A beachfront restaurant in Sydney’s West
Excuse the cliche, but Rafi at Urbnsurf is quite literally making waves
IF YOU’VE EVER wanted to soak in Bondi’s beachside vibes without having to actually go there, forgoing the area’s endless crowds and inexplicable markups, sit down and brace yourself, because we’ve got some huge news for you. Thanks to the recently opened Rafi, you can now enjoy ‘beachfront’ dining in Sydney’s west, 30 kilometres from the actual coast.
Rafi opened its doors back in July, not long after the grand opening of Urbnsurf Sydney. The restaurant sits on the precinct’s upper level and offers panoramic views of Urbnsurf’s expansive artificial wave pool. A member of Applejack Hospitality’s portfolio, Rafi combines the elevated dining experience of its North Sydney-based counterpart with the laid-back charm of Sydney’s surf culture.
Inside, Rafi’s coastal-inspired interior draws inspiration from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. By incorporating natural timbers, earthy tones and expressive stone surfaces, the space has a refined yet relaxed atmosphere – although we’d advise changing out of your wetty before heading from the wave pool to the restaurant.
The most striking feature of the main dining area is a stunning wool carpet designed by Colleen Ngwarraye, a First Nations artist who has fused abstract symbols of bush medicine herbs into the design. Subtle blue highlights serve as a visual nod to the nearby surf lagoon, while blue swirls and tactile layers carved into various timber surfaces act as further nods to the ocean.
Keeping to the seaside theme, Rafi has a menu that focuses on high-quality seafood and dishes that highlight the essence of the coast. Staying true to its commitment to sourcing the finest seasonal and responsibly farmed ingredients, Rafi places emphasis on fresh produce from small Sydney farms and seafood sourced from across Australia and New Zealand.
Among the standout dishes is the Raw Platter for Two, featuring an impressive selection of oysters, yellow fin tuna from Bermagui, kingfish from South Australia’s Spencer Gulf and New Zealand trevally. If you’re looking for the quintessential Rafi experience, opt for the South coast tuna, a beloved staple from its original North Sydney menu.
Other highlights include the Jerusalem Artichokes, which are roasted with toasted hazelnut, burnt butter and Grana Padano cream. The crispy eggplant is one of Rafi’s more popular offerings, and when you look into how it’s prepared it’s easy to see why. The Eggplant is brined, battered and fried before being adorned with honey, herbs and spices, with the contrasting textures and flavours ultimately heightened by fish and ginger dipping sauces. Finally, seafood lovers can’t look past the steamed barramundi from Cone Bay, which is paired with a chickpea miso and yuzu kosho sauce – a dish that underscores a recurring theme among Rafi’s menu, a delicate balance of flavours.
Rafi’s beverage menu is equally worthy of praise. Cameron Freno is the mastermind behind the bar, and he leads a program that champions closed-loop sustainability. All the cocktails are creative, but some are further elevated by novel features like the sub-zero oyster martini and sub-zero burnt butter and pecan old fashioned. Even the Fragola Fizz, a staple from the North Sydney restaurant, is reimagined here with strawberry leaves. Naturally, the wine list also features a curated selection of top-notch international and local offerings.
It may not be your typical beachfront restaurant, but Rafi has everything you’d expect from such an establishment and more. With a resplendent design, unique location and exceptional menu, Rafi sits at the intersection of surf culture and sophistication, and it’s a much better kept secret than anything near Bondi.
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