Byron Bay: Beyond the Instagram Trail
Here’s an ‘off the beaten track’ guide, created for mates who are visiting Byron in late 2020 and early 2021.
The beautiful thing about Byron Shire is that it’s hard to have a bad experience. So if you stay on the tourist trail…. or go to the lesser known places, you’re likely going to have a nice time next to beautiful beaches or in the luscious hinterland.
The inclusions here are based on highlighting places and things to do that might not be immediately obvious to visitors. That being said, the ‘on-the-beaten-track’ venues are usually very popular because they are fantastic - so don’t necessarily try and avoid the main well known spots!
Eat
- Kouzina — Mediterranean Feast, away from the crowds
Location: Arts and Industrial Estate, Byron
Meal: Dinner or Lunch
Set menu for dinner is $50
Lunch is $20
BYO
Book in advance!
Great for a romantic date, or a big group because of the set sharing menu.
2.Masa Pastries — Mind blowing pastries to rival Lune Croissants
Location: Arts and Industrial estate, Byron
Meal: Breakfast
Just opened last month, very much still a secret.
3. Chupacabra — Fresh Mexican Cantina, Cocktails + Micheladas
Location : Suffolk Park, 10 minutes south of Byron near Tallow Beach
Meal: Dinner
Great value, cheerful + super fresh.
Think ceviche + tacos with daily hand made tortillas
Don’t miss $14 Chicken Wednesdays and the frozen dragonfruit margaritas
Relaxed vibe behind the bakery in Suffolk Park, go check out Tallow beach and head here for dinner afterwards.
4. Middle Pub, Cheap, Cheerful, Delicious
Location: Mullumbimby
Meal: Casual Aussie Pub Dinner
All meals are $15, hearty and delicious. The vibe is super relaxed…it’s where my bookclub meets. Decent chance of having a chat with a friendly local here if you end up on the same table or couch.
5. Supernatural Wine + Tapas
Location: Byron Bay Town, Bay Lane (in the heart of tourist area)
Meal: Pre-Dinner, Dinner, Post-Dinner drinks
Natural wine, super delicious tapas, a little less ‘sceney’ than other venues because the low light and small space makes it harder to take photos for insta.
6. Wide Open Road Coffee — for when you can’t live without proper Melbourne roast coffee
Location: Byron Bay central
Meal: Breakfast
In the heart of tourist area opposite a bad swimwear shop, the Wide Open Road crew from Melbourne have re-created a little slice of this Brunswick coffee institution. They even flew up the former manager of Terra Twilight in Collingwood for the authentic Melbourne vibes.
There’s a good cheap vegan place with a ‘Lentil As Anything’ vibe at the back of the weird tourist lane too if you’re looking for a quick cheap filling lunch or dinner.
7. No Bones — Incredible vegan food + fun vibe.
Location: Byron Bay central
Meal: Dinner
Delicious cocktails, unbelievable vegan food, and outdoor verandah vibe in the main part of town. Order the ‘calamari’ to start.
8. Barrio Grill
Location: Arts and Industrial Precinct
Meal: Breakfast or lazy lunch
Best egg and bacon breakfast roll in town, and very decent coffee. The perfect place to catch up on emails and do some remote work if you need to, though it’s BYO internet!
If you’re visiting for lunch, order a bunch of platters from the grill (highly recommend the eggplant and octopus)and laze on the grassy hill under the tree outside on the picnic rugs. One of the only nicer places where walk-ins is probably fine without a booking.
There is a little local shopping precinct in the surrounding area to wander through while you’re digesting. The precinct development is where my office used to be, it’s called ‘Habitat’ and it’s one of the better sustainable multi-res developments in Aus.
Kura Japanese Izakaya Grill
Location: Byron Bay Central, Bay Lane upstairs
Meal: Dinner
Excellent authentic teppanyaki grill and sushi. It’s right in the heart of the tourist precinct, but it’s located upstairs so only half as popular as the Bay Lane tourist trap restaurants downstairs. Worth booking, though easier to get into than most places. Order at least one plate of the 5 piece mixed grill, and definitely get the sake!
Party
1. Nudge Nudge Wink Wink by Cunning Stunts
@ The Billinudgel Hotel
Always sells out, book now for the Jan 9 party.
Sort out transport or local accomodation in advance.
2. Brunswick Heads Hotel — Sunday Evening Live Music
The classic big outdoor party pub that exists in NSW but not Victoria.
Not sure how its events schedule has been affected by Corona restrictions.
3. Brunswick Heads Picture House
Circus, Comedy, Cabaret, Cinema
4. Brew House Theatre
Location: Byron Bay Brewhouse, Bryon Bay
Aside from the little movie theatre, fun DJs often play here. Relaxed vibe, mixed crowd, close to main Byron town.
Relax
1. Kiva Spa, Mullumbimby
Bali jungle vibes, including the low cost non-fancy fit out + kind people.
Highly recommend Wednesday Women only evening bathing, fun when its not super hot or still sunlight.
Or a massage in the temple room.
Make sure to go into the octagonal woodfire sauna. You have to crawl in.
2. Creature Yoga — Modern vinyasa and yin style yoga
Location: Arts and Industrial Estate, Byron
Clare Merrifield’s classes on Sundays are particularly nice on the muscles.
3. Comma Massage
Location: Arts and Industrial
Treat yo’self.
On the tourist trail…because it’s very very good
1. Raes on Wategos; dining room, spa, boutique hotel
Location: Wategos Beach (where Matt Damon just bought his house)
Sit next to celebrities, spend $$$ on modern Australian food including champagne granita oysters. Worth every dollar. Book well in advance!
The spa is like entering into a secret Moroccan souk.
There is a walk-in-only Cellar bar too as a more casual option; be prepared to encounter many ‘open collar, boat shoe’ and ‘Sydfluencer’ type people here.
2. The Rails Hotel
Location: Byron Bay central
Live music, beers, mixed local and tourist crowd, good times.
4. Treehouse Belongil
Location: Belongil Beach, Byron Bay
Meal: Lazy lunch or early dinner
Delicious pizza + don’t miss the chilli margaritas.
Perfect for after a swim at Belongil because you won’t feel bad about being sandy here.
5. Lightyears — Modern Asian in the heart of Byron
Location: Byron Bay Central
Meal: Dinner
Modern asian food to share, cocktails, super fun vibe.
Book WELL in advance. Where Zac Efron’s GF used to work.
6. Bang Bang
Location: Byron Bay Central
Meal: Dinner
The banquet is a good option to try a few different dishes, don’t skimp on the cocktails. If there’s just two of you, sitting at the bar is fun. Book in advance.
