Clovelly and Maroubra are better known for relaxed dining, cheap eats, takeaways and cafes — in contrast to Coogee’s broader range of fine diners and wine bars. It’s a fair enough observation, but for locals, that laid-back dining culture is precisely the point. Clovelly’s cafes and eateries aren’t trying to compete with the flashier end of the food scene. They’re doing something arguably more valuable: feeding the neighbourhood, morning after morning, with quality and care.
Here’s a look at two spots that have quietly built loyal followings on Clovelly Road.
Tuga Pastries
Tuga Pastries sits on Clovelly Road, and if you didn’t know to look for it, you might walk straight past the narrow shopfront — that is, if the smell of freshly baked pastries didn’t catch you first. The heart of the operation is the pastel de nata, the Portuguese custard tart that has developed a devoted following well beyond the suburb. Owner and head baker Diogo Ferreira is the son of Agostinho and Lucia Ferreira, who are among the first people to have brought Portuguese tarts to Australia. The family moved from Lisbon and began selling the tarts at a Petersham bakery in 1992, before opening their own venue, Fleur de Lys, in Bondi in 1994.
The recipe for the tarts has been passed down from Diogo’s father, and Diogo spent months perfecting the Portuguese treat. Beyond the signature tart, the menu includes almond croissants, a coconut brioche known as Pão de Deus, a hazelnut and almond tart, and Portuguese-style doughnuts filled with jam, custard or Nutella.
The Clovelly location is open Monday to Thursday from 7am to 2pm, and Friday to Sunday from 7am to 3pm. There is also an Alexandria outpost.
231 Clovelly Road, Clovelly
Village on Cloey
Village on Cloey is a Portuguese cafe in Clovelly where co-owner Diogo Ferreira and his mother Lucia make Portuguese tarts daily by hand, using a recipe from Diogo’s late father, who brought it with him from Portugal in the 1980s. The cafe has its own story of community roots: Ferreira joined forces with a long-time friend and a former Flying Fish chef to open Village on Cloey in January 2016, when the restaurant below his apartment became vacant. The space was stripped back to expose the concrete ceiling, giving it a raw and natural feel.
The venue sits at the intersection of Clovelly Road, Mount Street and Fern Street — a busy little corner that also holds a post office, a bank and the local bottle shop. Village on Cloey holds its own in good company.
(Note: Village on Cloey and Tuga Pastries share family roots but are separate businesses.)
Published 16-June-2026
