Coogee to welcome game changing international hotel

For a city with dozens of outstanding beaches, Sydney has surprisingly few international hotels taking advantage.

That makes the imminent opening - in December - of the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach an exciting announcement for both locals and visitors.

The new hotel from IHG Hotels and Resorts will welcome guests to 198 guest rooms including 22 suites. The vibe is "sophisticated beachfront living".

Being promoted as "Sydney’s only luxury beachfront hotel located within 20 minutes of the city", InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach will showcase the oceanfront location with floor-to-ceiling windows and breezy open-air spaces.

In March, a leisure deck featuring the ocean-facing infinity edge swimming pool, poolside bar, outdoor event terrace Day Spa will open, along with Club InterContinental.

The culinary epicentre will be Shutters Restaurant & Bar which promises modern Australian cuisine with Mediterranean influences.

 
This will sit alongside the Australian flagship restaurant – Rick Stein at Coogee Beach with the celebrity chef bringing his signature seaside dining style to Sydney with a restaurant, bar dining and courtyard terrace.

Guests can begin their mornings with sunrise yoga by the sea or an invigorating game of pickleball on the hotel's dedicated courts, discover Coogee's coastal paths or indulge in breakfast delivered to their room with a view.

The project strengthens the influence of IHG and property owners Salter Brothers luxury footprint across Australia and signals a continued investment in high-end coastal hospitality.

See https://coogeebeach.intercontinental.com/

Fishy business: Rick Stein to open flagship Sydney restaurant

Star seafood chef and TV personality Rick Stein has announced that he will be opening his Australian flagship restaurant at Coogee Beach in Sydney later this year.

British-born Stein and his Australian publicist wife Sarah have unveiled plans for Rick Stein at Coogee Beach.

Known for his ethos of "fresh seafood, simply prepared" Stein will locate his new 224-seat eatery at the recently announced InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach, and the space will include the signature restaurant, bar dining and courtyard terrace.

The new restaurant will join the couple's Mollymook and Port Stephens locations that they opened together in 2009 and 2018 respectively, 

“Coogee Beach is yet another stunning coastal location for our Australian restaurant portfolio - perched by the sea and full of the laid-back charm we’ve come to love so much here," Stein said.

"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. 

“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. 

"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.”

The menu will seafood including mahi mahi caught off the coast of Nelson Bay, Stockton pipis from Port Stephens, line-caught mackerel from Ulladulla and Nelson Bay blue swimmer crab for Stein’s signature Singapore chilli crab.

The venue will also offer fish and chips, prepared in the traditional British style complete with mushy peas and hand-cut chips.

The new venture will be in collaboration with Australian partners Salter Brothers, who acquired Bannisters Group in 2024.

Paul Salter, managing director of Salter Brothers, said: "We are very excited to be bringing Rick Stein to Coogee Beach and build on our existing partnership.  I can't think of a better location in Sydney to showcase his distinctive, yet approachable, fresh seafood experience."

Rick Stein at Coogee Beach is scheduled to open in November 2025.

Your chance to join chef Rick Stein for a culinary experience

Rick Stein is a hugely popular chef and TV personality with a global following.

He'll be hosting a pair of coastal culinary events at Bannisters Hotels in Mollymook and Port Stephens this August.

The events will be hosted by Rick and his wife Sas Stein and aim to showcase his expertise and experience from decades of food journeys.

Guests will have the option of staying at boutique coastal luxury accommodation at Bannisters by the Sea or Bannisters Pavilion in Mollymook, or Bannisters Port Stephens as part of the events.

Rick Stein’s Unsung Heroes of Seafood, Bannisters Port Stephens will run on Wednesday and August 13-14.

Guests can experience a flavour-packed escape and taste the underrated stars of the sea. This two-day experience is promoted as being "perfect for curious food lovers and fans of exceptional seafood". Think, dinner, a masterclass, and even a DJ set from Stein himself.

Epicurean Chapters with Rick Stein, Bannisters Mollymook will be held on August 20-21

This will include Conversations with Rick Stein hosted by Richard Glover with a four-course dinner, and a special Q&A session with Stein about his latest travels at The Jackson Ranch by Bannisters in Bawley Point (transfers to and from the venue included).

Then comes India’s street food on the South Coast, where guests can enjoy an afternoon exploring street food from India, as Stein recounts stories from his adventures to one of his favourite destinations and will host a book signing.

Pricing: Starting from $2,949 twin-share, tickets include exclusive culinary event access as outlined per location, accommodation, breakfast, an exclusive gift and more.

Tickets and details:
Mollymook: https://www.bannisters.com.au/rick-stein-event-mollymook/
Port Stephens: https://www.bannisters.com.au/unsung-seafood-heroes/

Image: Lean Timms