Attaboy Pizza is slinging hot slices in Byron.
Attaboy Pizza is slinging hot slices in Byron.
Byron Bay’s culinary scene is off the charts these days. But sometimes it’s nice to go back to basics, and the new Attaboy Pizza does just that.
Part of the Mosey On Inn Group, Attaboy Pizza joins sibling venues Eltham Hotel, Ciao Mate! and You Beauty as some of the coolest spots to dine in the Byron Shire. This time the crew are keeping things casual with a neighbourhood pizzeria serving takeaway and quick stand-and-snack slices.
Attaboy is the brainchild of Rob Pearson, former head chef at hatted Italian venue Ciao Mate in Bangalow. With a decade of experience in top kitchens, Rob had long dreamed of opening a pizza shop of his own. Like all good mates, Luke Sullivan, Matt Rabbidge and Tim Goegan from Mosey On Inn Group helped make it happen.
The team kept things local when bringing the space to life, designing it themselves and working with Happy Hour Fitout on the build. Local creatives were also part of the mix, including photographer Ryan Heywood, videographer Dom Sullivan and florists Immortal Soil.
Tucked away in Byron’s industrial estate, Attaboy means you don’t have to venture into the busy town centre for a proper slice. Bright and bold blue features throughout, from the tiles that make it stand out on the street to the trays that the pizza is served on. There’s easy parking, a small seating area for quick bites and a large kitchen set up to handle both dine-in and takeaway crowds.
When it comes to the menu, pizza is taken very seriously. The team sling New York-style slices for lunch before switching to full 13-inch rounds and Detroit-style deep-dish square pizzas for the evening service.
Quality is top notch, with all-Australian flour and top-tier ingredients. The dough proves for three days, creating maximum flavour, texture and digestibility.
The Byron Hawaiian offers a local twist on the controversial classic, topped with smoked Bangalow shaved ham, red sauce, mozzarella, Aleppo pepper, red onion, jalapeños, ricotta and pineapple saffron drizzle.
The Spicy Pepperoni is already shaping up as a fan favourite with red sauce, oregano, mozzarella, double cup-and-char pepperoni, parmesan, smoked paprika and a buffalo ranch drizzle.
Meanwhile the Vodka Pesto layers creamy vodka sauce with basil pesto, mozzarella and parmesan.
Sides like Cheesy Fries and Cheesy Garlic Knots are perfect for carb loaders, while dessert comes in the form of Chocolate & Oreo or Strawberry & White Chocolate Crumble ice cream.
Wash it down with Aussie classics like Kirk’s Pasito or Creaming Soda and embrace the nostalgia of pizza night.
Like any good local takeaway joint, Attaboy offers a family meal deal but if you’ve got an even bigger crowd to feed, Attaboy got you, too. Orders of ten pizzas or more can be catered for, from bulk takeaway to on-site cooking with Gozney ovens. Just make sure you invite us to the pizza party too!
Where: 4/20 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay
When: Tues–Sat 11am–2pm, 3pm–8pm
Words by Lisette Drew
ButterBoy opens in Byron Bay.
Sharpen your sweet tooth, Byron! ButterBoy is rolling into town and things are about to get seriously yummy.
The cult cookie brand has officially opened its fifth store and first permanent locale outside Sydney. Yes, sweeties, ButterBoy is taking a big, buttery bite out of Byron Bay, landing right on bustling Jonson Street just in time for peak summer snacking.
If you’ve ever tried their famous chunky NYC-style cookies, you’ll know Butterboy doesn’t do subtle. From oozy centres to golden edges, this is cookie business done properly. And according to founder James Sideris, Byron is getting the full batch.
“We’re bringing everything ButterBoy has to offer to Byron,” James said, “including new and signature cookie flavours, soft-serves and the viral cookie milk to the holiday hot spot.”
Consider us baked with excitement.
Like all good cookies, this biz started humbly in a home kitchen. During his uni days, James was selling muffins and cookies to local cafes in his neighbourhood. When chunky New York–style cookies started trending, he pivoted, launching ButterBoy and never looking back.
Fast forward to 2022 and ButterBoy opened its first flagship store in Manly. Since then? Absolute cookie chaos (the good kind). The brand now produces thousands of kilos of dough each week, supplies an expanding list of wholesale partners and somehow manages to go viral every time it pops up somewhere new. If there’s a line out front, you’re probably in the right place.
The Byron Bay store sits pretty on Jonson Street, bringing all the fan favourites locals and tourists alike have been stalking on social media. Expect hand-rolled, freshly baked cookies made daily using top-tier ingredients, alongside creamy soft-serve and that infamous cookie milk that’s broken the internet more than once.
The newest member to the bench is the Lotus Crunch, a choc cinnamon dough with Lotus Biscoff chunks throughout, filled with biscoff and rolled in a biscuit crumb. Ridiculous.
Fairy Bread has been a staple on the ButterBoy menu with a cookie that not only tastes good but does good. $1 of every cookie purchase goes to supporting sick kids at Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation. It’s a sweet vanilla dough with white chocolate rolled in 100s and 1000s. Classic, fantastic.
Ripple Choc Brown Butter is a twist on the classic dark chocolate with a cocoa based gluten-free dough loaded with white, dark and milk chocolate. Finished with sea salt because, well, why not?
ButterBoy’s distinct branding, playful personality and commitment to handmade, home-baked goodness has turned it into the go-to sweet treat for Australians coast to coast. And now, Byron Bay can officially add elite cookies to its already stacked foodie scene.
So whether you’re a choc-chip traditionalist, a flavour adventurer or just here for the milk dunk, one thing’s for sure. Byron’s about to get all buttered up.
Where: 17–21 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
When: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-9pm
Words by Lisette Drew
Dishing up all the tasty newcomers.
2026 is wasting no time turning up the heat on the Gold Coast food scene. Whether you’re chasing cheesecake with your car wash, cookies by the beach or all-you-can-eat feasts, these fresh openings are already making us hungry for what’s ahead. Here’s where to go first.
Seoul food incoming! Pacific Fair has gone all out with Seoul Garden’s all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and hot pot experience. Think sizzling grills, endless meats, bubbling broths and neon-lit vibes made for group hangs. You and your crew can sizzle and slurp your way through premium cuts, banchan galore and comfort classics. Come hungry, leave very happy.
Where: Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, 32 Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach Waters
Ciao down to Nico. deli & shop, Kirra’s new love letter to Italian culture. Just steps from the sand, this neighbourhood-style deli channels espresso-at-the-bar energy, stacked paninis and sweet little cannoli moments. With mid-century charm and top-notch local produce Nico. feels like a proper Italian pit stop minus the long-haul flight. Pop in for a coffee, stay for the focaccia and leave planning your next visit.
Where: Shop 17/48 Musgrave Street, Kirra
Just deli-cious! Giuseppe’s Deli is back and serving proper Italian comfort eats in Mermaid Beach. Now under new management at The Oxley, this old-school style deli is all about stacked focaccia, classic flavour combos and pasta that tastes like it came straight from nonna’s kitchen. Think sandwiches loaded with fresh fillings, triple-cheese truffle melts and comforting pastas. This is just seriously good Italian food done right.
Where: The Oxley 1823, 17 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach
Look at MOI now! Mad Over Italian has opened its second venue, bringing its much-loved Italian comfort food to Emerald Lakes. After winning fans in Hope Island, this family-friendly fave is serving up woodfired pizzas, classic pastas and vino-fuelled good times in a dreamy “Little Europe” setting. Satisfy midweek carb cravings with long lunches by the water and date nights that end in tiramisu. Casual, cosy and completely irresistible, this is one opening Emerald Lakes is already mad about.
Where: 3030 The Boulevard, Carrara
The coolest kid on the Coast has officially landed, with Elly’s Gelato now scooping in Currumbin. Created by a crew of beach-loving mates who refused to end a surf without something sweet, this retro-cute gelato bar is pure summer energy. Think Blood Orange Sorbet, Peppermint Choc Chip, Bubblegum and classic creamy favourites, all served just steps from the sand. Post-swim, post-walk or post-“just nabbed a car spot”, Elly’s is the cherry on top of a perfect beach day.
Where: 778 Pacific Parade, Currumbin
Fish and chips, anyone? Red Hot Cod in Burleigh Heads just levelled up with tropical alfresco dining, a breezy bar and all Bali-inspired. Tuck into their famous golden, crispy fish, snapper poke bowls and new satay sticks that pair perfectly with coconut margaritas or Red Hot Cod Lager. Run by local legends Simon, Buffie, and daughter Mila, it’s where post-surf feeds turn into long lunches and holiday mode kicks in even if you’re just on a lunch break.
Where: 1716 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
Spice up your life at SABA Kitchen in Surfers Paradise! Tucked inside Hotel Jardin, this pan-Asian hotspot serves bold, flavour-packed dishes designed for sharing (or not, if the game-farm duck breast steals your heart, and it will). Think sashimi kissed with yuzu, smoky robata-grilled skewers, and Mooloolaba prawns in XO coconut sauce, all washed down with cocktails that sparkle as much as the food. Sleek, intimate and unpretentious, SABA is where long lunches turn into late-night feasts.
Where: Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre, 3240 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
Butter me up, Byron! ButterBoy has landed on Jonson Street, bringing chunky NYC-style cookies, soft-serve, and the viral cookie milk straight to the Bay. From oozy centres to golden edges, these cookies are next level. Founded by James Sideris, ButterBoy’s fifth store promises the sweetest snack vibes around with a rotating menu of flavours that are irresistible like Lotus Crunch and Ripple Choc Brown Butter. Need we say more?
Where: 17–21 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Mermaid Beach just got a wellness glow-up with House of Hälsa, where health meets good vibes and even better food. Founded by Coco Loberg and Gareth Fletcher, this Swedish-inspired spot turns nourishing bites into a playful adventure with parmesan jam toast, vibrant watermelon ceviche, and smoothies with cheeky names like Cody Simpson’s Neptune. Terracotta walls, sunken lounges, and cosy textures makes feeling good look (and taste) effortless.
Where: 1/2453 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Holy dough-ly! Coomera just claimed the Gold Coast’s sweetest crown with Australia’s biggest Krispy Kreme Hot Light™ store. Melt-in-your-mouth doughnuts roll fresh off the line while a drive-thru makes snagging your sugar fix ridiculously easy. Peek through the glass window for a front-row view of dough to drizzle magic, sip on coffee, and maybe sneak a second (or third) OG. Big, bold, and unapologetically glazed, this is a doughnut playground where one is never enough.
Where: 1 Prosper Avenue, Coomera
Find your people at Our Tribe cafe, a pastel paradise just steps from Kirra beach. This is a full family affair with husband-and-wife Jamie-Leigh and Chris Wilkinson running the show with their four kids. From rosti Bennys to potato waffles and Seven Mile Coffee that hits just right, it’s a place to feel at home. Grab a seat and settle in, you’ve officially found your tribe.
Where: Shop 1/1 Douglas St, Coolangatta
Washing your car just became a whole lot more fun with Yellow & Butter, a brand new cafe tucked inside Cloud 9 Car Wash in Southport. While your car gets squeaky clean, you can demolish rich Basque cheesecakes (all gluten free), buttery brioche buns and cute cloud-inspired drinks. Owned by chef Hayley Namgung, it turns a boring chore into a full-blown treat.
Where: 92 Ferry Road, Southport
Words by Lisette Drew
Shannon Bennett shakes up Byron with a new coastal dining precinct, The Belongil.
Why stop at one restaurant when you can create an entire precinct? Acclaimed Aussie chef Shannon Bennett has done exactly that, unveiling The Belongil, a multi-level, four-venue dining destination set to redefine Byron Bay.
Partnering with neighbour and long-time friend Glen Norman, the duo has pooled a cool $10 million into the project, bringing food, art, architecture and community together.
For this full-scale hospitality takeover, Shannon arrives with a tour de force of culinary talent in tow. Long-time collaborators Cory Campbell, Ryan Henley, Steven Kirkpatrick and Carlos Simoes Santos, all alumni of Shannon’s famous Melbourne restaurant, Vue de monde, form the backbone of the kitchens, each adding their own flavour to the mix.
The precinct also unites an impressive roll call of artists and designers, including Nik Karalis, Lee Brennan, Jack Bailey, Otis Hope Carey, Alex Pole, GRIT Studio, Andrew Trewern and Sam Gordon. Together, they have helped create an environment where art and dining collide, from incorporating recycled timbers from a 300-year-old Japanese temple to AI immersion toilets into the design. Yes, even the bathroom becomes part of the experience, with a toilet that responds to your voice and delivers a tailored soundscape aimed at lifting your mood!
At the heart of The Belongil is a commitment to local produce. Shannon and his team have travelled up and down the east coast, meeting fishers, farmers and makers, giving farm-to-table a whole new meaning.
Like any good series, the openings of these four venues are being rolled out slowly over December. Here’s what to expect, venue by venue.
The Kiosk
Open early for dawn-patrol surfers and sandy-feet foodies, The Kiosk delivers streetside eats designed to fuel your morning. Kickstart your day with St ALi coffee and grab-and-go snacks, or linger over breakfast jars like chia pudding topped with coconut yoghurt, berries and cacao nibs. Savoury lunch options include turmeric and ginger–poached chicken with barley, cucumber, cos and almond dukkha. There are also smoothies, burgers, and possibly Byron’s bougiest vending machine, stocked with takeaway matcha, iced teas, elixirs and breakfast bars.
Belongil Bistro
For those who want to stay a while, the Bistro welcomes you in, shoes or not. Built with reclaimed materials and shaped by community, the space is grounded in sustainability and designed for long lunches that effortlessly drift into evening soirees. Expect dishes like Dan Fleming’s spanner crab cocktail, Moran Family Farm lamb leg cooked in kelp and clay for 12 hours, and irresistible desserts like vanilla and yuzu soufflé with raspberry ice cream.
FEU
FEU (French for fire) is Shannon’s passion project. This is fine dining, Byron-style, with a choose-your-own-adventure experience where multi-course ingredient-focused menus blur the line between creativity and cuisine. As Bennett puts it: “Every ingredient on this menu has a story. We’ve stood in the dirt, by the ocean, or in the shed with the people who make it possible. We know them, we trust them, and we want you to taste that connection.”
Blind Tiger
Named after a secret bar in New York during 19th-century American prohibition, Blind Tiger takes on a new form here as a hidden, members-only sanctuary. Details are scarce, but inside looks like an upturned boat, and you’re only allowed entry if you know a local who’s on the guest list. Bennett and Norman’s shared love of music, rare spirits and deep conversations takes centre stage here, and leaves us wanting more.
Where: 33–35 Childe Street, Byron Bay, NSW
When: Times vary for each venue.
Words by Lisette Drew
