Overview
British culinary figure Rick Stein has had a years-long love affair with the Australian coast. In 2009, he opened Rick Stein at Bannisters by the Sea in the breezy south NSW coastal town of Mollymook, and followed it up a decade later with Rick Stein at Bannisters Port Stephens, which debuted in 2018. Now, the legendary chef, restaurateur, cookbook author and television presenter will bringing be his signature brand of "fresh fish, simply cooked" to Sydney for the very first time, with Stein and his Australian wife Sarah set to open their Australian flagship in one of the city's most iconic beachside destinations.
Rick Stein at Coogee Beach — which comes 50 years after he opened his very first restaurant, The Seafood Restaurant, in a Cornwall fishing port — will be an expansive 224-seater set in the upcoming InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, offering the refined beachside dining experience for which Stein is known. For his third Australian restaurant, Stein will be showcasing premium Australian regional and local produce across three distinct, yet quietly elegant, spaces: a signature dining room, a more casual bar area and a sun-washed courtyard terrace.
"Coogee Beach is yet another stunning coastal location for our Australian restaurant portfolio — perched by the sea and full of the laidback charm we've come to love so much here," says Stein. "It's especially meaningful for me as my wife Sas grew up in Sydney, so opening a restaurant in her hometown makes this venture all the more special for us both."
The menu will hero some of NSW's very best seafood, including mahi mahi from Nelson Bay, Stockton pipis from Port Stephens and line-caught mackerel from Ulladulla, while Stein's show-stopping Singapore chilli crab will feature blue swimmer from Nelson Bay. Naturally, Stein's beloved British-style fish and chips — complete with hand-cut chips and mushy peas — will also make the cut.
"There's an abundance of top-quality seafood in Australia and we'll be championing local, seasonal produce with the benefit of accessing the biggest fish market in the southern hemisphere," says Stein. "We'll continue to utilise the relationships we've built in our regional locations to source that same produce in Sydney. It's the best of both worlds."
On the ops side, Sarah Stein, Rick's wife and long-time collaborator, will bring her touch to the restaurant's interiors and ambience. For their Coogee dining room, the couple are working in partnership with Salter Brothers, who acquired the Bannisters Group in 2024 and will also operate the InterContinental Coogee.
Rick Stein at Coogee Beach is slated to open in November, 2025 at InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, 242 Arden Street, Coogee. For more information, head to the restaurant's website.