Jervis Bay Cafes: Here Are 14 Of The Best

Our guide to the best Jervis Bay cafes includes a mix of chill places to work, top-notch spots for a caffeine fix and fantastic locations for brunch and lunch. Plug the following places into your satnav. Now go.

Those planning a South Coast stay will need to factor in a jaunt to these cracking Jervis Bay cafes. Be it coffee and gelato from an Airstream caravan, a family-friendly place for brunch or killer fish and chips enjoyed on the jetty, here are the best Jervis Bay cafes and casual eateries on the NSW South Coast.

The shortlist

Hottest new opening: The Local
Best coffee: Jervis Bay Coffee Co.
Best pastries: Kraken Sourdough
Best for brunch: 5 Little Pigs

Harley’s at Husky

When it comes to coffee orders, I make mine a double. This is especially so when I see the beans are put to good use. Basically, the baristas toiling over the sky-blue La Marzocca coffee machine know their stuff. Furthermore, expect a matcha made in heaven at Harley’s at Husky, which is open for breakfast and lunch each day. Unquestionably, the Eat. Drink. Laugh logo is literally a good sign. In the meantime, check the cafe’s Instagram page for the next Bubs & Pubs meet-up. Lastly, Harley’s is an inviting hub with a nautical, beach-chic colour palette.

Cuisine: Burgers, acai, focaccia toasties and above-average cafe fare.
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Sunny, bright, good vibes only.
Location: 51 Owen St, Huskisson

Fishermens Wharf Huskisson

The congenial Fishermens Wharf cafe is out to prove it’s the best place in Jervis Bay for coffee with a view. Never has a town had such a need to wake up early and stay alert. Why? Because there are so many great things to do during the course of a day in Jervis Bay. My love for coffee equals my husband’s love for craft beer and we can enjoy both here at lunchtime. Book in for a dolphin eco cruise or wildlife excursion and then retreat back to the wharf to enjoy the Whale of a Breakfast which is whopping as the name suggests.

Cuisine: Think smashed avo for breakfast; pulled pork tacos for lunch
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Fancy fisho meets Jervis jetty vibes.
Location: 15 Field St, Huskisson

Merciers Gelato & Coffee

A glossy salted butterscotch and chocolate gelato is best enjoyed amid groves of gums standing their ground in the open air. By all means, follow it up with a swim in the turquoise waters off Jervis Bay. Obviously, that’s the plan when the Merciers Gelato and Coffee van rolls into town. Track the cool 1960s Airstream caravan, which has a pop-up store in Huskisson over summer. You’ll also find the food van festooned with bunting and fairy lights at festivals and markets in Jervis Bay. At any rate, reward the kids with a scoop of gelato for listening to dad jokes on the drive from Sydney.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average: price $$
Atmosphere: Refined
Location: Various locations around Huskisson over summer.

The Local

The Local has taken off where the much-loved Albert & Miso cafe left off. And anywhere that has Taco Tuesday on the agenda deserves a place on our guide to the very best Jervis Bay cafes. The homey corner cafe in Vincentia Shopping Village is aptly named as it’s somewhat of a hub for locals. So we recommend you converge here for everything from burrito bowls to brekkie burgers after a surf at Aussie Pipe. The mural of an octopus here is a conversation starter: ask about the local Jervis Bay site marine scientists have dubbed Octlantis.

Cuisine: Classic mod Oz cafe fare
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Casual and inclusive
Location: 12/5 Burton St, Vincentia

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Salty Joes

Salty Joes is so named as it embraces the essence of salty hair, sea breezes and NSW South Coast surf culture. At least treat yourself to a bacon and egg roll or dive straight into the smoothie bowl, which is the monkey’s nuts. No seriously, that’s what it’s called. In addition, this deliciously curated concoction comprises peanut butter, banana and coconut milk topped with maple pecan granola, toasted coconut and shaved milk chocolate. The walls of this popular cafe includes pops of colour that match with the mood-boosting turquoise seas.

Cuisine: Contemporary cafe fare with great coffee.
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Refined
Location: 1/54 Owen St, Huskisson

5 Little Pigs

The only huffing and puffing happening at 5 Little Pigs is among hangry travellers who have arrived here in the post-surf peak hour and have to queue for a table. Chill. Why? Because it’s Jervis Bay brah. In no time at all, you’ll be digging into the ‘Big Pig’ breakfast with bacon, eggs, tomato, spinach and tomato on sourdough. This rustic Huskisson cafe is regarded as one of the best Jervis Bay cafes for coffee, too. Arrive barefoot wearing a flanno and balled-up beanie: it might help you unlock some insider tips about the best surf beaches in Jervis Bay.

Cuisine: Mod Oz
Average: $$
Atmosphere: Laid-back and beachy
Location: 64-66 Owen Street, Huskisson

Cooked Goose on Hyams

Hyams Beach is certainly no secret spot. In fact, it’s named as one of the best beaches in the world. My personal tip is to visit outside the peak scene-y season of summer, when the beach is a more mellow place to hang. Dust the crumbs of sand off your feet and build your own breakfast at the  Cooked Goose on Hyams, which has one of the best outlooks in Jervis Bay. Order pesto butter beans or a burger with the lot for lunch and then have a gander at the goodies you can take away from the cafe.

Cuisine: Everything at the Cooked Goose is made in-house and the menu is Mod Oz.
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Think busy, bustling Hyams Beach hub
Location: 76 Cyrus St, Hyams Beach

Tuna Tail Husky

Poke is a staple in Hawaii and it’s great to see it popping up at dedicated poke bars like Tuna Tail in Huskisson, just a block and a bit back from the beach. Lunching at the light, bright, poke bar is an insanely good experience as the healthful creations are made fresh to order. Pick a base (rice, noodles or cabbage), choose a bowl (fins, feathers, or flowers), or build your own with add-ons that include avocado, seaweed and sesame seeds.

Cuisine: Soul food. Bowl food.
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: It’s serving Hanalei Bay
Location: 2/12 Currambene Street, Huskisson

Milk HAUS Milton

Don’t @ me. I know Woodstock is an hour’s drive from Husky. However, a mere 60 minutes on the clock is nothing when you’re road-tripping around Australia. Above all, make the detour to Woodstock to meet your mates from Milton for bowl food such as pasture-raised poached eggs, asparagus, peas, herbs, chives and sourdough. Correspondingly, you’ll find the garden-to-plate menu has a plethora of pluses and positives.

Cuisine: Nourishing garden-to-plate dishes that will ensure you eat your greens
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: The vibe is one of unstoppable optimism.
Location: 170 Woodstock Rd, Woodstock

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World Famous Fish and Chips

It’s a huge call to name your eatery World Famous Fish and Chips. But that’s been this fish and chipper’s claim for more than two decades and if they believe they can fry, then so do we. Certainly, it’s impossible to go past old-school prawn cutlets. But it’s the fish and chips that are on high rotation here. At least dine in at the relaxed chipper or get a side order of fresh air and picnic with your feet dangling over the jetty. Afterwards, pick up some fresh Jervis Bay mussels for dinner.

Average: price $$
Location: 2/54 Owen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

Kraken Sourdough

Kraken Sourdough is one of Huskisson’s hippie HQs. All in all, it’s also one of the best Jervis Bay cafes and bakeries for a latte. Vanlifers road-tripping around the NSW South Coast should follow the enticing aroma of fresh-baked croissants to this Jervis Bay cafe and bakery for viennoiseries such as fruit crumble, and berry brioche. Another recommendation is the pillow-soft potato pizza. Meanwhile, the kimchi and peanut toasties are manna from heaven for vegos.

Cuisine: Savoury and sweet bakery treats
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Industrial-chic production line for pastries
Location: 10 Duranbah Drive, Huskisson

Jervis Bay Coffee Co.

You will feel an immediate bond forming with locals when you converge on this Jervis Bay cafe. Jervis Bay Coffee Co. takes great care air-roasting small-batch high-grade Arabica beans to give Jervis Bay locals the jolt of java they need. Evidently, you’ll find a rag tag group of road-trippers at the cafe, which is worth the journey to Jervis Bay for its avocado and ricotta bagels. Likewise, the toasted ham-and-cheese croissants are choice.

Cuisine: Killer air-roasted cafe and bagels
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Rustic and real
Location: Princes Highway, Wandandian, Jervis Bay Territory

Huskisson Bakery & Cafe

Enjoy a pie crawl up the NSW coast from Sydney stopping off at Huskisson Bakery & Cafe outlets along the way. Sit solo and eavesdrop on the surfers who gather in the bakery to shoot the breeze over a Brekky Pie. Why? Because you might overhear where the waves will be firing when the next swell hits. Evidently, the absolute best brunch spots in Jervis Bay are all-day affairs where the goal is getting something down your pie-hole when the craving hits.

Cuisine: Brekkie pies, toasties, croissants and protein shakes
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Old-school and laid-back
Location: 11 Currambene St, Huskisson

Angels Bayside

It doesn’t matter if you roll out of bed at noon – you’re on holiday, babes. Besides, stumble into Angels Bayside Cafe unshowered and with your sunnies on and nobody bats an eyelid. Indeed, the folks in Jervis Bay aren’t judgey. In fact, the more artfully dishevelled you look, the better. Angels does an all-day breakfast menu that includes fluffy pancakes, eggs on sourdough and smashed avo. Direct that devil-may-care attitude toward your diet and suck back a Southern fried chicken burger. The cafe is fully licensed and has a regular line-up of live music.

Cuisine: Classic home-style cafe fare
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Relaxed.
Location: 74 Owen St, Huskisson

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 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.

The best cafes in Jervis Bay