The Best Restaurants in Byron Bay, Australia
Whether you’re refuelling after a day spent in the great outdoors or topping off a relaxed beach day with a meal out, Byron Bay’s thriving restaurant scene has plenty to offer. We’ve asked our local insiders for their favourites.
White Wolf Bistro and Bar
Bistro, Bar, Australian, Italian
Aussie meets Italian at this well-placed bistro, right in the middle of busy Jonson Street. Come for the super-fresh seafood, prepared and flavoured to perfection – oysters, calamari, garlic king prawns and salmon with beautifully crispy skin all feature – though if you’re not big on fish, there’s also a tempting range of fresh Italian pasta dishes. Whichever option you choose to explore, make sure to round it off with the establishment’s locally famous orange crème brûlée – it’s a must-try. Recommended by local insider Amy Blyth
Harvest Newrybar
Restaurant, Australian
If you’re looking for a place to celebrate a special occasion, fine-dining establishment Harvest Newrybar ticks all the boxes. Set in a beautiful Queenslander-style house with views out over the restaurant’s own vegetable garden, it’s the perfect setting for an extended lunch or long dinner. Menu-wise, there’s an interesting focus on seasonal local produce with unusual native ingredients, with the establishment’s 118-year-old wood-fired oven as a central inspiration for simplicity and smokey flavours. Wine aficionados will be taken with Harvest Newrybar’s intriguing selection of minimal-intervention wine. Recommended by local insider Sarah Reid
No Bones
Restaurant, Vegan
Burgers. Calamari. Fresh, creamy pasta dishes…all vegan. No, it’s not too good to be true – head to No Bones to see just how tasty these plant-based dishes can be. One of the newest and trendiest restaurants on the Byron Bay scene, No Bones has been wowing lifelong veggies and (previously) hardcore carnivores alike. You won’t miss the meat, and you will absolutely fall for their range of desserts, whether that’s the churros with an impossibly rich chocolate dipping sauce or one of their classic alcoholic desserts – try the affogato with vegan ice cream, espresso and your choice of liquor. Recommended by local insider Amy Blyth
Bang Bang
Restaurant, Asian, Fusion
Bang Bang’s menu of Thai fusion dishes is amongst the best Asian food you will find in Byron Bay. Here, you’ll find classics like pad thai, Bangkok fried rice and massaman curry, and if you visit with a larger group, you’ll be able to order a host of smaller dishes for the table, tapas-style, including prawn toast, Korean fried chicken and salt-and-pepper tofu. Alongside the food, Bang Bang offers an inventive cocktail menu that’s difficult to resist – we’re sure you’ll end up sampling at least one Harvest Moon (lemongrass and kaffir lime leaf-infused Bombay Sapphire gin, elderflower, watermelon, lemon and pineapple) during your meal. Recommended by local insider Amy Blyth
Three Blue Ducks
Cafe, Restaurant, Australian
Three Blue Ducks is the Farm Complex’s on-site restaurant. As you might expect, there’s a huge emphasis on homegrown produce and ethically sourced ingredients, and an overall farm-to-table ethos. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all on offer as dine-in options (there’s a spacious covered outdoor seating area for al-fresco dining), or you can opt for a house-made picnic hamper and take your food to go as you explore the picturesque 80-acre (32ha) working farm. Recommended by local insider Sarah Reid
Il Buco
Cafe, Restaurant, Italian
Il Buco keeps it low-key. It’s a small, casual type of place with a handful of tables, a BYO alcohol policy (there’s a bottle shop around the corner) and no bookings – just pop in and put your name on the waiting list. It’s almost as if this Italian-run restaurant knows that it does some of the most authentic wood-fired pizzas you’ll find outside of Italy, and that it doesn’t need any fancy gimmicks to draw people in – the smell of a hot pizza oven and the taste of tomato, toppings and melted cheese on Neapolitan dough is enough. They are right, and you should grab a few cans of your favourite beer or a bottle of your go-to red, and head here as soon as those pizza cravings hit. Recommended by local insider Sarah Reid