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| Taken at South Bondi at 7 pm on a school night |
Bondi Beach is a strange beast. One of the famous stretches of sand in the world can boast the best of times, but if you navigate the strip badly, it can be the pits.
Some of the food by the shore is downright average. The places that are good, fill up quickly. Some of the locals can be wretched posers. And parking is an expensive nightmare. But beyond all that; a swim, and a take away burger from Huricanes eaten on the grass is one way to ensure a solid night. And now here’s another, a smidge more civilised.
Bondi Hardware
Hall Street is one of the more heaving thoroughfares of Bondi, bisecting the suburb and leading everyone out of their salt-sticky flats and towards the beach. Once upon a time a fixture of the stretch was the hardware store. It was quirky, chaotic and cramped. It was where you’d go for a plunger when you couldn’t be bothered leaving the suburb. Now that space has been transformed into an establishment which ticks all of the boxes for a great beach side bite.
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| spiced lamb salad |
The interior is calculatedly rustic, with exposed wooden beams, greenery and skylights which let in a good dose of Vitamin D.
The crowd is largely young and beautiful, but with less attitude than some other local watering holes (Ping, North Bondi Italian)
The bar is the focal point, and the drinks list is strong; from quirky local ales, wines by the glass (served in proper glasses no less) – and a cavalcade of cocktails- including some elderflower ice pops which sound dangerously good.
We arrive at 5pm, right smack in the middle of peak holiday season. There are bar nibbles of chips and aioli and marinated olives to tide us over until the kitchen opens at 6pm.
The menu aims towards global shared plates; from pizzas to sassy little sliders (my pick of the evening).
Salads come in varying sizes depending on how hungry you are/ how skimpy your swimmers are, the floor staff are busy yet sweet – but here’s one of the the best thing; if you don’t want to take a chance on snaring a plum table – you can book ahead.
39 Hall Street
Bondi Beach NSW 2026
61 2 9365 7176
http://www.facebook.com/bondibeachhardware
Gelato from Pompei’s
It’s not a proper trip to Bondi without a gelato from Pompei’s. Sure it’s not cheap, but one scoop is all you need. Get it in a cup and nurse it while you wander down to the sand.
This is the hazelnut gelato of your dreams, with a slow melting point and a flavour that sings. The Hungry One raves about the dark chocolate gelato and the passionfruit sorbet, but to me, it’s all about the nuts. In my book, this is the hazelnut gelato against which all others are judged.
Pompei’s
126-130 Roscoe Street (corner Gould Street)
(closed Monday)
Bondi Beach NSW 2026.
http://www.pompeis.com.au/
It's the bitter orange for me!
I always miss Bondi 🙁 I lived at Sir Thomas Mitchell Rd for 10 years. LOL about the posers 🙂
Ooh I had heard Bondi had gone a bit upmarket. Popping these on the Sydney wishlist.
Oh I love these little beach-side places that Sydney does so well. Bondi is probably the world-capital of poseurs though – made this pasty pom feel very insecure!
Hardware Store looks good. Sesame seeds on the slider buns though? Bit McChicken Sandwish!
Not that I know about those…
I lived in Bondi and used to go to the cafes at Seven Ways, loved it.
I've never been to Sydney, but it's certainly on my ever growing list of places to go someday.
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I lived in Bondi for a year back in 1997/98 and I loved it, that transient vibe with furniture left on the street all the time by people moving on.It was a suburb of peeling paint.
The Regis pub the Hotel bar on the promenade and the RSL! happy days!
Bit of a shame if it has gone upmarket but it’s inevitable I suppose, I’m heading over there next month for a couple of days, staying down in Coogee so will go and check it out and see if the old haunts are still there and my bed bug infested apartment.
Rent was $100 a week and pay was $750 so we lived pretty well for 1 year travel visa backpack pommies.