Top 10 Restaurants In Kingscliff And Surrounds

Eat your way along the Tweed coast with these fantastic restaurants that showcase the region’s incredible produce.

From the pristine ocean to the lush hinterland, the Tweed coast is a veritable food bowl of produce that attracts some of the country’s best chefs and restaurateurs. Whether you’re dining at a casual pizzeria or a beachside fine diner, you’ll be sure to sample the unique terroir of the Tweed. Take note of these top 10 picks to ensure your stay is full of flavour.

1. Taverna, Kingscliff

Best for: Long lunches with friends and date nights

This light-filled, white tableclothed restaurant spills through the bougainvillea-draped doorway and onto the footpath outside where, on sunny days, it’s the pick of tables for a lunch sitting.

Taverna Byron Bay — Pair an excellent beachfront location with a Greek feast and you’ve got Taverna. (Image: Ryan Fowler Photography)

An elegant assembly of Greek classics form the menu, which is well-matched with refined wines and cocktails. Sharing is a good strategy for trying as many of these beautiful dishes as possible, especially if you’re considering the generous slow-roasted lamb shoulder – and you should. Other go-to’s are the chargrilled octopus Byron Bay halloumi and the spanakopita.

Menu at Taverna Byron Bay — The spotlight is firmly on local produce here. (Image: Ryan Fowler Photography)

Open: Dinner Thursday–Sunday; lunch Friday-Sunday
Address: 22 Marine Parade, Kingscliff

2. Fins Restaurant & Bar, Kingscliff

Best for: Special occasion dining

Award-winning Fins has undisputed pedigree having occupied space on the Northern Rivers for more than three decades. Its former iteration was at Byron Bay, but hatted Fins now resides in Kingscliff where you’ll find flappingly fresh, line-caught seafood served within a fine dining ambience.

Interior Fins Restaurant & Bar, Kingscliff — The hatted Fins Restaurant & Bar is fine dining at its best with a dash of coastal elegance.

You can’t go wrong with owner and chef, Steve Snow’s, signature Snowy’s fish, which is simple and superb, or try a medley of seafood doused in a fiery Mauritian-style sambal. Of course, there are other options for the seafood-shy, such as grass-fed beef and handmade gnocchi. Enjoy a two-course set menu or settle in for a five-course degustation.

a hand getting oyster meat from the shell at Fins Restaurant & Bar — Slurp down some oysters at Fins Restaurant & Bar.

Open: Dinner Wednesday–Saturday; lunch Friday and Saturday
Address: 5/6 Bells Boulevard, Kingscliff

3. Jordy’s, Casuarina

Best for: An easy family dinner

This neighbourhood pizzeria uses local, seasonal ingredients to adorn their naturally leavened sourdough pizza bases. Beautifully puffy and deliciously chewy, you can expect some disruption of the usual pizza genre here with toppings named after local towns, such as the ‘Cabarita’ with chicken and mascarpone, the ‘Mullumbimby’ with pickled vegetables and vegan mozzarella, and the ‘Pottsville’ with fennel salami, ham and pineapple. Kids can choose from the ‘grommets’ menu with the likes of the ‘Mooball’ pizza topped with sausage and cheese or the ‘Froggy Beach’ with basil and cheese.

Open: Dinner Wednesday–Sunday
Address: 480 Casuarina Way, Casuarina

4. The Crafty Cow Smokehouse, Casuarina

Best for: Casual nights out

You’ll pick up the scent of mouth-watering smoked meats before you turn the corner of this relaxed restaurant. The ironbark-fuelled smoker gets to work early on fall-apart beef brisket and pork that can be enjoyed as they are or in a burger. It’s a chilled, neighbourhood vibe at the indoor-outdoor space with local beers on tap and live music on Friday and Saturday nights. In summer the Crafty Cow makes a great end to beach days, while in winter the warmth from the smoker is perfect for cosy nights out.

Platters of food at The Crafty Cow Smokehouse, Casuarina — End your beach day at The Crafty Cow Smokehouse for a satisfyingly good feed.

Open: Dinner nightly; lunch Wednesday–Sunday
Address: 3/480 Casuarina Way, Casuarina

5. Lolita’s Mexican Cantina, Casuarina

Best for: Combined family fun or to kick off a night out

A sprawling, brightly accented Mexican eatery, Lolita’s is a riot of colour and flavour with a joyously amped-up atmosphere. Margaritas are free-flowing and you’ll find plenty of Central American staples to help keep you on an even keel, such as kingfish ceviche, tostadas, tacos and plenty of nibbles.

the restaurant exterior of Lolita’s Mexican Cantina, Casuarina — Line up for tasty tacos at Lolita’s Mexican Cantina.

Sit inside or outside, let the kids loose on the playground and lean into the fun. There’s even onsite child-minding, should the occasion call for it.

Open: Dinner Thursday–Sunday
Address: 1 Barclay Drive, Casuarina

6. Paper Daisy, Cabarita

Best for: Celebrating a loved one or a romantic interlude

Housed in landmark luxury hotel, Halcyon House, Paper Daisy has been a headline act for dining out on the far north coast since it opened in 2015. Styled in the Capri-esque palette the hotel is admired for, the dining room is a beautiful place to spend a few hours contemplating the well-executed flavours on the plate. Be sure to arrive earlier than your sitting to sip a negroni and oyster in the bar before proceeding to enjoy sophisticated dishes such as Hiramasa kingfish with verjuice, Bangalow pork shoulder with chestnut mushroom and Jerusalem artichoke or lobster and green tea dumplings.

Open: Daily for lunch and dinner
Address: 21 Cyprus Crescent, Cabarita Beach

7. No. 35 Kitchen and Bar, Cabarita

Best for: Girls’ or boys’ nights out, date nights, long lunch sessions

Elevated yet warmly welcoming and casual, No. 35 Kitchen and Bar is highly attuned to the area with a laidback atmosphere that heroes quality produce prepared simply. The dining room opens out to a roadside outdoor terrace, where it’s most pleasant to spend a warm summer evening working your way through the Italian-accented menu.

an al fresco dining spot in No. 35 Kitchen and Bar, Cabarita — Soak up summer vibes at the al fresco dining spot, No. 35 Kitchen and Bar.

Seasonally driven, you may find a 12-hour slow-cooked beef shin pasta or saffron-baked fish and mussels, and antipasto bites such as cacio e pepe arancini or local burrata. All of which is deftly accompanied by a considered wine and drinks list. From 5pm–6pm, Wednesday to Friday, there’s a happy hour, where you can sip $10 drinks and snacks.

sprinkling cheese on food at No. 35 Kitchen and Bar, Cabarita — The food at No. 35 Kitchen and Bar is prepared with love.

Open: Dinner Wednesday–Friday; lunch Saturday

Address: 35 Tweed Coast Road, Cabarita Beach

8. The Burrow, Bogangar

Best for: Pre- or post-dinner drinks and a dance

Burrow in for a session at this Cabarita Beach bar and institution , where you can grab a tipple of your choice and classic, rib-sticking bar snack while listening to live music.

the restaurant exterior of The Burrow, Bogangar at night — Head to The Burrow for post-dinner drinks.

The walk-in-only establishment is a true local haunt and so popular they’ve expanded next door with a pizzeria. Check their socials for updates on special nights and line-ups.

Open: Tuesday–Sunday

Address: 1/36 Tweed Coast Road, Bogangar

9. Pipit Restaurant, Pottsville

Best for: Intimate occasions

Inspired by the incredible produce of the region, chef and owner Ben Devlin intricately arranges flavours on the plate for exquisite fare that has earned Pipit Restaurant two hats and won Good Food Guide’s Regional Restaurant of the Year in 2022.

Ben and Yen Devlin standing side by side at Pipit Restaurant, Pottsville — Co-owners Yen and chef Ben Devlin opened Pipit Restaurant in Pottsville in 2019.

With a focus on sustainable proteins and championing local ingredients, Pipit uses an open wood fire to achieve deep flavour in every bite. Settle into the Scandi-style dining room for a laidback culinary adventure or ask for a seat at the bar, so can watch the fiery action.

Pipit runs the occasional pop-up and masterclass and a more chilled Penny’s Bistro on Monday nights to start your week out right.

a table-top view of a sample food platter at Pipit Restaurant, Pottsville — Pipit Restaurant champions sustainably sourced ingredients.

Open: Dinner Thursday–Sunday; lunch Friday–Sunday; Penny’s Bistro Mondays

Address: 8 Coronation Avenue, Pottsville

10. Garden Pizza, Pottsville

Best for: Good pizza, good vibes

This charming and authentic pizzeria is somewhat of a local secret, yet its under-the-radar appeal makes it all the more special. BYO drinks from the bottleshop and grab a picnic table under an umbrella for deliciously blistered Napoli classics. There’s a few sides and homemade gelato to fill out your order, but mostly it’s the basics, executed well. You can take yours away, but the chilled, outdoor vibe is best.

Open: Dinner Thursday–Tuesday
Address: 9 Coronation Avenue, Pottsville

For more excellent places to eat in the Tweed region, read our guide to the top cafes and bakeries, Murwillumbah restaurants and where to dine in Tweed Heads and over the border in Coolangatta.

Secluded by 250 acres of ancient rainforest, an ultra-romantic hideaway is harbouring a secret. A newly opened, impressively well-stocked wine cellar and bar, helmed by a hospitality veteran, is giving nature lovers another reason to head for the Tweed hinterland.

At Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat , in Upper Crystal Creek in Northern New South Wales, guests wake to a gentle soundtrack of birdsong and the burbling creeks that slither across the landscape. While by night, they can unwind by a crackling fire in a lounge space that’s home to an expansive wine cellar brimming with top-notch drops.

Though it’s common to spot wildlife beyond the large glass windows that encase your spacious and contemporary cabin-esque accommodation at this rainforest-encircled retreat, it’s rare to cross paths with another human at this secluded spot. That is, unless you choose to set foot in the retreat’s new bar lounge and wine cellar, where you’re likely to meet Matt Semark, a hospitality stalwart and the property’s manager alongside his wife, Ani. Semark’s also responsible for curating the newly installed wine collection.

A two-level timber-clad wine cellar and bar with a pool table in the middle — The new bar lounge and wine cellar is a cosy spot to sample a range of drops from France to Australia.

“I’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment from recommending wines and hearing the positive comments from guests. I find our guests have more confidence going off-piste when we discuss their preferences and tastes one-on-one. Then I can recommend alternatives based on their personal tastes. From my culinary background and personal wine journey, I’ve learnt a fair bit along the way and do enjoy opening guests up to new wines,” Semark says.

The cellar’s wines have a European leaning, based on Semark’s proclivity towards French and Italian varietals – though he has ensured there are plenty of top-notch Australian drops, too.

Semark says, “We’ve partnered with our good friend Doctor Justin Ardill, from South Australia’s Clare Valley, to offer a complimentary bottle of his wine – under the label Reillys Wines – to our guests. We also showcase nine styles of his delicious wines in our wine cellar, including his award-winning Riesling.”

A timber wine cellar and bar with bar stools — The space features carefully crafted details embedded in handmade wooden furnishings.

Having recently relocated his family to the Northern Rivers from the Caribbean, Semark’s also ensured there’s a solid selection of rums (both local and Caribbean-sourced). And yet, teetotalers can rest assured they have been catered to, with an exciting choice of non-alcoholic drinks on hand, too.

In the bar and lounge spaces, and throughout the on-site accommodation, the eager eye will spot the carefully crafted details embedded in handmade wooden furnishings – with designs that reflect the abundant wildlife beyond each building’s walls. These well-made furniture pieces are the handiwork of Chris Ball, who owns the retreat alongside his antiques and furniture business.

Rainforest views from a suite at Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat Bar Lounge and Wine Cellar — Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat offers guests spectacular rainforest views.

Restless travellers can make the most of the retreat’s hiking trails that stretch across the large property – varying in difficulty – spanning 8 kilometres of rainforest. E-bikes are also available for those hoping to explore the region a little more widely, or wishing to visit a neighbouring cafe.

Guests can opt to soak in a heated plunge pool on their mountain-view lodge’s deck, fill a bath with hot water and aromatic bath salts, light their indoor fireplace, or lie back in a hammock suspended over the creek and while away a day immersed in this naturally striking setting.

Hammocks hanging over a creek at Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat — Lie back in a hammock suspended over the creek.

Come nightfall, glow worms glitter on the creek’s edge, and guests are invited to grab a torch and a blanket to enjoy the natural light show.

Massages are available to book, as is the mollifying (and appetising) experience of a Creekside Pavilion Lunch. Like a treehouse cantilevered over a creek, the pavilion presents an ideal perch for leisurely daytime dining. Bathe in the cooling rockpools below, then enjoy antipasto and charcuterie platters accompanied by your drink of choice, before reclining on the sheltered daybed swaddled by nature – all set to the soundscape provided by the creek and rainforest.

A Luxury Mountain View Lodge Bedroom at Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat — A Luxury Mountain View Lodge Bedroom.

While self-catering is an easy option, with well-equipped kitchens available to the avid cook, pre-ordered meals designed for private dining – think lamb shanks, tagines, curries and fajitas – can be discreetly delivered to your room on request. Barbecue hampers and picnic baskets make light work of lunches, and breakfast baskets are ideal for slow mornings (after a sleep-in, of course).

Despite its remote feel, Crystal Creek Rainforest Retreat is a short, 15-minute drive from the centre of Murwullimbah – a perfect spot to stock up on a snacks and comfort dishes from the likes of Kat Harvey Cheese, Pasta’bah, one of the town’s excellent bakeries, and coffee from Keith. On your way out, peruse its gift stores, art galleries and road-trip between its neighbouring towns.

10 must-visit restaurants in Kingscliff and surrounds