Cafes Worth the Drive: A Local’s Guide for Cronulla, Sutherland, Jannali, Oatley & the Georges River Suburbs

Coming From Cronulla?

Cronulla has no shortage of beachside cafes, but if you’re after something different — a calm, riverside setting instead of the beach crowd — Como Marina Bay Cafe is an easy detour on your way through the Shire. It’s the kind of spot worth the short drive when you want water views without the Cronulla weekend queues.

Trade the sand for the Georges River: instead of jostling for a table on the esplanade, you’re watching boats come in off Como Marina while you eat. The menu leans into that slower pace too — think a proper sit-down brunch like eggs benny on charcoal sourdough or a corn and zucchini fritter, rather than a grab-and-go coffee. If you’re making a day of it, pair breakfast here with a walk along the Georges River foreshore before heading back to the coast.

Sutherland Locals, You’re Practically Next Door

If you’re based in Sutherland itself, you’re only minutes away. Como Marina Bay Cafe has become a regular breakfast stop for Sutherland locals looking for genuine waterfront seating rather than a table facing a car park — a rarer find than you’d think this close to the town centre.

It’s an easy stop before or after a trip to Sutherland station, or a spot to bring the family on a weekend without needing to plan much further than “let’s go to the water.” Parking near the cafe is straightforward, and the all-day menu means you’re not restricted to a breakfast rush — swing by mid-morning for a smashed avo or come later for a lamb shank and it still feels like the right call.

Jannali — Your Closest Waterfront Breakfast Option

Jannali sits right alongside Como, making this one of the closest proper waterfront cafes to home. If your current go-to is a standard high-street cafe, swapping it for a river view a few minutes down the road is an easy upgrade.

Como Marina Bay Cafe suits the kind of relaxed morning Jannali locals are often after — genuinely slow coffee, a table with a view, and no rush to turn it over. It’s also an easy add-on to a walk around Como Pleasure Grounds or the Georges River foreshore path, so if you’re already out with the family, the cafe is a natural place to land afterward rather than a special trip.

Oatley & Hurstville Grove — Cross the River for Something Different

Oatley and Hurstville Grove both sit just across the Georges River from Como. For a change of scenery from the usual Oatley Bay cafes, Como Marina Bay Cafe offers a similar riverside feel with a completely different menu and view — an easy weekend swap.

The crossing over the Como Bridge takes you from one side of the river’s cafe scene to another without a long detour, and the payoff is a quieter, less crowded stretch of waterfront. If you know Oatley Park’s walking tracks, treat this as the equivalent on the Como side — a place to end a walk with a coffee and something to eat, whether that’s a simple toastie or a full sit-down lunch.

Mortdale & Penshurst — A Short Trip for a Proper Sit-Down Brunch

A little further out, Mortdale and Penshurst locals often default to convenience over atmosphere on a weekday, but for a weekend brunch worth the extra few minutes’ drive, Como’s waterfront setting is a genuine change of pace from the busier Hurstville strip nearby.

It’s the kind of trip that works well as a deliberate outing rather than a quick coffee run — plan for a proper sit-down breakfast or lunch, not a five-minute stop. The drive over takes you past Oatley and across the river, and once you’re seated by the water with a coffee in hand, the extra distance from Mortdale or Penshurst tends to feel worth it.

What to Order When You Get Here

Como Marina Bay Cafe sits right on the Georges River in Como — already known as one of the best waterfront breakfast spots in the area — and it’s central to Cronulla, Sutherland, Jannali…

However you’re arriving, the menu is built around fresh, seasonal produce with a stronger seafood breakfast focus than most suburban cafes — plus specialty coffee brewed to order from 7:30am daily. See the full menu here.

Plan Your Visit

We’re at 2A Cremona Rd, Como NSW 2226, open daily 7:30am–3pm. Weekends get busy with visitors from right across the Shire, so booking ahead is worth it if you’re coming as a group. Find directions and contact details on our contact page.