From hippie haven to a mecca for Australia’s glitterati, Byron Bay/Cavanbah has undergone a serious glow-up over the past few decades. But one thing that hasn’t changed: its line-up of ridiculously tasty cafes.
Getting to the good stuff isn’t always easy, though, especially if you’re visiting at peak hour on a Saturday morning. That’s why we’ve put together a hit list of OB真人视讯's 12 favourite Byron Bay cafes. Make your choice, plug the address into Google Maps, and head straight there to skip the traffic jams on Lawson and Jonson Street.
Visiting in the evening? Check out 21 of the best Byron Bay restaurants.
Folk Byron Bay
399 Ewingsdale Road, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Image Credit: Folk Byron Bay | Instagram
We’d be doing you a disservice if we didn’t kick off our list with . This cutesy cafe is quintessentially Byron—think white-washed interiors, top-notch chow, and rustic al fresco seating nestled among pot plants and palms. It’s located on the town’s outskirts too, which can make parking a little easier.
Folk’s menu is fully vegetarian, but don’t let the lack of protein put you off. Choose between cafe classics like scrambled eggs with house chilli chutney and original dishes like the Folk Burrito, a stacked combination of rice, quinoa, black beans, sauerkraut, and pumpkin that is truly excellent. Add a coffee made on to amp up your morning.
Bayleaf Cafe
2A Marvell Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Image Credit: Bayleaf Cafe | Instagram
A Byron Bay staple, is consistently busy, so aim to get there early—or be prepared to queue. With a ’gram-worthy teal-tiled backdrop, rich wooden décor and sweet outdoor seating to perch up on, there’s a lot to love about Bayleaf’s aesthetics. Luckily, the food holds up too.
Choose between breakfast dishes like the signature Mexi-style scrambled eggs and brioche French toast with espresso mascarpone, or go big with a bowl of chicken brown rice congee (our personal favourite). The menu does change seasonally, so visit ASAP if you want to get in on the winter feeds.
Bayleaf’s true strength, though, is its drinks menu, which includes high-end options like V60 coffee (only available on certain days) and Uji matcha. Bonus: all coffees are made with beans from Blackboard, one of the Gold Coast’s most iconic roasteries.
The Byron Bay General Store
26 Bangalow Road, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Image Credit: Byron Bay General Store | Instagram
If places like Bayleaf Cafe represent the new Byron, the harks back to a simpler time—one when the Bay was home to sand miners and dairy farmers, not celebrities. The Store itself was first established in 1947, making it one of the oldest buildings in town. Pull up a seat on its beautiful timber floors and enjoy the ambience.
The Store’s modern-day menu features an impressive lineup of burgers and Asian fusion dishes like the sesame soba salad, okonomiyaki, and braised beef bowl. Pair your meal with a coffee, tea, or specialty drink like the adaptogenic hot chocolate—there’s nothing like a rich combination of cacao, maca, ginger, cinnamon, and functional mushrooms to ward off the winter chills.
Combi Byron Bay
25 Fletcher Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Image Credit: Combi | Instagram
Kerbside on Fletcher Street, feels like a hole-in-the-wall that grew up. Its spacious interiors are dominated by bamboo cladding, tropical pot plants, and a hot pink coffee counter. It’s the kind of eclectic, fun fit-out that’s right on point with Byron Bay’s culture.
The menu is vegan-adjacent—the only non-veg ingredients we spotted were eggs, feta, salmon, and smoked ham—and it’s seriously good. Dishes like the pesto crumpets and mushrooms on toast are full on flavour without being overly heavy, making them the perfect choice for kicking off your morning.
Our recommendation: wash it all done with a cold-pressed juice (the ginger, lemon and beetroot Belongil is particularly nice over winter) or a house-roasted coffee.
Roadhouse
142 Bangalow Road, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Cross a whisky bar with an old-school diner, throw in a dash of Byron Bay whimsy, and you get . This sprawling cafe–bar hybrid has historically hosted pizza-baking and tapas nights, and it still has a restaurant-esque ambience—think dark wooden panelling, exposed brickwork, and lots of pendant lights.
The winter menu spans both breakfast and lunch, with classics like American-style beef burgers sitting alongside spiced porridge and pumpkin toasties. Special mention goes to the delightful homemade gnocchi. Like most eateries in Byron, there are plenty of gluten-free and vegan options available. All Roadhouse coffee is made on Allpress beans.
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The Top Shop
65 Carlyle Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Image Credit: The Top Shop | Instagram
Nostalgic for the classic Aussie milk bar? is bringing it back, serving up caffeine and corner-store-style burgers in an original 1950s building. Don’t worry, though—this is still quality food made to the Byron standard (local ingredients and strong vegan and gluten-free options).
There’s brekky bowls and smoothies on the menu, but, if we’re honest, you come to the Top Shop for one thing and one thing only: those downright delicious burgers. Choose between classics like the USA and brekky burgers, or try something more adventurous, like a panini with grilled haloumi and house-made olive tapenade. Our pick: the Shop Burger with a vanilla shake. Once you’ve finished feeding, head around the block and take Milne Track to Tallow Beach.
Allpress Byron Bay Espresso Bar
11 Banksia Drive, Byron Bay NSW 2481
is the specialty coffee roaster that’s expanded globally from Auckland—you’ve probably seen its beans in cafes across the Gold Coast and Brisbane. This coffee bar? Well, it’s one of four Australian roasteries, and, if a great cuppa is your goal, it’s well worth a visit.
Order anything from an espresso to a V60, and then head outside to take a seat on the deck (early morning is best for a dose of winter sunshine). We loved the industrialist interior contrasted against warm timber—the result is an upscale ambience that’s very on brand for Allpress. If you’re feeling peckish, pair your coffee with a pastry or panini.
Sparrow Coffee
Cnr Williams Lane and Byron Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Sleek and trendy, is a piccolo-sized caffeine bar on Byron Street. Think you recognise the name? You probably do. There are other Sparrows at Burleigh, Bangalow, Port Douglas, and Port Douglas—and the whole flock serves single-origin Allpress Espresso.
If you like great coffee and good ambience, Sparrow’s Byron Bay location should definitely be on your hit list. Get there early, soak up the morning sunlight in an al fresco seat, and pair your bean juice with a pastry from Allpress-affiliated bakery . Still hungry? Head around the corner to Williams Street and grab a Spanish baguette from , which operates a takeaway window from the back of Sparrow.
The Pass Cafe
1 Brooke Dr, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Wind up Lighthouse Road, take a left on Brooke Drive, and you’re at , a relaxed little eatery sandwiched between gums and casuarinas above . Be prepared for boardshorts, sand on the floor, and salt in the air—it’s a favourite with both locals and tourists, and for good reason.
Go with reliable all-day dishes like buttermilk pancakes and eggs benny or seafood standouts like the beer-battered barramundi and salt-and-pepper squid. Afterwards, take the advice posted outside the cafe’s entrance: slow down and chill out (either by heading down to the beach or hitting the nearby Cape Byron Walking Track).
Otherside Byron Bay
1 Banksia Drive, Byron Bay NSW 2481
Away from the hustle of Main Beach is the oh-so-sweet , an unmistakable charcoal building that practically screams ‘good vibes here’. The Otherside team have refreshed their menu for the colder months, stacking on seasonal delights like the Winter Healthy Bowl and spiced porridge with apple and pear compote.
We suggest trying the green scrambled eggs with pecorino and one of Otherside’s famously strong coffees. The cafe does occasionally host pop-up cooking and music events, so keep an eye on if you’re planning on being in Byron overnight.
Little Byronian
108–114 Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
In a town dominated by classic cafe cuisine (which we absolutely do love), is a refreshing change of pace. This Middle Eastern-influenced eatery serves up schnitzels and shawarmas from an al fresco establishment outside of the Mercato on Byron mall.
The food here is made for sharing, so grab a chair, snag a slice of your mate’s pita, and start loading it up with everything from hummus to Iraqi pickles. In a rush? Grab a coffee (roasted by locally-based ) and house-baked pretzel to go.
High Life
103 Jonson Street, Byron Bay NSW 2481
What do you get when you combine a La Marzocco machine with Allpress beans? A seriously memorable coffee experience. Add in local artwork and live music nights, and the result is . (But don’t worry: if espresso’s not your thing, French press and V60 coffees are on the menu too.)
Overlooking Carlyle Street, High Life is the kind of cafe we love—bleached brickwork, glossy wooden décor, and a customer base sporting plenty of bare feet. Soak up your caffeine with one of its seasonal dishes, like a toasted ham and cheese croissant with pineapple adobo sauce.
Looking for more Northern NSW eateries? Check out:
- The Best Northern Rivers Restaurants
- The Best Murwillumbah Restaurants
- The Best Brunswick Heads Restaurants
Main image credit: Folk Byron Bay | Instagram
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