11 Best Restaurants in North Coast, New South Wales

Dining at Arajilla Retreat at least once during a stay on Lord Howe Island is a must. The cuisine, which changes daily, uses fish straight from the ocean and lovely homegrown vegetables. Begin with a drink at the cozy bar, decked out just a little like a gentlemen's club with leather armchairs, and then take a seat at the restaurant with its white walls and one dramatic burgundy-color feature wall. The three-course menu changes weekly, based on what is fresh and in season, with the likes of sesame-crusted kingfish often on offer. Desserts are irresistible and may include black sticky rice with lychee sorbet, toasted coconut, and kaffir lime.

In-house guests take precedent over those not staying at the resort, so bookings are essential.

This is a fine place to socialize with the locals and tourists and enjoy some honest, unpretentious food. The on-site restaurant and bar called The Golfy is open to nonmembers for dinner on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday, and the menu includes a variety of roasts (such as roast chicken or lamb), steak with garlic butter, schnitzel, fish, and salads. Friday night is the "big night out" on the island, when almost everyone turns up for the sunset barbecue—try the barbecue kingfish and grab an ice-cold beer. Desserts include what appears to be the island staple—sticky-date pudding and ice cream. It's best to come early to take in the view over the golf links and the lagoon beyond. 

This Byron Bay legend is bit of an all-rounder with a kiosk serving takeaway coffee and small breakfast eats like its homemade banana bread, and a fine-dining open-air dining room with sea views. On offer are some of the world's best wines with dishes like barbecue squid, kingfish sashimi, and saffron-infused mussels. For the meats eaters, try the dry-aged Scotch fillet served with wild mushrooms, wasabi leaf, and pickled turnip.

By day, this is a stylish, contemporary café that packs in the crowds, thanks to its fabulously tasty meals. By night, it turns into a sophisticated bistro. Try the Corner Breakfast, which has everything from eggs the way you like them to ham hock--braised beans. Return for lunch or dinner and enjoy Wagyu beef steak or ricotta gnocchi. As the name suggests, it sits on a corner and is part of the Macquarie Waters Hotel & Apartments complex.

Perched right on Newcastle Beach, Estabar is known for its great coffee, organic foods, superb Spanish hot chocolate drinks, and wonderful gelato. Open all day from breakfast until sundown, it's a small space with little tables and a short menu, but it draws a big local following. Breakfast favorites are the porridge with poached fruits and brown sugar on the side, and the homemade baked beans; lunchtime salads include lentil, walnut, and feta. The views over Newcastle Beach, the closest one to the downtown area, are also delectable at any time and if you are lucky, you may see whales offshore in winter months.

This friendly vibrant café is found just outside of Byron and is a firm favorite with locals. It's surrounded by a beautiful garden and native trees with plenty of birds. The focus here is on serving ethical coffee and only local produce. The menu is 100% vegetarian and vegan but even if you're a meat eater you won't feel like you're missing out. Each dish is created with care and packed with flavor. Open every day from 7:30 am.

Opened on the site of the Merewether Beach's original surfhouse (a lifeguard station), this stunning three-story venue has fantastic ocean views from all three of its eateries. The ground floor café, pizza, and gelato bar are steps from the beach, while the top-level restaurant has expansive panoramas and is open for lunch and dinner. You might begin with the local Port Stephens oysters with shallot vinegar before moving on to a seafood main. The dessert list is extensive and the wine list features wines from the Hunter Valley. The café is open for all-day breakfast and lunch daily, offering burgers and salads.

This waterfront restaurant with views of Coffs Creek (which is spotlighted at night—look for stingrays swimming by) leaves no culinary stone unturned in its search for novel flavors. The menu in the open-air dining room includes dishes like duck leg confit, beer steamed mussels, and prawns with fresh pasta and spicy chili oil. If you want a table on the deck in summer, book ahead. Service is friendly and attentive.

Found at The Farm, a working property near the main entry point into Byron Bay, Three Blue Ducks is the sister restaurant to the hugely successful Sydney eatery of the same name. This is the perfect spot for breakfast or lunch, with the coffee counter always heaving. The farm-to-table movement is in full flow within this barn-style restaurant, with everything on the menu grown or butchered on-site. And nothing goes to waste here, with the chefs creating innovative dishes that ensure all parts of plant and animal are used. The chicken liver parfait is a must try and their take on a simple beef burger is really a culinary delight.

Named by locals as the best brunch in Newcastle, this iconic café has been in action for over 20 years and is still as popular today. The menu is extensive, with everything from loaded cookies to savory beef mince on toast with poached eggs. It's best known for its unique smoothies, with 20 different varieties. Open every day from 7:30 am.