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

From serene natural beauty to vibrant nightlife, with plenty of arts and culture in between, the NSW Central Coast has been enjoying a serious glow up.

Just one hour from Sydney, the Central Coast has long been the perfect seaside getaway. And with its ECO Destination certification with a focus on sustainability, it’s a trip travellers can feel good about, too. Recently, new and exciting openings have turned the Central Coast into a place where incredible natural beauty is still on the table, but so is a vibrant and sophisticated arts, dining and nightlife scene.

Find out what’s new to discover on the Central Coast.

1. Gosford’s glow up

room at voco gosford — Book into voco and experience the best of Gosford.

Long-time Central Coast lovers will hardly recognise Gosford these days. While always boasting gorgeous water views, a range of revamps and new openings have turned it into a busy hub of arts and culture, with an increasingly diverse and vibrant nightlife.

Landmark lifestyle hotel voco Gosford is the perfect home base for a Central Coast getaway. At this IHG hotel overlooking sparkling Brisbane Water, guests can spend sunny days soaking in the rooftop pool (or just sipping a cocktail beside it). When it comes to meals, you can enjoy multiple venues serving up everything from modern Australian fare to fine-dining Japanese.

Venture out to lay eyes on the Central Coast’s first permanent Moving Image Gallery (MIG) . Opened this year inside the Gosford Regional Gallery , the immersive space is a showcase of screen-based and digital art. While at the gallery, wander around the Edogawa Commemorative Garden, a traditional Japanese strolling garden complete with teahouse, koi pond and an ornamental bridge.

Meanwhile, the revamped Gosford Regional Library has even more than books to discover. Now, it’s one of the best in the southern hemisphere – find exhibitions, historical archives and community initiatives for all ages at this perfect family-friendly escape.

2. Newcomers to the dining scene

table full of food at Amarilla restaurant terrigal — Treat yourself to sundowners and snacks at Amarilla.

The Central Coast has long been the perfect destination for gourmands, with everything from casual eats to fine dining elevating the local offerings. And three new destinations have been added to the map.

Amarilla at The Haven in Terrigal is the perfect seaside venue for sundowners, with blissed-out beats providing the soundtrack. Book in for golden hour and choose bites from a Spanish tapas menu made for sharing. Do as the locals do and wash it all down with sangria – the Sunday Sangria Sessions have become a local institution.

Also in Terrigal, Little Miss has brought a premium Mediterranean menu to the waterfront. Try the wagyu tartare with Greek caviar or butter-poached lobster and tomato bisque, paired with inventive cocktails and a handpicked selection of Lebanese wines.

Over in Ettalong, Bar Toto is perfect for pre- or post-dinner drinks. This award-winning cocktail bar is known for its creative concoctions, along with craft beer, wine and antipasti platters to snack on. The interior sets the mood, with dim lighting and wooden furnishings.

3. New Central Coast experiences

winemaker at Firescreek Botanical Winery — Book an experience at Firescreek Botanical Winery.

It’s entirely possible (and recommended) to spend a Central Coast getaway relaxing on one of its many peaceful and pristine beaches. But for those who crave more, there’s a long list of options to keep you busy.

Pop into the iconic Australian Reptile Park to see the new Weigel Venom Centre, a state-of-the-art facility that’s home to over 200 of the country’s most venomous snakes.

Get out on the water with Sail Central Coast , which offers 20 years of expertise in yacht charters. Book the Sunset Sail & Dine yacht charter for a private afternoon cruising the waterways of Bouddi National Park and Brisbane Water, stopping at Anchor on Hardys for a two-course meal with a cocktail.

For something completely different, Firescreek Botanical Winery is now offering an Aboriginal Storytelling and Wine Tasting Experience. Learn about local cultures, stories and traditions from an Aboriginal Elder, then enjoy a botanical-inspired wine tasting led by a local winemaking expert.

4. Central Coast accommodation

view from a cottage at Noonaweena — Sleep in the hinterland at Noonaweena.

There’s simply too much to experience on the Central Coast to only stay for one day. Turn your trip into a relaxing getaway by the beach.

Allawah , a retreat on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, is accessible only by boat. This secluded two-bedroom cottage is the perfect place to unwind, allowing you to spend lazy days fishing, kayaking, paddling or unwinding with a book on your own private jetty.

In the Kulnura hinterland, Noonaweena features a range of accommodation styles, from a luxe glamping bell tent to cottages and a treetop suite. It’s a leader in green travel, with 10 years of certification from Eco Tourism Australia. Relax in the onsite wellness centre or get active on various courts and in the gym facilities.

To stay by the ocean at Toowoon Bay, book into Kim’s Beachside Resort . This adults-only property offers a luxury escape nestled within a sub-tropical rainforest. Along with 36 private timber bungalows, indulge in massages or reiki treatments at the dedicated spa, or stop by the cocktail bar and à la carte restaurant.

5. Shopping on the Central Coast

Umina’s Centred Ceramics central coast — Try your hand at Umina’s Centred Ceramics’ pottery courses.

For those after unique trinkets, handmade treasures and beautiful homewares, the Central Coast is a haven.

Markets on the Central Coast have a special flavour. Wander the Umina Beach Markets at twilight, where you’ll find small businesses from the local areas, and the Norah Head Ocean View Markets , where you can soak up good food, live music and artisan finds by the beach after sunset. ‘Tis the season for the Christmas twilight edition of the Avoca Beachside Markets, celebrating the season with pop-up bars, tasty treats and plenty of unique gift options from local artists and producers.

Galleria Ettalong has also added to the Central Coast’s recent makers and creators renaissance, wrapping cinemas, a dining precinct and over 40 boutique shops into one area.

Sign up for a pottery course at Umina’s Centred Ceramics , or peruse the shop for a range of one-of-a-kind pottery made on the premises for a special souvenir.

For more eclectic arts and homewares, pop into Blue Bird Collective Co . This marketplace supports over 35 small, local and handmade businesses, artists and creatives. Take the time to check out fashion, jewellery and homewares that won’t be found anywhere else.

Start planning your coastal getaway at lovecentralcoast.com .

Our guide to the best Jervis Bay restaurants