The Best Coffs Harbour Restaurants | Australian Traveller

Nutrient-dense bounties, often sourced just off the coastline, create happy holiday dining at the best Coffs Harbour restaurants.

Proud to be local, embracing quality seasonal produce, Coffs Harbour’s food scene is impressive. So impressive that I’ve transitioned the NSW North Coast town from frozen banana pit-stop to a coveted overnight hang. From overachieving cafes and bakeries to the finest of restaurants and pubs, the best Coffs Harbour restaurants have given me cherished family memories. Here, my recommendations for every meal of the day.

In short

If you only visit one of the best Coffs Harbour restaurants, make it Donovans Surf Club Restaurant & Bar. It’s always comfortable and relaxed, as water views effortlessly drop shoulders and good times (and prices) roll from breakfast to lunch.

The shortlist

Best outdoor dining: Aanuka Beach House
Best date spot: Bistro Vue
Best for large groups: Donovan’s Surf Club Restaurant & Bar
Best views: Jetty Beach House

1. Aanuka Beach House

a spread of food and drinks at Aanuka Beach House, Coffs Harbour restaurants — Vibrant share plates and Italian-inspired delights dominate the menu. (Image: Take Studios)

Perched on Diggers Beach with sweeping views out to the ocean, Aanuka Beach House is an infectious scene when I visit in mid-2025. Sun-drenched terraces dotted with umbrella-slung tables lure glamorous crowds as spacious lawns trickle out to that frothy blue. I love this Coffs Harbour restaurant because it sparks immediate holiday vibes no matter how many emails you’re missing back at home. I visit for lunch most recently, but the hotspot is equally chockers first thing when an epic buffet breakfast is served from 7am to 10am daily. My midday menu, however, offers top-notch pub classics including a wood-fired pizza of more than 10 varieties (that also cater for vegans) as well as seasonally charged share plates like zucchini blossoms, prawn rolls with guacamole and a seriously stacked antipasti board of Italian-inspired delights.

Cuisine: Modern Australian with Italian homages

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Holiday buzzing

Location: 11 Firman Dr, Coffs Harbour

2. The Spare Room

summer garden pasta at The Spare Room, Coffs Harbour restaurants — The signature summer garden pasta at The Spare Room.

Skipping over to Sawtell, about 15 minutes’ drive south of the Coffs Harbour jetty, I find The Spare Room, a lowkey spot for authentic Italian. As wildly beautiful as Coffs Harbours’ beaches always prove, this place pulls crowds indoors of a Sunday thanks to the weekly live jazz from 6:30pm. Here for the carbs? You’re speaking my language. Get your fix with lovingly prepared classics including saffron and pea arancini balls with capsicum jam, lavishly topped pizzas, and a revolving door of pastas – think seafood squid ink linguine with basil butter emulsion, prawns and calamari – that you can opt to dress with crispy prosciutto, like I did.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Homely and intimate

Location: 23 First Ave, Sawtell

3. Bistro Vue

a table-top view of share plates at Bistro Vue, Coffs Harbour restaurants — The savoury menu strives to reflect the seasons. (Image: Bistro Vue)

The jetty strip swings one step sexier since the arrival of Bistro Vue in August 2025, offering locals the Melbourne hole-in-the-wall sophistication this town so very demands. The fit out is sleek and moody thanks to rich timbers and white marble, and the team is always out to impress, single-handedly dialling up Coffs Harbour’s hospitality chops. The menu strives to reflect the seasons with most recent standouts spanning panko and herb-coated prawns and a harissa-roasted chicken Maryland over a bed of saffron couscous. Plus, there’s always fresh oysters with your choice of champagne granita or pancetta and aged balsamic, a refined take on Kilpatrick.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Neighbourhood elegance

Location: 384B Harbour Dr, Coffs Harbour

4. Donovan’s Surf Club Restaurant & Bar

beach views from Donovan’s Surf Club Restaurant & Bar, Coffs Harbour — Slow the pace right down and dine with views of Park Beach at Donovan’s.

I have such a great time at Donovan’s Surf Club Restaurant & Bar, where almost every table scores a view of pristine Park Beach. One visit, I even looked straight out to sea and spotted whales breaching, a sight reserved for whale migration season between June and November. Lunch on the sun deck around the back of the bistro, or within this Coffs Harbour restaurant’s spacious sunroom, is always relaxed as locals chat into golden hour, while breakfast runs from 7.30am and offers an awesome vantage point for your morning cuppa. Meanwhile, morning and pub-style lunch plates from Executive Chef Matt Donovan offer serious indulgence, with personal favourites including the croissant French toast with Dulce de leche and ice cream for breakfast (hey, we’re on holidays) and for lunch, hot honey prawns with rice and a cucumber salad.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Chilled out and filled with locals

Location: 23 Surf Club Rd, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

5. Daikichi Woolgoolga

Japanese cuisine at Daikichi Woolgoolga, Coffs Harbour — Daikichi Woolgoolga rolls out authentic Japanese classics. (Image: Coffs Coast and Jay Black)

One of the newest Coffs Harbour restaurants, Daikichi Woolgoolga brings authentic Japanese classics to the coast. It’s located in the thick of charming Woolgoolga, one of my favourite lesser-discovered Coffs Harbour towns, and rolls out all the typical flavour-lashed Japanese cravings including bento boxes, pork and chicken katsu curries, Donburi rice bowls with miso soup and a selection of sweets. Hot tip: grab a BYO bottle of wine for a cheap and cheerful meal out because these guys don’t charge corkage.

Cuisine: Japanese

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 58 Beach St, Woolgoolga

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6. Morty’s Joint

diners outside Morty’s Joint, Coffs Harbour — Morty’s Joint marries quality comfort food with cocktails to give patrons a reliably good time. (Image: Jay Black)

One of the highlights of Sawtell’s First Avenue, Morty’s Joint is a neighbourhood comfort food-slash-cocktail bar that draws an energised crowd. Home to DJ sets, free pool, the occasional drag bingo and delicious American-style bar snacks, it’s my go-to for a chilled catch-up with friends. Get your carb-load on with the likes of fancy fries, juicy burgers, panko-crumbed schnitzels (they’re just $15 a pop if you’re there on Wednesday night), and a sirloin steak with a range of sauces, as crafty tipples and quality craft brews reliably quench your thirst.

Cuisine: Comfort food

Average price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Rock and roll

Location: 63 First Ave, Sawtell NSW 2452

7. Bayside Bar & Grill

Located inside the Pacific Bay Resort, the lovely Bayside Bar & Grill lures guests with its gorgeous position overlooking a lagoon. Staying at the hotel, one of the best Coffs Harbour accommodation picks, is going to offer you prime table selection, but anywhere on the outdoor terrace will instantly dazzle. Brace yourself for indulgent mains that lean into local produce like a sirloin, sourced from Dorrigo in the Northern NSW Tablelands, with potato gratin, and a linguine with prawns caught off the east coast.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Holiday mode

Location: Pacific Bay Resort, corner Pacific Hwy and Bay Dr, Coffs Harbour

8. Bar Que Sera

inside Bar Que Sera, Coffs Harbour restaurants — Pair your wine with Mediterranean share plates at Bar Que Sera. (Image: Jay Black)

Under new management from September 2025, Bar Que Sera is still one of the best places in the region for either a top-quality vino pit-stop or lazy afternoon indulgence. I love the refined yet relaxed vibes of this Coffs Harbour hot spot, as the team rely on local ingredients to inspire their seasonal menu. Additionally, everything these guys plate up is Instagram-perfect. Pick your poison out of more than 100 wines and wash it down with the likes of swordfish cooked with N’duja butter, confit lamb rump with whipped goat curd and pickled dates, and Yamba prawns with ricotta gnocchi.

Cuisine: Mediterranean share plates

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Elegant

Location: 61 First Ave, Sawtell

9. Jetty Beach House

dining at Jetty Beach House, Coffs Harbour restaurants — Soak up Mediterranean-inspired interiors and a menu of refined pub favourites.

What a spot. Jetty Beach House, at the foot of the Solitary Islands, is a natural light-filled space with calming Coffs’ water views. Even better, it sings with a quintessentially Coffs vibe: utterly relaxed and humble. Expect a menu dotted with fresh seafood (the chilled king Mooloolaba prawns with bloody mary mayonnaise is something of a novelty and always smashable), plus burgers, pizzas and other pub classics. It’s also a great spot for kids as a dedicated children’s menu dishes up popcorn chicken with chips, butter pasta with tomatoes, fish and chips and more.

Cuisine: Pub classics

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Casual, but it can get rowdy

Location: 1 Jordan Esplanade, Coffs Harbour

10. Lime Mexican

friends dining at Lime Mexican, Sawtell — Discover inventive Mexican favourites at Lime Mexican. (Image: Destination NSW)

In the main fig tree-lined street of Sawtell, Lime Mexican is a beloved pick, serving mean mojitos and inventive Mexican street food that would feel right at home in Tijuana. Although the decor is light and bright, the ubiquitous Dia de los Muertos-inspired mural and colourful sombreros confirm this is a place for fun and celebration. Expect textbook favourites like beef nachos, tacos with pulled pork, and fajitas with Chipotle steak, done with ample flair.

Cuisine: Mexican

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Party times

Location: 1/13 First Ave, Sawtell

11. Stef & Co

diners at the waterfront Stef & Co restaurant, Coffs Harbour — The Italian cafe and restaurant delivers scenic waterfront views.

Overlooking the tranquil waters of Coffs Creek, Stef & Co is a multipronged dining destination dedicated to Italian cuisine. It starts in the morning as a cafe offering freshly brewed coffee and hand-crafted Italian pastries, but I highly recommend winding your way back again when the sun sinks to catch it transformed into a pizza and cocktail bar. Additionally, there’s the team’s more upscale portion of the space, Osteria Restaurant, where incredible fresh seafood and the most quality of meat cuts make for another round of Italian feasting. Don’t miss the traditional fish stew with market fillets, mussels, prawns, calamari and octopus, served with crusty white bread.

Cuisine: Italian at every hour of the day

Average price: $-$$$

Atmosphere: Homely

Location: 319 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

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12. Latitude 30

friends dining at Latitude 30, Coffs Harbour restaurants — Latitude 30’s location by the marina boasts panoramic views from the water’s edge. (Image: Destination NSW)

This Coffs Coast restaurant is a classic for its unbeatable location, and the fact you can enjoy seafood sourced from the trawlers moored directly opposite. Latitude 30, located within the Marina, is the product of founder and owner Marcus Blackwell’s passion for seafood, which extends to his childhood growing up off the coast of Scotland. Expect beautifully prepared and presented, dishes including the not-so-discreet seafood platter of lobster, prawns, bugs, oysters and ceviche.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Elevated yet breezy

Location: Unit 8-9, 1 Marina Dr, Coffs Harbour

13. The Pier Hotel

dining at The Pier Hotel, Coffs Harbour restaurants — Cosy country pubs don’t get better than The Pier Hotel.

The Pier Hotel was built in 1905 to cater for weary travellers journeying by land and sea up and down Australia’s East Coast. A century on, that core demographic is sticking with it, and the pub located on the Jetty strip is as popular as ever. A cosy country pub that beautifully blends the old and new, it’s light and bright and a brilliant spot to enjoy hearty grub such as bangers and mash with caramelised onions, and five jam-packed burger types ranging from a house beef patty with cheese to a southern chicken wrap with guacamole.

Cuisine: Pub classics

Average price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Relaxed

Location: 356 Harbour Dr, Coffs Harbour

14. The Seaview Tavern

pizza and share plates at The Seaview Tavern, Coffs Harbour — The Seaview Tavern serves up reliably good pub food.

The Seaview Tavern is a lively hotel that makes the most of its expansive open-air beer garden, festooned with fairy lights and kitted out with umbrellas. Everyone here seems to order the schnitzel (voted one of Australia’s top five in a 2020 contest) with gravy, chips and a side salad, and for good reason – it’s crumbed to crispy perfection and golden every time. Wash down your meal with one of their on-tap brews which include local craft creations.

Cuisine: Pub classics

Average price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Family-friendly

Location: 51 River St, Woolgoolga

15. 99 On Park Restaurant & Bar

a slice of cake on a plate at 99 On Park Restaurant & Bar, Coffs Harbour — Tuck into modern Australian dishes with French flair. (Image: 99 On Park Restaurant & Bar)

Tucked just a few streets back from the shore, 99 On Park Restaurant & Bar offers elegant dining with the occasional French twist. Fresh seafood takes centre stage across the menu, including the local prawns in gnocchi with a creamy bisque and the yellowfin tuna nicoise salad with pastured egg. Thoughtful wine pairings make whatever you order simply delicious.

Cuisine: Modern Australian with French influences

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Old-school classy

Location: 99 Park Beach Rd, Coffs Harbour

16. The Jetty Pavilion

a close-up of food at The Jetty Pavilion, Coffs Harbour restaurants — The menu offers Modern Australian pub and cafe classics.

Given a tick of approval from Aussie legend Robert Irwin, who posted a gushing Instagram video about The Jetty Pavilion during a recent road trip, this Coffs Harbour institute is beloved by visitors far and wide. Located on the Jetty strip, it’s a local’s go-to for long lunches, sunset cocktails and live music. The menu blends modern Australian cafe and pub classics, and unique flavours – think a fennel salted snapper, Thai fishcakes with snow peas, and an all-day breakfast that heroes a kimchi waffle. Set up on the breezy terrace to enjoy sparkling views while you dine.

Cuisine: Modern Australian pub and cafe classics

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Upbeat, even over breakfast

Location: 59/361 Harbour Dr, Coffs Harbour

Discover the best things to do in Coffs Harbour

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.

The beaches fringing Bate Bay – Cronulla, North Cronulla, Wanda, Elouera and Greenhills – have topped Tourism Australia’s 2026 list of best Australian beaches (as curated by Beach Ambassador Brad Farmer). For locals, it’s less revelation, more recognition.

The mood shifts from the moment you step off the T4 train service from Central to Cronulla and catch a glimpse of the ocean. At dawn, the Esplanade is already buzzing with regulars, and by mid-morning, parents have staked out a toasty spot on Cronulla Beach where excited toddlers clamber over rocks, and the Jellybean swim squad at Oak Park have donned their bright pink caps while singing Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’.

By the afternoon, towels are being collected from across the sand as visitors wander back to Cronulla in loose formation.

North Cronulla beach — Dive into the world’s best beaches.

That’s the thing about Bate Bay beaches. This isn’t a story about a single beach. This long, uninterrupted sweep of sand and sea, where you can walk for kilometres without breaking stride, is not just enjoyed over summer; it’s a year-round destination. Here, Cronulla’s buzz gives way to Wanda’s wild edges, before stretching out to the quieter reaches of Greenhills.

But while Bate Bay’s beaches may have taken top honours in the 2026 Best Australian Beaches list, they’re only part of the drawcard. Sutherland Shire stacks up as a full-spectrum coastal escape, where good food, national park adventures and on-the-water experiences sit within easy reach of the shoreline. Whether you’re planning a long weekend or stretching out a stay, here’s how to make the most of Cronulla beyond the sand, sea and surf.

Beyond the beaches

Dining

The Sutherland Shire dining scene delivers from early morning to late at night with a mix of vibrant cafes, bars and pubs. Start your day at Grind Espresso, where the coffee comes strong and fast. From there, drift towards HAM for pastries, best eaten buttery warm.

By midday, locals linger across sun-lit tables. Loaf and Next Door appeal to the surfers who come in for snacks after chasing waves. Blackwood’s Pantry and The Press are also popular for breakfast and lunch, while Pilgrim’s continues to hold a special place in the hearts of vegans.

Newer arrivals signal where Cronulla is heading: Homer Rogue Taverna is being hailed as one of the best restaurants in Cronulla, with the confidence that comes from understanding what locals want. Ask a local to reveal their favourite restaurant for a special occasion, and it’ll likely be Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, Yalla Sawa or Alphabet Street. Summer Salt, Sealevel, Benny’s, Bobbys and Pippis are a few of the best waterfront restaurants in the Shire.

Finally, when most places are winding down, Duke’s Providore shifts gears to become Duke’s After Hours – a low-lit romantic spot perfect for a date night. Parc Pavilion, Northies Cronulla and bars The Blind Bear, Las Chicas and Low & Lofty’s are also part of Cronulla’s identity.

Visit Bundeena

Bundeena Ferry Wharf — Catch a ferry to Bundeena.

A short ferry ride from Cronulla, Bundeena offers a counterpoint to Cronulla’s mighty surf beaches. If Cronulla is the Shire’s social heart, Bundeena – or Bundenesia, as it’s affectionately known – is the place to go to exhale and unwind.

Hop on the ferry from Cronulla, and within 30 minutes, you’ll be inhaling the eucalyptus-scented air. Check the creative pulse of the local community by timing your visit with the Bundeena Maianbar Art Trail on the first Sunday of every month.

One of the best things to do in Bundeena is paddle into Cabbage Tree Basin with Bundeena Kayaks. Follow the five-kilometre Jibbon Beach Loop Track that leads past quiet coves to ancient Indigenous rock art, or simply find a stretch of pearl-white sand to relax on.

Pristine walking trails

Royal National Park Cape Baily Walking Track — Cool off with a coastal stroll.

Beyond the coastline, Sutherland Shire offers myriad ways to shift gears. Royal National Park – the oldest national park in Australia – sits just minutes from the surf. Clifftop walks trace the edge of the continent, the rugged bushland is threaded with creeks and hidden waterfalls, and a network of tracks rewards those willing to go a little further.

Take the Coast Track, where the land drops cleanly into the ocean over sheer cliffs that have been stacked together like giant Jenga. Or veer inland, where pockets of forest cool the air and filter the light. It’s a reminder of how close nature sits to the bustle of suburbs in the Sutherland Shire.

Enjoy whale watching

humpback whale sighting noosa experiences — Spot whales from May to October. (Credit: The Edit Suite)

Twist your binoculars until the ocean is in focus, stretched like a creased blue sheet all around. Come May, the East Coast becomes the humpback highway. Thousands of whales migrate along this stretch of coastline each year, their movements tracked by keen eyes from vantage points like the Cape Solander platform in Kamay Botany Bay National Park, one of the best places for whale watching in Australia. There’s something quietly thrilling about seeing that first telltale spout or the arc of a breaching body against the vastness of the sea. From June to October, whale-watching cruises depart from Cronulla, offering a closer look at the migration.

Awards come and go. But places like Cronulla endure because they belong as much to the visitors as they do the early-morning swimmers, walkers and surfers.

Plan your escape at visitsutherlandshire.com.au.

The best Coffs Harbour restaurants for elevated holiday dining

Nutrient-dense bounties, often sourced just off the coastline, create happy holiday dining at the best Coffs Harbour restaurants.

In short

The shortlist

1. Aanuka Beach House

2. The Spare Room

3. Bistro Vue

4. Donovan’s Surf Club Restaurant & Bar

5. Daikichi Woolgoolga

6. Morty’s Joint

7. Bayside Bar & Grill

8. Bar Que Sera

9. Jetty Beach House

10. Lime Mexican

11. Stef & Co

12. Latitude 30

13. The Pier Hotel

14. The Seaview Tavern

15. 99 On Park Restaurant & Bar

16. The Jetty Pavilion

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This stretch of Sydney beaches topped the annual Best Australian Beaches list

Bate Bay’s sweep of beaches has been crowned Australia’s best for 2026, placing Sutherland Shire in the spotlight as a top coastal destination just south of Sydney’s CBD.