Authentic antipasti, Italian­style pizza, homemade pasta, best enjoyed with a glass of fine Italian or domestic Australian wine. These are just some of the ways to enjoy the sweet life at La Repubblica, a Mosman Italian restaurant that is matchless in terms of location, location, location. Found along The Balmoral Beach Esplanade, across the road from the rotunda and Rocky Point, La Repubblica serves proper Italian espresso and gelato to sandy bathers just as well as they serve couples and families in their Sunday best, out for a fine Italian dining experience in Sydney’s north shore.

La Repubblica’s well­patronised kiosk along Mosman’s The Esplanade opens early every day (and we mean early, from 6:30am for Balmoral Beach’s dawn­swimming types), offering freshly roasted coffee, juice and smoothies alongside a mix of European and Italian breakfast classics like toasted pane di casa or spicy Sicilian-style eggs. Lunch ratchets up La Repubbilca’s offering into more gourmet pastures, again with a strong focus on Italian cuisine, but with enough Mediterranean variety to keep all comers happy. Monday through Thursday, this Sydney Italian restaurant offers great deals on choices from their lunchtime menu. Dinner is served in the evenings, from Wednesday to Saturday only (be sure to book for these popular, restricted sittings) and consists of superlative, classically structured Italian dishes, from starters, pasta and risotto, through to simple and succulent meat and fish dishes, Neapolitan pizza, and delectable dolci.