Two cuisines walk into a bar. Normally that’s the start of a bad joke. In Cronulla, it’s the start of a very good Saturday.
Retro Cronulla is the Shire’s newest restaurant and bar, and it has committed fully to the bit: Mexican on one side, Italian on the other, tequila running straight through the middle like a very well-dressed referee.
The Man Behind the Mash-Up
Meet Gerry Macip. Born in Mexico City, landed in Australia in the 90s, and has since racked up nine venues, including Calaveras and Enmore’s Run Dos Run, which got a nod as one of Australia’s Top 10 Tequila Bars in 2025. He and his wife Harriet are both Shire locals, so this isn’t a parachute job. It’s a homecoming with a well-stocked back bar.
Gerry’s heart is Mexican. His weakness is Italian food. Rather than pick a side, he simply refused to, and honestly, we respect the audacity.
“When opening Retro, our first concept was the bar,” he says. The goal? The biggest range of tequilas and mezcals in The Shire. Modest.
The Food: A Cultural Exchange Program
Two distinct menus, one roof, zero identity crisis.
The Mexican side is where things get gloriously messy. The Quesabirria Tacos are the headline act: slow-cooked beef tucked into crisp, cheesy tortillas, served with a birria consommé made with imported Mexican chillies. Yes, you dunk. Yes, it’s a lot. Yes, you’ll do it again. Also on the lineup: Corn Ribs with chipotle mayo, parmesan and parsley (hello, fusion), Taquitos with pulled chicken, ranchera, pico and grated ricotta, and guac with chilli-salted chips.
The Italian side brings the carbs with credentials. The Neapolitan-style pizzas were developed with Italian chef Alberto Facci, using 48-hour fermented Biga dough and cooked in a custom red MAMforni rotating oven, imported from Italy and built onsite. Go classic with a Margherita or Diavola, or go full rogue with the Tequila BBQ Chicken, which is exactly the kind of cross-cultural diplomacy we’re here for.
Notice the crossovers? Parmesan on the corn. Ricotta on the taquitos. Tequila on the pizza. Nobody asked for a border, and Retro didn’t build one.
The Drinks: Where Things Get Cheeky
The agave collection is the main event, but the cocktails are having fun too:
- Spicy Mango: tequila, agave, lime, fresh mango, mango gelato and a dash of habanero. Sweet, cold, then a little bit rude.
- Messina Espresso Martini: made with Messina dulce de leche, because Sydney’s dessert obsession deserves a drink.
- Apple Pie: a playful spin on the apple-tini with a Fireball twist. Nostalgic and slightly unhinged.
The Vibe
Retro seats 150 across an indoor dining room and two balconies, and its personality shifts as the week does. Early on, it’s relaxed and family-friendly. By Friday, it’s got a plan. Come night, the DJs are on, the cocktails are flowing and the place properly wakes up.
Come weekend lunch, Retro is slining a a 90-minute bottomless food and drinks session for $99 per person.
Bring the kids on Sundays: those aged 12 and under eat free. There’s also lift and ramp access, so everyone’s invited to the party.
The Verdict: Mexican at heart, Italian by influence, tequila-led at the bar. Retro Cronulla is proof that you don’t have to choose between a taco and a pizza. You just need a big enough table.
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