Shannon Bennett returns to the restaurant scene with a bold new multi-venue dining precinct in Byron Bay, blending barefoot ease with world-class innovation.
Byron Bay is about to welcome a new chapter in its culinary evolution – and it’s arriving with serious pedigree. The Belongil, a new venture from acclaimed chef Shannon Bennett, opens its doors this December, reimagining the way locals and travellers experience food, connection and place.
A precinct, not a restaurant
The Belongil is a new venture from acclaimed chef Shannon Bennett.
Forget the traditional restaurant model; The Belongil is a multi-venue precinct built around contrast, craft and community. Designed as “a living precinct," it blends raw Byron energy with world-class ambition across four distinct spaces: The Kiosk, Belongil Bistro, FEU and Blind Tiger.
Co-founded by Bennett and his neighbour Glen Norman, The Belongil represents a shared investment of more than $10 million – a collaboration built on their long friendship and mutual passion for design, architecture and gastronomy.
The Belongil’s culinary direction comes courtesy of a powerhouse team of Bennett’s long-time collaborators – Cory Campbell, Ryan Henley, Steven Kirkpatrick and Carlos Simoes Santos – all alumni of Vue de monde. Together, they bring a depth of experience spanning Noma in Copenhagen to Gordon Ramsay’s kitchens in London.
Bennett and The Belongil team have journeyed along Australia’s east coast over the past year, meeting the growers, fishers, farmers and makers behind Australia’s finest produce.
“Every ingredient on our menu tells a story. We’ve stood in the dirt, by the ocean, and in the sheds with the people who make it possible. We know them. We trust them. And we want you to taste that connection," Bennett says.
“This project is more than a restaurant – it’s four venues that together reflect how I now see hospitality. There should be something for everyone in the community: from dog walkers, surfers and backpackers to those celebrating their big night out once a year."
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AI Prompt
The Belongil is a multi-venue precinct built around contrast, craft and community.
Kiosk will be open seven days from late November.
FEU fine dining will start on 18 December.
Belongil Bistro opens on 15 December.
Blind Tiger will be an invitation-only cocktail enclave.
First to open will be The Kiosk, an everyday beachside spot serving “high-end simplicity" – think sunrise coffee, fresh snacks and a laidback rhythm that mirrors Byron’s daily pulse. It’s the kind of place for sandy feet and salty hair, open seven days from late November.
Then comes Belongil Bistro on 15 December, a barefoot-friendly bistro where they invite you to come as you are and stay as long as you like. Expect sun-soaked lunches, wine-soaked dinners, and a menu grounded in sustainability and local produce.
The showstopper, FEU, will ignite on 18 December – a 40-seat tasting room that promises a full sensory experience that blurs the line between dining and dreaming. Described as a “culinary uprising," FEU invites guests to choose their own journey through multi-course menus that push creativity to the edge.
For those in the know, there’s Blind Tiger – an invitation-only cocktail enclave that’s part speakeasy, part sensory riddle. Think Japanese-inspired stillness, smoke, mystery and mixology as art. In true Bennett fashion, sustainability and sensory design are deeply intertwined. The Blind Tiger incorporates elements of a 300-year-old Japanese temple that was painstakingly relocated and rebuilt by hand. Across the precinct, a pioneering E-water sanitation system replaces harsh chemicals, while an on-site composter ensures near-zero food waste
Built on connection
The Belongil is located steps away from Belongil Beach. (Image: Destination NSW)
The Belongil stands on the former site of the much-loved Belongil Italian, a spot Bennett remembers fondly. “I really loved the old Belongil Italian, and I feel that since they closed, Byron Bay has been missing something. I felt that I could bring the vigor [sic] back to my own little small community," he says.
Blending barefoot ease with refined craft, The Belongil is set to become a new kind of Byron institution; a sanctuary for travellers, locals and wanderers alike.
The Belongil opens in stages from late November 2025, with the Bistro debuting on 15 December and FEU following on 18 December.
Where: 33-35 Childe Street, Byron Bay, NSW
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Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
From country landscapes to the coast, Vintage Rail Journeys blends the grandeur of the golden age of rail travel with immersive local experiences.
Travelling aboard the historic Southern Aurora train is the ultimate scenic journey through regional NSW. Operated by Vintage Rail Journeys, the former Southern Aurora is a step back in time, from the lovingly restored carriages to the Off Train Experiences that spotlight local history, artisanal crafts and regional producers.
Once the overnight express that ferried passengers between Sydney and Melbourne throughout the 1960s, this train has been revived to its former mid-century glory, from the cabin layouts to the original lettering. Today, the train takes passengers on scenic and historic five-day journeys – starting and ending in Sydney – through three distinct regions of NSW: The Riverina, Golden West and North Coast.
Be transported into the golden age of travel. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
One of the most magical parts of travelling with Vintage Rail Journeys is waking up on the train. Each night, the train stables at a station so guests can enjoy a restful night’s sleep in stillness, before departing again at dawn. Passengers awake to the gentle motion of the carriage, flicking open the blinds to watch the landscape unfold at sunrise. There is no better way to start the day.
The onboard experience come evening time is just as picturesque. Guests enjoy the all-inclusive food and beverages, nursing cocktails in the Art Deco-inspired lounge carriage or lingering over a three-course dinner in the dining carriage. Outside the window, Eastern grey kangaroos bound across open plains and flocks of cockatoos scatter from the gumtrees. It’s an old-world way of travelling, a slower pace that’s increasingly rare amid the frenzy of modern life. From coastal sojourns to adventures through agrarian landscapes, these are the multi-day Vintage Rail Journeys itineraries transporting guests back in time.
The Riverina
Travel through the agricultural heartland of NSW. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
The Riverina is the agricultural heartland of NSW. Over five days, Vintage Rail Journeys takes passengers through the region to experience its celebrated produce, wines and local history. Travelling in a loop through the Central West, guests can sample sweets at the Junee Liquorice & Chocolate Factory, housed inside a former flour mill, tour an olive grove alongside a second-generation olive farmer, and enjoy tastings at family-owned wineries where the grapes are harvested mere metres away.
The Riverina is also a region shaped by passionate local historians. The Fairground Follies museum in Bowral houses one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical music and carnival memorabilia – a riot of colour and nostalgia tucked away where you’d least expect it. Meanwhile, Temora Rural Museum offers a glimpse into the history of everyday life in rural NSW. It’s home to the NSW & ACT Ambulance Museum (yes, a museum within a museum), packed with ambulances that span the past 120 years (including horse-drawn!). And seeing it all aboard a vintage train makes it feel not just like you’re visiting history, but living inside of it.
North Coast
Take in the views from Forest Sky Pier. (Credit: Destination NSW)
This five-day journey is all about ocean views and slowing down in tune with the rhythm of coastal life. As you make your way north from Sydney, the water is never too far from sight, whether Vintage Rail Journeys is tracing the Gloucester River or travelling alongside sweeping stretches of coastline. You’ll want to sit by a window as the train passes through the Coffs Harbour region – it’s one of the most scenic stretches of the whole journey.
Guests can also disembark at Coffs Harbour to take in the beauty of the Great Dividing Range at the Forest Sky Pier – a surreal lookout point that looks like a runway disappearing into the sky. The train continues onward to Byron Bay, where guests can disembark to explore the iconic beach town at their own pace. And on the return journey to Sydney, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins – they’re known to frequent the Kooragang Wetlands near Newcastle, which guests visit on a lunch cruise on the final day.
Golden West
Jump off the train for a winery experience. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
Travelling through the Golden West by rail is like stepping into a Frederick McCubbin painting – a nod to the golden era of rail travel. This five-day journey evokes the era of Australian Impressionism, passing through some of the country’s most painterly landscapes while tracing a path through history.
Starting in Sydney, the train makes its way to the Hawkesbury River, where the train crosses a historic rail bridge over the bronze, glassy waters below. Guests disembark here to cruise the brackish inlet aboard a historic postal boat before returning to the train to continue into Gold Rush country. Ahead lie grand heritage towns and historic estates, including the 1870s Abercrombie House in Bathurst.
Special event journeys
Enjoy all-inclusive dining and beverages on the way to special events. (Credit: Krista Eppelstun)
Regional NSW is home to some truly one-of-a-kind events, and Vintage Rail Journeys offers a memorable way to get there. Planning a trip to the Bathurst Repco 1000? Vintage Rail Journeys’ special itinerary combines accommodation, dining and transport into one seamless experience. Guests take the scenic route to Bathurst, where the train becomes a unique home base for the event, complete with transfers, all-inclusive dining and beverages, and three days of reserved grandstand seating before returning to Sydney Central Station.
For something a little more playful, guests can also join fellow Elvis enthusiasts on a special overnight journey to Parkes for the town’s iconic annual Elvis Festival. It’s a vintage rail journey – with a little added rock ‘n’ roll.
