If you don’t count Bundeena village on the southern side of Port Hacking, Cronulla is about as far south as you can go and still be in Sydney. On weekends the beach destination is a hive of activity, and to cater to the hungry crowds, Cronulla has bucket loads of cafes. Take a stroll through the shopping precinct for a smorgasboard of choice. You’ll virtually trip over the Cronulla Pie Shop as it is smack bang in the middle of the pedestrian mall. The all-weather seating area, including heaters in winter, is tarted up with fresh flowers to make it feel more cafe than canvas marquee. If you can get past the fruit pies, the fresh fluffy scones are surprisingly good – it is a pie shop after all. So too is the double thick cream. The weakest link is the jam, which is neither memorable nor bad.
Tea: A selection of Madura tea bags served in a small teapot.
Price: $$
Overall: Handy location that’s cosy in winter and cool in summer.