Best restaurants near me in Illaroo, Australia

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchIndian

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

GFG

Accessibility

Wheelchair access

46 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

A photo of Loco Lane Mexican Cantina & Cocktail Bar Culburra Beach restaurant

1. Loco Lane Mexican Cantina & Cocktail Bar Culburra Beach

4.5

Awesome(29)

$$$$

• Mexican • Culburra Beach

Booked 2 times today

We serve beautiful Mexican food and refreshing Cocktails in our quirky & fun venue.Loco is a small restaurant offering a relaxed but attentive hospitality. The menu is abundant in colour, flavour, effort and love.

2. Kneading Ruby

4.8

Exceptional(1947)

$$$$

• Italian • Wollongong

Booked 39 times today

Kneading Ruby is a modern Italian restaurant in the heart of Wollongong, offering a vibrant atmosphere with high ceilings and exposed brick walls. Enjoy a breezy café feel during the day, and an intimate setting for evening dining. Our menu celebrates rustic Italian flavors with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Savor our wood-fired pizzas with crispy, thin crusts and delectable toppings. Indulge in melt-in-your-mouth gnocchi, succulent lamb shoulder, and seasonal vegetable sides bursting with flavor. Whether you're having a casual lunch with friends, a romantic dinner for two, or a lively gathering, Kneading Ruby caters to all. Our set menus allow you to sample a variety of dishes, perfect for sharing and creating memories. Experience the warmth and charm of Kneading Ruby, where our friendly staff will guide you through an extensive wine and cocktail list to complement your meal. Come and enjoy a taste of Italy right here in Wollongong!

3. Bundanoon Hotel

4.6

Exceptional(393)

$$$$

• Modern Australian • Bundanoon

Booked 5 times today

Our restaurant offers a selection of quality meals prepared with the best produce available. Lunch is available Friday to Sunday and dinner Wednesday to Monday. On Tuesday the bistro is closed, woodfire pizza is served in the Brigadoon Bar. In March 2022 we revamped the dining space and renovated to include a new kitchen. At the same time a new Head Chef joined our team. Regulars love the new menus which change almost daily. Menu options are available for larger parties with the group menus proving very popular in the private dining room as well as the restaurant. When we finally see some sun the spacious beer garden offers other possibilities.Situated halfway between Sydney and Canberra the Bundanoon Hotel is ideally situated for friends, family or business gatherings and with 58 rooms available there's no need to drive home after a great night.

A photo of Restaurant Santino restaurant

4. Restaurant Santino

4.9

Exceptional(550)

$$$$

• Italian • Wollongong

Booked 18 times today

Restaurant Santino is tucked away in the corner of a lively laneway in central Wollongong. Our Italian style bistro has a wonderfully classic feel, creating an ambiance fit for a dirty martini and a number from Nina Simone. Walls are adorned with art deco prints which set off this incredibly designed, chic space. Our team of talented chefs takes pride in using only the freshest ingredients and creating dishes that are both traditional and contemporary. We make our fresh pasta daily, on a rotating menu so you can always expect something new and exciting.At Restaurant Santino, we understand that a great meal deserves an equally great wine pairing. That’s why we have a cellar stocked with an impressive selection of wines from around the world. Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or just discovering the joys of wine, our team is here to help you find the perfect bottle to complement your meal.

5. BEACHSIDE BISTRO

4.0

Excellent(1633)

$$$$

• Australian • Mollymook Beach

Booked 9 times today

Located right on Mollymook Beach, overlooking breathtaking coastal views, The Beachside Bistro is the ideal dining experience. Combining casual friendliness with comfortable surroundings, stunning views and affordable Mollymook dining. The Beachside Bistro offers guests the opportunity to feast on the terrace or behind huge windows with incredible views of ocean. The menu blends an exciting mix of Australasian flavours with influences from the Mediterranean; The Beachside Bistro offers delicious pastas, tender steaks and the best Australian seafood.

6. Bar Lina

4.8

Exceptional(70)

$$$$

• Portuguese • Wollongong

Booked 7 times today

Inspired by the bustling tabernas of Lisbon, Bar Lina is a cosy, fire-fuelled Iberian bar serving bold Portuguese and Basque flavours with an Australian wine bar feel.It’s the kind of place where everything revolves around the flame—smouldering embers, blistered veg, and snacky plates that riff on the flavours of Portugal and the Basque coast.Next door to Restaurant Santino in the heart of Wollongong, Bar Lina hums with warmth and energy. The wine leans Iberian and natural, and the soundtrack slides from the groove of prince to the head-nodding beats of Biggie. Expect stacks of vinyl, buttery lighting, and a room that feels as good as it sounds.Whether you’re dropping in for a quick glass and a bite, or settling in for the long haul, Bar Lina is about good wine, good food, and music that moves the room.While we love little ones, our restaurant is designed as an intimate space best enjoyed by adults. As such, we are unable to accommodate children, including infants and prams.

7. Roy's Restobar

5.0

Exceptional(66)

$$$$

• Modern Australian • Wollongong

Booked 1 time today

A neighbourhood bar and restaurant sourcing sustainably grown and endemic produce along with high quality seafood. Focusing on intensively house made offerings from cheese and pickles all the way through to desserts. With an Aussie only wine and craft beer menu we are highlighting the best products come from right here and it's best to support local.

8. South Sailor

4.5

Awesome(1223)

$$$$

• Seafood • Thirroul

Booked 7 times today

With a love for casual, fresh seafood, South Sailor offers lunch, dinner and a wine & cocktail we just know you'll love! Just 150 metres from Thirroul Beach, South Sailor is a fitting spot to settle back after a day on the sand and surf. Expect to find a contemporary seafood focussed menu with the very best that the South Coast and Australia has to offer. The menu is a combination of classic chip-shop fare and more worldly seafood flavours with an in-house Sushi & Poké Bar. The kitchen, lead by Executive Chef Graham Ette, prepares delicious seafood plates cooked to order, designed to share.With indoor & outdoor seating, a licensed bar and kids beach cubby, gather the family for a relaxed weekend lunch or head in with friends for an evening of drinks and a shared feast. South Sailor is the perfect locale for those wanting to enjoy the Coal Coast vibe and warm welcome.

9. Plough & Ale

4.1

Excellent(50)

$$$$

• Modern Australian • Albion Park

Booked 19 times today

Connecting local village-style charm with a stylish and cultural feel, the Plough & Ale Inn is a reflection of the area's history combined with an infectious modern outlook for our bright new suburb.Our menu pays homage to the history of the local surrounds, with top quality steaks and handsome feeds a signature.

10. Ain't Nonna's

4.8

Exceptional(366)

$$$$

• Contemporary Italian • Wollongong

Booked 12 times today

WE AIN'T NONNA'S! It's a simple as that. We love and appreciate all the Nonna's out there and the beautiful food they create. We don't want to compete with your Nonna's cooking, so we won't. This is our take on home style Italian cooking.

Dining near Illaroo, Australia at a glance

Updated on 5/11/2026

Roy's Restobar

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Discover local gems

Exceptional reviews

Australian

Average check amount

$30 and under

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

N
Nathan
New South Wales •1 review
5.0
Dined 3 days ago
The food was amazing, and the staff are so welcoming and friendly
More info
Bundanoon Hotel$$$$• Modern Australian• Bundanoon
•
4.6
S
Susan
New South Wales •1 review
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
Wollongong is so lucky to have a wonderful restaurant of this quality. Everything is of such a high standard which makes it a pleasure to find there. Staff service and food are exemplary Highly highly recommend. Not just got special occasions but whenever you will not be disappointed
More info
Restaurant Santino$$$$• Italian• Wollongong
•
4.9
M
Michelle
Sydney •1 review
5.0
Dined 5 days ago
Absolutely love this restaurant. Food & service is always consistent! Highly recommend.
More info
Kneading Ruby$$$$• Italian• Wollongong
•
4.8
M
Megan
Sydney •1 review
5.0
Dined on Apr 30, 2026
Stayed in Mollymook for a few days and ended up dining here two nights in a row. Signed up for membership for $10 and received the benefits straight away, which was a nice bonus. The food is well presented and easily some of the best club meals we’ve had in a long time. The venue feels fresh following a recent refurbishment, and the location is spot on. Drinks are reasonably priced, the atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming, and overall it’s hard to fault. Great food, great setting, and definitely worth a visit.
More info
BEACHSIDE BISTRO$$$$• Australian• Mollymook Beach
•
4
T
Tahls
Sydney •1 review
5.0
Dined on Feb 14, 2026
Loved it all! Recommended by a friend and did not disappoint. Amazing team serving delicious food and drinks.
More info
Loco Lane Mexican Cantina & Cocktail Bar Culburra Beach$$$$• Mexican• Culburra Beach
•
4.5

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Best restaurants near me in Illaroo, Australia

Price

Cuisine

Top Rated

Dining Options

Seating Options

Award-winning

Accessibility

46 restaurants available nearby

1. Loco Lane Mexican Cantina & Cocktail Bar Culburra Beach

2. Kneading Ruby

3. Bundanoon Hotel

4. Restaurant Santino

5. BEACHSIDE BISTRO

6. Bar Lina

7. Roy's Restobar

8. South Sailor

9. Plough & Ale

10. Ain't Nonna's

Dining near Illaroo, Australia at a glance

Roy's Restobar

Australian

See what locals rave about

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