Some places feel like they’ve always belonged to the coastline. Raw Bar is one of them.

Sitting on the edge of North Bondi since 1995, it’s the kind of restaurant that doesn’t need to chase trends or change its identity. A sushi bar with quiet confidence — refined, consistent, deeply local.

For almost 30 years, Raw Bar has watched Bondi evolve around it. Cafés came and went, the suburb grew louder, and the beach became a global icon. But Raw Bar stayed steady — always fresh, always clean, always unmistakably itself.

Here’s how a simple seaside sushi bar became one of Bondi’s most enduring dining institutions.

Where It All Began

1995. North Bondi. A new kind of sushi bar.

When Raw Bar opened, Bondi didn’t have a true Japanese-inspired sushi bar by the beach — at least not one focused on premium seafood, clean technique and a calm, coastal atmosphere.

The vision was simple:
Fresh sashimi.
Minimalist flavours.
A relaxed space that felt like Bondi.

From the beginning, Raw Bar brought something new: sashimi-grade fish prepared with Japanese precision, served in a space that felt bright, informal and effortlessly seaside.

Bondi in the 90s — And the Rise of a Local Favourite

Before Bondi was Bondi.

In the mid-90s, the neighbourhood was more low-key than the polished hub you see today. Local families, surfers, early-morning regulars — community-first energy.

Raw Bar fit naturally into that rhythm.
Morning ocean swims followed by sushi at the window.
Long lunches that stretched into the afternoon.
Locals bringing friends “to show them the real Bondi.”

As the suburb grew, Raw Bar quietly became a landmark. By the time it passed the 20-year mark, it was already known as Bondi’s original sushi bar — and one of Sydney’s longest-running Japanese restaurants.

What Makes Raw Bar Last

Three decades. No shortcuts.

Raw Bar’s longevity comes down to a few constants:

1. Fresh produce
Long-term supplier relationships ensure consistent, premium seafood — always the hero.

2. Japanese-inspired technique
Balanced flavours, clean cuts, restraint. The kind of precision you don’t notice because everything simply tastes right.

3. Unwavering identity
While Bondi shifted around it, Raw Bar never became trend-focused or chaotic. It stayed minimal, refined, timeless.

This quiet consistency is exactly why locals trust it — and why tourists hear about it.

The Bondi Connection

More than a restaurant — part of the coastline.

Raw Bar’s connection to Bondi isn’t just geographic. It’s atmospheric.

The light pouring through the front windows.
The salt air drifting in from the beach.
The sense of stillness in the middle of a busy suburb.

Everything about Raw Bar mirrors the coastline it sits beside: simple, calm, natural. A place where people slow down, share good seafood, and settle into the rhythm of Bondi.

Nearly 30 years on, that hasn’t changed.