Where to Eat in Byron Bay: Restaurants a Short Walk from Waves

Byron Bay punches well above its size when it comes to food. The good news if you're staying at Waves: most of the town's best restaurants and bars are a few minutes' walk from our front door at 35 Lawson Street, so you can leave the car in the garage and walk home after dinner.

Here's our guide to where to eat in Byron Bay, starting with the places closest to the hotel. Menus and opening hours change with the seasons, so check each venue's website or Instagram and book ahead for dinner, especially on weekends and in summer.

Restaurants on Lawson Street

Roca, at 14 Lawson Street, is open all day with Latin-inspired food and cocktails in a beach-bar setting. It's one of the easiest walks from Waves and works for anything from a late breakfast to an evening drink.

The Smoking Camel, at 17 Lawson Street, serves Middle Eastern share plates cooked over charcoal, with a cocktail list to match. Good for a group dinner when you want a bit of atmosphere.

Jonson Lane and Jonson Street

A short walk south brings you to Jonson Lane, home to some of Byron's most talked-about openings of the last few years:

• Light Years: lively Asian share plates and cocktails.

• Pixie Italian: coastal Italian with local seafood.

• Bar Heather: a natural wine bar with small plates and a set menu.

• Dorsia (109 Jonson Street): contemporary Australian with an open kitchen and tasting menus.

• Ember (Jonson Street): a steakhouse cooking over charcoal.

Loft, at the beach end of Jonson Street, is a relaxed spot for share plates and cocktails close to Main Beach, and Bang Bang on Byron Street is a favourite for fried chicken, curries and fun drinks.

Seafood, vegan and something different

• Byron Bay Oyster Bar & Seafood Restaurant in Hotel Marvell, on Marvell Street, is the pick for oysters and a seafood-heavy menu.

• No Bones on Fletcher Street proves vegan food can be the most fun meal of your trip.

• Kouzina, a Greek taverna in the Arts & Industry Estate, is BYO and worth the short drive.

Worth the trip

For a special occasion, Raes Dining Room on Marine Parade overlooks Wategos Beach: walk there along the coastal track and catch a taxi home. Out of town, Three Blue Ducks at The Farm on Ewingsdale Road serves farm-to-table breakfast and lunch daily (dinner on weekends), and Bangalow's Ciao, Mate! and You Beauty make a day trip to the hinterland worthwhile.

Before you head out

Start the morning with our complimentary Light Start of coffee, muffins, juice and fresh fruit in the lobby, and on Friday and Saturday afternoons join us by the fire for complimentary wine tastings before you go out to dinner.

Staying with us? Browse our rooms and suites, and book direct for 10% off with code DIRECT10.