Subscribe 
The Best Restaurants in Port Macquarie
Eat, beach, sleep, repeat! Get ready to feast your way through our list of the best restaurants in Port Macquarie.
Port Macquarie’s best restaurants stretch from Whalebone Wharf on the Hastings River waterfront to the town centre’s fine dining favourite The Stunned Mullet. You’ll also find Cassegrain Wines’ luxurious on-site restaurant Taste @ Cassegrain and riverfront cocktails at VIVO Bar & Table. From coastal haunts to low-key neighbourhood favourites, this pocket of the North Coast always leaves you well-fed.
In This Guide:
Best Waterfront Restaurants in Port Macquarie
VIVO Bar & Table
For a long lunch with a side of water views, VIVO Bar & Table is hard to beat. Sitting right on the Port Macquarie waterfront, this Italian-inspired spot does fresh pasta, wood-fired pizza and generous plates designed for sharing, best enjoyed with a spritz in hand as the sun starts to dip.
Suburb: Port Macquarie
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Waterfront, Cocktail lovers, Long lunch, Weekend plans
Whalebone Wharf
Whalebone Wharf, situated on the picturesque banks of the Hastings River, is brimming with coastal-chic decor. It’s the ideal spot to set up camp for a long lunch and take in the beautiful views of the river.
It has been serving fresh seafood, delicious cocktails and modern fusion cuisine since 1971, so their recipe has been honed to perfection. The menu leans seafood but there are options for those who don’t partake.
Suburb: Port Macquarie
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Seafood
Best For: Waterfront, Long lunch, Cocktail lovers
Banks
There’s no better way to wrap up a Port Macquarie day than by watching the waters of the Hastings River gently glisten, spritz in hand, at Banks. This sleek, pared-back restaurant maintains a tight, seasonal menu that shifts often, but you can expect a delicious rotation of Modern Australian dishes, both in small plates and larger forms. Think seafood linguine, salt and pepper quail and Kingfish ceviche. Their happy hour is the perfect place to welcome sunset.
Suburb: Port Macquarie
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Waterfront, Long lunch, Cocktail lovers
Loving Our Edit of the Best Restaurants in Port Macquarie? You Might Also Like…
The Best Road Trips in Australia: 8 Drives Worth the Distance
ArtWalk to Light Up Port Macquarie CBD with Music, Lights & Culture This June
Best Casual and Family-Friendly Restaurants in Port Macquarie
Taste @ Cassegrain
Make the most of your next winery visit with a booking at Cassegrain’s on-site restaurant Taste @ Cassegrain. The menu here has been designed with pairing in mind, with each French-inspired dish teamed with the perfect drop. The brief is indulgence, so lean in with dishes like beef bourguignon, baked French brie and pan-fried gnocchi with confit duck. Bringing the kids along? There’s a menu for them, too.
Suburb: Fernbank Creek
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: French
Best For: Wine lovers, Group dining, Families
Need To Know: Taste @ Cassegrain is a dog-friendly restaurant.
Bills Fishhouse & Bar
A casual dining space in the middle of town, Bills Fishhouse & Bar focuses on a sea-to-plate ethos. It’s a relaxed venue with a menu overflowing with ocean-led classics. Think charred octopus, Ballina pipis and swordfish sashimi. The bar holds its own with a bespoke selection of cocktails and wines.
Sitchu Tip: If you come with a group, take our advice and go all-in on the chef’s tasting menu. It’s delish.
Suburb: Port Macquarie
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Seafood
Best For: Group dining, Cocktail lovers, Locals
The Corner Restaurant
A family-run affair since 2015, The Corner Restaurant is our pick when comforting fare, warm service and a relaxed dining room are the order of the day. You’ll find two generations of family taking on the kitchen and front of house. They take their ingredients list seriously, with the award-winning Jack’s Creek 8+ wagyu rump one of their standout dishes.
Suburb: Port Macquarie
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Best For: Group dining, Families, Locals
Need To Know: The Corner Restaurant is open for dinner Thursday, Friday & Saturday nights.
Best Fine Dining in Port Macquarie
The Stunned Mullet
The Stunned Mullet is the local go-to for a fine dining experience. The dining room itself is relaxed, not stuffy, setting the scene for the perfect coastal three-course meal. Seafood is championed with Glacier 51 toothfish, yellowtail kingfish and WA scampi a couple of delights to look forward to. For the meat eaters, think duck, black wagyu rib eye 9+ and veal agnolotti.
Sitchu Tip: The flight of dressed oysters is the perfect way to start your meal.
Suburb: Port Macquarie
Price Guide: $$$
Cuisine: Seafood
Best For: Special occasion, Date night, Wine lovers
Best Japanese in Port Macquarie
Ichi
We love Ichi, a cosy izakaya-style Japanese eatery near Port Macquarie’s Fisherman’s Wharf, for fast, fresh Japanese eats. Start with fresh sashimi and delicate sushi rolls before sharing plates of crispy tempura vegetables, yakitori skewers, teriyaki chicken and grilled sea bass.
Wash down your meal with a selection from their impressive saké menu, or try a Japanese-inspired cocktail, including a refreshing yuzu highball or the house-special saké sangria.
Suburb: Port Macquarie
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Japanese
Best For: Date night, Cocktail lovers, Solo dining
Stick
Who doesn’t love food on a stick? Serving up Japanese wood-fired BBQ with a crafty cocktail list to match, this moody after-hours haunt is a favourite for after-work sips.
As the name suggests, the sticks at Stick are a must, ranging from the classic yakitori to the devilishly daring 666 sticks (order at your own risk).
Suburb: Port Macquarie
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Japanese
Best For: Late night, Cocktail lovers, Date night
Frequently Asked Questions about The Best Restaurants in Port Macquarie
Port Macquarie’s best restaurants include Whalebone Wharf, The Stunned Mullet, VIVO Bar & Table, Banks and Taste @ Cassegrain. Whalebone Wharf has served seafood and cocktails on the Hastings River since 1971, while The Stunned Mullet is the town’s go-to for fine dining. For something more casual, Bills Fishhouse & Bar and The Corner Restaurant are local favourites, and Ichi and Stick cover Japanese cuisine. Whether you’re after waterfront views, a family-friendly meal or a late-night cocktail, the city’s dining scene offers plenty of variety for locals and visitors alike.
VIVO Bar & Table, Whalebone Wharf and Banks are Port Macquarie’s top restaurants for water views. VIVO sits right on the waterfront and serves Italian-inspired fresh pasta and wood-fired pizza, best paired with a spritz at sunset. Whalebone Wharf overlooks the Hastings River with coastal-chic decor and a seafood-leaning menu, making it ideal for a long lunch. Banks also faces the Hastings River, offering a seasonal Modern Australian menu of small and large plates, plus a happy hour that’s perfect for watching the sun go down.
The Stunned Mullet is Port Macquarie’s go-to fine dining restaurant. Located in the town centre, it pairs a relaxed, unstuffy dining room with a refined three-course coastal menu. Seafood takes centre stage, with highlights including Glacier 51 toothfish, yellowtail kingfish and WA scampi, while meat lovers can choose from duck, black Wagyu rib eye 9+ and veal agnolotti. It’s a top pick for special occasions, date nights and wine lovers.
Yes, Taste @ Cassegrain and The Corner Restaurant are two of Port Macquarie’s best family-friendly restaurants. Taste @ Cassegrain, the on-site restaurant at Cassegrain Wines in Fernbank Creek, serves French-inspired dishes paired with wine and offers a dedicated kids’ menu. It’s also dog-friendly. The Corner Restaurant is a family-run venue that has been serving comforting fare since 2015, with two generations working the kitchen and front of house. Its award-winning Jack’s Creek 8+ Wagyu rump is a standout. Note that The Corner is open for dinner Thursday to Saturday only.
Whalebone Wharf, Bills Fishhouse & Bar and The Stunned Mullet are the best places for seafood in Port Macquarie. Whalebone Wharf has been serving fresh seafood on the Hastings River since 1971 and is ideal for a waterside long lunch. Bills Fishhouse & Bar in the middle of town follows a sea-to-plate ethos, with dishes like charred octopus, Ballina pipis and swordfish sashimi; groups should try the chef’s tasting menu. For a special occasion, The Stunned Mullet showcases premium seafood such as Glacier 51 toothfish and WA scampi.
Finished feasting your way through the best restaurants in Port Macquarie and after more travel inspo? Check out our guide to things to do in Port Macquarie.
