La Spiaggia

La Spiaggia is a long-established Italian restaurant in Coogee with a strong family connection to the food and the neighbourhood. Nick and Teresa Lombardo, who moved to Sydney from Calabria in the 1970s, took over the restaurant in 1997 after years of operating restaurants around Sydney. Their son Maurizio is now the day-to-day presence, overseeing the staff, menus, wine list and bookings. The restaurant itself was first established in 1993 by Nick’s sister Maria Ianizzi and her husband Gerardo, giving La Spiaggia a history that reaches back through two generations of the family.

The cooking is described as modern, family-style Italian, with a focus on familiar dishes prepared with care rather than unnecessary fuss. The menu includes Italian staples such as lasagne, bolognese and pizza, with the kitchen adding its own character through a woodfire oven and pasta made by hand. Ingredients are sourced from both Australia and Italy, depending on the dish. That makes La Spiaggia a useful choice for diners looking for recognisable Italian food alongside the family’s Calabrian influence and longstanding knowledge of the cuisine.

There is also a broad drinks offering. The wine list has about 60 labels from Australian, New Zealand, Italian and French vineyards, ranging from house options to more substantial bottles. Beer, spirits, cocktails and soft drinks are available, and the bar provides a place to have a drink while waiting for a table. The website presents the food as simply prepared and presented, with flavour taking priority over elaborate styling—a clear indication of the restaurant’s straightforward approach.

La Spiaggia can suit a range of occasions in Coogee: a relaxed meal centred on traditional Italian dishes, a family dinner, or a catch-up where a varied drinks list is useful. Its menu also makes it practical for eating at home, with the full food menu available for takeaway. Orders can be collected through Mr Yum, while delivery is available through Uber Eats. For bookings or enquiries, the restaurant lists a direct telephone number, and Maurizio is described as the person guests are likely to encounter both when booking and on arrival.