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Bondi has welcomed a sexy new Spanish restaurant and bar inspired by Madrid’s electric underground scene. Called Besa, which comes from the Spanish word for kiss, this 65-seat venue is from the Esca Group, the team behind Sydney favourites Ito, Nour, Aalia and Joji. Come for vibrant tapas served in a lively, vibey dining room, with DJs spinning from Friday to Sunday.
Executive chef Ibrahim Kasif (ex-Porteno, Bodega, Stanbuli, and currently leading the kitchens at Nour and Henrietta) and head chef Alan Kropman (ex-Aalia and Sean’s) are behind the oceanic, delicious dishes.
“Tapas is about expression and community,” says Kasif. “Every region in Spain has its own language when it comes to food, and we wanted to honour that while cooking in a way that feels natural to Bondi. At its heart, Besa is a place where you can enjoy good food, conversation and late-night wine with friends.”
Menu highlights include a pan con tomate that’s juicy and sweet, doused in olive oil and flecked with salt; gildas with a pop of fruity chilli flavour; blue mackerel with butter leaf and encurtidos; raw beef carpaccio with white anchovy and goat’s cheese anchoïade; fideuà negra of squid ink egg noodles with grilled chicken and aioli; and confit potato, onion and egg tortilla. Finish with a velvet-smooth, creamy flan with figs.
The striking design, led by architect Matt Darwin, features mid-century nods blended with contemporary accents, rich red tones, warm butterscotch and spotted gum timber.
Esca Group co-founder and creative director Ibrahim Moubadder says: “During my travels through Spain, I was drawn to the way people gather, eat, drink and linger around the table long after the plates are cleared. In Madrid especially, the bars are intimate and buzzing, the rooms packed tight, conversations are loud, food is flying out of the kitchen, and drinks are constantly being topped up. It’s loud, energetic and full of life, and at the same time deeply hospitable. That’s the feeling I want to bring to Bondi with Besa – an intimate, high-energy space where incredible food, great drinks and genuine warmth all exist in the same room.”
Pair your meal with a Spanish drop – there are 20 vinos by the glass and 60 bottles to choose from. Or try one of the signature cocktails, inspired by Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Try the El Compañero with vodka, limoncello, suze, citrus and blood orange sorbet.
Forget a kiss – Besa deserves a proper pash.
Find out more here.
Address: 75–79 Hall Street, Bondi Beach, 2026