The Resy Guide to the Ultimate Byron Bay Road Trip

A vacation-within-a-vacation, this jaw-droppingly pretty boutique hotel also boasts a pretty special dining room and restaurant. Spanish Mission-style architecture and interiors hides a cornucopia of alcoves accented with art and sculpture – and that’s just the table settings. Jason Saxby’s cooking is sophisticated but approachable, with à la carte and tasting menus, plus a separate vegan menu.

An exciting but informal bistro from a couple of fine dining veterans, chef Giorgio Ravelli (whose CV boasts the late two-Michelin star Ledbury in London) sends out simple, comforting plates of French-leaning fare while partner Holly Ottignon runs front of house. A prix fixe is excellent value, and the wine list leans towards France and Italy, with plenty of natural bottles and Australian producers sprinkled throughout.

Tucked away in an alley, this stylish natural wine bar is reminiscent of Paris and London’s legendary haunts, with the added benefit of being a few minutes from the beach. Natural wines are the tipple of choice here, drawn from a region-agnostic list that could explore Austria one week, Georgia the next. There’s an excellent happy hour that’s popular with the cool kids, alongside small plates like beef tartare or octopus with spicy ‘nduja.

A half hour walk along the sands of the bay – or a few minutes by solar train if that’s a bit too much activity – brings you to this sleek, handsome café and bar, as casual as it is fabulous. Breezily presented, the menu of Middle Eastern-leaning small plates (marinated vegetables, flatbreads and dips aplenty) is quietly breathtaking; so too are sturdier mains of seafood and meat from the grill. The space’s design location in the artsy Habitat complex gives it a breezy indoor-outdoor feel that makes it excellent for an aperitif or three. More info here.

Last minute road trips often call for improvisation. Need somewhere great to eat at short notice? No sweat. Pizza suits everyone, and there are few better places to be in Brunswick Heads than on the deck of this neighbourhood pizzeria at golden hour. There’s also delicious antipasti and natural wines, plus a cracking locals night each Tuesday, with all the schooners and cocktails you can drink.

Straddling the coastline of Lennox Head, this restaurant from a trio of Blue Ducks alums is well worth the 20-minute detour from Byron Bay. As well as a beachside seats with views of the ocean, dishes are both comforting and creative – and executed to perfection. Start with oysters or prawns with chilli aioli, before diving into mains like hand-cut fettuccine with spanner crab, or a dessert of coconut semifreddo with mango and passionfruit. Perfect for a lazy lunch.

Making the trip north to visit the Three Blue Ducks’ farm in Byron is a trip in itself, with enough activities to keep even the most jaded city slickers easily occupied for hours. Book ahead or put your name down for a waitlist, before settling down at a café with a coffee and pastry; alternatively, peruse the produce store, or visit the animals before sitting down to a leisurely meal cooked with produce from the farm and other small growers from the surrounding region.

Didn’t manage to book Fleet all those months ago? This casual Mexican eatery in Brunswick Heads comes courtesy of chef Josh Lewis and Astrid McCormack, owners of said destination restaurant, and found just a few minutes down the road.  There’s a beachy, laid-back feel here; a veranda provides a comfy spot to perch for late-night agave cocktails and beers, while modern takes on classics like tres leches cake, tacos, and esquites always hit the spot. Takeaway available.

An oasis in the centre of Byron Bay, this stylish, pretty newcomer is perfect for low-key glamour or casual dinner with drinks. Vintage furniture, plush booths, and a breezy maritime feel are ample invitation to linger, as is a menu of hand-stretched sourdough pizzas and beautifully presented cocktails, colourful spritzes, and martinis.

Chef Martin Morelli’s frequently changing menu of seasonal bistro plates are a big draw at this laid-back restaurant in Lennox Heads. Handmade pasta, vegetables, and seafood are excellent, and while dishes occasionally riff on global trends, almost everything you eat here will be familiar and satisfying. For those staying locally, freshly baked loaves of spelt, dark malt, and focaccia are on sale each morning.

For many Sydneysiders, this intimate, breezy neighbourhood watering hole and restaurant will feel like a home from home. Oma comes courtesy of the Three Blue Ducks team, with a head chef who cut their teeth at Nopi in London and Bar Liberty, an all-natural wine list, and relaxed plates of bistro-style cooking that range from perfect-for-grazing to ample for a blowout. An open verandah befits its beachside location, while a relaxed vibe invites repeat visits.

Strong margaritas, freshly pressed tortillas, tacos, and seafood from the grill are huge draws at Evan White and Amelia Stokes’ relaxed Mexican eatery in Suffolk Park, opened after the latter noted parallels between the seafood in the Northern Rivers region and Yucatan. Whitewashed walls, colourful flourishes, and tropical plants give it a perma-vacation feel, while on warm days, the restaurant comes into its own with a pretty outdoor area perfect for sipping Tecates in the sun.

A bright, light-filled dining room accentuated with pastels and pops of neon sets the stage for a broadly East and South-East Asian menu that pulls dishes from across the continent. Vegan and non-vegan riffs on pho are perfect for hot and humid weather, while dumplings and a crumbed fish and tartare ‘bao’ – a fun play on a classic fish sandwich and Taiwanese gua bao – are also excellent. Don’t miss out on the cocktails, either. More info here.