7 Incredible Restaurants in Murwillumbah and Surrounds

Tuck into the beautiful produce of the Tweed Valley at these Murwillumbah restaurants that showcase both provenance and culinary talent.

Sprawling across both sides of the Tweed River, the bucolic and Art Deco town of Murwillumbah has long been an arts stronghold, but now this hinterland gem is turning up the dial and delivering good dining, too. From Murwillumbah restaurants to eateries tucked into the surrounding villages, these diners are making the most of the incredible produce of the region and plating it up with reverence.

1. Bistro Livi

Best for: Date nights and long Saturday lunches with friends.

This sleek fine diner wouldn’t look out of place in a city laneway, but here Bistro Livi sits in the corner position of an Art Deco building in Murwillumbah’s M-Arts Precinct. With the owners coming by way of some of Melbourne’s best restaurants, it’s little wonder this refined 36-seater is faultless.

Local produce is expressed on the plate with respect and refinement, the drinks are well-stirred and the wine list elegant. Diners are tended to expertly amid the minimal-luxe interiors, making it very easy to lose time devouring exquisite dishes with a gentle Italian leaning. Book a babysitter and settle in for the night.

outside Bistro Livi restaurant, Murwillumbah — Find the refined Bistro Livi in Murwillumbah’s M-Arts Precinct.

Open: Dinner Wednesday–Saturday; lunch Saturday

Address: 1A, 1-3 Brisbane Street, Murwillumbah

2. Tweed River House

Best for: Special occasions or afternoon sessions by the water.

Stepping into this tenderly restored Queenslander-style homestead set right on the river is a little like taking a portal to the era of the British Raj. Opulent and expertly styled in sympathy with the breezy building, Tweed River House is a special occasion restaurant.

the Tweed River House by the side of the river — The Tweed River House sits by the river in South Murwillumbah.

Service is en pointe and affable and the plates beautifully considered with local flavours assembled to showcase the region.

the restaurant interior of Tweed River House — The outdoor verandah offers peaceful views.

If you can’t get a spot for dinner, or even if you can, head to the downstairs Lawn Bar on a Saturday and Sunday sundowner.

a plate of food at Tweed River House, Murwillumbah — Plates are assembled to showcase the best produce in the region. (Image: Nelly le Comte Photography)

Open: Dinner Friday and Saturday; lunch Thursday–Sunday; Lawn Bar weekends from noon

Address: 131 River Street, South Murwillumbah

3. Barrels Pizza Restaurant

Best for: Casual dining with family and friends.

A contemporary pizzeria that honours the produce of the region, at Barrels Pizza you’ll find oven-blistered pizza from classic Italian toppings to a few Aussie curveballs.

a table-top view of pizza at Barrels Pizza Restaurant — Taste your way through the menu at Barrels Pizza.

There’s also a range of antipasto to get the party started, from buffalo mozzarella with Roma tomatoes to goat’s cheese, roasted grape and walnut focaccia. You can also opt for takeaway if you prefer not to enjoy your hot pizza in the family-friendly dining room.

a woman holding a wine glass at Barrels Pizza Restaurant — It would be rude not to drink wine with your pizza.

Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 5pm

Address: 13 Wharf Street, Murwillumbah

4. Potager

Best for: Intimate and cosy dalliances and group celebrations.

This gorgeous cottage garden setting with sweeping valley views is a stunning locale for a long lunch. Inside the charming timber cottage, guests are warmly welcomed with impeccable hospitality and treated to a menu with provenance and community at its heart.

the Potager Restaurant in a garden setting, Murwillumbah — Dine at the garden-themed Potager Restaurant.

Despite the country cottage vibes, the food at Potager is elegant, refined and generous with influence from the antipodes to Europe and Asia without labouring the point.

an aerial view of the Potager Restaurant — Find yourself in a stunning location for a long lunch.

Open: Dinner Friday and Saturday; lunch Friday–Sunday

Address: 502 Carool Road, Carool

5. Husk Distillery

Best for: Lawn sessions on sunny afternoons and gatherings with mates.

Northern Rivers rum distillers, Husk, are equally loved in the region for their delicious tipples as they are for their cellar door digs. The beautiful brick building houses the barrels of spirits quietly maturing, as well as a gorgeous bar and restaurant that sprawls out onto a terrace and onto the grassy lawn overlooking cane fields, from which their rum is made.

the Husk Distillery in Tumbulgum — It’s not all about the spirits at Husk, it also features a gorgeous bar and restaurant.

Start the experience with a distillery tour, where you’ll get to taste rum and their violet-hued ink gin, then grab a table or patch of grass to sip cocktails and savour share plates. There’s a very handy shuttle service, should you wish to loosen your restraint.

Husk Distillery aerial view — Expect to find space to roam at the sprawling Husk property.

Open: Daily from 11am

Address: 1152 Dulguigan Road, Tumbulgum

6. Farm & Co Restaurant

Best for: long lunches that go on and on…

This farm-to-plate eatery has some of the Tweed’s best restaurateurs at the helm, ensuring the organic produce that lands on the plate is deftly crafted to showcase seasonality and flavour.

Perched on a 52-acre farm in the Tweed Valley, Farm & Co Restaurant’s agrarian setting makes for a lovely place to unwind with good food and wine, while the kids free-range in the sunflower patch.

Nourishing share plates may include the likes of wood-smoked lamb shoulder with chimichurri or roasted goldband snapper with aromatic oil and curry leaves or opt for the signature banquet and be surprised and delighted.

Open: Dinner Thursday–Saturday; all-day dining Friday–Sunday

Address: 529 Cudgen Road, Cudgen

7. House of Gabriel

Best for: Gazing across at the twinkling river while you enjoy fresh fare.

Housed in a charming riverside building once home to a bakery and a confectionery, House of Gabriel serves a slice of history with a menu of seasonally changing dishes.

the House of Gabriel in Tumbulgum — Drop by House of Gabriel for a meal served inside a charming riverside building with an eclectic past.

Take up a spot on the front deck festooned by purple wisteria and enjoy simple but delicious contemporary Australian fare and local beverages from Husk Distillery and Stone & Wood, as well as carefully curated wines.

sweets and pastries at House of Gabriel, Tumbulgum — The High Tea is exceptionally popular here for good reason.

High tea is a popular affair here (bookings essential) with handmade treats and elegant teaware really leaning into the bygone nostalgia of the building.

tea and pastries at House of Gabriel, Tumbulgum — Score Parisian-style pastries and desserts at House of Gabriel.

Open: Breakfast and lunch Wednesday–Sunday; pizza night Friday

Address: 106 Riverside Drive, Tumbulgum

Discover more hidden gems, insider tips and local delights in our travel planning hub for the Tweed.

Whales breaching, fires crackling and slow-cooked feasts that make the cold so cosy, one might wish it lasted longer. Winter is no time to stay at home in NSW.

When the mercury drops, winter in NSW comes into its own. Beaches are quieter, the air is crisper and hearty food tastes even better when there’s ice on the windows.

Winter here isn’t for hiding away. It’s for long walks, deep baths, deeper reds and the kind of fireside lounging that feels simultaneously indulgent and entirely deserved after a day of exploring. From whale-watching up north to moodily lit bushwalks and pastry pilgrimages, we’ve mapped out your new favourite season.

a beach winter in nsw — From coastal walks to tasty delights, winter in NSW is a time to get out and about.

The Tweed

In winter, the NSW north coast has a front-row seat to one of nature’s greatest migrations. From May to November, humpbacks cruise past the Tweed coast between Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef. Spot them from the Cabarita Beach headland or get up closer with a boat cruise.

Inland, find the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre , which is home to a rotating cast of big-name exhibitions (including Monet).

Later, grab a table at Bistro Livi , where the modern Spanish menu features whipped salt cod on toast and spanner crab with curry butter and spelt flatbread. Stick around to poke through the artist studios and indie boutiques of M|Arts Precinct .

visitors at Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre — Browse the art. (Image: Destination NSW)

The next day, jump aboard the Indigenous Lunch Cruise with Tweed Escapes. You’ll cruise upriver listening to yarns from local Indigenous guides, stop at the Minjungbal Aboriginal Cultural Museum and tuck into lemon myrtle-crusted snapper.

Next, drive out to Farm & Co to pull apart some juicy smoked lamb shoulder with green olive tapenade while gazing out over the macadamia fields and avocado groves of this working farm.

End the day at Mantra on Salt Beach where you’ll enjoy beach access, a heated rock spa and a lagoon pool.

dining room at Bistro Livi — Taste modern Spanish at Bistro Livi.

Blue Mountains

The cold season is hands down the best time to visit the Blue Mountains. Temperatures are perfect – sunny enough for hikes, and crisp enough at night for snuggling up.

For a trip that equally soothes and stirs, start with a meditative meander through the national park’s eucalypts and Australian wildflowers. Brave the steepest passenger railway in the world, Scenic Railway , then hop the Skyway aerial cable car for unrivalled Three Sisters views.

Thaw out at the Japanese Bath House in South Bowenfels. Soak in steamy outdoor onsens filled with natural mineral water and mountain views, wander the rose and zen gardens, or sip hot drinks in the tea house.

group leader at Blue Mountains Stargazing — Rug up for Blue Mountains Stargazing. (Image: Destination NSW)

Afterwards, head to Ates in Blackheath, where everything revolves around a 150-year-old ironbark-fuelled oven – like the wood-roasted duck with nectarines and Szechuan spice. Or visit Tempus Katoomba , which leans experimental and sustainable, serving up dishes like braised fennel with cumin, spiced yogurt and Aleppo pepper.

Rug up and head into the night with Blue Mountains Stargazing . Sessions are guided by astrophysicists, helping you understand what you’re looking at as you look into deep space.

Wrap it all up at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains – MGallery Collection . There’s a whiskey bar in the basement (and crackling fires that make a dram taste even better), indoor and outdoor pools and a day spa. Kids will love the mirror maze and ice rink, too.

dishes laid out on table at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains — End the day with delicious meals at Fairmont Resort Blue Mountains. (Image: Destination NSW)

Southern Highlands

Good food and wine by the fire, experienced between sifting through second-hand treasures, is a winter vibe in Bowral.

Start with a lap around Dirty Janes , an antique and vintage market. Recover from your shopping frenzy at Bendooley Book Barn , where floor-to-ceiling shelves and a roaring fire set the tone for an afternoon of red wine or hot coffee.

When it’s time to eat, head to Hickory’s Restaurant & Bar , Peppers Craigieburn Bowral’s onsite restaurant. Try the crispy pork belly with Granny Smith crisps and apple gel, or ocean trout with wakame, lemon gel and pickled radish.

couple looking through Dirty Janes in bowral — Wander the antiques at Dirty Janes. (Image: Destination NSW)

Another option, Onesta Cucina , does Italian with flair. For something more casual (with cocktails), Flour Bar swings between brunch and dinner, with an onsite bakery, over 400 wines and a hidden deli in the old bank vault.

Later, clamber Mt Gibraltar , where trails wind through eucalypt forest to views over Bowral and Mittagong.

Stay at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral , a century-old estate with open fires, elegant lounges and a nine-hole golf course.

woman and her dog winter in nsw at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral — Stay cosy at Peppers Craigieburn Bowral.

Penrith

Shake off winter inertia with an adrenaline boost out in Penrith. Kick things off with a kayak paddle on the Nepean River with Horizon Line, or head to Cables Wake Park , where cold-weather wetsuits take the edge off a wipeout.

For something a bit more cruisy, opt for the Nepean Belle Paddlewheeler for slow-floating views and a hot cuppa.

kayakers on the nepean river in penrith — Head out on the Nepean River. (Image: Destination NSW)

Refuel at Marcel Bar & Bistro , where reimagined European comfort food – like seafood risotto in bisque with little neck clams and Moreton Bay bugs – is king. Then check in at the Pullman Sydney Penrith , the area’s first international five-star hotel, to enjoy your well-earned rest.

Start planning your NSW winter getaway at all.com.

7 incredible Murwillumbah restaurants to try now