For when you’ve had enough of the beach and would rather be brunchin’ & munchin’
It’s no secret that Byron Bay is one of the most beloved coastal destinations in the whole of Australia. It’s got golden sandy beaches that stretch on for days.
Versatile waves that suit the very best of surfers and those that are just beginning. Trendy boutiques full of linen and earthy colours. Studios that offer meditation and yoga at sunrise. And restaurants that promise the freshest local produce while also catering for different dietary requirements.
That’s right. At Byron Bay, foodies have pretty much hit the jackpot. From restaurants that specialize in serving seafood straight out of the ocean to world-class dining you simply can’t get anywhere else; this beachside community knows exactly how to dish it up. So, once you’ve finished exploring and need to refuel your body, try one of these top Byron Bay restaurants. Your tastebuds will thank you for it.
1. Three Blue Ducks
If there’s only one restaurant you go to in Byron Bay, make sure it’s the Three Blue Ducks. An idea born out of the passion for ethical and authentic food, this Byron Bay establishment is one of six restaurants hatched by a group of six friends who all share the same vision: to pair sustainable cooking with lots of love.
With a menu that boasts dishes such as burnt cabbage accompanied by smoked tomato butter and crispy pork skin and yellow curry mussels with coconut and lemongrass, this farm-to-table culinary experience will have your stomach and your soul feeling satisfied.
2. Daughter in Law
Do you want a break from all the seafood and avocado on toast? Step into Daughter in Law, the third instalment by restauranteur Jessi Singh, for cocktails and curry by the beach. Priding itself on offering an ‘unauthentic Australian Indian’ cuisine, this vibrant place delivers big-time on ambience and even more so when it comes to flavour.
Whether you want to try the ‘balls of happiness’ (traditional Indian street food), tuck into some tandoori chicken, or munch on a market fish coconut curry with a side of onion salad and aged basmati rice, there’s guaranteed to be a little something that’ll please absolutely everybody. Pro tip – don’t leave without trying the Gulab Jamun (sweet milk donuts). You’ll never forgive yourself otherwise.
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3. Barrio
While the rest of Byron Bay might have a laidback feel to it, Barrio, located in the Habitat Community Development, promises a world-class dining experience that’ll have your tastebuds singing your praises for weeks to come. Offering up a ‘home away from home’, this modern yet industrialised restaurant boasts dishes made with local and ethically sourced produce from the rainbow trout that’s cooked over hot coals to the ricotta and pine nut cannelloni.
The prices might be a little steep if you’re just after a casual meal – mean meals start at AUD$40 – but Barrio is one of the best Byron Bay restaurants to connect with your loved ones, share memories of your travels, and raise a toast to all the adventures still to come.
4. Elixiba
Calling all the plant-based foodies out there; this Byron Bay restaurant is for you. Priding themselves on their completely plant-based menu, Elixiba takes dining to a whole ‘nother level by making sure your thirst is properly quenched alongside your hunger with an Alchemy Bar that serves up killer cocktails infused with active botanicals.
As if that wasn’t enough to get you through the door, their mantra of ‘peace, plants, and positivity’ sure will, especially when their menu is bursting with dishes such as a jackfruit Caesar salad and raw kimchi dumplings. Wash your meals down with a pink flamingo (a grapefruit, cranberry, and tequila concoction) or a cold drip coffee martini for a night you’ll never forget…or will it be a night you won’t remember?
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5. Beach Byron Bay
Fancy a long lunch by the water? Or a romantic dinner lit by candlelight while you listen to the sound of waves crashing gently on the shore? Beach Byron Bay is the place to go if you answered yes to either question. Overlooking Clarkes Beach, this sophisticated spot promises some of the best views in all of Byron Bay with the menu to match.
Celebrating the tastiest seasonal and regional produce the Northern Rivers region has to offer, Beach Byron Bay gives diners snack options such as sweet and sour smoked beetroot and salt baked celeriac and larger dishes like Tropical Painted Crayfish and Wagyu Sirloin.
If you’re looking for something a bit more casual, the Beach Byron Bay also has a kiosk that serves up healthy lunch choices for a quick meal post surf or swim, as well as providing the perfect place for a quick coffee meetup with friends.
6. Light Years
Treat your tastebuds to a culinary experience they’ll never stop thanking you for at Light Years, a cosy, vibrant restaurant that specialises in modern, Asian dining. First preheating its stove and opening its doors in 2017, this atmospheric eating spot has quickly risen to the top of the ranks when it comes to the best places for a night out in Byron Bay.
With a menu boasting kingfish ceviche and turmeric and coconut cauliflower curry, a cocktail list frothing with sweet and spicy creations, and a décor that’s both distinctive and heaps of fun to be in, you’ll want to keep coming back to Light Years again and again.
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7. Balcony Bar & Oyster Co
You simply can’t go to Byron Bay and not stop in for an oyster or twelve at Balcony Bar & Oyster Co – it would be soo un-Byron of you. Take your seat above bustling Lawson Street and spend your time people watching, eating the freshest seafood and other locally sourced ingredients this region has to offer, and sipping on a crafty cocktail that’s bound to have you feeling good in no time.
And of course, there are the oysters. Opt to have them either natural or baked with fermented chilli, macadamia, and lime butter for a flavourful twist in a serving size of 3, 6, or 12. Happy slurping!
8. No Bones
Stealing our hearts with their planet-first ethos and delicious vegan food, No Bones has quickly become one of the best restaurants in Byron Bay to flock to when you’re in need of a little (or a lot of) plant-based nourishment. Dedicated to becoming 100% carbon neutral this year and using as much Australian-grown produce as possible, this coastal eatery specialises in share plates so you can try a bit of everything.
From beetroot tartare with horseradish cream and caperberries to tempeh parmigiana with a side of potatoes and fennel & cabbage slaw, you can ensure your stomach gets exactly what it’s craving at No Bones. They even have taco Tuesdays (who can say no to that?) and Sunday sessions so you can eat and sip and sip and eat to your heart’s content.
9. Bang Bang
If you want your holiday to go off with a bang then visiting one of Byron Bay’s newest Asian fusion restaurants, Bang Bang, should be high on your priority list. Featuring an open kitchen so you can see your meals getting made (and profusely salivate until they make their way to your table), a rustic interior with luscious greenery for decoration, and a menu full of ‘little bangs’ (snack-like options) and ‘big bangs’ (full-size meals), this Byron institution knows how to satisfy its diners.
Whether you want to try some of the braised beef massaman curry, dip your spoon into a bowl of Bangkok fried rice, or quench your thirst with a ‘harvest moon’ (a lemongrass and kafir lime leaf concoction) or a ‘yuzu dragon’ (a creative combination of yuzu sake, pisco, dark rum, and kiwi fruit).
Regardless of where you choose to dine, one thing’s for certain – you’ll never go hungry in Byron Bay.
