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The Best Cafes in Byron Bay, From the Beach to the Hinterland
From healthy havens to cosy neighbourhood coffee shops – these are the best cafes in Byron Bay that the locals flock to.
The best cafes in Byron Bay range from the cosy weatherboard cottage Folk to the hilltop The Top Shop, which has a cult following and regular merch drops. A paddock-to-plate ethos binds the Byron cafe scene together, with cafes like WOODS, The Byron Bay General Store and Combi Byron Bay earning a loyal following. Whether you’re seeking freshly roasted coffee, seasonal baked goods or deli plates stacked with locally grown vege, Byron’s sweeping offering is here to serve.
Best Cafes in Byron Bay for Brunch
Byron Bay General Store
Like a fine wine, the Byron Bay General Store improves with age. The cornerstone of the community’s burgeoning cafe and dining culture, this local treasure has existed in one iteration or another since 1947.
Steeped in history, the iconic building has retained much of its original charm, with contemporary finishes only adding to its dining appeal. Hearty brunch delicacies like truffled mushrooms and savoury granola breathe new life into popular plates. There are also plenty of vegan options for all the plant-based babes looking for a decent breakfast.
Suburb: Byron Bay
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Locals, Families, Brunch
Folk Byron Bay
If you’re looking for a cool yet casual place to eat, head to Folk, a charming cafe in a converted weatherboard cottage with an easy-breezy vibe. The menu features a selection of fuss-free foods, including zesty avocado toast and freshly baked croissants that you can devour inside or out. Nab a spot outside on the gigantic cushions and get comfy with your coffee.
Suburb: Byron Bay
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Brunch, Quick bite, Weekend plans
Bayleaf Cafe
Bayleaf Cafe perfectly captures the area’s easy-going, boho vibe. The space is airy and light-filled and a great place to go if you’re feeling virtuous — the menu is mostly healthy, with a few well-chosen indulgences.
For a first-time visit, try the breakky greens or house-made paleo granola paired with a coconut cold brew or tangy Tropicana for the true coastal experience.
Suburb: Byron Bay
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Weekend plans, Brunch, Breakfast
The Top Shop
There is so much to love about this charming corner milk bar. Packed with old-school character, a delicious menu and soul-warming coffee, The Top Shop is a 1950’s retro-styled cafe that perfectly balances cool and coastal.
The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, gram-worthy smoothie bowls brimming with local, organic ingredients and fresh loaves and pastries from Byron Bay’s Bread Social. Best enjoyed sitting outside in the sunshine on their grassy hill.
Suburb: Byron Bay
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Brunch, Locals, Weekend plans
WOODS
A little left of the action in Bangalow, WOODS continues to win over foodies and coffee mavens with its regional charm and homely temperament. Relax on the sun-kissed patio and choose between fusion flavours — think Turkish eggs with chilli burnt butter and red harissa, super smoothies or an epic weekly soup special. As much for the solo paper reader as it is for family catch-ups, they’ve got the rustic farmhouse style nailed, down to a tee.
Suburb: Bangalow
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Weekend plans, Families, Breakfast, Outdoor dining
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Best Coffee in Byron Bay
Moonshine Coffee
Moonshine Coffee is a family-run business that hand-roasts some of the best coffee in Byron. While known for its epic coffee, it also has a charming little cafe in the rolling hinterlands of Federal, where you can enjoy the in-house brew, bacon and egg rolls, fresh sangas, pastries, and other mouthwatering delights.
Suburb: Federal
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Coffee bar
Best For: Locals, Quick bite, Solo dining
Sparrow Coffee
For those who favour a European breakfast, Sparrow keeps it simple, pumping out All Press coffees and limited-batch pastries to Byron Bay’s early risers.
Although Sparrow is more of a place to grab and go, its friendly staff and top-notch baristas will keep you coming back. It still oozes that coastal cool cafe vibe, with wood-panelled exteriors and its signature turquoise coffee machine brightening up the compact space.
Suburb: Multiple locations
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Coffee bar
Best For: Locals, Quick bite, Brunch
Happy Days
As its name suggests, a trip to Happy Days is a great way to start your day. Serving up espresso and their very own homemade sourdough, good coffee and good sandwiches is Happy Days super simple yet effective recipe. Keep an eye on the specials board for the most delicious seasonal toppings.
Suburb: Byron Bay
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Coffee bar
Best For: Quick bite, Solo dining, Weekend plans
Espressohead Cafe
Espressohead Cafe’s all-day menu champions fresh, locally sourced, organic produce, catering to all dietary needs with vegan and gluten-free options.
Taking out the title of best coffee shop in Byron Bay as rated by Trip Advisor, you can rest assured the coffee is equally on point as the food, which ranges from crispy Vietnamese rice pancakes to organic oat porridge with poached apple.
Suburb: Byron Bay
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Brunch, Quick bite, Breakfast
Best Vegan and Plant-Based Cafes in Byron Bay
Vagabond
For the best vegan and raw treats in town, head straight to Vagabond in the industrial estate’s hub, Habitat. While everything on the menu here is delightful, our top picks are the layered carrot and walnut cake with creamy cashew frosting, the plant-based soft lemon cake with passionfruit curd icing and the iced coconut matcha. Oh, and they do a mean bulletproof coffee and fresh smoothies.
Suburb: Byron Bay
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Vegan
Best For: Brunch, Quick bite, Weekend plans, dog-friendly
Combi Byron Bay
This Byron Bay beauty is the sibling of the Melbourne icon of the same name, and what they do best is raw, organic food. From an industrial-style yet fresh fit-out, Combi whips together wholesome delights, such as raw sweet treats, cold-pressed juice and smoothies, house-made beetroot hummus, kombucha on tap, and fair-trade coffee.
Suburb: Byron Bay
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Brunch
Best For: Quick bite, Brunch, Weekend plans
Best Bakeries in Byron Bay
Sunday Sustainable Bakery
The team at Sunday Sustainable Bakery makes everything in-house, by hand, using locally sourced organic ingredients where possible. The results are mouthwatering treats like sourdough doughnuts with local house-made jam, spelt gingerbread scones and vegetarian sourdough pizza. But the biggest attraction is their homemade sourdough, which sells out on the reg.
Suburb: Byron Bay
Price Guide: $
Cuisine: Bakery
Best For: Quick bite, Solo dining, Locals
For a classic Byron Bay brunch, start with the Byron Bay General Store, a community institution serving hearty plates like truffled mushrooms and savoury granola since 1947. Folk offers fuss-free favourites such as zesty avocado toast in a converted weatherboard cottage, while Combi specialises in raw, organic dishes and cold-pressed juices. The Top Shop and Bayleaf Cafe are also reliable picks for a relaxed, coastal brunch. Most sit in the mid-range price bracket and suit families, locals and weekend visitors alike.
For serious coffee, Moonshine Coffee hand-roasts some of the best beans in the region at its cafe in the Federal hinterland. In town, Sparrow Coffee pours All Press coffees alongside limited-batch pastries, and Espressohead Cafe has been rated Byron Bay’s best coffee shop by Trip Advisor. Happy Days keeps things simple with quality espresso and homemade sourdough, while Combi serves fair-trade coffee and kombucha on tap. Whether you want a grab-and-go flat white or a leisurely hinterland brew, Byron has an option to match.
Vagabond is the go-to for vegan and raw treats, with standouts like layered carrot and walnut cake with cashew frosting, plant-based lemon cake and iced coconut matcha. Combi also focuses on raw, organic food, offering house-made beetroot hummus, cold-pressed juices and raw sweet treats. Many other cafes cater to plant-based diners too — the Byron Bay General Store has plenty of vegan options, and Espressohead Cafe offers vegan and gluten-free choices across its all-day menu. Byron Bay is well suited to plant-based eating.
Several cafes cater well to families. The Byron Bay General Store is a long-standing local favourite with hearty, crowd-pleasing brunch plates, while WOODS in nearby Bangalow suits family catch-ups with its rustic farmhouse style and sun-drenched patio. The Top Shop is another family-friendly pick, with burgers, smoothie bowls and a grassy hill perfect for kids to spread out. Most of these venues sit in the mid-range price bracket and offer relaxed, casual settings that work equally well for solo diners and larger groups.
Sunday Sustainable Bakery is a top choice, making everything by hand with locally sourced organic ingredients. Expect sourdough doughnuts with house-made jam, spelt gingerbread scones and vegetarian sourdough pizza — though the homemade sourdough is the real draw and sells out regularly. For freshly baked goods elsewhere, Folk bakes its own croissants, Happy Days serves homemade sourdough, and The Top Shop stocks loaves and pastries from Byron Bay’s Bread Social. Arrive early, as the most popular bakes tend to go quickly.
Did you love our round-up of the best cafes in Byron Bay? Explore more of the region with our ultimate guide of things to do in Byron Bay.
