From tiger prawn rolls at the beach to riverside burgers, these are Sydney’s best swim-and-snack pairings for a perfect afternoon by the water.
Billy de Luca
It’s the ultimate summer pairing: a swim followed by a snack. But with more than 100 swimming holes, ocean pools and beaches across Sydney, it can be difficult to nail down the best choices for a convenient post-swim feed.
This list will help you plan your next day trip, with a selection of Sydney’s top spots to have a dip, grab a bite and soak up the remaining summer.
Clovelly Beach
Chicken schnitzel burger at Out of the Blue
Arrive early to avoid the long lines at Out of the Blue, a small takeaway shop that has developed a loyal following over the past 25 years for its fish and chips and Aussie-style burgers. Order the chicken schnitzel burger with the lot (and a hash brown, for good measure), then make the 11-minute walk to Clovelly’s concrete-bound beach. Sneak a bite before you jump in the water – the burger is full of flavour, packed with beetroot, carrot, lettuce, tomato and cheese on a soft, white bread roll.
2/272 Clovelly Road, Coogee, outoftheblueclovelly.com.au
Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool
Croissant from Lune Croissanterie
The Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool is a sunny, saltwater pool overlooking the Garden Island naval base and the Royal Botanic Gardens. In December, it opened a summer-long pop-up kiosk stocking croissants from Lune Croissanterie, once named “best in the world” by The New York Times. Find a selection of Lune’s core pastries, alongside specialty brews from Artificer Coffee (Surry Hills) and a curated selection of books from Btwnlns (Newtown).
1C Mrs Macquaries Road, The Domain, lunecroissanterie.com
Dawn Fraser Baths
Crispy pork banh mi at Darling Pies & Cakes
Hidden on the western edge of Sydney Harbour, Dawn Fraser Baths is the oldest tidal pool and swimming club in Australia. Your best bet for a substantial snack is a crispy pork banh mi (plus a jam lamington to follow) from Darling Pies & Cakes, a 13-minute walk up the road. But if you prefer to keep it simple, there’s an on-site kiosk serving nostalgic ice-creams such as Golden Gaytimes.
283 Darling Street, Balmain
Fanny Durack Aquatic Centre
Chip butty from Splash
Murray Rose Pool, formerly known as Redleaf Pool, is a sheltered harbour front swimming enclosure with shaded lawns and a sandy beach for sunbathing and the occasional picnic. Stock up beforehand at Baker Bleu – the Melbourne-born bakery is a 17-minute walk away, in affluent Double Bay. Grab a bagel with cured New Zealand king salmon pastrami, cream cheese and pickled onion, or a mini baguette with prosciutto and gruyere.
2 Guilfoyle Avenue, Double Bay, bakerbleu.com.au
Prince Edward Park
Wonny chicken burger from Riverside Takeaway
This no-frills cafe is known for its fish and chips, chocolate milkshakes and reasonably priced, old-school burgers. The Wonny chicken burger comes generously stacked with schnitzel, lettuce, tomato, cheese, mayo and beetroot, and it’s best enjoyed a three-minute drive (or boat ride) away at Prince Edward Park, on the sandy banks of the Woronora River – a scenic swimming area surrounded by native bushland.
1/2 Prices Circuit, Woronora, facebook.com/Woronorariversidetakeaway
North Narrabeen Rockpool
Fish tacos from Mexicano
North Narrabeen Rockpool is an ocean pool where you can swim laps or watch surfers tackle the nearby breaks. Afterward, walk 10 minutes across the lagoon bridge to Mexicano, a contemporary Mexican restaurant specialising in beef-battered fish tacos. They’re citrusy and fresh, served with pineapple chutney, cabbage slaw and chipotle mayo on house-made flour tortillas. Arrive on Sunday between 3 and 5pm for a $15 margarita during happy hour, and while you’re there, try the agave wings.
209-211 Ocean Street, Narrabeen, mexicano.com.au
Shark Beach, Vaucluse
Tiger prawn roll from The Nielsen
If you’ve worked up an appetite swimming at Shark Beach, head to beachfront kiosk The Nielsen for the tiger prawn roll with creole mayo, iceberg lettuce, fries and a miniature bottle of Tabasco. Light but satisfying, it delivers a bright hit of spice and acidity. The historic kiosk reopened in December 2024 after three years of extensive repairs and renovations, and it’s now run by Sydney Restaurant Group, the hospitality group behind Sails on Lavender Bay. Owner Bill Drakopoulos describes the venue as “a really cool pub”, serving fish and chips, pizzas, and coffee.
Fig Tree Road, Vaucluse, srghospitality.com.au
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