The Best Restaurants and Cafés in Port Macquarie, New South Wales

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Top among locals for breakfast and brunch, Social Ground’s coffee is cracking and its meals are hearty. Welcoming staff ensure you’re taken care of, and it’s dog friendly, too. With a fresh herb garden at hand, planted up in a vintage metal tub, the care that goes into every dish is visible. Tired carousers can shake off the night before with one of their famed virgin marys.

Bill’s is a Port Macquarie institution. The impeccable menu focusses on fresh seafood – locally sourced and sustainably caught, of course. The relaxed dining atmosphere is casual and modern. To one side sits a well-stocked bar and, at the back, an open kitchen. The green roof overhead overflows with plants, while outside seating is also available. Ask what’s on the board that day – everything is super-fresh.

Known for its fast service and out-of-this-world bacon, this low-key café has been a standout in the area for years. The focus is on fresh ingredients from regional producers; the modern Australian food produced here isn’t fussy, but it is flavoursome. The staff are especially proud of their Tinder Creek duck. The restaurant’s location, with a view over the Hastings River, adds to its charm.

The Stunned Mullet is the top choice for a special occasion. Here, eye-catching modern Australian dishes, created from local and fresh ingredients, are served in an exquisitely chic setting. From your table, enjoy views of Town Beach stretching all the way to Point Plomer. Book a seat by the window for views unobstructed by other diners.