The Best Restaurants in Byron Bay for a Foodie Feast

Adored for its laid-back temperament and sunny disposition, beautiful Byron Bay is one of Australia’s favourite places to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of city life. You may even be so relaxed that you’re not inclined to slave away in the kitchen (and rightly so).

While things may move slower in this sleepy oasis, its burgeoning culinary scene doesn’t skip a beat. No matter what flavour you’re craving, there’s a restaurant offering an ambience that is just right. Taking the guesswork out of your dinner plans, we’ve rounded up the best restaurants in Byron Bay for the ultimate coastal dining experience.

Three Blue Ducks

Sitting on an 80-acre working farm in Ewingsdale amongst a collection of micro-businesses all operating with the same motto - to grow, feed, and educate its guests - you'll find the celebrated Three Blue Ducks.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, locals night and Sunday Roast, this unique dining experience is all about good food and good times, showcasing a modern Australian menu celebrating fresh and seasonal produce.

11 Ewingsdale Road, Ewingsdale

Light Years

Is it even a trip to Byron without a meal at Light Years?! The menu stays true to the modern Asian-inspired classic and much-loved Light Years style of share plates for group dining, with highlight dishes on the menu including a prawn roll served with a yuzu tartare, lettuce, tobiko, furikake and brioche bun, wagyu rump steak with umami butter, and the hot and tingly BBQ lamb ribs. 

As for the drinks, there are the old favourites, like their beloved Netflix and Chill cocktail with popcorn-infused rum, passionfruit and lemon, and new creations such as the Kiwi Matcha Margi with tequila, kiwi puree, matcha syrup, and lime. Run, don’t walk to make your booking!

139 Jonson St, Byron Bay

Tokyo Doll

Looking for the best Japanese in Byron Bay? Tokyo Doll has it covered, offering an imaginative take on classic Japanese dishes, enriched with seasonal accents and the finest locally sourced ingredients.

Embrace a lighthearted yet sophisticated dining experience in a buzzing set-up that reinterprets the diverse and delectable flavours of Japan; from the yellow fish curry, and the fried chicken with Korean-style sauce and mayo to the vegetable dumplings and their delicious sushi tacos, every dish will delight. A cocktail off the inventive and surprising drink menu is also a must. 

T21/108 Jonson Street, Byron Bay

Moonlight

Moonlight’s menu is all about a curated small selection of offerings that match the venue's intimate setting.  The moody and cosy restaurant gives diners a modern take on the traditional hibachi grill - one of Japan’s oldest cooking traditions. Broken into three sections, the menu includes a raw bar featuring seafood classics like tuna and kingfish, Hibachi with chicken wings and scallops with cafe´ de Nippon butter, and furikake fries on the side. 

As for the drinks, there’s a selection of punchy and interesting biodynamic wines picked according to the Lunar cycle and an elevated cocktail list that pays homage to the flavours and textures of Japanese cooking. For something classic, they have sake´ from some of the oldest breweries in the world, dating back to 1505.  

Bay Lane, Byron Bay

Pixie Food & Wine

What do you get when you marry the relaxed beachy vibes of Byron Bay with traditional Italian fare? Pixie Food & Wine! This vibrant venue brings a modern and coastal twist to classic Italian cuisine to offer nostalgic flavours within refined dishes.

The menu showcases the best local seafood with some standouts including a pork sausage with bitter leaves and chilli, and a dry-aged Bistecca with porcini spice rub and salsa verde.

The drinks list has been carefully curated to complement the flavours and ingredients in the dishes, and the wine list has a mix of modern and new-world wines and Italian classics. 

139 Jonson St, Byron Bay

The Smoking Camel (Image Credit: Parker Blaine) 

The Smoking Camel

Brought to you by the good people behind the much-loved Byron haunt Light Years, The Smoking Camel is the groovy Middle Eastern eatery and bar we can't get enough of. Vibrant interiors set the scene for a feast to remember. You can expect plenty of share-style plates cooked over charcoal, a cocktail list to die for (including a phenomenal Turkish delight number) and moreish mezze. 

The flavours, which span from Israeli through to Turkish and Lebanese, combine seamlessly to create a fun menu featuring the likes of smashed falafel with green goddess tahini, baklava gelato and hummus with hazelnut dukkah and burnt honey. 

3/17 Lawson Street, Byron Bay 

Frida's Field 

If you fancy a dining experience to remember, you'll want to ensure you enjoy one of Frida's Field's long lunches. They host three long lunches per week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and they're packed with seasonal dishes created from produce sourced from the Northern Rivers region.

You'll enjoy a share-style menu that encompasses locally made sourdough, condiments, three starters, a main with three sides and dessert. Be sure to leave around three hours for the full experience. 

76 Booyong Road, Nashua 

Raes Dining Room

An exclusive boutique retreat with an idyllic beachfront setting. Aside from the seven gorgeous, stylishly designed rooms, Raes renowned restaurant, with an open window framed view of the nearby Wategos Beach, is one of Byron's biggest draws.

Serving contemporary Australian fare with a Mediterranean influence, every taste is catered for. Start with some locally caught oysters before delving into their delicious à la carte menu. We're eyeing off the dry-aged and spiced honey-glazed duck 'a l’orange', the tomato tartare, and the iced VoVo for dessert. 

6/8 Marine Parade, Byron Bay

The Hut

For a taste of the Mediterranean, look no further than The Hut. About a 20-minute drive from Byron Bay, this super cool eatery offers the best local produce and has a menu perfect for sharing.

You'd be a fool not to order the calamari and follow it up with the seafood pasta. They also offer a signature banquet menu (starting from $99 per person) for groups of eight or more and have a dedicated vegan menu. Situated in the old O’Possum Creek Schoolhouse, the stunning views and serenity will take your breath away. 

471 Friday Hut Road, Possum Creek

Tweed River House

A chef-hatted hideaway promising a gloriously intimate setting, this century-old manor’s restored bistro serves award-winning plates with sweeping river and hinterland views to match. Nestled within the area's lush riverbanks, Tweed River House offers a choice of two-, three-, or five-course menus, along with a perfectly paired wine, cocktail and craft beer list, taking diners on a gastronomic tour of the region through each plate.

131 River St, South Murwillumbah

Beach Byron Bay

In a town full of stunning beaches, its only natural Beach Byron Bay would sit atop its golden sands. Leaning into the area’s prized seafood offering, the Mediterranean-inspired menu showcases the Northern Rivers' finest regional flavours.

Expect oysters and ceviche, local organic sourdough, grilled scotch fillet and a tomato and ricotta gnocchi that rivals Italy’s finest. An alfresco hotspot boasting stunning panoramic ocean views – be sure to book for dinner, just in time to watch the sunset. 

2 Massinger Street, Byron Bay

Bang Bang

Transporting you with fragrant tastes and smells of Southeast Asia, Bang Bang specialises in fiery cuisine that draws influence from Japan to Thailand. A feast for the senses, the Asian fusion fare is served within vibrant, tactile interiors buzzing with the hum of a bustling crowd waiting for their signature Asian-inspired cocktail.

The all-encompassing menu is broken into little bangs (starters) and big bangs (mains), curries and wok dishes, and features sashimi, Moreton Bay bug buns, and whole-fried snapper. First-timers should check out the bang-quet menus, which pool protein-specific signatures from meat and fish to vegetarian.

4/1 Byron St, Byron Bay

The Balcony Bar & Oyster Co

Steps away from Main Beach, The Balcony Bar embodies all that is Byron - laid-back and effortlessly cool. Renowned for their share plates of ocean-fresh seafood and delicious oysters, do as the locals do and park yourself up on the balcony with a cocktail in hand and watch Byron pass you by in the streets below.

The menu champions the best local seafood right through to mouth-watering vegan dishes. There's even a special oyster menu if you fancy a little shooter. 

7/3 Lawson Street, Byron Bay

Harvest

Located in the quaint town of Newrybar, about a 20-minute drive from Byron Bay’s CBD, dwells Harvest, a trendy and well-curated eatery with an extensive, flavoursome menu. Covering all bases, Harvest offers a relaxed deli and cafe, set within a lovingly restored vintage building, and fine dining in their more upmarket restaurant – a contemporary Queenslander situated directly next door.

For a special experience, we highly recommend a meal at the restaurant. With a menu that showcases seasonal local food and their garden, expect exceptional meals like charred Ballina prawns with paprika salt and thyme, housemade spaghetti with crab, garlic and parsley, and grilled sirloin with beef jus and garden chimichurri.  As for the drinks, it's a small, curated list that focuses on conscientious wine-makers and lesser-known Australian varietals. A visit here promises fabulously fresh and delicious food.

18-22 Old Pacific Highway, Newrybar

Salivated over all of the best restaurants in Byron Bay and want to experience more of the magic? Check out our round-up of the best things to do in Byron Bay and our definitive guide to the best bars in Byron.