As the sun sets, Byron Bay’s allure doesn’t diminish for tourists or locals.
With fantastic food, tantalising drinks and a choice of atmospheres to suit any taste, there’s plenty to explore once the stars come out. From a casual speakeasy to a lively brewery, and iconic views to gigs by the roadside, we’ve pulled together the best bits of the town’s eclectic nocturnal nature.
So, whether you’re visiting for a romantic getaway or simply seeking a new hangout, read on to discover the best Byron Bay has to offer after dark.
Restaurants & Romantic Eats
Azure Bar & Grill
Elements of Byron
Named after the stunning shade of blue waters surrounding the restaurant, Azure Bar and Grill offers guests a memorable dining experience with two distinct spaces that flow from classic elegance inside to alfresco vibes on the terrace.
From the kitchen, Executive Chef Ebony Baker emphasises the perfection of local produce with an eclectic mix of international flavours taken from the pages of her high-flying (and luxury yachting) resume.
Feast on baked native oysters Rockafellar with togarashi shichimi and Warrigal greens for lunch or indulge in a dinner of truffled fungi pizza topped with mozzarella and black angus bresaola.
The Bar and Fire Pit create separate spaces to start the night with a bang or keep the party going. Join an Azure Bar and Grill Friday tradition of cocktails and fiery conversation at Fire Pit Fridays.
Jonson Lane Precinct
Pixie, Light Years & Bar Heather
139 Jonson Lane, Byron Bay
Jonson Lane is a vibrant Byron Bay village precinct home to a collection of restaurants that live on our favourites list. Pixie Food and Wine offers modern coastal cuisine with Sicilian roots brought to you by two of Australia’s top restaurateurs. Dine amongst an ambience of coastal village chill with a kick of easy sophistication.
Be welcomed with warm peachy tones, the song of a cocktail shaker and the scent of Asian spices when you enter Light Years. This restaurant’s personality is bold, its flavours are punchy and its energy is contagious. Dig into zesty XO diamond shelled clams and tasty bao buns and wash it all down with a spiked kombucha cocktail as you enjoy the killer soundtracks!
Bar Heather is an epicurean adventure built on a passionate foundation of impeccable wines and a polished food menu. Let the Bar Heather team help you pair spanner crab and noodles in fragrant sauce with the perfect drop. Hang around to watch a dinner vibe of moody lighting and rich wood tones transform into a late night disco.
Central Byron Village
Moonlight
Bay Lane, Byron Bay
Moonlight is as bold as it is delicious! A contemporary Japanese hibachi grill and wine bar, Moonlight is a visual explosion. Black walls create a canvas inspired by the midnight sky. Soak in white accents as you sip from the biodynamic wine menu and taste dishes like spicy salmon and pickled cucumber or wagyu katsu sando. Don’t forget to taste the result of hundreds of years of Japanese cocktail-making tradition.
The Smoking Camel
3/17 Lawson Street, Byron Bay
With checkerboard flooring, orange tiling, neon lit artwork and the scent of middle eastern spices teasing the air, you’ll feel like you’ve walked into the ultimate Arabian Nights theme party. The latest creation from the same team that brought Bryon Bay’s beloved Light Years into being, The Smoking Camel is just plain cool.
The menu mixes flavours from Lebanon, Turkey and Israel with a modern spoon. Dishes like shawarma spiced cauliflower and king prawn cafe de Cairo are served with an extensive cocktail list. Drink dessert with a cocktail based on Turkish delight flavoured gin or sample the namesake cocktail, The Smoking Camel, with its spiced pear and mezcal flavours.
The space screams fun and the menus ooze international deliciousness. A night at The Smoking Camel is a must.
No Bones
11 Fletcher Street, Byron Bay
A plant-based paradise, No Bones has quickly become the regular Byron haunt for vegans and vegetarians alike. With a deliciously fresh food and cocktail menu, the all-female powerhouse behind No Bones offer something for everyone – even carnivores love it!
A far cry from Byron’s traditional hippy cafes, this Byron Bay restaurant has taken things to the next level. Everything is made to order in house – you’ll find no packets or store-bought breads here! The vegan calamari and house made gnocchi with almond ricotta are fan favourites.
The Balcony Bar
Corner Jonson Street and Lawson Street, Byron Bay
For a birds’ eye view of the bustling streets of Byron accompanied by fine wine, oysters and other culinary treats, head upstairs to The Balcony Bar in the middle of Byron’s bustling village heart.
The extensive wine list features reds, whites and rosés from Australia, New Zealand and Europe, alongside bubbles and champagne. Designed to suit a variety of tastes, the cocktail menu features both classic and fun new flavours.
The food menu includes expertly prepared seafood, on-the-bone meats and share plates. As far as Byron Bay restaurants are concerned, The Balcony Bar is one of the best vibes for a long evening of oysters and champagne.
Bang Bang
4/1 Byron Street, Byron Bay
Bang Bang brings a unique Asian fusion to Byron Bay in sophisticated, industrial-style surroundings with great music. Grabbing the attention of some of Melbourne’s most celebrated chefs, its menu puts a sumptuous twist on the traditional cuisine of Southeast Asia to deliver a unique taste experience. Menu highlights include fresh sashimi, spicy satay and sticky braised beef ribs.
Yulli’s Byron Bay
Shop 2, 1 Carlyle Street, Byron Bay
If a fiercely independent Asian woman walked into a bar and fell in love with a strapping European gent and they had a baby – it would be Yulli’s Byron Bay. In a space of casual, retro vibes your old favourite Asian and Mediterranean dishes are served up with a surprise. Yulli’s is 100% vegan, right down to the wine list.
Get rowdy with your crew on a large timber table or cosy into plush velvet seats for a date night feast of katsu eggplant, BBQ tofu souvlaki or vegan san choy bow. Yulli’s Byron Bay is an evolution for owners Karl and Danielle, who first founded Yulli’s Brews and Yulli’s Surry Hills. It wasn’t until they had lived in the Byron Shire for a few years that they were inspired to take their flavour methodology to the next level.
Don’t forget to try Yulli’s craft beers, cider, kombucha and other delicious beverages.
Cocktails and Wine
Casa Luna
9 Fletcher St, Byron Bay
There’s an enchantment to Casa Luna where the flavours of Mexico and the Mediterranean come together. The shared, tapas style format makes the seasonal menu even more engaging.
Food is served with cocktails of Latina character, live performances and DJ tunes that will make you think of decadent nights in Ibiza, Mykonos or Tulum.
The Mez Club
87 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Transform into a Moroccan souk for an evening of cocktail creativity at The Mez Club. From the sleek contemporary interior, enjoy an evening that slowly spills out under the stars into the lively Byron nightlife.
The cocktail menu is a tantalising read. Pick from signature, classic or ‘remixed’ cocktails (plus mocktails), which draw clear inspiration from cultures across the world. For a vibrant taste experience, try The Smokin’ Lady, which combines the powerful punches of mezcal, angostura and rosemary, or sit back with the Psychedelic Sunset, best sipped slowly as the sun descends over the hinterland.
Loft Byron Bay
4 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Loft is an open plan, coastal space that has quickly become one of Byron’s most popular evening hotspots. A contemporary cocktail bar with a creative menu featuring local organic and biodynamic drinks, Loft also offers a food menu with mouth-watering plates designed to share.
Loft is the perfect place to unwind and reconnect with friends over a casual cocktail (or two!).
You Beauty
37 Byron Street, Bangalow
There is something a little unexpected about You Beauty. It’s a juxtaposition of big-city corner pub vibes from somewhere in Europe with a menu that is 100% Australian. Located on the main street of Bangalow, You Beauty serves cold beers on tap and a cocktail and wine menu that is always evolving. The bar’s cuisine will take you on a journey through some Australian pub classics, but in a form you’ve never known them before. This is not your Dad’s steak and chips!
Nightlife
Lovers Lane
6 Lawson Street, Byron Bay
Food/Drink/Music/Art
Lovers Lane is a rambunctious, good-time bar famous for hosting some of the biggest parties in town. Textured, whitewashed walls, comfy brown lounges and an open air verandah create a space that is effortlessly Bryon – both casual with little touches of elevation.
The cocktail list is a combination of classics and inspired newbies. Girls’ nights out call for the White Lady with its violet vodka, limoncello, almond and aquafaba, while the Paloma mixes tequila, mezcal and passion fruit soda to keep even the most distinguished ‘hidalgo’ satisfied.
Dine on bar snacks or share plates of beef tartare, BBQ king prawns and Australian prosciutto as a warm up for the night’s main event. Whether the entertainment is a live DJ or band, you’ll feel like you’re at the center of the party.
Beach Hotel
1 Bay St, Byron Bay
Pub/Live Music/DJ
Located just across the road from Main Beach, the iconic Beach Hotel is an open, vibrant space that has welcomed locals and visitors for over 30 years.
Affectionately known as ‘The Beachy’, it offers live entertainment, a lush beer garden and an extensive menu spanning classic and contemporary pub food. Patrons can enjoy a drink while watching the Beach Hotel’s pizza chef create woodfired delights. For a more intimate cocktail experience, head to the Green Room and enjoy an espresso martini in the venue’s pared-back natural interior with sea green hues and luxe details.
Late at night, the Beach Hotel becomes home to some of the best local and touring acts. Be sure to visit the Gig Guide before your next night out and enjoy Byron’s best live music on the beach!
The Northern
35 – 43 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Cocktail bar/Pub/Live Music
Overlooking the main street in the heart of town, The Northern is a heritage Byron Bay bar with old school charm. Known as the home of the best local blues, rock and folk performers, it comes alive after dark with an energy like no other.
This charming locale offers patrons two main areas, the front cocktail bar and Backroom, so no matter what kind of night you have in mind, The Northern caters for all. Passers-by can expect to hear the jovial banter, laughter and the clinking of glasses of regulars. But the venue’s famous Backroom is where the magic happens; host to over 30 years of rock n roll personalities, the Backroom has seen many music icons pass through its doors, including the White Stripes and Bloc Party.
Finally, in the same spirit of famous duelling piano bars from Las Vegas, New Orleans and the United Kingdom, The Northern’s Duelling Pianos is an experience unlike anywhere else in Australia. Two talented pianists and a dancefloor that’s begging you to make some moves.
Street Scene and Live Music
Buskers, Beach Walk and Fire Pit
One quintessential night-time Byron experience is wandering through town listening to the talented buskers that line Jonson Street and near Main Beach. From solo guitarists busking acoustically to acts bringing a full stage-style setup to the roadside, it’s an eclectic addition to Byron Bay’s nightlife, and worth meandering through slowly. You’ll often find a throng of dancers swaying to an impromptu jam.
And what better way to end your evening than walking barefoot along the beach and listening to the waves break softly under a moonlit sky? Main Beach is easily accessible at various points along Bay and Lawson Streets, while Belongil Beach has multiple access points, including directly from Elements of Byron (for guests only). And, of course, the Byron Bay lighthouse offers the finest elevated view of the moonlit bay. It’s outstanding on a clear full moon night.
Cap off any night with a drink under the night sky sitting around the Fire Pit at Elements of Byron – fantastic spot to sip slowly late into the evening.
Eltham Pub
441 Eltham Road, Eltham
Pub/live music
Start to slow down and relax on the 30-minute drive through the hinterland to one of the region’s most iconic watering holes, the Eltham Pub. This 118-year-old bar is the scene of epic long lunches, tables full of inspired, modern pub grub and live music that is just plain cool. Look out over expansive verandas, beautiful gardens and views of the surrounding countryside while the stage comes alive with bands from all over Australia. Waves of bluesy, rock n’ roll and folk music will have you tapping your foot and wanting to stay longer. Watch out for gig announcements, as tickets often sell out fast.
Live Music
Byron Bay is famous for hosting the best local and international touring acts, with both ticketed and free gigs happening across town every night of the week. Check out the below venues for an up-to-date monthly line up:
You can also find gig guides in Byron’s local publications, such as the
Echo’s North Coast Gig Guide.
For more ideas on enjoying this coastal destination, check out our guide to Byron Bay for couples.
Want more inspiration for things to do in Byron Bay? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Byron Bay.