Sydney's favourite local bodegas

The first place locals stop at after exiting the buses in North Bondi is Nio and Tony’s, as do thankful tourists seeking a bottle of water or a box of bandaids for that pesky blister. This local grocer is where those lucky enough to live at the top of Campbell Parade, with endless views over Bondi Beach, have gone to shop for more than 40 years. Trays of organic produce are stacked out front and everything from cat food to quinoa lines the packed shelves inside. Go for a punnet of berries and leave after a nice natter with one of the family members working the till or rearranging the fruit out front. It’s relaxed and family focused, just like North Bondi.  

The kind Nepalese owner of New Shalimar is happy to help you navigate the wares of this subcontinent-focused shop, as this isn’t your run-of-the-mill corner store. The back room is fragrant with spices and shelves bristle under the weight of sacks of lentils and basmati rice. Authentic, ready-made saag paneer and dal tadka sit next to jars of pickle, sesame bars and bombay mix. DVDs, SIM cards, candles, incense and other non-comestibles bulk out the offering. The chest freezer full of parantha, roti and naan is hard to pass up and it sits next to shelves of personal care products familiar to any Indian expat. If you’re lucky, he’ll have pan on hand too, the perfect post-meal digestive aid. It’s the inner city’s best-stocked Indian corner store.