or catch me on my Instagram if you want more suggestions.
Lots of love, Caroline xx
