Whether you’re planning a full-on eating itinerary or just stopping through town on your way to somewhere else, these are six of the best Yamba restaurants.
This little NSW surf town, just two hours south of the Gold Coast, punches well above its weight when it comes to dining. From overachieving burger joints to degustation-style dining, Neapolitan pizzerias and homely Turkish cafes, these six eateries promise to please all kinds of palates.
Karrikin Yamba
One of Yamba’s most lauded eateries, Karrikin is the place to celebrate special occasions – though there’s no reason why you shouldn’t stop by for a casual dinner either. Seasonal, local produce is king here, and native ingredients make regular appearances on the four-course set menu too.
Karrikin is the place to celebrate special occasions.
You might find dishes like potato dumplings with snapper mousse and pickles, smoked fish with Davidson plum cracker, and beetroot with apple and nasturtium lining the menu. It seems as if all the finer details have been considered here, right down to the artful presentation of dishes, beautiful ceramic plates and fancy glassware. What’s more, the setting is glorious, all sage and grey walls, matte black furnishings and plenty of timber. There’s also a breezy indoor-outdoor feel to the space, with bifold doors opening up the seated bar counter to the undercover patio out front, and the dining room leading through to a leafy backyard.
Native ingredients make regular appearances at Karrikin.
Address: 27 Coldstream St, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Phone number: +61 477 786 500
Website: karrikinyamba.com.au
Sweet N Spicy Cafe
In the mood for something low-key? This modest little cafe, squeezed in next door to a real estate agency, could be the answer. It’s hard to pin down Sweet N Spicy’s exact cuisine, which veers a little all over the place, but there’s a definite pan-Asian lean… think Vietnamese beef salad, Thai-style choo chee prawns and Malaysian chicken curry, with some arancini, buffalo wings, and beef empanadas thrown in for good measure. Beyond the food, it’s the warm, friendly and efficient service that keeps diners coming back for more; well, that and the option to BYO wine.
Sweet n Spicy is your friendly neighbourhood locale.
Address: 28B Yamba St, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Phone number: +61 490 027 301
Drift
A Neapolitan-style pizzeria, Drift has amassed a loyal legion of followers for its high-end pizzas, which are lovingly assembled using free-range charcuterie, organic Australian stone-milled flour, and artisanal cheeses. Even the spirits in its cocktails are top-shelf and paired with housemade syrups and freshly cold-pressed juices. The wine list has been carefully curated too, pleasing even the most discerning of oenophiles with its smattering of pét-nats and generous cross-section of old and new world wines. Veggies and vegans are catered to here as well, and there’s a handful of side salads to choose from.
Drift has amassed a loyal legion of followers for its high-end pizzas.
Address: 1/29 Yamba St, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Phone number: +61 419 972 166
Website: driftyamba.com
BRGR SPOT
When the post-beach craving for a burger strikes, head for Brgr Spot. This tried-and-true outfit, situated just a block back from Yamba’s Main Beach, is known for its fries (shoestring or sweet potato) as much as its burgers and reasonable prices. There’s both veggo and vegan options too, and if you’re in the mood for something a little lighter (or you’re gluten-free), every burger on the menu can be converted into a salad instead. And with a pretty generous selection of beers, wines and cocktails on offer to boot, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make an afternoon of it here either.
Head for the beauty of Brgr Spot.
Address: 2/15 Clarence St, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Phone number: +61 2 6646 1481
Website: brgrspotyamba.com.au
Beachwood Cafe
Open for breakfast and lunch, this homely Yamba cafe has developed something of a cult-like status. Chef-owner Sevtap has brought a rustic slice of the Mediterranean to the beach town with her tightly curated blackboard menu, homemade cakes, patterned mismatched china and leafy patio. Expect strong Allpress coffee, and humble yet wildly fresh local produce transformed into memorable, moreish Turkish-inspired dishes, such as scrambled eggs with feta and sucuk (Turkish sausage), coconut and cinnamon toast, braised octopus, lamb kofta, grilled sardines. And if you’ve been wooed by Sevtap’s ‘less is more’ approach to cookery then you can even buy one of her three cookbooks in-store.
Beechwood has developed something of a cult-like status.
Address: 22 High St, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Phone number: +61 2 6646 9781
Website: beachwoodcafe.com.au
The Kiosk Yamba
Yamba is not a beach town that’s short on great cafes, but few boast views as striking as The Kiosk. Housed within Yamba’s Surf Life Saving Club, this unassuming little cafe with its picnic benches and striped parasols, is open from breakfast through to lunch right on the town’s Main Beach. Whether you’re in the mood for something salubrious (hello acai bowls and fresh, cold-pressed juices) or something a little more indulgent (perhaps a bacon, egg and cheese roll with a vanilla milkshake on the side) The Kiosk delivers.
Peak hour at the Kiosk.
Address: 1 Marine Parade, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Phone number: +61 404 646 565
And Gather. A fabulous cafe with great coffee.