Boutique hotels
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Gaia Retreat & Spa
- Style
- Eco-chic retreat
- Setting
- Rolling hills and rainforest
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Victoria's at Ewingsdale
- Style
- Tuscan meets French Provençal
- Setting
- Country manor near the sea
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Victoria's at Wategos
- Style
- Classical Tuscan villa
- Setting
- Coastal tropical valley
Self-catering properties
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Annalilli
- Style
- Hippie-chic holiday home
- Setting
- Tucked away in Byron Bay
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Byron Bay Villa
- Style
- Boho deluxe
- Setting
- Above Wategos Beach
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Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat
- Style
- Luxe jungle lodges
- Setting
- Secluded subtropical sanctuary
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The Villas of Byron
- Style
- Byron does Bali
- Setting
- A meander from Main Beach
Byron Bay Eating, drinking and dancing
Restaurants
(+61 (0)2 6685 7320)
Dish
There’s a modern, relaxed Balinese vibe here, with ivy clinging to the walls and warmth added by the exposed timber ceilings. Bret Cameron’s seasonal menu – European but with a touch of Asian –reaches just the right level of creativity, too.
Cnr Jonson and Marvell Streets, Byron Bay
(+61 (0)2 6680 7055)
Pacific Dining Room
Restaurateurs John and Lisa van Haandel have brought a touch of Melbourne magic to the beach. It’s a compact menu with Mediterranean influences – grilled local prawns served with aioli, pimientos de Padrón and Ortiz anchovies are all offered as small plates – served in a sophisticated, laidback venue.
Beach Hotel, cnr Jonson and Bay Streets, Byron Bay
(+61 (0)2 6687 1010)
Satiate
Upstairs from the popular deli Ate is this gem. Tetsuya’s-trained chef Shannon Debreceny offers a five-course degustation menu with a Spanish overtones for just NZ$55 per person. Worth the drive.
33 Byron Street, Bangalow
Bars
(+61 (0)2 6685 5833
Buddha Bar
It’s all a little bit sultry – could be the red-tinged, low lighting – and definitely the place to be for Byron’s young lovelies. There are DJs, live music and even fire shows on occasion.
1 Skinners Shoot Road, Byron Bay
(+61 (0)2 6680 7070
La La Land
Find a spot on one of the couches and settle in for a cocktail and a chat early on, but realisee that it won’t last. As the night wears on, the music goes up and the room goes off. Not quite so full-on during the week.
6 Lawson Street, Byron Bay
Cafés
(+61 (0)2 6685 8900)
Bayleaf Café
Prop yourself at the high seats in the window for one of the best brekkies in town, especially if you’re a coffee tragic. This is, according to locals, the place to sip.
8/87 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
(+61 (0)2 6685 8400)
Byron Beach Café
Just a little bit posher than your average caff, and the views are amazing from both the deck and the dining room. Chef Matthew Gillespie, who has a rep in these parts, prepares a range of enticements, including a great wagyu burger at lunch.
Lawson Street, Clarkes Beach
(+61 (0)2 6685 6810)
Twisted Sista
There’s plenty of atmosphere in this cute café. The homemade cakes, including a wicked macadamia baked cheesecake, are served in slices big enough for two.
4 Lawson Street, Byron Bay
