Bondi is home to one of the world’s most iconic beachfronts. However sun, salt and sand aren’t the only things that define this coastal suburb… it also happens to be one of Sydney’s best dining precincts.
Veteran players like Icebergs and Sean’s Panorama always keep the foodies coming back but new casual dining spots like Upper Eastside are here to stir things up. We discovered this newbie one evening whilst scrawling Instagram. Two things were immediately clear from their insta feed- it draws a cool, fashionable crowd and the interiors are very unique.
Opening late in 2017, Upper Eastside hit the ground running and situated on the bend of O’brien street you can’t miss it. The exterior is framed by columns of faux greenery and inside a dazzling ceiling of fairy lights twinkle above clusters of bamboo chairs and low tables. It’s a casual dining space and the spouting palm trees throughout give a blissful seaside ambience.
There’s nothing else quite like it and given we were surrounded by these elaborate tropical vibes we felt obliged to indulge in a cocktail… Well it seemed only fair to us and perched on the bar is the best place to watch the bartenders create some magic.
The Vooddo Punch is definitely worth ordering just to watch its fiery creation and we also ordered the Reggae Got Soul, which is more to our personal tastes- a gin based blend with fresh watermelon juice, a squeeze of lime and a hint of basil. Amazing!
If you’re a fan of people watching both the tables inside and out are perfect for observing the bronzed bodies of Bondi cruise by. We also managed to score a rockstar spot for the Arteon right out the front so feeding ourselves and the parking meter becomes our top priority for the next few hours.
We decide to share a bunch of dishes from the menu and all three of us agree the Potato Gnocchi is out of this world. It is ultimate comfort food with the deep flavours of smoked shitake mushrooms, sweetly pickled king brown mushrooms and a light mushroom custard. Insert drooling emoji!
Our next favourties would actually be the sides and it’s an equal tie with the Chips and the Cos Salad. This is no discredit to the other dishes whatsoever, the crispy, ultra fresh salad has finely sliced pickled radish and pine nuts which is all dusted off with a sprinkling of nutty pecorino. It really hits the spot, especially after a few mouthfuls of the rich gnocchi… our taste buds welcome the light and zesty contrast.
Now you may think chips are arbitrary but not to us, these are crunchy and perfectly seasoned hot chips, the creamy aioli not too garlicly! By now loyal readers you should know that if you can master hot chips then you get extra points from us.
We also order the Salt & Pepper Cauliflower; it’s a house favourite we find ourselves reaching for more. Margarita and Mike (our dear friend and cameraman) share the Pulled Pork Tacos while I enjoyed a Honey Bug Tail Slider.
Full and satisfied we sink deep into the soft cushiony chairs and a food coma washes over us. It’s a total Bondi wipeout but for all the right reasons.
Outfits guides for Upper East Side is well represented on their Instagram. Obviously warmer months call for bright flirty dresses or cropped tops and shorts exposing perfectly sun-kissed skin. However in winter think more along the lines of a fitted bodysuit with light washed ripped jeans cinched in with a Gucci GG logo belt.
ANGELA
When I think of Bondi I think of casual denim pieces. I used to live here and I’d say the locals have mastered the art of looking effortlessly cool. It’s also easy to look overdressed in Bondi so I wore my oversized denim jacket causally off my shoulders. The ribbed cream bodysuit is perfect to keep me warm and the skirt is a wardrobe staple because it can be easily dressed up or down. These new boots are my current favourite at the moment so get used to seeing them on future posts.
BAG by YSL MONOGRAM UNIVERSITE.
JACKET by H&M
SKIRT by SEED
BOOTS by Tony Bianco
MARGARITA
Bondi is a place where you can dress super trendy if you choose or you can be totally relaxed and wear a pair of ripped jeans! So on this particular occasion I decided to do both. The dress I wore is super relaxed but has a high fashion edge to it due to the length and collar. The cardigan is for warmth as these last few months in Sydney has had a chill in the air seeing as it is winter.
I feel like this outfit ticks both the relaxed and trendy boxes to perfection.
