Get a taste of Italy in the heart of Byron Bay at Pixie Food & Wine. Making the most of the abundance of local seafood and produce, Pixie uses Australia’s delicious produce to curate an ever-evolving menu of Italian-influenced cuisine. Here, pasta is made by hand and wine is, mostly, Italian. There’s also a gluten-free menu, which will delight coeliacs and gluten-intolerant diners as they won’t have to skip on the Cacio e Pepe. 139 Jonson St, Byron Bay; pixiebyronbay.com.au

Located at 4 Marvell St, Byron Bay Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant is an approachable yet refined dining offering with a focus on the very best oysters and seafood from across Australia and New Zealand. With oysters being the star of the show, Byron Bay Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant is taking the freshness of them very seriously. So much so, it’s purchased a huge land-based oyster tank that purifies and holds up to 500 dozen oysters at a time. 4 Marvell St, Byron Bay; hotelmarvell.com.au

If you’re staying in Byron Bay during peak season and want a reprieve from the crowd, head to Moonlight. The intimate, contemporary Japanese hibachi grill and wine bar is located in a laneway off Johnson Street and can easily be missed, which is part of its appeal. Sit at the bar, alfresco, or in the narrow dining space and don’t leave without trying the Watermelon sashimi, Pickled cucumber or Tuna ‘temaki’ roll. Bay Ln, Byron Bay; moonlightbar.com.au

If you’re a Queenslander, Light Years needs no introduction. With outposts in Burleigh and Noosa, this modern-Asian restaurant is a go-to for deliciously spicy share plates. While Newcastle is also home to a Light Years, its not as well-known in other states, which is why making the most of being in such close proximity makes dining here is a must. Drawing on flavours from Thai, Korean, Cantonese and Singaporean cuisine, while using the freshest local produce you will be delighted by the Singapore chilli prawns, Korean crispy chicken bao buns and Wagyu beef rendang. 139 Jonson St, Byron Bay; lightyearsasiandiner.com.au

With two outposts in Byron Bay, on bustling Jonson St and in the Industrial Estate, this modern bakery has earnt cult- like status. Its ode to old-school Australiana, the vanilla slice, is especially good. Creamy vanilla custard neighbours layers of puff pastry in a partnership that’s not sickly sweet. It’s generously portioned, too – think slab over slice. 101 Jonson St, Byron Bay; sundaysustainablebakery.com

The crew from Lightyears have branched out from their usual modern-Asian fare and hopped over to Cairo for their latest venture. The Smoking Camel is a boldly designed new space that ties together modern Middle Eastern energy with vibrant interiors, share-style dishes cooked over charcoal and fragrant cocktails, set to a neon backdrop. Throw back some local drinks with dips like hummus with harissa oil and babaganoush with parsley oil; smashed falafel with green goddess tahini; and sumac spiced tuna tartare. From the grill, plates include baharat beef shish; shawarma spiced chicken; and halloumi and mixed vegetables. Get into the Byron state of mind with a salty-sweet salad of watermelon, shanklish and mint, or a sharp and fresh ‘village salad’ with whipped feta. 17 Lawson St, Byron Bay; thesmokingcamel.com.

Kouzina is a little slice of Greek heaven nestled away from the hustle and bustle of Byron. You’ll swear you’ve been transported to a taverna on a Greek island. The food is authentic – think Greek salad and fresh calamari – plus, it’s BYO so get yourself a Mythos beer to accompany the meal. 1/1 Acacia St, Byron Bay; kouzinabyronbay.com

In a shock move, chef Matt Stone left Harvest Newrybar – one of the most enlightened and delicious restaurants in the Byron Bay region – to become executive chef at Ciao, Mate! The Bangalow restaurant is pretty as can be from the outside, and inside there are tan leather booths, plus there’s a covered courtyard out the back. Even pre Matt Stone the food here sent shockwaves through foodie Instagram with the likes of “rigatoni alla octopus”, red pepper and nduja soffritto, and gremolata. Insider tip, order “off menu” when something appears, it means something truly special is on offer. There’s sourdough, woodfired pizza with charred crusts and smoky notes – we had a spicy pork with guanciale and tomato rendition that won hearts. 33 Byron St, Bangalow; instagram.com/ciao.mate

If you’ve been to Byron before chances are you’ve either heard of or eaten at Bang Bang. It’s one of those restaurants that everyone knows and is quite mainstream, but for good reason – the food is simply delicious. The menu features modern Asian fusion dishes including classics like stick braised beed ribs, sashimi and, of course, a few curries. 4/1 Byron St, Byron Bay; bangbangbyronbay.com

Having recently opened in April 2025, take a front-row seat to culinary artistry at their intimate Chef’s Table. Here, you’ll witness the precision and passion that goes into every dish, while enjoying a signature tasting-menu experience. Shop 3/109 Jonson St, Byron Bay; restaurantdorsia.com.au

This terrazzo-laden dessert den in Byron Bay is where Italian traditions collide with fresh local produce, serving creations proudly free from additives or colouring. Classic flavours such as hazelnut nocciola sit alongside gelato of a distinctly more Northern Rivers tone: Sticky Chai, or vegan Golden Milk, which marries turmeric with organic almond milk and nut butter. Shop 8/8 Fletcher St, Byron Bay; frankiesgelato.com

If high vibes is one of your non-negotiables, make way for Sun Ranch. Nestled in Byron Shire’s Coopers Shoot you’ll find the weather more balmy in winter around these parts, but there’s plenty more reasons to visit this 70s-inspired cluster of ranch houses and cabins. Such as the laidback pool, cowboy bar, floating sauna, or the hotel’s access to horse riding or tarot card readings (among others). 17 Byron Creek Rd, Coopers Shoot; sunranch.com.au

If you’re looking for luxury in Byron Bay, you don’t have to look too hard. In fact, Byron has nailed the quintessential laidback luxury you typically find at Australian resorts. But, there’s a new kid on the block and it’s bucking the trend. Byron Bay’s first five-star hotel, Hotel Marvell, has just opened in the heart of Byron town on Marvell Street (just off Jonson Street) and it is five-star in every sense of the word. Think 24-hour front-desk, rooftop pool and bar, new restaurant offering in the form of Bonito and it is stunning to just look at. It leaves the traditional bohemian feel of Byron behind, and introduces a new class of luxury with a mix of warm-toned marble and tile finishes, American oak wood, tan leather and lush jungle-like greenery. 4 Marvell St, Byron Bay; hotelmarvell.com.au

The new-old hotel (Swell Hotel falls into the category of ‘cleverly renovated roadside motel’) sits on Butler Street – the main thoroughfare in and out of Byron – but manages to feel secluded, remote and private despite its central location. Perhaps it’s the clouds of incense that float through the property, or the carefully selected music or well-established tropical gardens within the grounds. Whatever it is, the vibe of calm is undeniable. 11 Butler St, Byron Bay; swellhotel.com

Bringing a slice of Italy to the hills of Byron Bay, Lo Scoglio is the NSW beachside town’s newest accommodation offering. The Italian-style farmhouse sleeps 12 and features a gym and pool, and has chefs like Matt Stone and Matt Moran on call. 451 Coopers Shoot Rd, Coopers Shoot; loscoglio.com.au