Grand Hotel Kiama

“Great pub lunch”

We had all decided we would like a pub lunch, and that exactly what we got! Steak sandwich, fish pie, steak & fish & chips. The meals were nicely plated & large in size. We all agreed it was an excellent pub lunch! Friendly staff & good selection of drinks.

“So glad we chose the Grand Hotel for lunch during our enjoyable day tour of the South Coast and Southern Highlands.”

Following a national Conference of one of my organisations in Sydney in May 2025, my wife and I had a spare day to do some local sightseeing before returning to hometown Brisbane. We chose to do a South Coast and Southern Highlands tour with Go Beyond Tours which included a visit to Stanwell Tops,… more

Following a national Conference of one of my organisations in Sydney in May 2025, my wife and I had a spare day to do some local sightseeing before returning to hometown Brisbane. We chose to do a South Coast and Southern Highlands tour with Go Beyond Tours which included a visit to Stanwell Tops, a travel along the Sea Cliff Bridge, taking in two outstanding Waterfalls – Carrington and Fitzroy Falls; checking out the Kiama Blowholes and admiring the amazing views from The Lookout Cambewarra Mountain Our lunch spot was at the charming coastal town of Kiama, 151 kilometres south of Sydney and 40 kilometres south of Wollongong. Our tour driver James asked where we wanted to have lunch and on passing the Grand Hotel I indicated ”The Grand Hotel looks a nice historic pub. Let’s give this a go.” And so we had our lunch at the Grand or as it is known these days The New Grand. The Hotel began trading in 1891 and was built in the Victorian Second Empire style, a distinctive architectural style popular at the time. Over its 134 year existence it has undergone a number of renovations and improvements and ownership recently changed hands in 2024. The hotel is steeped in history and is heritage listed. The new owner has grand plans for this Grand Hotel including to see the building restored back to its original with the grand verandah on its frontage. Other plans include a nice restaurant, a traditional pub downstairs and improved accommodation suites upstairs to take advantage of the potential tourist trade. In fact, during our visit in May 2025 we observed a flurry of restoration activity going on, notably in the dining areas. This did not bother us in the slightest as it was nice to see first hand the vision of the new owner being put into good practice. It should look a treat once it is all completed, whenever that may be. The Hotel is located on the corner of Manning and Bong Bong Streets and an endearing feature is its truncated corner essentially separating the frontages on both Streets. The frontages on both streets are symmetrical in design with two door entries off each street. As well as dining options inside, there are several white coloured wooden picnic type tables and benches where patrons can enjoy alfresco dining or drinking. Outside from the corner of the hotel there is a roundabout with an impressive single tall palm tree located there. From the hotel it is only a short walk down Manning Street to get to the very attractive seascapes along Terralong Street including the classic Post Office on the corner and the road to the Blowhole and the Lighthouse. Inside the hotel there are nice features including exposed brick walls, lovely arched hallways and a classic wooden staircase to the upper floor accommodation. We had our lunch in a small cosy private alcove with exposed brick walls with high tables and stools, adjacent to the Bar. The Bar area was very clean and tidy. Now to our lunch choices. My wife decided to have their Highlander beer battered fish and chips and I chose their 300g rump steak with chips and salad, medium rare with Dianne sauce on the side. The meals were very well cooked, tasted great and were well presented. My steak came out medium rare and also my chips came without the extra salt added, as I had asked, so my two requests for my order were complied with. To me that is an essential aspect of any eating place – make sure you get the customer’s order right. Also, and this was a great plus – the steak had no gristle – don’t you just hate it when chefs leave gristle on an expensive piece of steak? Top marks to the chef at the Grand. As lunches go we thoroughly enjoyed our lunch experience. We also noted how friendly the bar staff were during our time here. Our tour driver James also had a meal with us and was impressed as this was his first time taking a meal here. He remarked that the food in his opinion was good enough for him to recommend the Grand Hotel in his options for future passengers when in Kiama. That is high praise indeed. We really enjoyed our brief visit to the town of Kiama and should we return we would look forward to enjoying a drink or a meal or both at the dear old Grand Hotel. Long may it live on!!!!

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