Byron Bay has a wide variety of both casual and upscale restaurants, breweries and cafes and their array of establishments within the area serve local and fresh produce. Known for their cafes, breweries and restaurants Byron Bay is where hippy vibes meet trendy energy and carry that chilled out charm to their many cafes and restaurants.
BREKKIE
Suffolk Bakery
Although this is definitely a breakfast establishment, we often would come to this 24 hour bakery after our nights out. This bakery has some of the best baked goods that they serve at all hours of the day. If youre coming in before a morning jog on the beach, head there early as the lines can get pretty long.
Three Blue Ducks
A little different from Byron's beaches, this working farm offers guided tours of their property where you can see the process it takes for them to grow, feed and educate their staff. The Farm offers amazing breakfasts where the food is actually brought directly from the farm to your table! The environment is peaceful and calming and is perfect if you want to eat somewhere different. The restaurant is nestled inside the barn doors that also holds a bar, bakery and local produce store and opens out to rolling views of farmland.
Recommendation: Crispy Pulled Pork, Chilli Jam, Appled Slaw, Pickled jalapeños, poached egg, avocado hummus and bacon on a milk bun
Folk
Located a bit out of town, Folk offers organic plant based meals suited for vegetarians. The menu changes each season and the decor of the restaurant is elegantly immersed in nature.
Recommended Dish: Banana Buckwheat Pancakes
BayLeaf Cafe
Highly rated by Lonely Planet and TripAdvisor, it did not take us long to have breakfast here. The food is freshly prepared and their coffee list is extensive! Their menu changes seasonally but there are some classics that remain on the menu indefinitely.
Recommended Dish: Dukkah Poached Eggs: House Made Dukkah Poached Eggs over organic sourdough with heirloom tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella dressed with Chardonnay vinegar and lavender infused honey
Espresso Head
At first this was simply a coffee stop on my way back from a yoga class, but this café has been a local favorite for 15 years with locally sourced organic breakfast.
Recommended Dish: French Toast with poached rhubarb, strawberries, whipped ricotta, and toasted seeds and nuts
Barrio
Great for a first cup of coffee to start the day, Barrio has all day great food and outdoor dining of an Argentinian restaurant.
Recommended Dish: Salted Cod Tostada with a Poached Egg
The Balcony Bar and Oyster Co.
A huge fan of oysters myself, this restaurant had some of the freshest oysters in Byron Bay. Sunday brunch is best to have here and reminisce on the fun filled weekend.
Recommended Dish: Pea and Avocado Guacamole with Pumpkin Seeds, Lime, Jalapeño, and Goat Cheese on Sourdough
Combi Byron Bay
This pink wonderland has the best iced lattes, smoothies and açaí bowls for you to enjoy. The pink walls are decorated with surf boards and stunning photographs of Byron Bay.
Recommendation: Organic Açaí Bowl with bananas, blueberries, coconut water and topped with crispy coconut flakes, activated caramelized buck inis, pistachio, banana, cacao nibs and strawberries.
Everything Else
Miss Margarita
Best Mexican Food! They have 4 different variations of the classic margarita and their happy hour prices will have you lining up at the door. The atmosphere of this Mexican extravaganza is vibrant and decorated with so much artwork of Frieda that you would think it was Cinco de Mayo everyday!
Recommendation: Ultimate Mexican Pulled Pork Nachos + Mezcal Margarita
Main Street Burger Bar
This place has the top burgers with fresh ingredients, boutique local brews and filling milkshakes!
Recommended Dish: Main Street Beef Burger with double smoked bacon, caramelized onion, cheese, smoky barbecue sauce, garlic mayo, lettuce and tomato
Treehouse Belongil
This treehouse restaurant and bar looks like it came straight out of the Robinson Treehouse. The restaurant is hidden in trees and the decor keeps to its routes with a delightful rustic beach look. They serve great pizzas and have a live music space so you can relax and listen to tunes while having your meal.
Recommended Dish: Grilled King Fish with Lemon Dressing
The Mez Club
Right in the centre of town, this fresh Mediterranean-style cantina is just what you need after a lazy day at the beach. The cocktails and tapas are inspired by Moroccan, Greek, and Turkish cuisines and are prepared fresh and should be shared family style!
Recommended Tapas: House Dip Plate with whipped feta dip, preserved lemon, smoky bushfire honey, roast beetroot dip, tahini and za'atar herbs
Crispy Cypriot Halloumi
Lamb Kofte Balls
Salt and Pepper Squid
Beach Byron Bay
Focusing on local ingredients and coastal flavors and pairing them with complimentary cocktails and wines, Beach Byron Bay has achieved the Australian Wine List of the year 2017 by Gourmet Travelled Wine. The restaurant overlooks Julian Rocks, Clarke's Beach and the Pass so that you can look on to the ocean while experiencing flavors of the sea.
Recommended Dish: Raw Fish Ceviche and Strozzapreti, local baby octopus ragu, black olives, and crispy capers
St Elmo Dining Room and Bar
This contemporary light filled restaurant with a mosaic patterned bar serves tapas and craft cocktails.
Recommended Dishes
Patatas Bravas: fried potatoes, salsa Brava, garlic aioli, smoked paprika salt
Choricito:Pork belly, baby chorizo, cider caramel, pickled watermelon and almonds
Cortedo: slow cooked lamb, butter braised asparagus, labneh, pistachio Dukkah
Il Buco Cafe and Pizzeria
Authentic Italian pizzas sourced from local farmers' markets, Il Buco's popular menu is extensive and the restaurant is BYO drinks!
Recommended Dishes: Tartufo Pizza : truffle paste, fior di latte mozzarella, lonza, and shaved grana padano
Rae's on Wategos
For more of an upscale restaurant with fine dining, Rae's on Wategos is situated right on the beach and has the finest produce cooked by head chef, Guy Skinner.
Recommendation: Jack's Creek Aged Sirloin on the Bone to share
Bars
Woody's Surf Shack
a popular hub for party animals, Woody's Surf Shack features all of the best music from Byron's local DJs, a wild dance-floor and a retro style atmosphere. The ceiling is decorated with vintage surfboards and the walls are covered in graffiti. If you need a break from the dance floor, the shack has comfy booths, pool tables, and an outdoor patio!
Beach Hotel
A popular spot on Sunday nights, the Beach Hotel overlooks Byron Bay's Main Beach and it's welcoming atmosphere features live music, a beer garden and several bars all over the establishment. Although their cocktail bar can be a bit pricier than the beers on tap, the drinks are to die for! They oftentimes will host themed nights, we had the pleasure of experiencing their weekly Jamaican Reggae Night.
The Rails
This is one of the last locals pubs in town, and it has all of the character. The tails exists where the train no longer does and the entire venue is draped with beautiful lights and painted murals. They have bands perform almost every night so grab a Byron drop on tap and enjoy the evening with the Byron locals.
Stone and Wood Brewing Co. \
Head here for some great beer tasting and food! The staff is super friendly and helpful and will help you choose the beers on your tasting paddle! A brewery tour and tasting let's you take a closer look at the beer-making process while being guided by a knowledgeable crew member. You can also just cruise on in for a casual coldie or a paddle of beers, should you want to try them all.
Byron Bay Brewing Company
Home to the six premium beers of the Byron Bay label, Byron Bay Brewing Co has all six beers on tap and are brewed directly on site guaranteeing the freshest tastes in a relaxed atmosphere in their beer garden. The pub hosts gigs every night ranging from band performances to open mic and comedy.
A place known for surf and soul searching, Byron Bay now draws people in from all over for their inspired food. Byron's chefs and artisans whose ambitions have led to luxury market restaurants all over the area has inspired heightened creativity within each dish.