Our coastal Italian restaurant, made for connection.
In the heart of Cronulla, just a short walk from the ocean, Pino’s al Mare brings a touch of Italy to the coast. The dining room is framed by olive trees and terracotta that glows with the light. There’s a wine cellar for intimate moments and a cocktail bar that hums from afternoon spritzes to late-night negronis. It’s lively, it’s local, and it always feels like home.
Because the best moments in life are shared, preferably over great food & wine.
At Pino’s Vino e Cucina al mare, we’re a family-owned Italian restaurant that believes good food brings people together.
Our pasta and focaccia are handmade fresh every day, with recipes rooted in tradition and crafted with care. We’re not fine dining, just passionate about honest food, great wine, and creating moments filled with connection, laughter, and genuine Italian warmth.
Ci vediamo a tavola.
The Story
Pino's is much more than the name of our restaurant. It's a tribute to my father, Giuseppe, affectionately known by everyone as Pino.
Growing up in Rome, my father worked tirelessly to provide for our family while my mum filled our home with incredible food. Every Sunday, Dad would wake up early to visit the fish market, returning home with the freshest seafood for our family lunch. Those long afternoons around the table, full of conversation, laughter and beautiful food, are some of my happiest memories.
They taught me that hospitality isn't just about cooking. It's about bringing people together.
When I moved to Australia, I left my family behind but never left those traditions. Naming my first restaurant Pino's was my way of bringing a piece of home with me. It wasn't about creating a brand. It was about honouring my father and everything he taught me about hard work, generosity and caring for others through food.
Today, Pino's Vino e Cucina al Mare continues that story here in Cronulla.
Every decision we make is guided by the same values I grew up with: respect exceptional ingredients, never compromise on quality, and treat every guest like family.
My hope is that when you walk through our doors, you experience a little of what Sunday lunch felt like growing up in our home.
A table full of beautiful food, genuine hospitality and the feeling that, even for a few hours, you're part of the family.
The Journey To Cronulla Beach…
When people ask about "The Original Pino's", they're really asking where the journey began.
Pino's first opened in Alexandria in 2016 with one simple goal: to recreate the feeling of home. Having moved to Australia from Rome, I missed much more than Italian food. I missed long Sunday lunches, fresh pasta made by hand, seafood bought that morning, and the way family always gathered around one table.
That philosophy became the foundation of Pino's. Honest Italian food, made with care, exceptional ingredients and genuine hospitality.
After almost nine wonderful years, our family entered a new chapter.
When my wife Nerina and I welcomed our daughter Aurora, we made the decision to move to Cronulla so our children could grow up surrounded by family and the lifestyle we wanted for them. Soon after, the opportunity came to bring Pino's to the Shire. It felt like the perfect fit.
Today, Pino's Vino e Cucina al Mare reflects both where we've come from and where we now call home. "Al Mare", meaning "by the sea", celebrates our new home in Cronulla while staying true to everything that made the original Pino's so special.
The recipes are the same. The values are the same. The hospitality is the same. The only thing that's changed is the view.
Photography by Fly Candy
Meet Our Chef
Cristiano Patacca is not just an exceptionally talented chef but also a dear friend. Cristiano and I met when we first arrived in Australia, and when I decided to embark on this incredible journey, there was no one else I wanted to lead Pino's kitchen.
We have been through thick and thin together, and it warms my heart to see how far we have come in pursuing our shared dream of creating a remarkable hospitality experience in Australia.
Born in Tuscany and classically trained through Italy, London and Sydney, Cristiano blends tradition with creativity, shaping simple, honest ingredients into dishes that feel both familiar and new.
Every plate reflects the food we both grew up loving — seasonal ingredients, handmade pasta and dishes full of heart.