Looking for the best cafes and restaurants in Byron Bay? From relaxed breakfasts and excellent coffee to long lunches, beachside dining and intimate dinners, Byron Bay has no shortage of places to grab thoughtfully prepared meals..
Whether you're after a leisurely brunch, something healthy after a morning swim or a memorable dinner to finish the day, the local food scene makes it easy to eat your way around town.
As The Bower sits right in the heart of town, many of Byron's favourite food spots are close enough to become part of the day's wanderings. Here are some of our favourite Byron Bay cafes, restaurants and food spots to add to your stay.
Best Cafes in Byron Bay
The Byron Bay General Store
Sometimes the best breakfast is the one you don't have to think too hard about. Just down the road from The Bower on Bangalow Road, The Byron Bay General Store has been part of the local food scene for decades, occupying one of Byron's oldest commercial buildings.
Today, it's a neighbourhood favourite for breakfast, coffee, juices, smoothies and easy-going daytime meals. The menu provides the sort of food that feels particularly right in Byron: açaí bowls, eggs, mushrooms, sourdough and fresh ingredients, alongside good coffee and ceremonial matcha.
Located just steps away from The Bower, guests can pop in after a morning swim or grab something to take away before heading to the beach. It's the kind of place that can quietly become part of your Byron ritual.
Address: 26 Bangalow Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia
Opening hours: 07:00 - 14:00 daily
W byrongeneralstore.com | I @byron_general_store
Folk Byron Bay
Tucked away on Ewingsdale Road, Folk is one of the best Byron Bay cafes when you're craving something wholesome, colourful and distinctly Byron.
The cafe is committed to vegetarian and plant-based eating, with house-made food, organic ingredients and a lush, leafy atmosphere. It's a place for lingering rather than rushing: order something from the kitchen, settle in with a coffee, and let the morning unfold at its own pace.
Folk is open daily from 7.30am to 2.30pm, making it particularly well suited to a relaxed breakfast or brunch before heading off to explore.
Address: 1/399 Ewingsdale Rd, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia
Opening hours: 07:30 - 14:30 daily
Combi Byron Bay
For a bright, healthy start to the day, Combi Byron Bay has become something of a morning ritual for many.
You'll find it on Fletcher Street, serving coffee, matcha, cold-pressed juices, smoothies, bowls and breakfast dishes made from scratch. Think smashed avocado, shakshuka, açaí bowls and other fresh, colourful plates that feel perfectly at home in a beach town.
It's casual, cheerful and uncomplicated, which is exactly what you want when your biggest plan for the morning is deciding which beach to visit.
Address: 5b/21-25 Fletcher St, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia
Opening hours: 07:00 - 15:00 daily
W wearecombi.com.au | I @wearecombi
Bay Grocer
For something that feels a little more local, make your way to Bay Grocer on Tennyson Street.
Part grocer, part deli and part cafe, it's the sort of place you could easily lose half an hour just browsing around. The store stocks local produce alongside unique international ingredients, while the cafe serves changing salads, sandwiches, toasties, pastries, breakfast pots and plenty of coffee.
It's particularly handy if you're staying for a few days and want to put together a picnic, pick up something delicious for later or simply sit down for breakfast in the courtyard garden.
Address: 63 Tennyson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia
Opening hours: 06:30 - 19:00 (Mondays to Saturdays), 06:30 - 18:00 (Sundays)
W baygrocer.com | I @baygrocer
Best Restaurants in Byron Bay
Beach Byron Bay
There are lunches, and then there are lunches with the ocean directly in front of you.
Set right on Clarkes Beach, Beach Byron Bay is the kind of place that fits naturally into a day by the water. Start with a morning swim, a walk along the sand or a stroll along the Cape Byron coastline, then settle in for a meal with the ocean just beyond the table.
For a more relaxed stop, the Beach Kiosk is open from early morning through the afternoon, perfect for refueling after a swim or a morning by the beach.
As the day goes on, the restaurant takes over for lunch and dinner, with the coastline providing the backdrop.
If you're looking for that particular Byron combination of good food, sea air and nowhere else you need to be, this is it.
Address: 2 Massinger St, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia
Opening hours: 07:00 - 20:30 daily
W beachbyronbay.com.au | I @beachbyronbay
The Farm Byron Bay
A little beyond the centre of town, The Farm Byron Bay is worth treating as an outing in itself.
Set across an 80-acre working regenerative farm in the Byron hinterland, The Farm brings together growers, producers, eateries and other small businesses with a shared focus on food, farming and community. You can make a day of wandering around, seeing where food is grown and stopping to eat along the way.
It's a particularly lovely option when you want to trade the beach for a little hinterland greenery. Come hungry, take your time and leave room for a wander. This one is going to be worth making the trip to.
Address: 11 Ewingsdale Rd, Ewingsdale NSW 2481, Australia
Opening hours: 07:00 - 16:00 (Mondays to Wednesdays), 07:00 - 20:00 (Thursdays to Sundays)
W thefarm.com.au | I @thefarmatbyronbay
Light Years
Light Years has long been one of those Byron Bay restaurants that locals are happy to send visitors towards.
Now located in the Jonson Lane precinct, the restaurant serves modern Asian food designed for sharing, alongside punchy cocktails and a considered wine list. The current space has a warm, coastal feel, with earthy tones, textured finishes and both indoor and alfresco seating.
This is the place for a lively dinner where nobody really wants to order just one thing. Put a few dishes in the middle of the table, pour another drink and settle in.
Address: 139 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia
Opening hours: 12:00 - 23:00 daily
W lightyearsasiandiner.com.au/byron-bay | I @lightyearsasiandiner
Moonlight Hibachi Grill & Wine Bar
For something a little more intimate, make your way to Moonlight on Bay Lane.
The contemporary Japanese hibachi grill and wine bar pairs a focused menu of Japanese-inspired dishes with the energy of live-fire cooking. Expect oysters and sashimi alongside seafood, meats and vegetables cooked over the hibachi, with the open grill adding a touch of theatre to the experience. The result is a dining experience that feels lively and engaging, without losing its relaxed, sophisticated atmosphere.
Pair your dinner with sake, Japanese whisky, a cocktail or one of the biodynamic wines from the drinks list, then let the evening take its time. Moonlight is open for dinner seven nights a week.
Address: Bay Ln, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia
Opening hours: 17:00 - 22:00 daily
W moonlightbar.com.au | I @moonlightbyronbay
Tokyo Doll
If Japanese food is calling but you want something playful and contemporary, Tokyo Doll is another one to add to the list.
Located at Mercato on Jonson Street, Tokyo Doll takes inspiration from contemporary Japanese dining while bringing its own Byron Bay twist. Many of the dishes are made for sharing, so it's an easy choice for a dinner with friends, or for sitting at the bar with a cocktail and a few smaller plates.
The atmosphere strikes a nice balance between lively and laid-back, making it a good spot to settle in for dinner and stay for a drink or two.
Address: T21/108 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia
Opening hours: 16:00 - 20:30 (Mondays to Thursdays), 16:00 - 22:00 (Fridays), 12:00 - 22:00 (Saturdays), 12:00 - 22:00 (Sundays)
W tokyodoll.com.au | I @tokyodollbyronbay
The Hut Byron Bay
Sometimes the best way to experience Byron is to leave Byron for a few hours.
The Hut Byron Bay sits in Possum Creek, about 18 kilometres from Byron Bay, in the grounds of an old schoolhouse dating back to 1911. Its Mediterranean-inspired menu is built around the pleasure of eating together, with dishes designed to be shared and menus that change according to what's available from local farmers and fishermen.
Lunch is served Thursday through Sunday, and this is very much a place to settle in rather than squeeze between sightseeing stops. Think long tables, shared plates, a glass of wine and an afternoon that doesn't need to hurry.
Address: 471 Friday Hut Rd, Possum Creek NSW 2479, Australia
Opening hours: 12:00 - 18:00 (Thursdays to Sundays), closed on Mondays to Wednesdays
W thehutbyronbay.com.au | I @thehut.byronbay
A few days in Byron, one meal at a time
In Byron Bay, some of the best meals are the ones you don't plan for.
Have coffee somewhere leafy in the morning. Wander into town. Swim at the beach. Stop for a long lunch when you're hungry. Come back to The Bower for a dip in the magnesium pool, then get dressed for dinner as the afternoon starts to fade.
Whether you're after a quick breakfast, a picnic to take down to the beach, a table by the ocean or a dinner that turns into drinks, Byron has a way of making every meal feel like part of the holiday.
With so many cafes and restaurants within easy reach, The Bower Byron Bay makes a convenient base for exploring the local dining scene. Leave the car behind, and explore on foot, stopping wherever looks good along the way.