Celebrated British chef Rick Stein and his Australian wife Sarah are establishing their most significant Australian culinary venture yet, a new flagship restaurant right on the beachfront in Coogee.
The new establishment, named Rick Stein at Coogee Beach, is scheduled to open its doors in November, positioned on the ground floor of the incoming Intercontinental Sydney Coogee Beach at 224 Arden Street.
This oceanfront space is designed to accommodate 224 diners, offering a signature restaurant experience, a bar dining area, and a courtyard terrace.
A Personal Connection to Coogee
Mr Stein said Coogee Beach was another stunning coastal location for their Australian restaurant portfolio, noting its laid-back charm. He added that the venture held special meaning for him because his wife, Sarah, grew up in Sydney. Sarah Stein will play a key role in the project, overseeing both its public relations and interior design.
Emphasising Local Seafood and Family History
The menu at Rick Stein at Coogee Beach will uphold the brand’s long-standing philosophy: showcasing fresh Australian seafood cooked simply. Dishes are set to feature local catches such as mahi mahi from Nelson Bay, pipis from Port Stephens, and line-caught mackerel from Ulladulla.
The restaurant will also serve Stein’s signature Singapore Chilli Crab, prepared with blue swimmer crabs sourced from Nelson Bay, alongside his well-known fish and chips, complete with mushy peas.
The family business has celebrated fresh seafood and hospitality for 50 years. Rick and Jill Stein first opened The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow in 1975, quickly gaining international recognition for their imaginative cooking of fresh fish and shellfish.
Over the decades, their portfolio grew to include hotels, bistros, cafés, delis, patisseries, and other dining experiences across the UK, before expanding to Australia.
Growing Australian Presence
This new Coogee restaurant marks the third Australian venture for the Rick Stein brand. It follows the successful openings of his two other holiday diners at Bannisters hotels in Mollymook (opened in 2009) and Port Stephens (opened in 2018). The Australian operations, including the new Coogee location, fall under the Salter Brothers banner.
Salter Brothers acquired the Bannisters Group in 2024, expanding their significant property management in Australia, which includes more than 44 hotels. Paul Salter, managing director of Salter Brothers, expressed his enthusiasm for bringing the distinctive, yet approachable, fresh seafood experience to Coogee Beach.
Published Date 13-Jun-2025
