13 March 2024
12 mins Read
The evolution of Newcastle from industrial to sophisticated has been decisively swift thanks to an influx of creative types looking for a sea change; the Newcastle restaurant scene has followed suit. For starters, the wharf area has had a makeover. Secondly, you can crack open a can of craft beer and listen to live music almost every night of the week, or you can eat outdoors on a terrace overlooking the ocean – and the Newcastle bar scene is just as enticing.
There’s even Newcastle Food Month, an annual event dedicated to eating and drinking your way around Newcastle. There’s never been a better time to discover the city’s culinary credentials. Follow along with our guide to the best restaurants in Newcastle.
Best for: Impressing your quirky new squeeze at this regional restaurant with rooms.
Delicate creations, like the carrot tartare, grace the menu at Jana Restaurant.
Start with drinks on the Rooftop at QT then head to Jana to enjoy premium ingredients sourced by executive chef Shayne Mansfield and treated with care at this hip restaurant in the happening East End precinct. Jana Restaurant & Bar is housed in the heritage David Jones building that has been reimagined as QT Newcastle. The 75-seater restaurant takes humble ingredients and transforms them into signature dishes such as the carrot tartare, Margra lamb and Rocky Point Cobia fish.
Address: 185 Hunter St, Newcastle
Sleek booths and warm-coloured furnishings fill the space.
Best for: The Feed me option where you leave all the decisions up to the staff.
Chef Michael Portley has garnered a lot of attention at Humbug for his Italian-leaning fare with Asian accents. Portley (ex-The Edwards, Bodega, Sydney; Africola, Adelaide) and his partner Stephanie Wells define the spirit of the Newcastle hospitality scene: Humbug is casual, yet sophisticated.
Expect Italian-leaning fare with Asian accents on the menu at Humbug. (Image: David Griffen Photography)
The neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar offer a terrific trifecta of wine, pasta, snacks. Snag a table near to the concertina windows to enjoy a bowl of handmade pasta with duck ragu mafaldine scattered with Thai basil. Humbug is a game-changer.
Address: 87-89 Hunter St, Newcastle
The vibrant interiors at Humbug bring a fun-loving vibe to the restaurant. (Image: David Griffen Photography)
Best for: People-watching while enjoying pork and prawn gyoza.
There’s not a Novocastrian that doesn’t know about Nagisa. It’s been around for more than two decades and is regarded as one of the best Japanese restaurants in Newcastle. The family-owned eatery in the Honeysuckle dining district is led by Tetsuhiko Namba and his son Taiyo, who is the restaurant manager. The restaurant is known for its gyoza, which are made with precision and care, and for authentic Japanese dishes such as sashimi, wagyu beef tataki and chicken karaage. Head to sister bar Âpé next door for skewers and sake.
Address: Shop 2/1 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle
Best for: Order the chef’s choice and a bottle of wine from a well-thought-out list to enjoy overlooking the river.
Maryville locals couldn’t believe their luck when Elementa opened on the banks of Throsby Foreshore, within walking distance of the city. It’s the romantic neighbourhood bistro of our dreams.
The dimly lit interiors at Elementa create the perfect vibe for romance.
The dining room is all dark and moody with charcoal walls, warm wood tones, and ambient lighting and the terrace overlooks the water and a row of tuckeroo trees.
There’s a variety of delicious dishes to choose from.
Chef Jess Brooks (ex-Flotilla) works with the region’s best producers to deliver dishes such as roasted beets with lemon labneh and charred bread and tamari-glazed beef short rib with Koji pumpkin and wild rice.
Address: 76 The Lane, Maryville
Best for: Sunday lunch with people you wish were your family.
Harrison’s seems to have cornered the market on charm. The compact bistro and wine bar is all vintage crockery, mismatched tables and chairs, hand-scrawled chalkboard specials and European-inspired fare giving off ‘dinner at Nan’s’ vibes. The bistro is named after owner Tony Harrison, which goes some way toward explaining the vibe of the place. Come here to be fed well by this hospitable chap on small share plates of ceviche and pate with pickles and larger share plates of confit chicken Maryland with carrot puree and baby cauliflower. It’s a beloved bistro for a reason.
Address: 108 Tudor St, Hamilton
Best for: Buttermilk fried chicken wings.
Staying at Crystalbrook Kingsley on business? Use your company card to splurge at Ms Mary, named in honour of Ms Mary Eckford, a former convict who became one of Newcastle’s pioneering settlers. Please don’t steal the aprons and napkins like Ms Mary did prior to being deported from the UK in 1801.
An indulgent spread at Ms Mary’s. (Image: David Griffen Photography)
Just use your expense account to indulge in smashed avocado with Newcastle greens. This light-filled morning meeting spot flips the switch to become a lunch date location and lounge. Buying drinks for the boss? Order Bloody Marys all round, obviously. The terrace at Ms Mary is also one of the best places to enjoy breakfast in Newcastle.
Address: Ground Floor, Crystalbrook Kingsley, 282 King St, Newcastle
Best for: Start with summer tomatoes and follow with local bonito, borlotti beans and green harissa.
The Flotilla is the third Newcastle dining venue from ex-Silverchair musician Chris Joannou and business partner Zack Scholtz. Channelling the momentum from the duo’s previous ventures (The Edwards and The Criterion), Flotilla was designed to mimic the style of Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice Beach, California.
The hatted restaurant focuses on using standout local produce and delivering world-class service.
Australian produce is the hero here, with local producers, such as Branxton Meats and Shane’s Seafood, making a regular appearance. Almost 100 per cent of the wine list is Australian, with a big emphasis on natural varieties and a small selection of French wine. The service here is world-class and likely a contributing factor in helping earn Flotilla its first hat.
Address: 9 Albert St, Wickham
Best for: shareable snacks and dinner with friends.
This cosy neighbourhood bar is the perfect place to start the night. (Image: David Griffen Photography)
The folks behind Newcastle’s hatted fine diner Flotilla have added even more wow factor to the suburb of Wickham. Vecina means ‘neighbour’ in Spanish and the adjacent venue is perfect for easy-drinking wines and cocktails paired with snacky pintxos. If you squint, the warm, cosily lit neighbourhood bar may make you feel like you’re in the back streets of San Sebastian.
Come for the snacks and easy-drinking wines. (Image: David Griffen Photography)
Address: 9 Albert St, Wickham
Best for: Roasted free-range duck breast with endive, walnut granola and fermented red plum jus.
The Roundhouse on Level 9 of Crystalbrook Kingsley is one of Newcastle’s coolest hideouts. The restaurant is named after the iconic building of the same name, which has wrap-around windows and views that stretch from Nobbys Head to the Hunter Valley.
Dine at The Roundhouse for sunset views across Newcastle.
Executive chef Matthew Smith has applied his expertise to the menu, based on a rotation of seasonal dishes centred around sustainability such as the Yamba prawns in XO butter. In addition to the elegant aesthetic – think Art Deco-inspired banquettes and parquetry floors – the service is professional and polished.
Curl up with a drink in hand at Rombergs.
The wine list showcases the breadth of the Hunter region’s wine varietals. The adjoining rooftop bar, Rombergs, is also one of Newcastle’s top spots for a drink.
Address: 282 King St, Newcastle
Best for: Tortilla soup with chicken, veggies, tomatillos, and spices, thickened with house-made corn tortillas.
For a Mexican feast for dinner or lunch in Newcastle, look no further than Antojitos. What initially started as a small market stall now operates within a cavernous warehouse-sized restaurant that turns out up to 45,000 burritos and 35,000 tacos a year. The mercado-style menu is a Californian-style taqueria so expect all the authentic Mexican favourites – from carnitas (slow-pulled pork) to pollo (chicken), suadero (beef) and soyrizo (crumbled soy tofu). The menu also includes nachos, guacamole and corn chips, and burritos.
The menu boasts a whole range of Mexican food.
Address: 11 Steel St, Newcastle
Best for: A family feast of Beirut Mixed Grill with skewers of meat, chips, garlic sauce and tabbouli.
Downtown Beirut has become a showcase for Lebanese culture and cuisine, steeped in history. Feast on falafel, kibbeh in a yoghurt sauce, loubye beans, spinach pockets and lamb cutlets, all served with a side of signature smoked rice and humming with pepper and spice. The main dishes include the tender grilled meats so synonymous with Middle Eastern fare, which arrive at the table on platters to share. There are also slow-cooked stews and colourful crunchy pickles. Build your plate on a pillow of pita slathered in hummus.
Feast on falafel, kibbi, loubi beans, spinach pockets, lamb cutlets and more.
Address: 25 Beaumont St, Islington
Best for: Eating in tune with the Italian way.
An Italian restaurant has occupied the Pino’s Italian address since the ‘70s. While new owners prompted a name change from the original Giuseppe’s in the early 2000s, the food has kept its Italian focus over the years but with an Australian accent. It’s like visiting your cool cousins in Milan. The rustic space is all exposed brick and Art Deco wall lights set to a hip-hop soundtrack. You will find mirrors, chalk-clad blackboards, and other precious mementos on the walls of the eatery that would be at home on the walls of your nonna’s house. The entire Pino’s menu is vegan, and we recommend starting with eggplant ‘beef cheeks’ with spaghetti with salsa di cippolini, and rigatoni alla vodka. Leave room for the lemon cheesecake.
Authentic Italian aromas fill the kitsch space.
Address: 99 Maitland Road, Islington
Best for: The Sunday Speakeasy vibes when live music rattles through the space. Order the chunky beef pot pie.
Kick-off your time at Bartholomew’s with a cheese board at
This temple for good times recently rebranded from Babylon to Bartholomew’s. But that’s the only thing that has changed at this 1920s-inspired bar housed in the iconic old 1903 Methodist mission building. The Art Deco space has just the right mix of attitude along with elegant chandeliers, vaulted ceilings and an extensive drinks list. Expect crowds of tattooed creatives clustered around tables enjoying down-and-dirty comfort food and ordering drinks from the wall of whiskies. There is also a large selection of craft beer on tap and a well-crafted list of wines.
Address: 145 King St, Newcastle
Best for: A dark and moody space to retreat for an intimate tete-a-tete. Oh, and there are great gyozas.
The tides are shifting in Newcastle as this humble watering hole attests. The Koutetsu is very understated from the outside. But that’s all part of the charm of this secret bar. It’s the kind of place you might walk past, notice happy people pouring out of it, and think, ‘Oh that looks cool. I should check that out.’ The time is now. Once you’ve managed to locate the entrance, prepare to be impressed with a large range of Australian gin and Japanese whiskey. Order from the cocktail menu or ask the barkeep to muddle up something bespoke and to your taste. Enjoy complimentary popcorn with your cocktails and prepare to stay tucked away in this speakeasy for hours.
It mightn’t look like much on the outside, but that’s the beauty of this secret bar.
Address: 555 Hunter St, Newcastle West
Best for: Lola Palomas (chilli-infused tequila with watermelon, lime and grapefruit) with corn ribs in miso butter.
Newcastle is a T-shirt casual kind of place. But you want to don your most fetching fit for lunch or dinner at this light and airy eatery. There’s been even more of a buzz on in the city since the arrival of Light Years, which has sister restaurants in Byron Bay and Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.
Sit in the tropical-themed interior at Light Years Newcastle.
Known for its trademark tropical interiors, with palm trees and trailing greenery, the Darby St venue offers a modern Asian dining experience. Expect cult classics from executive chef Robbie Oijvall such as the Wagyu steak served Korean ‘Bo Ssam’ style.
Dine on modern Asian fare at Light Years. (Image: Megann Evans)
Address: 7 Darby St, Newcastle
Best for: Sunday yum cha with friends.
Follow the sweet, woodsy perfume of garlic and coriander to find Ginger Megs, a Hawker-style Asian eatery and bar tucked away down a discrete alleyway in King St. Despite being a cavernous space, the venue has a cosy conviviality thanks to a mix of rich textiles, dark interiors, soft lighting and furnishings. Build your own banquet with Sichuan salt and pepper squid, Asian greens and fried wontons followed by a few Ginger Buddhas.
Address: 212 King St, Newcastle
Best for: The pumpkin and blue cheese pizza and seafood linguine.
Dine on Italian-inspired fare at Parry Street Garage.
Parry St Garage was one of the restaurants that kicked off somewhat of a dining renaissance in the city of Newcastle. Expect to find the cool kids of Newcastle congregating at this neighbourhood eatery looking like a cast of extras assembled for Portlandia. Like Newcastle, this place is not fancy. It’s housed in an old car mechanic’s workshop and it’s a fun, straightforward, charming, friendly hub. Go here for wood-fired pizza and stay for the cocktails, music and good times.
Address: 106 Parry St, Newcastle West
Sit by the fire at Parry Street Garage on cooler days.
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