Excellent restaurants in Tweed Heads and Coolangatta

Lara Picone Lara Picone
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Eat, drink and enjoy at these Tweed Heads restaurants and eateries that cater to any mood.

Whether you’re keen to frock up for an intimate dinner with your romantic lead or looking for a buzzing eatery to catch up with friends, Tweed Heads and her over-the-border twin town of Coolangatta have all bases covered. From laneway gems to waterside eats and refined restaurants, these are the top picks for dining out.

1. Franc Jrs, Coolangatta

Best for: Getting pumped for a night out

This cool pizzeria with its retro Italo-American edge is unapologetically out there. Shuffle into a red banquette and settle in to have a giggle over the pizza names that are as entertaining as the vibe and packed with flavour-bomb toppings.

There’s the Jaloppy Poppy strewn with jalapenos, sausage and salami and the Sage Against The Machine scattered with sage and pancetta. There’s also a vegan menu and Detroit-style squares topped with everything from vodka sauce to whipped lemon ricotta. It’s a wild ride perfectly primed to fuel your night out.

people dining outside Franc Jrs, Coolangatta
Sit down for a wild night out with your friends at this retro-hip pizzeria.

Open: Daily for dinner (minus Mondays)
Address: 2/102 Griffith Street, Coolangatta Qld

2. Clay Cantina, Coolangatta

Best for: Dinner and drinks for couples or trios

Attracting national attention for its excellent home- and market-style Mexican plates, this petite laneway eatery is a must-visit. Take a seat in the beautifully tiled and earthy-hued dining room or the alley outside and prep your palate for authentic flavours, such as sopes topped with chipotle chicken, al pastor tacos and the sweet pastel de tres laches (three-milks cake).

If you’re keen to try your hand at making your own, book into one of Tuesday cooking classes, where you’ll learn to make a snack, salsa and a traditional dish.

a table-top view of dishes at Clay Cantina, Coolangatta
Swing by Clay Cantina for Mexican-inspired dishes.

Open: Wednesday–Saturday for dinner
Address: 2/16 Griffith Street, Coolangatta Qld

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3. Bar Evelyn, Coolangatta

Best for: Date night done right

An elegant, upscale Italian bar and eatery that’s worth slipping into your finery for. Here, it’s all about the details and superior quality, from the natural wine list to seasonally driven antipasti and freshly made pasta.

Simplicity is executed with finesse in dishes such as the vodka sauce conchiglie and buccatini amatriciana, with the provenance of ingredients a focal point. If you’re in the mood for a more casual option, you can always takeaway a wood-fired pizza or two to enjoy by the beach.

a dimly lit interior at Bar Evelyn, Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Dine on memorable Italian fare at Bar Evelyn for a superior night out. (Image: Jared O Sullivan)

Open: Wednesday–Sunday for afternoon drinks and dinner
Address: 58 Marine Parade, Coolangatta Qld

4. Eddie’s Grub House, Coolangatta

Best for: Good times

This rock and roll joint sits below the retro-revamped Pink Hotel and caters to the out-and-about Cooly crowd. Live music is on high rotation here and while you’re toe-tapping to the beat, you can enjoy something to eat from the dive bar-style menu. Think southern fried chicken, burgers, wings and onion rings paired with cold beers and karaoke.

Open: Wednesday–Sunday for arvo beers and burgers
Address: 171 Griffith Street, Coolangatta Qld

5. Ivory Waterside, Tweed Heads

Best for: Sunny arvo sessions

Despite the shimmering Tweed River and her tributaries meandering through the region, there are few places to sit and take it all in by the banks. But Ivory Waterside goes a long way to righting that wrong with its absolute waterfront locale on Terranora Creek, on offshoot of the main waterway.

Set yourself up on the deck and watch the sun ripple across the water as you tuck into well-executed, bistro-style fare, including steak, burgers, fish ’n chips and other usual suspects. Salt-rimmed margaritas beckon as the sun beats down, making it difficult to plan your exit. Extend the good times at Benny’s Arcade for a spin on some classic 80s games enjoyed with a cold beer.

the waterfront restaurant at Ivory Waterside, Tweed Heads
Bask in waterfront views at Ivory Waterside.

Open: Thursday–Sunday from 11:30 am – 9 pm
Address: 156 Wharf Street, Tweed Heads NSW

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6. Get Hooked Seafoods, Tweed Heads

Best for: Fish and chips with family

Sitting on the river and tucked just behind the Tweed Marina, you’ll find Get Hooked. And while it may be small, it sure packs a punch – in fact, it’s arguably the best spot for seafood in Tweed Heads and a local’s choice when it comes to the best fish and chips in town.

Perch yourself under an umbrella on the wooden deck out back and watch friendly pelicans bob in the water below before diving into a fresh seafood basket. Think juicy local prawns, daily-caught fish, crispy calamari, fresh oysters and, of course, a generous serving of chippies.

Open: Daily from 10:30am – 7 pm (8 pm Fridays and Saturdays)
Address: 2 River Terrace, Tweed Heads NSW

7. Pipit, Pottsville

Best for: Special occasions and real foodies

Drive 25 minutes south to Pottsville, and you will be rewarded with a restaurant that showcases the very best of the Tweed region’s offerings. Helmed by executive chef and owner Ben Dilvin (ex-Noma), Pipit is an award-winning fine dining eatery where thoughtful, modern Australian coastal cuisine takes centre stage. Choose from either the six-course, eight-course or à la carte menu, which are driven by the seasons and change every 6-8 weeks.

A large proportion of the space is taken up by the open kitchen, where sitting at the chef’s table allows you to enjoy the elegant choreography of the chef preparing your next plate with precision, be it Bay Lobster and bunya nut fregola with bunya nut miso, lobster butter and pipi dressing or Keitt mango layered with caramelised mango, guava, macadamia and koji ice cream. The fish-shaped buckwheat waffle with smoked snapper cream and finger lime and the vegetable crudités and tasty waste paste are signature bites and not to be missed.

Open: Monday, 5:30pm – 10pm; Thursday, 6pm – 10pm; Friday and Saturday, 12pm – 3pm and 6pm – 10pm; Sunday, 12pm – 3pm

Address: Shop 4, 8 Coronation Ave, Pottsville NSW

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Lara Picone
Working for many of Australia’s top publications, Lara Picone has had the distinct pleasure of writing, editing and curating content about the finer things in life for more than 15 years. Graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, her editorial foundation began at Qantas: The Australian Way magazine, before moving on to learn the fast-paced ropes of a weekly magazine at Sunday Magazine and picking up the art of brand curation at donna hay magazine. Pivoting a near-problematic travel lust into a career move by combining it with storytelling and a curious appetite, her next role was as Deputy Editor of SBS Feast magazine and later Online Editor of SBS Food online. She then stepped into her dream job as Editor of Australian Traveller before becoming Online Editor for both International Traveller and Australian Traveller. Now as a freelancer, Lara always has her passport at-the-ready to take flight on assignment for the Australian Traveller team, as well as for publications such as Qantas Magazine, Escape and The Weekend Australian. As ever, her appetite is the first thing she packs.
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This stretch of Sydney beaches topped the annual Best Australian Beaches list

    Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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    Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

    The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

    The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

    By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

    North Cronulla beach
    Dive into the world’s best beaches.

    That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

    But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

    Beyond the beaches

    Dining

    the dining room at Pippis Cronulla
    Enjoy a sundowner by the sea at Pippis Cronulla.

    The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.   

    By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

    Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

    Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

    Visit Bundeena

    Bundeena Ferry Wharf
    Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

    A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

    Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

    One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

    Pristine walking trails

    Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track
    Cool off with a coastal stroll.

    Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

    Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

    Enjoy whale watching

    humpback whale sighting noosa experiences
    Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

    Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around.  Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

    Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

    Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.