Meet River: Brunswick Heads’ moodiest new dinner date.
Meet River: Brunswick Heads’ moodiest new dinner date.
There’s just something about Bruns. That salty-breezed serenity, the way time takes a deep breath and slows its roll. Now, adding to the town’s easy magic? A moody little marvel serving up heart-on-a-plate eats and seriously sippable drops. Say g’day to River – the wild-at-heart, slow-food seducer we didn’t know we needed.
Tucked on Mullumbimbi Street, River is the lovechild of Scottish-born chef and former welder (yes, really) Michael Lee, whose career pivot from sparks to spatulas has been nothing short of sizzling. After hopping the globe and climbing the culinary ranks, he’s landed right here, bringing decades of flavour-chasing, produce-worshipping passion to this cosy coastal nook. And the result? A modern Australian menu with one foot in the forest and the other in your soul.
Michael’s CV reads like a greatest hits album for Northern Rivers diners, Season, Taverna, Potager, Mavis’s Kitchen, but River is his magnum opus. A space built not just for cooking, but connecting. It’s fine dining without the fuss, where seasonal produce meets storytelling and local love flows as freely as the wine.
Let’s talk food. The wattleseed-crusted wild venison is the kind of dish that deserves poetry – rich, rugged, layered with parsnip, blueberry ketchup and a Husk Ink Gin jus that’ll have your tastebuds raising a toast. Or wrap your fork around the charcoal Walgett kangaroo carpaccio, finished with pickled macadamia, native raspberry ketchup and wattleseed damper. Yes, we’re drooling too.
On the sips side of things, the River Margi is a must. A house twist on a classic marg, she’s the kind of cocktail that turns a quick lunch into a six-hour situation (zero regrets). And if there’s a better winter dessert than smoked malt ice cream with mulled wine berries and winter truffle, we haven’t met it, and frankly, don’t want to.
The fit-out? Intimate, atmospheric, and steeped in nostalgia. Think wine-lit corners, bar stools begging for long chats, and a vibe that whispers “yeah, go on, have another glass.” Outdoor seating’s on its way, but the current setup is full of that ‘come in, get comfy, stay a while’ charm we all secretly crave.
Helping you pair every sip and bite is Harriet-Rose Johnson, Bruns local, hospitality queen and wine whisperer. She’ll guide you through the drinks list with the flair of someone who’s tasted it all (and chosen only the best).
Oh, and did we mention the guest chef pop-ups, winemaker nights and community feasts? River isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a living, breathing celebration of connection. A table where locals, visitors, foodies and creatives all pull up a seat.
At the heart of it, River is a return to why we fell in love with dining out in the first place: warm welcomes, full glasses, and food that tells a story. And this one? We’re reading cover to cover.
Where: 2/26 Mullumbimbi Street, Brunswick Heads
When: Thursdays, 5-9pm. Fridays, 11:30 am–4 pm and 5–9 pm. Saturdays, 11:30 am–4 pm and 5–9 pm. Sundays, 11:30 am–5 pm
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
Scenic drives, exceptional dishes.
Every January, the Australian Good Food Guide (AGFG) bestows its much-anticipated Chef Hat Awards, aka the foodie holy grail. For hardcore dining devotees, it’s a bit like Christmas morning, only with better smells and no awkward socks. Think of this as our cheat sheet for working your way, hungry-caterpillar style, around the most esteemed and decorated local destinations.
Our Northern Rivers neighbours are doing their thing, but this year we’re also adding South East QLD country into the mix – because why limit your appetite?
Whether it’s hinterland hideaways or mountain-top marvels, these spots all earned a Chef Hat score of 13 or above, making them prime candidates for your next road trip. Here are 16 of this year’s most road trip-worthy restaurants:
Founded by former Paper Daisy chef, Pipit owner Ben Devlin (alongside his wife Yen Trinh) is no stranger to the art of crafting exquisite eats – nor has he pulled any punches when it comes to his first solo venture. And AGFG clearly agrees, with Pottsville’s Coronation Avenue darling taking out the coveted top spot among this year’s most noteworthy Northern Rivers Hat recipients. They stand as the highest-ranked NSW regional restaurant outside of Sydney.
Pipit’s superb score of 16/20 propels them to pole position on our day trip priority list and also, according to the AGFG, ‘ worth a detour’ designation.
Set aside a few hours and treat yourself to the revelatory set menu dining experience, a curated sequence of flavours, textures and ideas spanning over several hours, one which Ben likens to ‘a day trip around the Northern Rivers’ in and of itself.
Where: 8 Coronation Avenue, Pottsville
Byron Bay institution, Raes on Wategos scored an impressive 15/20. Headed by Executive Chef Jason Saxby, the restaurant serves modern Australian cuisine with a Mediterranean influence deemed ‘Quite Out of the Ordinary’ by AGFG – we wholeheartedly agree.
The chic boutique retreat, an icon set amongst Byron’s idyllic beaches, delivers a fine-dining experience in its Dining Room, headed by Executive Chef Jason Saxby. A culinary showcase of the region, curated with Mediterranean influences, the menu offers Caviar service, 3-course à la carte and Tasting Menu options.
A word of warning, though – after tasting dishes like Lamb Blackstrap in black garlic, lamb fat & anchovy salsa, Glazed Northern Rivers Duck, and the MacAffogato dessert, a coconut and roast macadamia sorbet topped with macadamia crumb, Brookie’s Mac liqueur and espresso, you might want to move in.
Where: 6 – 8 Marine Parade, Byron Bay
Murwillumbah’s aptly named Tweed River House, perched just a stone’s throw from its banks, also scored a hat – earning a rating of 14 for its gastronomic bistro and bar experience. Shout out to master chef Dayron Perugorria.
The venue, housed in a spruced-up, century-old colonial-style mansion, offers a panoramic river view, wraparound verandas, and elevated eats to match.
The luxurious and immaculately appointed interiors alone make it worth filling your tank. Still, decadent dishes like Lobster agnolotti with vin jaune and wild vanilla sauce, Beef tartare with brioche and crème fraîche and the Peach dessert made with poached peach, almond dacquoise, peach mousse and almond praline certainly sweeten the deal.
Where: 131 River St, South Murwillumbah
Another noshery deemed one of the best in the Northern Rivers Restaurant category is Murwillumbah’s Bistro Livi, scoring the prestigious hat with a total of 14.
A short 30km trek from Cooly and one of the fresher faces among its culinary cohort – if you’re yet to be acquainted with Livi, it’s an easy one to tick off the list when you’re looking for a low effort adventure snap you out of the Sunday lazies (or scaries).
Tucked within the arts precinct of the tight-knit Murbah community, the European-inspired venue radiates romance with rustic textures and an inviting, intimate ambience, while Spanish influences inform the menu. It’s certainly not just the AGFG critics that this regional gem has succeeded in winning over… #swoon.
Where: 1A 1-3 Brisbane St, Murwillumbah
This Possum Creek gem scored 13, shocking absolutely no one who’s ever eaten there. Set in a literal old-school setting (the former O’Possum Creek Public School), it pairs Southern European flavours with Byron hinterland charm.
Soak up garden views through airy white windows as you dive into fresh oysters or Burrata with Tuscan tomato salsa, breadcrumbs and basil oil. For mains, expect delights such as Black Angus brisket ragú with horseradish gremolata and Parmigiano Reggiano, and Australian bay lobster with chilli, garlic, confit cherry tomatoes, zucchini and crustacean bisque.
Rustic, refined, and ridiculously good, this is one lesson in good taste you won’t want to skip.
Where: 471 Friday Hut Road, Possum Creek
If long, lazy farm lunches are your vibe, Frida’s Field is a must. Set on 120 dreamy acres just outside Bangalow, this paddock-to-plate gem dishes up a seasonal feast that scored 13/20. Award-winning chef Alastair Waddell lets Northern Rivers produce shine with a modern Australian menu that changes every six weeks – think wood-fired meats, farm-fresh veggies and big, bold flavours.
With only three long lunches a week (Friday to Sunday), this is a slow-food experience in every sense – one sitting per service, plenty of time to sip, savour, and soak up the Byron hinterland views. Whether you go omnivore or veg, you’re in for a next-level spread that might just ruin you for regular dining forever.
Where: 76 Booyong Road, Nashua
Capitalizing on Carool’s sweeping valley views, Potager – A Kitchen Garden has long been a favourite destination among locals and discerning visitors. The charming nosher is also somewhat of a teacher’s pet, earning a score of 13 for its Modern Australian style eats in this year’s Chef Hat Awards – along with a near-perfect 4.8 score on Google, might we add… and honestly, we’re not sure which is harder to pull off.
Set on a small 10-acre farm, the seasonal menu is informed by locally sourced produce, much of which is grown on the property. Dishes like the heirloom tomato with Byron Bay mozzarella are a testament to the community-minded culinary experience, while the fish stew with focaccia and zeta’s coffee and dark chocolate mousse gets a mention, because #yum
Where: 502 Carool Rd, Carool
Byron Bay’s Dorsia has quietly earned itself a well-deserved nod with a solid 13, cementing its place as one of the region’s most exciting dining destinations. Sitting along Jonson Street, this intimate, mood-driven restaurant delivers a polished yet approachable take on modern fine dining – the kind that feels special, but never stuffy.
Guests can choose between a thoughtfully curated two-course or three-course menu, dive all in with the chef’s tasting menu, or kick things off with elegant snacks and a luxe caviar experience. Early standouts include the pillowy Parker roll with Noosa black garlic and the indulgent dry-aged duck cigar. Mains deliver more exquisite dishes like Murray cod paired with pickled green mango and coconut, or the show-stopping Cape Grim sirloin with burnt carrot and puffed grains. Dessert is a must, with Valrhona dark chocolate and malted milk that leaves you wanting to order round two.
Where: 109 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Halcyon House’s beloved Paper Daisy, of course, also earned itself a nod, with an honourable 13. The esteemed and elegant eatery, sitting pretty against Cabarita Beach’s stunning shores, is not just reserved for sandy-footed in-house guests.
We’re all invited to see what the fuss is about, courtesy of the bar, open from 3pm, or for dinner. Led by Andrew Milford, the kitchen shoots for ‘sophisticated simplicity’, where you can expect to delight in inventive and delectable dishes like Spanish anchovies and gremolata on toast with guindillas and coconut-crumbed king prawns, green mango and herb salad alongside an award-winning wine menu.
We’d recommend packing your appetite (and your towel, because, y’know, Caba #phwoar).
Where: 21 Cypress Cres, Cabarita Beach
Brunswick Heads’ River – Wild at Heart has quickly carved out a name for itself after opening less than a year ago. Sitting pretty on Mullumbimby Street, this intimate dining destination is a creation by Scottish-born chef and former welder (yes, really) Michael Lee, serving small plates that change and adapt to what’s growing and what’s caught.
Standout starters include the Lismore wild shot venison tataki made with Blueberry Fields ponzu, radish, charred and crispy shallots and the bay lobster with smoked garlic, lobster coral butter and lemon. For the main, the soltera rum-glazed smoked corn short rib and the local line-caught market fish. Finish with Piña colada made with soltera rum, sumac caramel and coconut aquafaba and you may call it the best meal of your life.
Where: 2/26 Mullumbimbi Street, Brunswick Heads
For a long, leisurely meal in a ridiculously scenic spot, Shelter is the move. With a score of 13, an award-winning wine list, and bi-fold windows framing 7 Mile Beach, it’s got everything going for it – top-tier food, service, and views.
From sunrise to sunset, they’re serving up seasonal, sustainable, and ethically sourced goodness. Kick off your morning with green chilli scrambled eggs with avocado and roti, or swing by later for gems like local sashimi with watermelon verjus, gochugaru salt, grapes and finger lime, followed by their daily beef cut with chilli crunch, katsuobushi cream, black sesame. Don’t leave without trying the beetroot mousse with lavender, pine nuts and almond panna cotta rhubarb consommé. Trust us.
Where: 41 Pacific Parade, Lennox Head
Perched on Byron Bay’s Jonson Lane, Bar Heather transports its diners to the charm of Paris or New York – at least that’s what it feels like. They lead with an exquisite selection of natural wine, followed by an equally impressive menu, so clearly designed to torture and tantalize you into returning time and time again. It’s no surprise that they, too, were awarded a 13/20.
You must try their snapper with tomato cream and cucumber and the lamb skewer with roasted chilli and roti. And, of course, no trip to Bar Heather is complete without sampling a selection from their wine list. Don’t mind if we do.
Where: 139 Jonson Lane, Byron Bay
High on a mountain, with clouds drifting past your table and the Great Dividing Range as your backdrop, The Peak is where Modern Australian cuisine meets luxury without fuss. AGFG scored it 15/20, enough to make this Scenic Rim gem a must-visit.
The tasting menu is a culinary journey across Australia: cured kangaroo, dry-aged duck, Kangaroo Island marron and more, all paired with wines that could start their own conversation. With comfy furnishings, an open stone fireplace and an outdoor terrace that’s practically begging for a lingering lunch, The Peak turns a meal into a full-on experience.
Road trips are better with views like this, and food this ambitious.
Where: 1 Wilkinson Road, Maryvale
At Homage, the clue really is in the name. This refined paddock-to-plate powerhouse at Spicers Hidden Vale celebrates the farmers, producers and fertile lands of the Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley with flair.
Scoring a solid 14/20 from AGFG, Homage is officially ‘worth a detour’ and then some. The menu champions local ingredients with dishes that feel both elegant and deeply connected to place, whether that’s Murray cod with finger lime and macadamia cream, pork belly with Kalbar carrot and nduja or heritage rooster elevated into something truly special.
It’s fine dining with heart, where every plate tells a story and every ingredient earns its spot.
Where: Spicers Hidden Vale, 617 Grandchester–Mt Mort Road, Grandchester
Boonah’s Blume is a restaurant that feels like it’s been quietly waiting for you. Inspired by the town’s original name, Blumbergville, this 14/20 AGFG-hatted spot focuses on the principle of ‘time and place’. Only the freshest local ingredients make it to the table.
The ever-evolving set menu is packed with clever touches: rainbow trout with finger lime, Brisbane Valley quail with fig leaf and exotic pepper, or sweet cheese ice cream with apricot and almond praline. Every course reflects the region, the season, and the care of the people behind it.
Where: 5 Church Street, Boonah
In the heart of the Gold Coast Hinterland, The Paddock is a spacious, sunlit spot celebrating simple, honest food. AGFG awarded it 13/20 for its unpretentious approach to paddock-to-plate dining.
Floor-to-ceiling glass doors frame sweeping Hinterland views while the menu champions local produce, from roast duck with spiced carrot purée to fire-grilled vegetables and Wagyu rump cap. Cooking over an open flame, the dishes are rustic yet refined, the kind that make a long drive feel completely worth it.
If you’re chasing fresh air, great food and a true Hinterland vibe, The Paddock delivers in spades.
Where: 422 Binna Burra Road, Beechmont
Words by Chelsea Ipsen and Belinda Symons
A forkin’ good time: Savour the Tweed is back!
Clear your calendar and bring your appetite: Savour the Tweed is back from 22 to 26 October, and this year it’s serving up more flavour, flair, and food-fuelled fun than you can poke a grazing board at.
With a lineup of 35 events across the region, this springtime celebration of all-things-delicious promises to showcase the best of The Tweed’s thriving food and drink scene – paddock to plate, sips to sounds, and everything in between.
Curated by local culinary kween Christine Manfield and passionate produce advocate Amy Colli, Savour the Tweed brings together more tasty collabs than a Rihanna album, with farmers, chefs, distillers, roasters, and storytellers all joining forces in one beautifully curated program.
Start your adventure at the beloved Murwillumbah Farmers Market with the Tweed Tasting Trail, where you can sample your way through the best local bites and watch live cooking demos from regular stallholders. Keep the farm vibes going at Harvest & Handmade at Raven Place Farm in Clothiers Creek, where a guided walk is followed by a gyoza-making session using farm-grown ingredients. Or head to Woodland Valley Farm for Pasture to Plate, a sunset pasta-making class paired with a two-course dinner and Italian wines, served with stunning valley views.
On the restaurant front, this year’s headline events bring together local heroes and big-name chefs in a series of not-to-be-missed double-acts. Frank Camorra of Melbourne’s MoVida teams up with Bistro Livi in Murwillumbah for A Taste of Spain in The Tweed and we are here for their sensational six-course tasting menu celebrating produce-led elegance. Over at Farm & Co, Thai tucker master Martin Boetz packs some serious heat with A Thai Feast in The Tweed, a vibrant long lunch jam-packed with ‘Thai’d’ and tested palette-pleasing flavours.
One of the signature events, the Girl Gang Chefs Collab Lunch at Pipit in Pottsville, unites four powerhouse female chefs and four local female producers in a celebration of food, creativity and community. Meanwhile, Bundjalung chef Mindy Woods and Christine Manfield join forces for Walking Together, a moving First Nations and Indian fusion dinner complete with native ingredients, music, storytelling, and a stirring Welcome to Country by Banaam cultural dancers.
Food meets culture again on the Gidjuum Gulganyi Walk – a four-day guided hike through World Heritage-listed Gondwana rainforest. This immersive journey begins with a campfire dinner by Mindy Woods, featuring a night of deep connection with Country. And bonus – the calories you burn on the trek means you can chow down the delish native foraged ingredients guilt-free.
The program also includes plenty of hands-on workshops and masterclasses. Seafood legend Steven Snow of Fins Restaurant leads a Seafood Masterclass, while nutritionist and chef Samantha Gowing presents Food As Medicine at Husk Distillery, blending health, flavour and a well-earned botanical gin cocktail. Speaking of, if you’re looking for something a little more, let’s say, liquid-forward, then all aboard the Golden Swan for Golden Hour on the River. With a crab roll in one hand, bush ice cream in the other, all soundtracked by rising musical star Birren Slabb, it’s a sunset soiree to satisfy all the senses. Or, go full Gatsby at the Speak Easy Secret Supper Club inside the Tweed Regional Museum, where prohibition-style cocktails and canapés meet curated culture.
Rum lovers can dive into Cane Country Taste Makers, a tasting and cocktail workshop with the team behind Birds of Isle Rum, and coffee fans are spoilt for choice with bean-to-brew sessions at Bastion Lane Espresso in Uki and Old Quarter Roasters in Murwillumbah.
If wine is more your style (hand-up emoji from us!), there’s Sips & Snacks with Knucklehead Wines at Rob Roy Deli, and The Natural World: Terroir & Taste at Burringbar’s Natural Wine Shop, pairing local wines with antipasti and storytelling. Or perhaps you’d prefer a more artistic pairing: Cheese, Clay & Culture in Murwillumbah features cheese and beer tastings, live pottery wheel demos and a handcrafted plate to take home.
The events are as delish and diverse as the landscapes they’re set in. Brunch by the Platform at the Murwillumbah Rail Trail Station blends coffee, pastries and live music under the trees, while over at Tropical Fruit World, Fire & Forage brings an open-air feast under festoon lights, featuring wild game, seafood, and foraged fruit ice cream.
As the sun sets on this five-day feast, the celebrations continue with Wollumbin Sunset Cocktails at Apex Dining and the grand finale, Caldera Celebrations, on the lawns of Plantation House. With food stalls, signature drinks, lawn games, DJs and activities for the kiddos, it’s like a Sunday sesh, a food truck party, and a wedding reception all rolled into one – minus the awkward speeches.
So whether you’re a seasoned gourmand, a curious sipper, a storytelling seeker, or someone who just really, really loves cheese, this year’s Savour the Tweed promises to be an edible adventure like no other. Bring your appetite and your sense of adventure, and get ready to chew, sip, swirl and shimmy your way across the tastiest corner of Northern NSW.
Where: Various locations in the Tweed.
When: Wednesday 22 October to Sunday 26 October 2025
Words by Bianca Trathen
