THE LIST
Where to eat, drink & stay in Byron Bay
Take a trip to the coastal town of Byron Bay, here are the places we think you should be putting on your list right now.
By Eatable
While Byron Bay remains the globally recognised jewel in the crown of the Northern Rivers, the best places to eat and drink are to be found when you get out of town. After many years of somewhat unhinged popularity, financial disparity and big business pressures, the central commercial ‘strip’ of Byron has become somewhat of an eyesore and outlier of life in the Northern Rivers. Most locals avoid it at all costs. The exception to this is the region’s best café — High Life. Unironically closed on weekends to avoid the tourists, it’s a true local spot serving fresh, innovative food (try the braised white beans with thick-cut bacon and salsa verde), as well as great coffee and MCT oil-laced beverages. For our morning fix, we also love Tones and Happy Days, tucked into Byron's Industrial Estate, and further afield The Woods (try the cheesy scone) is worth the ten minute drive to Bangalow.
During the day a venue that consistently bats above average is The Salty Mangrove in New Brighton-chef David Moyle and a delightful crew have reinvigorated a space that’s casualness belies its quality, which is charming in itself. Classic fish 'sangas' sit alongside thoughtfully prepared market vegetable plates with house made pickles, koftes, and stemless tumblers of natural wine.
One not to miss, and keep an eye out for their night time events.
Other lunch-worthy locations are The Hut, a vibrant mediterranean restaurant nestled in Byron's hinterland; Frida’s Field serving a set menu of local produce cooked over fire; of course Raes Dining Room is the pick for an occasion, and we love Raes on Wategos more casual Cellar Bar downstairs - after a swim at Wategos beach, a crisp Champagne and plate of oysters is hard to beat.
One of the better new developments in the area is the Johnson Lane precinct with Bar Heather, a tiny but mighty wine bar with some of the best plates in town - order the pork betel leaves and put yourself in the hands of the talented staff to help you wade through the encyclopaedic wine list. Next door Pixie Italian is a top pick for quality Italian food and warm service. Just around the corner Lightyears and Bang Bang both bring lots of sweet flavour to the fore in asian-ish dishes, whereas Moonlight's hibachi grill and cocktail shaking skills take our top preference.
Interiors of Light Years restaurant; Interiors at Raes Guesthouses at Watego Beach (below).
Nearby in Brunswick Heads Saint Marie’s is a hot spot for aperitivo and pizza, while the new Trouble San is a little touristy but hits the spot for vibe and a few delicious bites. Roco Ramen & Sake is notable for ramen and kushiyaki focus of grilled meat on sticks, and an impressive sake list; the Hotel Brunswick has The Ducks bringing their sustainable ethos to its very local pub offering. Sidenote: If you want to immerse yourself into the pub culture that is so Byron, a trip to Eltham's Hotel Eltham is a true Australian pub experience with great food and live music.
The region is painfully short on quality bar offerings, they tend to all bleed into restaurant style service and mostly empty out after 9pm. One venue that keeps a small menu going all day and provides some atmosphere alongside a strong booze focus is You Beauty in Bangalow. The crocodile toast and salted snapper with crisp potato, alongside a glass of chilled red is what weekends here are all about. While in Bangalow, check out Ciao Mate for pizza and wood fired dishes as well as Manu’s Alimentari for great sandwiches.
The most confident and impressive venue however in the Northern Rivers region has to be Bistro Livi, a small restaurant on a main street in a small town called Murwillumbah. It's about 40 minutes outside of Byron but genuinely worth the travel out and back for a long lunch - their curried Moreton Bay Bug with sourdough crumpet hasn’t come off the menu, and with good reason. The style, curated wine, carefully executed food and super warm hospitality is the kind that really stands out.
Southern calamari with Meyer lemon at Bistro Livi (top); Poolside at Elements of Byron.
Where to stay? The most in demand and stylish location is The Sun Ranch, that also host some great collaborations and events. For more urban hotel vibes Basq House and Hotel Marvell are solid options. Raes on Wategos and their new Guesthouses is still a stunning respite, and Elements of Byron offers a tranquil coastal rainforest experience with their bungalows, while remaining close to the action with beachfront access. The Sunseeker, The Bower, The Atlantic and Crystalbrook have been around for a while and all provide a nice experience as well as good proximity to the town's centre.
Words by Monique Lane. Elements pool courtesy of Elements of Byron.
