Harrys Bondi
A North Bondi institution since 1997, Harry’s is the local go-to for seasonal brunch, specialty coffee and post-swim catch-ups.
Overview
Few Bondi venues have changed shape as often as Harry's. It opened in 1997 as Harry's Espresso, a small coffee window on Wairoa Avenue. In 2015 it took over the laundromat next door and became the bright, breezy cafe locals now treat like a second kitchen. Today it's the flagship of The Harry's Family, Harry Lambropoulos's group of North Bondi venues, which also includes Raw Bar, Lulu, RND and gelato shop Luca & Luca.
The menu is still seasonal and leans on house-made staples, with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options throughout (it's Bondi, after all). The feta and quinoa fritters are the signature and have been on the menu longer than some regulars have lived in the suburb. They're crisp outside and soft inside, piled with fattoush, avocado and apple tzatziki, and finished with plum molasses.
The ricotta hotcake is the other icon. It's fluffy, loaded with berries and topped with vanilla double cream. It takes 20 minutes, so order it first and settle in. For more heat, the chilli scramble folds eggs through fermented sambal, kaffir lime and crispy eschalots on sourdough. The tempura prawn tacos are gluten- and dairy-free and make an easy lunch before heading back to the sand. Lighter appetites should try the lychee and coconut chia pudding.
Specialty coffee is still the backbone of the drinks list, alongside canned iced matcha and smoothies for after a workout. Happy hour runs Friday to Sunday, 1–3pm.
Harry's community streak has only grown. Every Friday morning, Harry's Run Club heads out on the Bondi to Bronte stretch and back. You can run, jog or walk, and nobody's timing you. Afterwards everyone regroups at the cafe for $3 coffees and matchas, often with a brand collab on the side. It has become one of Bondi's biggest weekly rituals.
Nearly three decades in, Harry's is exactly what we hoped it would become: a true Bondi institution.
Images: Supplied.
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