Award-winning Paparazzi restaurant to close after 24 Years
Images: Paparazzi Cafe/Ristorante
A beloved fixture of Mandurah's dining scene is serving its final courses, with award-winning Italian restaurant Paparazzi confirming it will close its doors on 31 March after more than two decades of feeding the local community.
Founded by the Messineo family over 24 years ago, the venue earned a devoted following for its warmly authentic Italian cooking under head chef and owner Damien Messineo — racking up numerous accolades over the years, including a coveted gold plate award. Regulars will remember it fondly for an interior that felt less like a restaurant and more like a seat at nonna's kitchen table.
The closure announcement, shared via social media over the weekend, drew an immediate and emotional response from the community — more than 500 reactions and 180 comments by Monday morning alone.
"To our valued customers, friends, family and staff members past and present. The time has finally come upon us that Paparazzi Restaurant will close. Effective 31st March," the post read.
"It wasn't an easy decision; however, we are relieved and optimistic about the future ahead. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone over the many years for your wonderful support. It has been a wonderful journey over the last 24 years with many highs and lows. Please feel free to post any memories or pictures from over the years. Thank you."
Not all responses were kind. One commenter posted, "Parents build, kids sell" — prompting a measured but firm reply from Messineo himself, who was quick to defend his family's legacy.
"We have been a family run restaurant since day dot, meaning my mum, dad, myself, brother and sister worked tirelessly to build this restaurant," he wrote. "You ask anyone, and they will tell you. Anyone who works in hospitality will know it takes a full commitment not only from the people who own the restaurant but all the staff who have worked here.
"To make this comment is insulting to all of us. We have sold because the family decided — not the kids as you put it. On behalf of my family and staff, if we could continue to run Paparazzi we would for another 24 years. Thank you."
Fresh data from CreditorWatch released in February revealed that more than 10 per cent of Australia's cafés and restaurants shut up shop throughout 2025 — a figure that Australian Restaurant and Café Association chief executive Wes Lambert says points to something far more serious than a temporary rough patch.
"This is not cyclical. This is policy-driven pressure layered on top of weak consumer confidence," Lambert said. "Cafés and restaurants operate on razor-thin margins.
When you combine rising wages, inflexible industrial settings, higher rents, escalating food costs and a tax system that punishes growth, something has to give. Right now, it's businesses."
Consumer sentiment is adding further strain, with approximately three in ten Australians indicating they intend to pull back on restaurant dining, takeaway, coffee runs and social drinking in the period ahead.
Jonathan Jackson, 10th March 2026
