Best Blackheath Restaurants For Your Next Trip

Blackheath has become a beacon of Blue Mountains culinary excellence with a concise but considered list of places to wine and dine.

The little mountain town of Blackheath punches far above its weight with a food culture that is seasonally and locally focussed and beautifully executed. From a hatted, fire-fuelled restaurant to the region’s first natural wine bar and an agrarian-inspired farm-to-table eatery, these are the best Blackheath restaurants to dine out at now.

1. Zoe’s

For a good night out in the mountains, simply follow the red neon-lit Z. A live music venue, a sleek cocktail bar and a Mexican restaurant, Zoe’s is many things in one space that somehow seamlessly come together to create a cohesive and vibrant atmosphere.

the classy and vibrant restaurant interior of Zoe's, 35 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath — Zoe’s classy and vibrant interior is a standout.

Sidle on up to the bar for a well-mixed margarita or Oaxaca old fashioned, gather round a table for plates of corn esquites, tacos or carne asada, and toe-tap to the beats of local and international musicians.

a plate of Mexican food at Zoe's, 35 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath — Come to Zoe’s if you’re craving Mexican.

Open: Tuesday to Saturday for dinner and lunch on Saturdays, it’s a vibe you’ll want to revisit on repeat.
Address: 35 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath

2. Blaq

Set in the sleek and boutique Kyah Hotel, Blaq is an elegant and much-applauded, contemporary addition to the Blue Mountains dining scene. Local, award-winning chef Mate Herceg deftly plates the best produce of the region with sophisticated dishes that relish the season and classic cooking techniques.

a sleek and elegant dining interior at Blaq in Kyah Hotel, 13-17 Brightlands Avenue, Blackheath — Pull up a seat inside Blaq’s sleek dining space in Kyah Hotel. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

From ‘smalls’ of venison tartare with quail egg or roasted eggplant with tahini cream, to ‘bigs’ of brined kangaroo with broad beans and spinach, and vegan house-made gnocchi, as well as flame-licked cuts from the grill, Herceg’s food is both innovative and inventive.

rack of lamb with rosemary and lemon at Blaq in Kyah Hotel, 13-17 Brightlands Avenue, Blackheath — Savour the flavourful rack of lamb with rosemary and lemon. (Image: Steven Woodburn)

Open: Dinner is served Wednesday to Sunday in an ambient and stylish dining room, making Blaq the perfect spot for special occasions, date nights or simply an elevated evening out.

Address: 13-17 Brightlands Avenue, Blackheath

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3. Cinnabar

Star culinary duo, Corinne Evatt and Mary-Jane Craig, have been running award-winning restaurants in the Blue Mountains since they opened their four-time-hatted Ashcroft in Blackheath 2000.

the vibrant restaurant interior at Cinnabar, 246 Great Western Highway, Blackheath — Enjoy a cosy dinner in the warm-lit interior of Cinnabar.

It’s long-since closed, but their latest venture, Cinnabar Kitchen has been just as warmly welcomed with its world-inspired menu that roams from a Moroccan beetroot salad to a Punjabi spiced chicken and Parisian beef cheeks.

a plate of curd meringue at Cinnabar, 246 Great Western Highway, Blackheath — Order a plate of curd meringue.

Open: From Wednesday to Saturday, you can spend the night downstairs in the cosy, warmly lit main restaurant or, if you’re a group, book one of the two private dining rooms in ‘The Loft’ upstairs, where you can choose from one of three set grazing menus.

Address: 246 Great Western Highway, Blackheath

4. Ates

Meaning ‘fire’ in Ottoman Turkish, hatted Ates puts their 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven to work firing up Mediterranean-style share plates for lunch on the weekend and dinner from Wednesday to Sunday.

the dining space at Ates, 33 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath — Nab a spot for casual lunch or dinner at Ates.

Gathering a cornucopia of local produce from Malfoy’s wild honey to produce from Farm it Forward, head chef William Cowan Lunn and his team stoke the flames to create dishes of wood-roasted cauliflower with curry leaf butter and braised oyster blade with celeriac and horseradish remoulade, and finesse smaller plates of fresh flavours, such as the sashimi of hiramasa kingfish and classic beef tartare. For groups of six or more diners, you’ll need to embark on the chef’s banquet set menu and settle in for a parade of deliciously compiled flavours.

a table-top view of dishes at Ates, 33 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath — Feast on wood-roasted cauliflower with curry leaf butter.

Open: Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday with lunch service available on weekends.
Address: 33 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath

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5. Megalong Restaurant

Nestled amid the fruit and vegetable gardens of Lot 101 farm, which supply most of the kitchen’s produce, Megalong Restaurant is a veritable example of farm-to-table eating. In addition to the gardens that guests are invited to wander through, the farm also runs cattle and sheep, which appear on the menu, along with other locally sourced meats. It stands to reason, given its agrarian underpinning, that the menu is hyper-seasonal and may include the likes of brisket empanadas with tomatillo, smoked Murray cod or local lamb.

Open: Settle in for the set menu (with or without matching wines) over a long lunch on the weekend or dinner Thursday to Saturday.

Address: Peach Tree Road, Megalong Valley

6. Frankie and Mo’s

Heralding a new era of cosy places to while away some mountain hours, Frankie and Mo’s natural wine bar is the first of its kind in the area.

The focus at this petite 25-seater venue run by father-and-son pair Bob and Tom Colman is good, affordable drops for casual wine-lovers, but you can sip as you sup on the veg-heavy menu from Thursday to Sunday with dishes such as bruleed brie toast, potato gnocchi and Brussels sprouts with leeks and almond cream.

If you like, purchase a bottle to takeaway or drink it at the bar of the former art gallery building, or if you’re staying for a short time but a good time, choose from wines-by-the-glass.

Open: Frank and Mo’s opens its doors on Thursdays and Fridays from midday to 10pm and from 10am to 10pm on weekends.

Address: 44 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath

For more great eats in the Blue Mountains, read our guide to Katoomba restaurants and check out our Blue Mountains travel guide for all you need to know.

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.

6 restaurants in Blackheath to bookmark for your next trip

Blackheath has become a beacon of Blue Mountains culinary excellence with a concise but considered list of places to wine and dine.

1. Zoe’s

2. Blaq

3. Cinnabar

4. Ates

5. Megalong Restaurant

6. Frankie and Mo’s

For more great eats in the Blue Mountains, read our guide to Katoomba restaurants and check out our Blue Mountains travel guide for all you need to know.

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This stretch of Sydney beaches topped the annual Best Australian Beaches list

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.