Spring on the streets: council backs alfresco dining - Randwick City Council

On a spring day, what's better than going for an alfresco lunch with friends, bathing in the sunshine while you eat? Outdoor dining adds something essential to any meal, letting you soak up both the weather and the hustle and bustle that makes Randwick City the exciting place to live that it is.

But alfresco dining is more than just a delight for diners. It's also real boost to business owners, as well as a way of making our streets livelier and more inviting.

That's why Council is helping businesses expand their dining options onto the footpath via a successful alfresco program that empowers local cafes and restaurants - without disrupting pedestrian traffic.

Sharing our streets

The alfresco program began a few short years ago. Very quickly, it was adopted by a range of businesses, including the Coastal Brasserie café in Malabar, Dolci Fiori in Randwick, and Spaghetteria on the corner of Clovelly and St Marks roads. Now businesses of all types, across the whole of Randwick City, have taken up the program , including Maybe Frank at the Spot, Bohaus at Coogee and Tuga x Village at Clovelly

The benefits of the program have been immediate and significant. Alfresco dining makes local businesses much more visible, drawing new customers and foot traffic, with passing pedestrians getting the option to snoop on the grub up for offer. It also allows bigger groups, meaning businesses that might be space-poor can seat more customers than they would usually.

Then there's the impact on the broader community. The streets of Randwick City belong to all of us, and injecting more life and vibrancy into them is a way of making them feel truly communal.

"By working with businesses to turn footpaths and roads into vibrant gathering places, we are creating more opportunities for community members to connect, relax and enjoy our City," Mayor Dylan Parker said when the project was first launched.

Eligibility and management

The program has been carefully designed to give more options for businesses without restricting the flow of foot traffic or generally disrupting our streets. To that end, when a business applies for the program, Council first ensures that they already have an occupation of footway agreement in place, and that the proposed road space is eligible for dining.

Businesses can only place furniture in spaces that Council has pre-approved. While a group of neighbouring businesses can submit a joint application, Council assesses each proposal for its impact on the surrounding area, particularly any loss of parking. Council approves each on-road activation for up to 12 months, with the option to renew.

Once approval has been granted, the alfresco transformation happens quickly and fluidly. Spaghetteria director Stefano Sepe said that within a day, council had dropped off the bollards that marked the outskirts of the alfresco area. "I've been getting a lot of good feedback from people who live around the area," Sepe said at the time. "It has given us greater visibility."

The wider initiative

The alfresco program is part of a range of initiatives developed by Council to assist with the local economy and boost foot traffic. There's the beloved street parties in The Spot and Coogee , Spot On and Coogee Nights. These events open the roadway to people, music, games, and a chill zone.

This year, there was even a Coogee Winter Nights event, in which the streets hosted DJs, film screenings, and themed face paint rovers.

Together, such initiatives encourage us to buy locally, transform our streets, and makes Randwick City the envy of the surrounding suburbs. After all, our city is made by the businesses, people and events within it. Without them, it's just an assemblage of roads and buildings.

So, if you're a business owner interested in expanding your dining space, complete the EOI form available on our website, or contact Council's Economic Development Team on 9093 6000 or via [email protected].

Last Updated: 7 October 2026