# Best Cafes & Restaurants in Byron Bay | Where to Eat
Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/nsw/northern-rivers/byron-bay/best-cafes/
Type: BestOfGuide
Location: Byron Bay, Northern Rivers, NSW
Last updated: 2026-06-01

> Where to eat in Byron Bay — the best cafes and bakeries for breakfast, beachfront bars for sunset, and hinterland dining in Bangalow and Newrybar.

## Quick Answer
- Best for: Foodies & long breakfasts
- Price range: $$–$$$
- Vibe: Cafe culture & beach bars
- Distance: Town & hinterland

## Featured Properties
- Elements of Byron: 4.7/5 (1564 reviews)
  Book direct: https://elementsofbyron.com.au/?utm_source=google-my-business&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb&utm_id=gmb
  Elements of Byron — Byron Bay
- The Beach Shack: 4.9/5 (60 reviews)
  Book direct: https://beachshackbyronbay.com.au/
  The Beach Shack — Byron Bay
- Byron Beachcomber Resort: 4.4/5 (179 reviews)
  Book direct: http://www.beachcomberbyron.com.au/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=gmb
  Byron Beachcomber Resort — Byron Bay

## FAQ
Q: Is the food scene worth it?
A: Yes — Byron has one of the best cafe and dining scenes of any Australian beach town, plus excellent hinterland tables. It's a genuine reason to visit in itself.

Q: How do I avoid the breakfast queues?
A: Go early, especially in summer and school holidays, or eat slightly out of the town centre and in the hinterland villages where it's calmer.

Q: Where's best for a special dinner?
A: The hinterland around Newrybar and Bangalow has standout produce-driven restaurants — calmer, often better value than town, and well worth the 20-minute drive. Book ahead.

Q: Can I eat well on a budget?
A: Yes — the farmers markets, bakeries and self-catering from local providores keep costs down in an otherwise pricey town. Spend on one good dinner out and self-cater the rest.

Q: Is Byron good for eating out with kids?
A: Very — most cafes are relaxed and family-friendly, the beachfront bars suit an early casual dinner, the markets have food stalls and space to roam, and hinterland village pubs welcome families. Go early to beat the queues.

Q: Do I need to book restaurants in advance?
A: For dinner, yes — especially the popular town spots and the best hinterland tables, which fill on weekends and in peak season. Breakfast is generally walk-in, but expect a queue at the best cafes mid-morning.

## At a Glance
- Best for breakfast: The town's cafes and bakeries — go early
- Best for sunset: Beachfront bars near Main Beach
- Best for a special dinner: Hinterland tables around Newrybar & Bangalow
- Markets: Byron & Bangalow farmers markets for produce
- Tip: Book dinner ahead; breakfast queues are real in peak season

## Featured
- 1. The town cafes & bakeries — Byron breakfast
  - Why people love it: The cafe and bakery culture is a destination in itself — visitors call breakfast the daily highlight, and the coffee and baking back it up.
  - Don't miss: An early, unhurried brunch and great coffee before the beach and the queues.
  - Good to know: Mid-morning in peak season means long queues and a wait — go early, or eat slightly out of the town centre.
- 2. Beachfront bars at sunset — Golden hour
  - Why people love it: Drinks and a bite with your feet near the sand as the sun goes down is the classic Byron evening — the easy, no-booking romance of the place.
  - Don't miss: A sunset drink with your feet near the sand off Main Beach.
  - Good to know: The best spots fill before sunset in peak season — arrive early to claim a table, and come for the setting rather than a serious meal.
- 3. Hinterland dining (Newrybar & Bangalow) — The grown-up meal
  - Why people love it: It's the region's best, calmest and often best-value dining — the locals' secret that out-eats the town and rewards anyone who drives twenty minutes inland.
  - Don't miss: A long, produce-driven lunch or dinner in a heritage hinterland village.
  - Good to know: It's a drive and the best tables book out — reserve ahead, especially on weekends, and allow travel time back to the coast.
- 4. Farmers & artisan markets — Graze & shop
  - Why people love it: The markets turn shopping into a proper local food experience — it's where you graze, taste and buy the Northern Rivers at its freshest.
  - Don't miss: Grazing your way around a farmers market on a clear morning, then heading to the beach.
  - Good to know: They run on specific dates and get hot and busy by midday — check the market day before you plan around it and go early.
- 5. Self-cater from the markets — For longer stays
  - Why people love it: It hands you superb local produce and your evenings back — the smartest budget lever in an expensive town, and a pleasure rather than a compromise.
  - Don't miss: A home-cooked dinner of all-local market produce on your own deck.
  - Good to know: You'll need a self-contained place with a kitchen, and the best produce is at the markets on set days — plan your shop around them.

## What travellers say
- [positive] World-class breakfast scene: The cafe and bakery culture is a genuine drawcard and a daily highlight for visitors.
- [positive] The hinterland out-dines the town: Visitors are repeatedly surprised that the best dinners are inland in Newrybar and Bangalow, calmer and better value.
- [mixed] Pricey & busy: Dining is expensive and busy in peak season; the hinterland, markets and self-catering offer better value and fewer queues.
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: 
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: 
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: