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 feeling so relaxed that you’re not inclined to slave away in the kitchen (and rightly so).

While things may move a little slower in this sleepy waterfront 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.

Light Years

Is it even a trip to Byron without a meal at Light Years?! Light Years Byron Bay never disappoints. The menu stays true to the 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, kimmichurri and a masterstock jus, and the hot and tingly BBQ lamb ribs. 

As for the drinks, there are all the old favourites, like their beloved Netflix and Chill cocktail with popcorn-infused rum, passionfruit and lemon will return, and new creations such as the Kiwi Matcha Margi with tequila, kiwi puree, matcha syrup, and lime; and a Szechuan Sour (subtly flavoured yet strong enough for drinkers to experience its mouth-numbing quality) with szechuan shiso infused gin, Aperol, vermouth, and orange. 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. Under the expert guidance of head chef Dan Zenou, Tokyo Doll offers 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. Our pick? The Tokyo Martini with Brookies dry gin, Tokubetsu jJnmai sake, pickled ginger brine, peach and orange bitters.

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, which is one of Japan’s oldest cooking traditions. Broken into three sections, the menu includes a raw bar featuring seafood classics like tuna and kingfish and watermelon with ponzu and shiso; Hibachi with yakitori and scallops with cafe´ de nippo, tobiko; and sides such as furikake fries. 

As for the drinks, there’s a selection of punchy and interesting biodynamic wines picked according to the Lunar cycle as well as an elevated cocktail list that pays homage to the flavours and textures of Japanese cooking. The menu showcases Highballs made from homemade soda and natural garnishes, such as paperbark and passionfruit leaves, foraged from the hinterland. For something more classic, they also 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 new venue brings a modern and coastal twist to classic Italian cuisine with head chef Matteo Tine (previously of Grossi Florentino) calling on his Sicilian roots and more recent experience in Melbourne to offer nostalgic flavours within refined dishes.

The menu showcases the best local seafood with some standouts including savoury sfinci (Sicilian fried doughnut) filled with a warm cacio pepe sauce, finished with a thin slice of house-made air-dried stone axe bresaola; Mooloolaba house-smoked Albacore tonno pastrami, with pickled and fresh heirloom radish giardiniera; and spaghetti alla chitarra made with a sourdough pasta, vongole and bottarga sauce, a fermented chilli oil, and lemon and fennel pangrattato.

The drinks list has been curated by drinks specialist Joe Jones (Romeo Lane), who has worked alongside Tine to create drinks that complement the flavours and ingredients in the dishes. The wine list has a mix of modern and new-world wines, as well as Italian classics. 

139 Jonson St, Byron Bay

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 harissa oil. 

3/17 Lawson Street, Byron Bay 

The Smoking Camel (Image Credit: Parker Blaine) 

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 gorgeous, stylishly designed rooms (of which there are seven), 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 kangaroo tartare, and the iced vovo for dessert. 

6/8 Marine Parade, Byron Bay

Tweed River House

A chef-hatted hideaway promising a gloriously intimate setting, this century-old manor’s newly restored bistro is serving up award-winning plates with sweeping views of the hinterland to match. Nestled within the area's lush riverbanks, Tweed River House offers a curated menu at the hands of executive chef Joseph McGrattan. With a choice of two, three, or five courses, along with a perfectly paired wine list, diners take a gastronomic tour of the region through each plate.

131 River St, South Murwillumbah

Beach Byron Bay

In a town full of stunning beaches, it's 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 Morton Bay Bugs, local salumi, Ranges Valley Sirloin and a Spanner Crab Pappardelle that rivals Italy’s finest. An alfresco hotspot boasting stunning panoramic ocean views – be sure to book a table for dinner, just in time to watch the sunset. 

2 Massinger Street, Byron Bay

Barrio

‘Barrio’, meaning “neighbourhood” in Spanish, has an industrial-style interior yet still manages to feel warm and welcoming. With large wooden communal tables, an open kitchen, an Argentinian wood-fired oven and grill, outdoor tables, and picnic rugs, the food served here is authentic, and the cocktail list is suitably well-refined to match. Standouts include the pickled mussels with green garlic and paprika, the sirloin steak and the panna cotta, with sherry caramel and peach.

Industrial Estate, 1 Porter Street, Byron Bay

Bang Bang

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

The all-encompassing menu is broken up into little bangs (starters) and big bangs (mains) and features sashimi, soft shell crab sliders, curries, and whole-fried snapper. First-timers should check out the bang-quet menus, which pool together 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 in 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 offering 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 own garden, expect exceptional meals like charred Ballina prawns with orange vinegar and finger lime, crab spaghetti with soffritto and parsley, and Hibachi-grilled zucchini with garden pesto and almonds.  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

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 that's perfect for sharing.

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

471 Friday Hut Road, Possum Creek

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 plus take a look at our definitive guide to the best bars in Byron.