Where to Shop Like a Local In and Around Cronulla

This funky cafe/bar is held in high regard by the locals, because despite being around for so many years, its friendly demeanour has yet to falter. Grind Espresso is a favourite for local celebrities — players from the Cronulla Sharks can often be seen milling around, enjoying an espresso and some smashed avocado (with eggs, of course, for protein). The cafe fare here is simple but delicious, with BLTs and scones frequent favourites on the menu. Drop by and sit at the dive bar-style couches, or perch around a refurbished barrel for some coffee drinking and people watching.

Image: Caitlin Morahan

Every small town needs a touch of higher-end fashion, and this boutique definitely meets that niche for Cronulla. On the quieter side of Surf Road, Meet That Store has a chic aesthetic that ensures it isn’t crowded with racks and racks of clothing. Instead, you’ll find carefully chosen pieces with the demographic of the beachside locals in mind. With every item of clothing on the rack, there is a selection of matching accessories to go with it. If you have a special occasion coming up, Meet That Store is definitely your one-stop shop to look and feel a million dollars.

Image: Caitlin Morahan

Walking the line between cafe and bar, Next Door serves up fun, fresh food to go with either a mid-morning mimosa or a classic cappuccino. The all-day menu features breakfast treats like a chocolate crumpet topped with mascarpone and rhubarb and jalapeño corn fritters. Or if a long, winding lunch is more your style, you can’t go past osso bucco with truffle mash or the lighter king prawn spaghettini. Treat yourself to a signature cocktail while overlooking the turquoise waves of Cronulla beach — the perfect place to soak up the sunshine and some well-deserved R&R.

Image: Chris Jamieson

If the scent alone isn’t enough to lure you into Harperwood, the eye-catching floral design sure will. Run by a trio of cousins, Harperwood has long been a local favourite for creative, seasonal and fresh floral designs, sourced straight from the Sydney flower market. Whether you want a bunch of Australian natives for your dining room table, a gift for a loved on or an elaborate wedding display, Harperwood really can cater to your every need.

Image: Caitlin Morahan

Based right in the mall, Pacific Gourmet Meats is perfectly located for all your spring and summer barbecue shopping. Whether you’re picking up snags to sizzle on the public barbecues at Shelly Beach or patties for homemade burgers after a long day at the beach, you’ll find ’em here. It also has tender lamb backstraps, various steak cuts, pork ribs, hormone-free whole chickens, skewers and much more. Not sure what you’re craving? The friendly butchers can give you some suggestions and provide plenty of cooking tips. You’ll also be able to pick up eggs, marinades and spice rubs here, too.

Image: Leigh Griffiths

Some say print is going out of fashion, but clicking ‘add to cart’ on your computer just isn’t the same as inhaling the scent of fresh ink from the pages of a paperback book. Berkelouw Books is a mahogany sanctuary in salt-sprayed Cronulla, smelling comfortingly of paper and furniture polish. In store you’ll find a vast collection of new releases, classics bound in leather, enormous coffee table books and vibrant children’s stories. Take your coffee-filled keep cup and give yourself plenty of time to meander.

Image: Caitlin Morahan

Self-care means different things to each of us but, as Sydneysiders, it’s hard to beat a trip to the beach for a stroll, an ocean swim or to just chill out on the sand. Combining your beach visit with a luxurious spa treatment can, therefore, be considered the ultimate one-two punch of self-care. Endota Spa Cronulla on Gerrale Street is just a few minutes’ walk from South Cronulla beach. Part of the largest spa network in Australia, which first began in 2000 on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, this welcoming space has six treatment rooms, plus two double treatment rooms if you’re visiting with a friend or partner. The range of treatments includes massages (remedial, hot stone and pregnancy), organic and LED facials, microdermabrasion, body wraps and scrubs. Want to keep enjoying the effects of your experience long after you leave? Add a mani, pedi, wax or spray tan to your package, too.