The Best Jervis Bay Restaurants | Australian Traveller

The pull of a weekend getaway to the NSW South Coast has never been stronger thanks to a plethora of great places to eat and drink in and around Jervis Bay.

The ultimate guide to Jervis Bay restaurants narrows the field to focus on the seaside village of Huskisson. But it also zooms out to include the broader Shoalhaven coast region. Be it casual vibes at a low-key food truck, or a romantic candle-lit dinner hidden in the treetops, or a fine dining restaurant with rooms, here are the best restaurants in Jervis Bay and surrounds.

Hottest new opening: Peter Eva Gusto Italiano
Fine dining gem: Bangalay Dining
Hidden gem: The Gunyah @ Paperbark Camp
Family-friendly spot: The Huskisson Hotel
Great for special occasions: Cupitt’s Estate

Bangalay Dining

Bangalay Dining is both destination diner and restaurant with rooms and one of the best places to eat and drink in the Shoalhaven region of the NSW South Coast. The venue is a standout thanks to the stellar service, cracking wine list and care taken by head chef Simon Furley. Locals and visitors flock to the handsome restaurant to enjoy contemporary dishes such as kingfish with compressed grapes and whole butterflied fish with soured cream and Warrigal greens. Wander back along the boardwalk to your luxury villa.

Cuisine: Contemporary Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: The elegant restaurant overlooks an up-lit pool that glows emerald in the evening light.
Location: 30 Staples St, Shoalhaven Heads

Peter Eva Gusto Italiano

A bowl of gnocchi — Tuck into hearty Italian dishes.

Peter Eva is the bricks-and-mortar version of the pizza truck husband-and-wife team Peter Sanna and Maria ‘Eva’ Guareri opened when they moved to Australia from Italy in 2020. The Jervis Bay restaurant was recently reimagined after the couple returned from a holiday to the Amalfi Coast, where they drew inspiration from the sunshine-yellow lemons of Sorrento. Plump for the pizza draped with prosciutto crudo with rucolo Parmigiano on the side. Bellissimo.

Cuisine: Traditional Italian (handmade gnocchi, woodfired pizza, pasta, antipasti)
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Casual and family-friendly
Location: 2/52 Owen St, Huskisson

Wildginger

Chef Alex Morvai designs inventive takes on Southeast Asian cuisine to an extremely appreciative audience at Wildginger. The menu, best enjoyed in banquet format, is a mix of vibrant options such as baked pumpkin jungle curry, colourful and crunchy pork loin katsu with wok-tossed greens and slow-roasted lamb betel leaf. Despite being in beachside Husky, the atmosphere is more reminiscent of an elegant upscale eatery in Bangkok.

Cuisine: Southeast Asian fusion
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: The dining room is upscale but welcoming.
Location: 44 Owen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

Pasta Buoy

The menu at Pasta Buoy is anchored to the seaside. And you’ve got to hand it to owners Steve and Jess Cantarakis as the nero di seppia (squid ink) spaghetti here presents like a dreamy ode to the Mediterranean. The ‘rock on’ symbol used in the branding for the informal Italian eatery ensures it’s much-loved by a mostly millennial crowd who flock here for Marg & Martini night and live DJ sets. The young, sun-kissed staff also work the floor with grace delivering dishes such as agnoletti filled with spinach and ricotta and rich, rustic wagyu lasagna.

Cuisine: Modern Mediterranean
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Fun and playful mod Med joint known for its good vibes.
Location: 60 Owen St, Huskisson

Cupitt’s Estate

Cupitt’s Estate is a winery, brewery, farm and restaurant. And it’s one of the compulsory pit stops when you’re road-tripping from Sydney to Jervis Bay. The colour of the landscape is lacquered crayon green after recent rains and the vineyard gazes down on the valley toward the sea. Book a table near the glass louvres so that you can drink in the scenery over a glass of Cupitt’s Estate fiano and Ulladulla yellowfin tuna crudo with tonnato dressing. The charred spring asparagus with pecorino custard and salted breadcrumbs also sings of the seasons. Loads to love here.

Cuisine: Mod Oz with Mediterranean accents
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Country charm turned up to full volume.
Location: 58 Washburton Road, Ulladulla

Jervis Bay Brewing Co.

Australia’s booming craft beer scene has rolled into the regions. And one of the best places to eat and drink in Jervis Bay is Jervis Bay Brewing Co . The taphouse founded by four friends transformed a grey square of the town’s industrial estate into a fun, boisterous, beer garden that is ideal for kicking back on weekends. My husband has fallen headfirst into his obsession for craft beer and loves JBBC’s Bay of Plenty IPA. Check the menu at the 5 Little Pigs food truck ahead of your visit so you can decide in advance whether to order the pulled pork tacos or chargrilled cheeseburger.

Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Rowdy, boisterous, beer-lariously fun place for a Sunday sesh.
Location: 3 Duranbah Drive, Jervis Bay

The Huskisson Hotel

Pub barons looking to open a successful South Coast venture should study the Huskisson Hotel formula to see how things are done. The renovated hotel, known as ‘the Husky’ has a dreamy waterfront setting with an outdoor terrace. Start with a dozen of Jim Wild’s oysters in the waterfront bar. Follow up with fish and chips or roast lamb in the bistro. There’s a roster of live music and entertainment. And, best of all, you can stay the night if you haven’t got a superyacht moored out front. Few Jervis Bay pubs have been embraced with such fervour and the Husky deserves its best Jervis Bay pub mantle.

Cuisine: Solid pub grub
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: The pub is light, bright and breezy.
Location: 75 Owen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

The Gunyah @ Paperbark Camp

Paperbark Camp is four kilometres as the eastern bristlebird flies from the pristine white-sand beaches and walking trails of Jervis Bay National Park. The camp has been at the forefront of ecotourism in Australia since it opened in 1999 and remains one of the best places to stay in Jervis Bay. Onsite eatery The Gunyah is also one of the best Jervis Bay restaurants. Enjoy a candlelit dinner that focuses on seasonal set menus that celebrate native ingredients. You can also pre-book a night of Indigenous storytelling with Gadhungal Murring under a starlit sky.

Cuisine: Innovative mod Oz cuisine with an emphasis on native ingredients
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: A whimsical dining experience; like being in the Magic Faraway Tree
Location: Paperbark Camp, 571 Woollamia Rd, Huskisson

Picnics Naturally Jervis Bay

Picnics Naturally Jervis Bay can help curate all these special moments by either setting up a picnic or dropping off a grazing board to your preferred picnic spot. The pull of a picnic in mystical jewel-coloured Jervis Bay has never been stronger. Bubbles anyone?

Cuisine: Grazing boards and cheese and charcuterie platters
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Choose your own adventure and bush or beach picnic spot
Location: At the world’s perfect picnic spot in Jervis Bay.

Mountain Ridge Wines

Mountain Ridge Wines is one of the best places to eat near Jervis Bay. This is not fancy fine dining. Instead, it’s all about rustic pizzas served at sunset and loaded with everything from hunks of vegetables to circles of salami and blobs of molten fior di latte. Wear your designer trackies with the elasticised waistband so you can tuck into pizzas with a few share plates on the side. Sign up for a tasting then close the deal with a Michelangelo pizza laden with feta, parmesan, pepperoni and flecked with chilli flakes and herbs, and a few glasses of vino.

Cuisine: Small plates, pizzas and grazing platters
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: The bucolic winery gazes down over the vines and valley.
Location 11 Coolangatta Road, Coolangatta

Discover the best cafes in Jervis Bay

Underpinned by grassroots hospitality and award-winning organic produce, the Central Coast’s gastronomy scene is thriving, with the region quickly becoming one of the best destinations in NSW for epicures.

Revered for its rugged natural splendour and laid-back seaside charm, NSW’s Central Coast has soared in popularity in recent years, becoming a top choice for an affordable slice of weekend escapism for Sydneysiders. Just a short 45-minute drive north of Sydney, it’s the kind of place that, no matter how many times you visit, leaves you with the sense that there’s always more to uncover. But while the ocean pools, bushwalks and beaches have (rightly) taken the spotlight, it’s the Central Coast food offerings which have been quietly simmering in the background.

From fresh-as-it-gets seafood and juicy organic citrus you can pluck yourself, through to regenerative farming and reputable farm-to-fork dining, this coastal gem has become an idyllic foodie mecca. Here are some of the best ways to immerse yourself in grassroots hospitality and gastronomic glory on the NSW Central Coast.

vegetables in a basket at Bells Garden at Bells At Killcare — From picking your own, to farm-to-table, discover the best Central Coast food experiences. (Image: Remy Brand)

Central Coast oyster experiences

From humble grub to opulent delicacy, oysters have ascended into a league of their own. Epicureans are fascinated by them – willing to pay upwards of $35 per dozen (double at some of Sydney’s reputable fine dining restaurants) – and ‘shuck bars’ seem to be popping up at every milestone celebration.

But it’s rare to find places that really draw back the curtain on how they’re farmed and why everyone is mad for these molluscs. The Central Coast , however, is home to several of these venues. With its pristine waters, mild climate and nutrient-rich estuaries, it’s the perfect breeding ground for oysters.

Learn about oyster farming and, importantly, how to shuck them at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours . Nestled on the Hawkesbury River at Mooney Mooney, Sheridan Beaumont and her team offer a hands-on foodie experience where you can feast on dozens of oysters (white tablecloth and all) while wading through the calm waters. You can even bring your own bottle of bubbles to wash them down.

guests in the water for an experience at Sydney Oyster Farm - Central Coast food — Learn tricks of the trade at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours. (Image: Remy Brand)

Elevate your oyster knowledge even further by heading north over the Hawkesbury River Bridge to the Hawkesbury River Oyster Shed . Tour their scenic oyster leases and saltwater paddocks by boat to uncover the distinct characteristics of the Sydney rock oyster and creamy Pacific oyster. They’ve also partnered with Broken Bay Pearl Farm to offer a one-of-a-kind oyster and pearl farming guided tour, showcasing the Central Coast’s very own pearl oyster, the Broken Bay ‘Akoya’. But if you’re simply in the mood to devour a dozen delectable oysters while soaking in the tranquil river views, pull up a chair at the shed. It’s friendly in every sense of the word: pets, families and BYO welcome.

shucking oysters at Broken Bay Pearl Farm — Taste freshly shucked oysters at Broken Bay Pearl Farm. (Image: James Horan)

Central Coast farms to pick your own fruit

While the Central Coast is known for its breathtaking 40 beaches and 80-kilometre coastline, its lush hinterland is equally impressive – abundant with orchards and agriculturally rich farmland. And when it comes to the simple joy of picking your own fruit, the Central Coast is a ripe playground.

Family-owned Meliora Farm at Peats Ridge is an orchard that blends conventional, biodynamic and organic philosophies. Third-generation farmer Tim Kemp and his wife Elise are dedicated to honouring the family legacy by growing a rich variety of oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins and avocados. In late May, roam the sustainable and nutrient-dense property during ‘Pick Your Own’ weekends.

Eastcoast Beverages is another bountiful citrus orchard boasting over 60 hectares of fruit. From June you can learn about the cultivation of high-quality ingredients – like lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges – by touring both the farm and factory before setting out and picking your own straight from the source. You can also sample an array of citrus-inspired sweet and savoury treats at their on-site cafe, Bambino’s .

If it’s just juicy oranges you’re after, Cedar Farm in Dooralong is a must-visit. Located about 30 minutes north of Peats Ridge, it features 15 flourishing orchards and over 3000 orange trees – with take-home bags during the season (from July) at low prices. Not bad for a fruity weekend haul.

woman picking oranges at Oranges at Dooralong — Pick your own citrus fruits on the Central Coast. (Image: James Vodicka)

Organic dining

What makes the Central Coast hinterland so special is the unwavering respect the communities have for their cherished backyard. Locally owned and operated farms are all striving for more sustainable practices and methods to both enhance biodiversity and reduce environmental impact, each with a heartwarming food philosophy.

The Food Farm in Wyong Creek believes good food is worth both the work and the wait. Devoted to regenerative farming, first-generation ‘farmily’ Tim Eyes and Hannah Greenshields are recognised for their grass-fed, grass-finished beef and pasture-raised, gold medal-winning chickens. With an open gate policy, The Food Farm encourages visitors to swing by and try some of their slow-grown produce at their small ‘honesty’ farm shop. With no staff, you can pick up a few quality cuts of meat and pasteurised eggs, leaving the owing amount in cash or via eftpos.

Keeping the spirit of generational organic farming alive is Fanelli Organics . Nestled in the Central Coast’s scenic and sleepy Mangrove Mountain, founders Eden and Louise Fanelli own over 45 hectares of plentiful farmland and orchards that produce a huge range of organic fruit and vegetables, like purple Dutch carrots, blood oranges, broccoli and Tuscan kale. A true home-grown operation, Fanelli Organics shares its fresh produce with local restaurants and community markets, including the beloved markets at Like Minds Cafe at Avoca Beach every Wednesday afternoon.

farmers holding fresh produce picked at Fanelli Organics — See where your food comes from at Fanelli Organics.

Paddock-to-plate dining

High-quality ingredients go hand in hand with premium dining, and the Central Coast is home to several paddock-to-plate restaurants that showcase its diverse and rich agriculture. Paired with warm, grassroots hospitality, there are culinary triumphs, new menus and revered chefs constantly popping up, putting the local dining scene firmly on the map.

Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce. Nestled in thick bushland with wraparound verandahs, floral gardens and an idyllic dam, the gourmet homestead and bakehouse is unlike any restaurant on the Central Coast. Here, head chef Reece Collins and his team serve up an impressive breakfast and lunch menu that oozes rustic charm. Pull up a comfy armchair on the expansive deck, listen to birdsong, and tuck into flavoursome dishes like the farmhouse Benedict with honey-cured ham, lemon myrtle hollandaise and Warrigal gremolata, or the hearty beef brisket pie with confit garlic potato purée and rainbow chard.

woman writing in notebook next to a table of food at Saddles, Central Coast food — Taste country-style cooking at Saddles. (Image: Destination NSW)

Delivering a slice of sophistication and luxury to the shores and bushland of Bouddi Peninsula is Bells at Killcare . One of the few boutique resorts on the Central Coast, it’s known for its premium service and five-star suites, as well as its bountiful kitchen gardens that boast an orchard, olive trees, avocado trees, free-range hens and a honey bee hive.

Cameron Cansdell has returned to Bells at Killcare as head chef, bringing his expertise to the casual yet refined menus that feature a raw bar with Oscietra caviar, freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters and Moreton Bay bugs, all served alongside optional matched wines. Sample some of Australia’s best regional wines and standout dishes, like roasted Wollemi duck with grilled leeks, rocket, grilled grapes and 10-year-aged balsamic, or the shareworthy salt-crusted snapper with herb salad and salsa, before roaming the picturesque gardens, wine in hand.

cocktail at Bells At Killcare — Sample incredible wine, cocktails and dishes at Bells At Killcare. (Image: Nikki To)

Plan your next visit to the delicious Central Coast.

Our guide to the best Jervis Bay restaurants