When we have neither the time, money, nor inclination to really get away, a weekend in Bondi is just the ticket to get that holiday feeling fast. Whether you’re a local looking for a fakecation, a visitor, or a local hosting a visitor; follow this eat, stay, play guide to make the most of Sydney’s hippest suburb…
Eat
Bondi is one of those magical places where food is plentiful, delicious, and (mostly) nutritious, so eating should be top of the agenda during any weekend stay.
Our pick of the brunch bunch (and boy is there a bunch!) is Porch and Parlour where simple, seasonal dishes are given a creative twist, and farm-to-table nourishment reigns supreme. We recommend the Green Breaky Bowl — a combination of kale, spinach, coriander, mint, parsley, eggs and avocado that is completely delicious and completely Bondi.
Undoubtedly the title of best ‘slashie’ in town goes to SHUK at North Bondi – a Café/Bakery/Deli by day that extends to dinner on Friday and Saturday nights. We road tested the dinner menu (all in the name of research of course) and, let’s just say by the end of the night we were just about ready to move in. Do not miss the Jerusalem artichoke soup as a starter— it’s so good we were just about ready to bathe in it. We followed this up with the incredible bouillabaisse accompanied by SHUK’s famed sourdough, and wrapped the evening up with one shiny, delicious semifreddo bow. We really can’t say enough good things — this place is a foodie heaven where flawless ingredients and simplicity are hearalded.
For a casual by-the-beach seafood feed, head to The Bucket List. Looking for spice? Stop by Mr Moustache, a Mexican cantina that combines spicy flavours with refreshing cocktails till late.
Stay
We stayed at the super central new luxury apartments right on Bondi’s Campbell Parade, Bondi38 and lapped up the jaw-dropping views of the beach from one truly comfortable bed.
Although set within a 1930s Classical Revival Style Building, the Cairo Mansion, these spacious apartments have all the contemporary trimmings we love including key-less entry, WiFi, Foxtel, and stylish interiors.
Play
It’s a crime to stay indoors in a location as naturally beautiful as Bondi, so you’ll want to take advantage of the stunning coastline with the Bondi to Bronte walk.
For the more active, there’s surfing lessons for everyone from beginners to pros, as well as a variety of watersports and diving.
For those looking for something a little more leisurely, we recommend strolling through the weekly Bondi Markets, or stopping by Aquabumps gallery, where local photographer Eugene Tan displays the snaps of Bondi surfers, waves and sunrises that have brought him an international following.
If you’re keen for a spot of shopping, don’t go past Tuchuzy. Let’s just say there’s a reason every Sydney It girl and visiting celeb shops there on the regular.