8 Cafes In Merimbula & Beyond To Start The Day At

Wake up to the fact it’s easy to find a caffeine fix with our guide to the best Merimbula cafes.

Take the time to stop at a Merimbula cafe and you’ll quickly discover the rhythm of the NSW South Coast town. From the casual kiosks that won’t judge you if you walk in barefoot from the beach to the cafes selling nourishing brekkie bowls. Here is our guide to the best cafes in Merimbula and beyond.

1. MorMors

Best for: The full eggs benny with two poached eggs, spinach, and hollandaise

This buzzy cafe serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch, with highlights including doorstop-sized burritos stuffed with scrambled eggs, bacon, Swiss cheese, spinach, charred corn, capsicum, red onion, and coriander salsa.

a spread of food and drinks on the table at MorMors, Merimbula — MorMors brunch menu is overflowing with generously sized brunch options.

MorMors  is in Merimbula Plaza and spills out onto a leafy courtyard perfect for ONA coffee and catch-ups. Enjoy a fresh juice and corn fritters or an all-day burger with the lot. Open 8am–2pm, seven days a week.

the outdoor setting at MorMors, Merimbula — The leafy courtyard is an ideal spot to sit with a cup of ONA coffee on a sunny day.

Address: The Plaza, Shop 15, 20-22 Market St, Merimbula

2. Bar Beach Kiosk

Best for: A big-arse Bar Beach burger

Customers at Bar Beach Kiosk are encouraged to be chilled thanks to the vibes being put down by the staff.

the beachfront view at Bar Beach Kiosk, Merimbula — Embrace the sunny vibes of this seasonal cafe during the warmer months. (Image: Bronte Shipton)

Sit here long enough and you are bound to meet all manner of sea-changers, from corporate casualties to ageing surfers lured by great waves for long-boarders. Sit at the bar overlooking the break if you’re in the mood to mingle.

a woman ordering a drink at Bar Beach Kiosk, Merimbula — Strike up a conversation with locals during your visit. (Image: Bronte Shipton)

Alternatively, lounge on the lawn beside laid-back locals over a lunch of smashed peas and whipped feta on Wheatley Lane sourdough. The seasonal cafe is open six days a week between the September school holidays and June long weekend.

the al fresco dining at Bar Beach Kiosk, Merimbula — The kiosk’s lawn is a great place to sit and watch the waves roll in as you sip your morning coffee. (Image: Bronte Shipton)

Address: Lake St, Merimbula

3. Nourish

Best for: Soups and salads

This Merimbula stalwart does what it says on the tin. Nourish  will awaken your appreciation for the art of making coffee with alt milk as the line-up of quality lactose-free liquids here is impressive. Enjoy a creamy oat milk latte or a super-food smoothie before perusing the shelves stocked with everything from Pukka tea to sugars and spices and soothing ministrations using turmeric and medicinal mushrooms. The rustic wholefoods cafe also sells racks of upcycled fashion. Open Mon-Sat 8–2pm; Sun 8–1pm

Address: The Promenade, Shop 7/4 Market St, Merimbula

4. Toast Cafe, Pambula

Best for: The sweet potato fritters

Toast Cafe is a perennial Pambula fave that lures diners with elevated brunch favourites that suggest a good time. Plates like the Mexican sweet salad with roasted sweet potato, peppers, black beans, quinoa, corn, feta, guac, tortilla crisps, and a coriander lime dressing. Or the sausage and egg panini with caramelised onion jam.

coffee and brunch menu at Toast Café, Pambula — Take your pick from the brunch favourites. (Image: David Rogers Photography)

There’s an unhurried vibe out the back on the verandah, which is prettied up with flowerpots and a beautiful garden streaked with sunlight. Order an iced latte and a pastry to go.

people dining at the garden-like setting of Toast Café, Pambula — Linger over brunch on the verandah. (Image: David Rogers Photography)

Address: 3/25 Quondola St, Pambula

5. Cranky cafe

Best for: The Philly cheese steak served on a squishy bun

Main Beach Merimbula is where the locals hang out to power up post-kitesurf. It’s not just because the lattes are rich and creamy. Or that the cheeseburgers have a bit of heft and are on a house-made milk bun. Cranky Cafe is a suburban go-to because the staff dispense food and drink with a smile. The cafe is popular with local holidaymakers staying in Merimbula who converge here for ready-made take-home meals.

Address: 33 Ocean Drive, Merimbula

6. Waterfront Cafe

Best for: A big breakfast of house-made ham-hocked beans with the lot

When looking for the best things to do in Merimbula it’s best to follow the locals who mob Main Beach each morning. Follow their lead and start your morning with a swim or a surf followed by breakfast by the water’s edge at the Waterfront Café . The corner cafe showcases the importance of community in a small country town where locals gather for coffee, breakfast and a catch-up. It’s a welcoming cafe near to a quirky pocket of shops and the hip strip of Merimbula’s best bars and restaurants.

Address: Shops 1 & 2 Corner Beach & Market St, Merimbula

7. Wild Orchid Cafe, Tathra

Best for: Avo on sourdough and the crumbed chicken burger

Tathra is just a 20-minute drive from Merimbula and well worth including in a NSW South Coast road trip itinerary. The locals pack in tighter than anchovies in a tin at Wild Orchid Tathra where the customers come in early for breakfast and stay late for BYO lunch. The cafe tweaks its hours over winter and summer to suit the seasons. You’d be remiss not to order the avocado feta with pepitas and black sesame on sourdough. Spice fiends should order it showered in an extra abundance of chilli flakes and wait for the kick to blow their head off.

Address: 1/29 Andy Poole Drive, Tathra

8. Wild Rye’s Baking Co., Pambula

Best for:  The beef curry pie is one of the best in Australia

When is a meat pie worth a six-hour drive? When it’s baked fresh in flaky pastry using the very best seasonal ingredients each day. Your dog’s eye (pie) is not going to transport well back to Sydney so find a spot on a park bench and scarf it down.

bread on display at Wild Rye’s Baking Co. in Pambula — Stock up on freshly baked bread and don’t forget to try the pies.

Then get back in the Wild Rye’s Baking Co queue to inhale the extraordinary aromas and figure out whether you’re going to go sweet or savoury. You’ll find artisan baked goods with unique flavour combinations and specialty blends of freshly roasted coffee, too.

making bread at Wild Rye’s Baking Co. in Pambula — Wild Rye’s Baking Co. is a proud purveyor of fine artisan breads.

Address: 26 Quondola St, Pambula

For more insider tips and expert advice to help you plan your next beachside escape, read our guide to visiting Merimbula.

Luxury meets hyper-local hospitality with an exclusive Christmas stay package and menu you’ll want to be present for.

An Aussie Christmas is like no other. December signals the start of summer, celebrations and festive cheer. While Mariah Carey might not have defrosted just yet, we’ve got less than 100 days left of the year. So it’s time to start planning. Christmas at Park Hyatt Sydney is reimagined with a luxurious festive stay package. Celebrate with a curated summer tote, a special seasonal menu that captures the flavours of a Sydney summer and cocktails crafted to capture the spirit of a harbourside Christmas.

This is your sign to skip the end-of-year chaos and let Christmas be taken care of for you.

A stay at Park Hyatt

couple with champagne on the balcony of their park hyatt sydney room — Gaze out from your balcony to see Sydney’s icons.

If you love a room with a view, imagine waking up on Christmas Day to the sound of waves and a sunrise over the iconic Sydney Opera House. Step out to your private balcony to soak in the sun, and you’ll find you’re on the doorstep to the coastal cobblestone charm of Sydney’s very own Christmas boulevard, The Rocks.

Enter Park Hyatt Sydney, a 155-room harbour-side hotel, centered in the beating heart of a historic neighbourhood, seamlessly blending life’s little luxuries with living like a local. Spend long, summer days lounging by the rooftop pool with 360-degree views of this harbour city or indulge in tailored treatments at The Spa.

aerial of park hyatt sydney rooftop pool — Spend summer days by the rooftop pool.

Be seated in The Dining Room, overlooking sparkling waters, to taste the vibrancy of an Australian summer. Led by Executive Chef Tyson Gee, discover a lunch and dinner menu that heroes coastal ingredients.

The festive stay package

Park Hyatt Sydney has introduced a festive stay package to up the Christmas spirit. Guests will enjoy an overnight stay in a guest room or suite with uninterrupted views, valet parking and a full breakfast for two in The Dining Room.

The Summer Kit

branded tote bag of park hyatt sydney with the sydney opera house in background — Take home a branded tote bag.

Because it’s an Aussie Christmas, guests booking the package will also receive a curated, limited-edition Summer Christmas kit stocked with seasonal luxuries, including the hotel’s first-ever branded merch.

Think a signature Park Hyatt Sydney sun cap and Aesop sunscreen valued at $300, all in a branded luxury tote bag. This kit will also be available for purchase throughout December, if you’re in need of any gift ideas.

The details

The festive stay package applies to stays from 1 – 27 December, with a limited number of suites available. Guests can book using the exclusive offer code XMAS25 on parkhyattsydney.com . They can also call +61 2 9256 1234 or email sydney.park.accommodation@hyatt.com.

Christmas dining

christmas menu at the dining room restaurant in park hyatt sydney — Taste a special Christmas menu at The Dining Room.

For the gourmands who want to participate in the festivities but are unable to stay as an overnight guest, Park Hyatt Sydney can still be your Christmas go-to. Taste Chef Tyson Gee’s themed culinary creations throughout December .

From 1 – 24 December, diners can book a Christmas Afternoon Tea from $95 pp. Prepare for Christmas flavours like braised turkey pie with cranberry gel, plus gingerbread and salted vanilla bûche de Noël and a chocolate hazelnut bauble for dessert.

On Christmas Day, The Dining Room and The Living Room will both offer a five-course menu from $425 per person. Start with a glass of NV Taittinger Champagne on arrival – accompanied by Sydney’s finest seafood – and end with a reimagined mango pavlova, with rice pudding and pink peppercorn.

“Our vision was to capture the flavours of a harbourside Australian Christmas,” says Gee. “Guests will enjoy seafood at its best, from fresh oysters to cured ocean trout, paired with tropical fruit accents and festive touches like glazed Berkshire ham and roast duck. Every dish has been imagined for a harbourside Christmas celebration.”

Guests can also enjoy a range of seasonal cocktails crafted by Head Mixologist Kevin Botte, including the Christmas Negroni, Christmas Mulled Wine and a Christmas Cocktail/Mocktail.

Exploring Sydney

woman drinking festive cocktail in the dining room restaurant of park hyatt sydney — The best of Sydney is right on your doorstep.

For those planning a visit, Christmas at Park Hyatt Sydney means you’re perfectly situated to explore the best of Sydney.

The hotel is mere steps away from the icons, from Sydney Opera House to the Harbour Bridge, along with the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Add open-air galleries full of murals and explore the nearby cobblestone streets.

Head to the charming Rocks Markets, where the streets transform with seasonal Christmas creations, of the artisan and foodie variety. Then head over to Dawes Point Park for a picnic under the bridge.

Find more 360-degree rooftop views at the Glenmore, or listen to live music at Brewhouse at Squire’s Landing from Wednesday to Sunday (times vary). There’s something for everyone.

For more details on Christmas at Park Hyatt Sydney, visit parkhyattsydney.com or call +61 2 9256 1234.

8 of the best cafes in Merimbula and beyond to start the day