11 of the best Lord Howe Island restaurants and cafes

From informal outdoor eating to the finest of island dining, Lord Howe Island has a variety of offerings to satisfy every craving.

Not taking up too much space on the map, the remote UNESCO World Heritage-listed paradise that is Lord Howe Island might not have a huge number of eating establishments to choose from, but what it lacks in quantity it certainly makes up for in the quality and diversity of its fare.

Here’s a list of the best – from pop-up gourmet picnics to Lord Howe Island restaurants and cafes to keep you fueled in between activities.

The Shortlist

Best fine dining – Capella Restaurant
Best casual eats – Lord Howe Island Brewery
Best outdoor – Benny’s Fish Truck
Best date spot – The Crooked Post

1. Capella Restaurant

views of Mounts Gower and Lidgbird at Capella Restaurant, Lord Howe Island — Enjoy relaxed dining with superb views of Mounts Gower and Lidgbird. (Image: Capella Lodge)

If you like your fine dining paired with premium views, the choice must be Capella Restaurant housed within Capella Lodge – though you’ll need to be a guest at the luxury resort to dine at its restaurant. While drinking in superb views of Mounts Gower and Lidgbird, you’ll dine on exquisite dishes from a menu that changes daily. Curated by Capella’s executive chef Dennis Tierney, expect starters like watermelon salad served with pistachio, pomegranate, rosewater, labneh and nasturtium; mains such as local kingfish with gai lan, green chilli with yuzu emulsion and salmon roe; and deserts like chocolate, caramel and peanut wrapped in a parcel of puffed rice.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$ – $$$$$
Atmosphere: Relaxed elegance
Review: 5/5
Location: Capella Lodge, Lagoon Road

2. Anchorage

alfresco dining at Anchorage, Lord Howe Island — Anchorage is a popular option for casual dining near Lagoon Beach. (Image: Supplied)

This restaurant’s style is elegant casual, and the food reflects this as well, with executive chef David Chlumsky having worked at some of Sydney’s finest dining institutions such as Otto, Quay and Longrain.

Expect modern Australian cuisine, complemented by plenty of locally caught fish and locally grown fruits and vegetables, plus artisan sourdough, Turkish bread, pies, cakes and pastries, all baked on site daily. Open from your morning flat white and avocado on toast through to your post-dinner lemon cheesecake and digestif, this restaurant located just a few steps from the golden shores of Lagoon Beach, hits the mark for every meal, seven days a week. A perennially popular option on the island, it’s best to book ahead at Anchorage for dinner.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Casual
Review: 4/5
Location: The Anchorage, Ned’s Beach Road

3. The Crooked Post

ocean views through the pines from the veranda of The Crooked Post, Lord Howe Island — Nab a table for intimate and relaxed beachside dining. (Image: The Crooked Post)

If you’re looking for somewhere special to take your significant other or to meet others in a fun, modern small bar setting, The Crooked Post Bar is the perfect place. With ocean views through the pines from the veranda of the beautifully preserved historic house in which it is set, this small contemporary bar offers live music, island-inspired cocktails and delicious bites including pizzas and mezze plates. Open daily for lunch while dinner is served on Sunday and Monday nights.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$ – $$$
Atmosphere: Intimate, relaxed
Location: The Crooked Post, Ned’s Beach Road

4. Lord Howe Island Brewery

friends enjoying drinks at outdoor tables, Lord Howe Island Brewery — Find a breezy spot at one of the picnic tables. (Image: Heidi Morris)

If there’s any food and beverage that tastes better outdoors, it’s got to be wood-fired pizza, and beer. Lord Howe Island Brewery does them perfectly, often adding some live music into the mix. Lagers and pale ales are brewed onsite using island botanicals, while ingredients for the pizza toppings are plucked from the brewery’s glasshouse. Ever popular with a local crowd and tucked down a dirt track among the Kentia palms, this is the spot to plonk yourself down at a table in the afternoon and soak up island vibes.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Casual
Review: 4/5
Location: Lord Howe Island Brewery

5. Love Lord Howe

a beachside picnic by Love Lord Howe — Indulge in a gourmet beachside picnic. (Image: Love Lord Howe)

Seeing as you’re visiting one of the world’s most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage-listed islands, it’s worth considering eating outdoors to make the most of Lord Howe’s natural surrounds.

While not a brick-and-mortar establishment, Love Lord Howe can set the perfect scene with their award-winning picnic pop-ups. Whether it’s at a secluded beach or beneath the pines, founder Danielle will choose the best location on the day, dictated by the weather conditions. With low picnic table, cushions, blankets, cutlery, crockery and gourmet platter and drinks, everything is ready and waiting for you to just turn up and enjoy. And the best thing is there’s no packing up afterwards.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Casual
Location: Location TBA on the day

6. Thompsons General Store

Going strong since 1925, this general store purveys all the everyday essentials you might need, as well as a few extras, from souvenirs and fishing supplies to fresh bread and fruit. But it’s the takeaway service that has visitors rapt with its specialty coffee and gourmet rolls, a popular choice. While there are options for veggies, you’ll also find prawn burgers, chicken burgers, and the classic beef, beetroot and egg. Add on a cold beer and hot chips and eat your lunch under the shade of the palm trees outside, watching the world go by. If burgers aren’t your thing, then opt for the fish and chips, sandwiches or ready-to-go salads instead.

Cuisine: Takeaway
Average price: $
Atmosphere: Casual
Location: Thompson’s Store, Ned’s Beach Road

7. Arajilla Restaurant

a plate of food at Arajilla Restaurant, Lord Howe Island — Arajilla Restaurant serves a seasonal menu with locally sourced and pasture-fed meats. (Image: Destination NSW)

Like Capella Lodge’s Restaurant, Arajilla Restaurant has a seasonal menu that changes daily, and you’ll also need to be a staying guest at the resort to eat at this fine dining restaurant.

Arajilla boasts its own kitchen garden, which supplies the restaurant with organic veggies and herbs, while line-caught fish are brought in fresh from the island’s waters.

Artisan cheeses and pasture-fed meats are sourced from the mainland. And the experienced in-house chefs bake their own bread. As a result, the artfully plated dishes sing with freshness and vibrancy. Dinner might include lamb breast terrine with feta ravioli, crispy fried capers and romesco sauce for starters, sesame-crusted kingfish with a baby corn and miso broth for main, and a tonka bean bavarois for dessert. But even breakfast is a cut above (think miso-cured trout corn fritters with Japanese mustard greens, yuzu dressing and a poached egg). Moreover, the kitchen can accommodate all kinds of diners with dietaries, from vegans to celiacs.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Relaxed elegance
Location: Arajilla Retreat, Old Settlement Beach

8. Driftwood Bar and Restaurant

steamed local flame snapper at Driftwood Bar and Restaurant, Lord Howe Island — This steamed local Flame Snapper is a specialty at Driftwood Bar and Restaurant.

Driftwood Bar and Restaurant might have only opened a few years ago but it’s quickly become a local favourite with its delicious food, intimate feel, warm local service and wonderfully nostalgic island decor and memorabilia. The restaurant located at Ocean View Apartments specialises in Asian inspired dishes with a focus on locally caught fish and seafood. The wahoo ceviche with chilli, lime, coconut and tobiko, and coconut fish curry is especially good, mopped up with some freshly fried roti.

Cuisine: Asian fusion
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Intimate, relaxed
Review: 4/5
Location: Ocean View Apartments, 1 Ocean View Drive

9. Benny’s Fish Truck

fish and chips at Benny’s Fish Truck, Lord Howe Island — Find the best fish and chips on the island at Benny’s Fish Truck. (Image: Supplied)

While not a restaurant as such, Benny’s Fish Truck is reputed to serve the best fish and chips in Australia, and is where you’ll find some of the tastiest and freshest seafood on the island. Often parked in front of the jetty near the centre of town, stroll down as the sun begins to set and take a seat on the grassed area like the locals do to enjoy the likes of kingfish sashimi, sesame-crusted yellowfin tuna or the good old, battered catch of the day.

Cuisine: Takeaway
Average price: $
Atmosphere: Casual
Review: 5/5
Location: Jetty, Ocean View Drive or TBA

10. Coral Cafe

the lush exterior of Coral Cafe, Lord Howe Island — Coral Cafe is tucked into a lush space within the Lord Howe Island Museum. (Image: Supplied)

You need to time it right at Coral Cafe . While the restaurant housed within the Lord Howe Island Museum is open daily for breakfast and lunch, it’s only open for dinner three nights a week.

This cosy and reasonably priced cafe has simple yet hearty breakfast and lunch options (think egg and bacon rolls, milkshakes, hamburgers, sandwiches, wraps and cakes).

Come dusk, a more sophisticated offering takes hold: dine on prawn and chilli linguine, grilled local kingfish, as well as the occasional Malaysian special.

Cuisine: Australian
Average price: $-$$
Atmosphere: Casual
Location: Lord Howe Island Museum and Visitor Centre, Middle Road

11. Lord Howe Island Bowling Club

There’s a limited menu at this Lord Howe institution, popular with locals and families, so choose your night wisely. Some nights pizzas are on special; some nights the chef spotlights the humble pie; and others still have a wider ranging traditional Aussie pub menu, plus a few more island-specific nods, such as grilled blue-eye trevalla, or kingfish sashimi. Similar to any kind of bowls club or RSL back on the mainland, this isn’t the place to go for glamour and haute cuisine: instead, come for a glass of wine, a good time and a hearty feed.

Cuisine: Classic Australian
Average price: $
Atmosphere: Casual
Location: Bowling Club, 1 Lagoon Rd

Originally written by Chloe Cann with updates by Bonita Grima

Discover the best accommodation on Lord Howe Island

Discover the magic of a Sydney staycation in summer at The Fullerton Hotel Sydney.

Sydney City is magical in summer. Warm summer evenings beg to be spent sipping cool cocktails at one of many al fresco and rooftop bars. Ferries and buses are ready to transport travellers to the best nearby beaches for salty days on the sand. National parks and rainforests are waiting to be explored. And the city’s events calendar is packed, from live music to cultural attractions. All elements that call for a Sydney staycation.

Discover where to eat, stay and play for the perfect local getaway.

Where to stay

The Fullerton Hotel Sydney

Amid the bustle of the perfect Sydney staycation, one needs a place to escape to and recharge. Enter, The Fullerton Hotel Sydney . The hotel is an icon in its own right – nestled inside the 151-year-old building that was originally Sydney’s General Post Office, its heritage-listed sandstone walls and Victorian renaissance grandeur have been carefully preserved – providing a rare chance to sleep within Sydney’s history.

Despite its fascinating history, the hotel isn’t short on modern, luxurious comforts. Rooms and suites are available in both the modern high-rise with gorgeous views over the clock tower and lively city below, or inside the historical post office building itself.

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney Heritage Long Suite bathroom — Heritage rooms maintain their old-world style.

Either way, guests can enjoy sophisticated touches, including a deluxe bed and pillow menu, Harman Kardon Bluetooth speakers, a digital concierge, a Vittoria coffee machine and amenities from the Balmain bathroom collection.

The team at this five-star hotel provides excellence and a quality experience for all their guests, while amenities like a gym help with a well-rounded stay. For a peaceful moment with sweeping city views, enter The Fullerton Club Lounge on level 28. This private haven for dining and relaxation is available to any guests staying on the hotel’s club floors and suites.

Add to this a central location in the CBD’s Martin Place, with easy access to Sydney’s top attractions, and convenience meets style.

Where to drink & dine

1. The Bar

the Fullerton Hotel afternoon tea at the bar — Indulge in the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea.

Inside The Fullerton Hotel Sydney’s lobby, The Bar does more than sling a few delicious cocktails (although it certainly does that well). Its brown leather chairs and glass ceiling create the perfect, almost al fresco, setting for the Fullerton Signature Afternoon Tea .

Served daily from 12 to 4 pm, the afternoon tea is a nod to the cherished social occasion it once was during the Victorian Renaissance era. People like to dress up for this afternoon tea, and if you’re lucky, a pianist often sits down at the on-site grand piano, just adding to the elegance.

The afternoon tea is served high tea style, offering reimagined British flavours of the Victorian Renaissance era with a unique blend of Australia’s culinary heritage. A sweet layer offers delights like a Malted Milk Envelope (a milk mousse layered between two biscuits), Bakewell Pudding (a super tasty egg-based pudding), and Apple Charlotte.

On the savoury layer, expect finger sandwiches with fillings like cucumber, egg and smoked salmon. While classic pinwheels and stuffed eggs almost make the menu. And, of course, all finished off with traditional scones served with cream and mixed berry jam.

Can’t fit in a whole afternoon tea? Be sure to at least order a slice of the 32-layered chocolate cake, a decadent mix of dark chocolate crémeux, fresh whipped cream, and Valrhona Azélia chocolate sauce. ⁣

2. The Place

the Fullerton Hotel the place dining — Dine in the stunning GPO atrium.

On level one of The Fullerton Hotel Sydney lives The Place – the hotel’s restaurant, in an atrium overlooking the former GPO. Here, dine on Modern Australian cuisine – think fresh, local seafood and a Riverina steak sandwich – along with a touch of Singaporean signature dishes, like Thai-style green curry or chicken satay. All in the shadow of the GPO clock tower, enjoying the GPO atrium’s natural light.

3. Local gelato

Couple enjoying ice-creams at First Fleet Park, The Rocks — Enjoy ice cream in the sunshine. (Image: Destination NSW)

What is summer without ice cream and/or gelato? Luckily, there are plenty of options just a short walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, whether you’re craving a midday pick-me-up or an after-sun treat.

What to do/see

1. GPO Heritage Tour

the Fullerton Hotel Sydney lobby — Be awed by the building’s history.

Want to know more about the building you’re staying in? The Fullerton Hotel Sydney offers a complimentary 90-minute GPO Heritage Tour. Follow a knowledgeable tour guide to discover the stories, tales and legends of the former Sydney General Post Office building.

From the iconic clock tower (completed in 1891) to the black-and-white tiled staircase at 1 Martin Place, which was once the main entrance to the GPO and today serves as a prominent feature of the building to the 24 stone faces (mascarons) on the Martin Place side of the building. Part of the 1880s-era facade (designed by architect James Barnet), each represents different states, countries and continents.

2. Circular Quay

aerial of circular quay sydney — Catch a ferry from Circular Quay. (Image: Destination NSW)

An easy walk or light rail ride away from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, lies the bustling Circular Quay. Here, you can sit for a drink and nibbles at the Opera Bar, or head into the iconic house itself for a show. It’s also a major ferry port, becoming your gateway to Sydney’s beaches, Luna Park and even Sydney Zoo.

3. Royal Botanic Gardens

view of circular quay from Sydney's Royal Botanic Garden — Wander through Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. (Image: Destination NSW)

Just beyond Circular Quay, discover Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden. Wander through this 30-hectare, heritage-listed, botanical garden – exploring its differing sections, from Australian native botanicals to garden beds of vibrant flowers to towering groves of international trees.

It’s also the perfect place for a picnic, so pick up supplies before you come and enjoy a spot on the grassy meadow looking out into the harbour.

4. Theatre Royal

Just a one-minute walk from The Fullerton Hotel Sydney, take in a show at Theatre Royal. Built in 1976, the theatre has been offering a broad range of entertainment since the 1990s. Expect a show roster that ranges from the classics (like Cats) to the modern) like Pretty Woman: The Musical).

Start planning a summer stay in Sydney worth remembering at fullertonhotels.com/fullerton-hotel-sydney.