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

Port Macquarie, NSW, has a number of first-rate restaurants
Port Macquarie, NSW, has a number of first-rate restaurants | © Paul Lovelace / Alamy Stock Photo
Ivy Carruth

More than a town of friendly folks and coastal breezes, Port Macquarie, in Australia, offers an impressive array of dining options. Nothing is too stuffy, but don’t be fooled: the food is first-rate. With the inviting South Pacific on its doorstep, Port boasts a rich tradition in seafood, while its outdoors lifestyle lends itself to locally sourced, fresh ingredients. Here are some of the best restaurants in Port Macquarie.

Did you know – Culture Trip now does bookable, small-group trips? Pick from authentic, immersive Epic Trips, compact and action-packed Mini Trips and sparkling, expansive Sailing Trips.

Social Grounds Café

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.

The Corner Restaurant

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

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.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

Culture Trip Spring Sale

Save up to $1,100 on our unique small-group trips! Limited spots.

X
close-ad
Edit article