Let’s be honest, one of the most exciting things about finally booking that much-needed coastal holiday is discovering all the culinary options – and amazing venues and dishes – that will soon be coming your way.
If you have recently booked a trip to Byron Bay, we can tell you now, you won’t be disappointed on the restaurant front.
New South Wales’ north coast has been busy establishing itself as something of a foodie heaven as it’s nestled between emerald pastures and the glittering blue ocean. Not only is there a bounty of fresh local produce available, but the region has also attracted a wealth of cooking talent with top chefs eager to trade the big smoke in for a sea change.
There are so many great options now available that finding where to eat can be overwhelming at times. So, to help you find the most amazing places to eat in Byron Bay, we thought we’d compile a list of the best restaurants in Byron Bay.
Fair warning though, reading this on an empty stomach is ill advised.
FEATURED
bonito
If you’re looking for some of the best food in Byron Bay then Bonito, which is housed very close to home in Hotel Marvell, answers the call with flair. The restaurant is one of the newest additions to Byron’s food scene and is sure to take guests on a culinary journey through its expertly assembled menu.
Here, you can expect flavour-packed seafood-forward dishes and plenty of plant-based options. Need more convincing, with share plates like K’gari Fraser Island spanner crab with creme fraiche, petuna trout roe and chives and/or dried aged whole fish with chilli tomato salsa and asian herbs on offer, this menu is sure to satisfy the most discerning of diners.
To sweeten the deal, Bonito is now open for breakfast every day from 8am – 11am, with a thoughtfully curated menu of your breakfast favourites, as well as some fresh takes on classics – we recommend the Bánh Xèo Vietnamese Crepes!
If you’re more of a lunch person, then Bonito is open from 12pm to 3pm on the weekend to help satisfy your stomach before a pleasant afternoon of strolling the shores of Byron Bay. And when the sun sets, remember you can enjoy dinner at Bonito 7 nights a week.
Lastly, don’t miss out on the launched Laneway Sundays, a place where you can take in the ambience of Byron Bay’s coastal town serenity with live music vibes and some cheap drinks, including $7 tap beers and $16 margaritas.
Address: 4 Marvell St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Friday from 8 – 11am and 3 – 9pm and Saturday – Sunday from 8 – 11am and 12 – 9pm
Call (02) 6685 7385 or head to https://hotelmarvell.com.au/restaurant/to book online.
2: Ciao, Mate
Image courtesy of Byron Magazine
This one-hatted gem, that has chef Matt Stone at the helm, has bewitched locals and tourists alike as is quickly becoming one of the best places to eat in Byron Bay. That is due in large part to its ever-changing Italian-inspired menu that showcases only the very best local produce. What the small diner lacks in size it makes up for in flavour, offering half a dozen wood-fired pizzas, a pasta or two of the day, alongside other tasty morsels. It’s just what you need to satiate a grumbling stomach after a day spent adventuring.
Address: 33 Byron St, Bangalow NSW 2479
Hours: Monday – Wednesday from 5 – 10pm and Thursday – Saturday from 5 – 11pm
3: Light Years
Image courtesy of The Weekend Edition
If you’ve got a hankering for modern Asian cuisine and love an inventive cocktail list then you’ll want to visit Light Years as soon as you can. Here you can dine on dishes such as five-spice roasted duck pancakes, and mud crab, prawn and scallop dumplings and/or firecracker chicken, in a delightful retro setting. Here the food is meant to be fun and the vibe is carefree and light-hearted. We have to make mention to the fact the venue also happens to boast a killer playlist. This is the perfect spot for those that like their dining laid-back – and delicious of course.
Address: 139 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Sunday from 12 – 11pm
4: The Smoking Camel
The Smoking Camel is brought to you by the team behind Light Years – and showcases another flavour-packed cuisine; delicious fire-licked Middle Eastern dishes. The restaurant draws heavily on traditional Levantine cuisine by combining fast-moving flavours from Lebanon, Turkey, Israel and beyond. The venue is drenched in colour, which compliments the bold dishes on offer.
Address: 17 Lawson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Thursday from 5 – 10pm, Friday – Saturday from 5 – 11pm and Sunday 5 – 10pm
5: Bar Heather
Image courtesy of Andy Macpherson
When a pair of former sommeliers band together and open their own bar you know you’re in for a treat and Bar Heather is that, and then some. James Audas and Tom Sheer have managed to create a venue with a seasonal menu as perfectly balanced as the wines it serves up. Trust us on this, you will want to make a booking in advance for this one as it’s creating waves in the food scene.
Address: G9 Jonson Lane, 139 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday from 5pm – 12am
6: Beach
Beach is one of Byron’s only beachfront restaurants, so if dinner with a view is what you’re after then this spot is for you. Set on the waterfront overlooking Clarkes Beach, the restaurant offers a modern Australian experience that celebrates the best seasonal and regional produce from the local Northern Rivers community. It is certainly our pick for one of the most romantic venues in Byron Bay. The Kiosk also offers a more casual dining experience for those who want to soak up the view by day.
Address: 2 Massinger St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday from 7am – 8:30 pm, Tuesday – Wednesday from 7pm – 2:30pm, and Thursday to Sunday from 7am – 8:30 pm
7: Ember
Ember is the go-to Byron Bay restaurant for anyone who loves their steaks. As Byron’s premier steakhouse, only the very best Northern Rivers produce is showcased in this ambient, opulent venue. The secret to Ember’s distinct charcoal flavouring is its Josper Charcoal Grill, imported from Spain, which sizzles away at 400 degrees. Vegetarians and vegans are welcome here, as a range of plant-based dishes are also on offer.
Address: 108-114 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Tuesday – Wednesday from 5pm – 10pm, Thursday 5 – 11pm, Friday – Saturday from 12 – 11pm and Sunday 5pm – 10pm
8: The Hut
The Hut is a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant set amongst the old school grounds of the O’Possum Creek Schoolhouse, which is roughly a 16 minute drive from Byron itself in the rolling hills. Every Thursday morning, the head chef and his team create the menu for each weekend, drawing on fresh produce and simple, elegant flavours. With dishes designed to share the venue is all about celebrating the pleasures of eating together.
Address: 471 Friday Hut Rd, Possum Creek NSW 2479
Hours: Thursday – Sunday from 12 – 6pm
9: Frida’s Field
Just a stone’s throw away from Byron Bay rests Frida’s Field, nestled in the cosy town of Nashua. This little farm-to-table gem, whose namesake pays tribute to a beloved family pig, is a testament to sustainable and restorative farming. Edward and Jeanie Rawlings, the proud proprietors of this small-scale cattle property have been applying regenerative farming principles since 2014. Frida’s Field serves up the freshest of regional produce– from vegetables reaped straight from their gardens, to beef slow-roasted over glowing charcoal. Guests can savour regional wines and locally brewed beers. Seasonal distributes include farm-grown, handpicked veggies and beef, smoked snapper, brown-buttered white-bean hummus, whole-roasted heritage chicken and more. Testament to all things fresh, local and sustainable, this Nashua-based haunt truly is a culinary experience to add to anyone’s Byron Bay itinerary.
Address: 76 Booyong Rd, Nashua NSW 2479
Hours: Friday – Sunday 12 – 4pm
10: Karkalla
Karkalla is the passion project of Mindy Woods, proud Bundjalung woman of the Widjabul Wia-bul clan and a MasterChef alum. The restaurant is known for its native-inspired dinners and showcases locally-sourced, seasonal produce, and of course, indigenous ingredients. Indeed the restaurant is named after a succulent commonly found around the Australian coastline. The dining experience here is relaxed, warm and generous.
Address: 10/8 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday from 5 – 8 pm, Thursday to Saturday from 5 – 9 pm and Sunday from 5 – 8pm
11: Barrio
Barrio is the perfect restaurant if you are after some fine Spanish-inspired dining, but in a relaxed atmosphere. Located in Byron’s Habitat district it’s run by Daniela Maiorano, a fourth-generation chef from Abruzzo, Italy. She loves cooking and meeting growers, and has a simple philosophy about food; she’s got a passion for experimenting with new dishes, but it must be “authentic”.
Address: Industrial Estate, 1 Porter St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Wednesday from 7am – 3pm, Thursday to Saturday from 7am – 10 pm
12: Loft
Who doesn’t love a cocktail bar and restaurant that’s seamlessly rolled into one? Loft does all that but it also has the bonus of framing the sun-soaked views of Byron Bay’s famous Main Beach with its gorgeous light-filled, wooden interiors. It has an inventive list of shared plates that perfectly match its breezy ocean setting; think oysters, Japanese chicken sliders and creamy burrata paired with sweet and sour eggplant. Our mouth is watering right now.
Address: 9/4 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Saturday from 4pm – 12am, and Sunday from 4 – 11 pm
13: Harvest Newrybar
Before we introduce you to Harvest Newrybar we will start with a warning; you need to ensure you’ve left enough time to explore this sprawling food and hospitality precinct, which is about 15 minutes from Byron. It has a bakery, deli, lush gardens, as well as a restaurant that showcases the Northern Rivers’ exceptional local produce. It’s a must-visit destination in its own right, and hours can be spent exploring the grounds. Best of all, Thursdays to Saturdays the restaurant is also open for dinner! So you can experience their inventive, exciting, spontaneous dishes – like the harvest garden spaghetti with salumi, goats curd and pistachio – as the sun dips below the hills. Sounds heavenly right? It’s a popular spot so make sure you book ahead.
Address: Village 18/22 Old Pacific Hwy, Newrybar NSW 2479
Hours: Monday from 12 – 12:30 pm, Wednesday 12 – 12:30 pm, Thursday to Saturday 12 – 12:30 pm and 5:30 – 8:30 pm, Sunday from 12 – 12:30 pm
14: Pixie Food and Wine
This stunning food and wine bar is also brought to you by the team behind Light Years and was created to celebrate food, wine, music and the most crucial of elements – good company. If you are after a leisurely long lunch or an intimate dinner, then you are more than welcome at Pixie. The food here draws from Italian coastal flavours and is fresh and inventive. One of our all-time favourite dishes is their barbequed diavola chicken with fermented chilli and bullhorne pepper sugo. We still occasionally dream about it.
Address: 139 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Thursday from 5 – 11pm, Friday – Saturday 12 – 11pm and Sunday 12 – 10pm
15: Bang Bang
If you want a south-east Asian feast in a fun setting where cocktails flow a’plenty hit up Bang Bang, which is conveniently located at the centre of Byron. In this vibrant and exciting setting, diners can feast on bold fusion dishes under crystal chandeliers and lush indoor plants. It’s like a holiday within a holiday! A local tip, their sticky pork belly and barbequed cauliflower are to die for – but make sure you secure your spot online as it is very popular.
Address: 4/1 Byron St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Friday from 5 – 11pm, Saturday 12 – 11pm and Sunday 12 – 10pm
16: The Mez Club
This Mediterranean cantina is big on flavour and fun. The delectable sharing menu takes its guests on a journey around the Mediterranean Sea, with dishes inspired by flavours from Morocco, the south of France, Italy and Spain. The Mez Club has become known for its beautiful Moroccan and Greek architecture and styling; it is the perfect spot to unwind after a long day spent on the beach soaking up the glorious sun.
Address: 4/85-87 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Thursday from 4 – 11pm, Friday – Saturday 12:30pm – 12am and Sunday 12:30pm – 11pm
17: Trattoria Basiloco
This family-owned and operated restaurant serves up a masterclass in Italian cuisine and is where good food and family values come together in a laid-back setting. Sometimes it’s simplicity that cuts through the most and at Trattoria Basiloco, guests can sit back with a delicious wine and choose from woodfire pizzas – which are cooked to golden perfection – or inventive homemade pasta and antipasti. Like many Byron Bay venues, this trattoria also caters for vegans and vegetarians – indeed, their pumpkin risotto is something special.
Address: 30 Lawson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Saturday from 5:30 – 9pm
18: Moonlight
Image courtesy of Hospitality Magazine
Moonlight is yet another A-plus venue brought to you by the creative team behind Light Years, but this stylish wine bar instead pays homage to one of Japan’s oldest cooking methods; the hibachi grill. Moonlight’s thoughtfully produced menu showcases flavours from classical Japanese cuisine, which have been reinterpreted into modern and punchy dishes such as their octopus with spicy XO sauce or salt-baked kohlrabi with caramelised tofu cream. What’s more, all of the wines featured are biodynamic and chosen according to the luna cycle – and they have a great selection of sake too. Great food and drinks aside, this almost all-black venue is worth visiting for a lesson in interior styling alone.
Address: Bay Ln, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Saturday from 5 – 10 pm and Sunday 5 – 9 pm
19: The Balcony Bar and Oyster Co
Perched above the hustle and bustle of Byron’s busy Lawson Street, a stone’s throw from the legendary Main Beach, is Balcony Bar and Osyter Co. This is one of our favourite lunch spots because its laidback vibe means you’re more than welcome to feast here after a salty dip in the ocean. Here, they have a wide selection of share plates to satisfy cravings. Local, fresh produce takes centre stage here, from dishes such as Byron Bay Stracciatella with balsamic pickled figs and Almonds, to heartier meals like chicken saltimbocca, there’s something for everyone.
Address: 7/3 Lawson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Hours: Monday – Thursday from 12 – 11pm, Friday – Saturday from 12 – 11:30 pm and Sunday 12 – 11pm
20: Shelter Lennox
Shelter in Lennox Heads is a beloved full-service diner, about a 20 minute drive from Byron’s center. Set in a humble black shack that overlooks the ocean, its food – and element swept view – is anything but. Shelter’s team endeavours to only use ethical, sustainable products sourced from local producers. The result? Only the freshest produce is used in their seasonal menu, which showcases bold and inventive dishes. Although their menu changes with the seasons, one of our standouts is their spiced pork fillet, with peanut, chilli, carrot, and leeks. If you’re craving a visit make sure you book ahead, and please note, they are only open for dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.
Address: 41 Pacific Parade, Lennox Head NSW 2478
Hours: Monday – Thursday from 7am – 2pm, Friday – Saturday from 7am – 10pm and Sunday 7am – 3pm
And so, with stomachs a-grumblin’ and dreams of the next meal ahead, we come to the end of our list.
As always these are just meant to be taken as suggestions, we think half the fun of going on holiday is when you stumble upon a restaurant that changes your world with their delectable dishes. And with Byron Bay’s bustling food scene and stellar produce, trust us, the odds of that happening are definitely in your favour!
If you’ve been mulling over whether you should book that holiday, explore a stay at Byron Bay’s best luxury accommodation – Hotel Marvell.
