Yamba is a gorgeous coastal town that lies just about an hour and a half’s drive south of Byron Bay in northern New South Wales.
Attracting visitors from all over Australia, and the rest of the world, this charming beach destination has quietly developed an excellent dining scene in which to feed them all.
From fantastic burger joints and gourmet Neapolitan pizzerias, to Asian inspired cafes and venues that offer sensational views of the beach, outlined below is a selection of 6 awesome places to eat in Yamba.
Choose to dine at any of them, and you will be in for a wonderful feed.
Beachwood Cafe
Located on the main high street, the Beachwood Cafe has developed a loyal following over the years.
Open from breakfast all the way through to lunch, the charming cafe has a distinctly Mediterranean coastal feel to it. Featuring a quaint, leafy patio, rustic blackboard menu and an eclectic mix of mismatch china crockery.
Known for its outstanding Allpress coffee, which is considered by many to be amongst the best in town, all of the cakes here are homemade.
Run by the chef-owner Sevtap the food menu here contains a wide selection of Turkish inspired dishes like grilled sardines, lamb kofta, coconut and cinnamon toast, scrambled eggs with feta, sucuk (a type of Turkish sausage) and braised octopus. None of which would look out of a place on the menu of a cafe in Istanbul or Ankara.
All made with the freshest of locally produced ingredients, if you are impressed with the culinary delights you are served up with, you can even choose to purchase one of the owners three cookbooks in-store as well.
Address: 22 High St, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Drift
If you love pizza then the Neapolitan-style offerings at Drift are sure to impress you.
Residing on the high-end side of the gourmet scale, its pizzas are skilfully created using organic, Australian stone-milled flour, free-range meats, and a wonderful range of artisanal cheeses.
Everything from the dough, to the toppings is prepared in house, with a couple of their most popular sellers being The Gigi, which is made with pesto, basil, house smoked bocconcini and Vodka sauce, as well as the Laaaamb, which is a delicious combination of Napoli, goats cheese, braised lamb, mozzarella, capsicum, onion and salsa verde.
They even have a range of pizzas for vegetarians and vegans, as well as a small range of salads and other side dishes to choose from too.
To support their food menu they offer an extensive wine list that has been carefully curated with a strong focus on both small producer and minimal intervention wines. Their drink selection also includes a lovely range of craft and tap beers as well as cocktails.
A pet friendly establishment, they also have a courtyard which is perfect for al fresco dining.
Address: 1/29 Yamba St, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Karrikin
If you are looking for a venue in which to enjoy a special occasion then Karrikin is the place to go.
One of Yamba’s most celebrated eateries, the restaurant champions local and seasonal produce as well as native ingredients in a wonderful four course set menu.
Contained within an alluring setting of grey and sage walls, lots of exposed timber and matte black furnishings, the establishment has a distinctly indoor-outdoor feel to it with huge bifold doors opening up to an undercover patio at the front of the property and a leafy courtyard at the back.
Served on beautiful ceramic plates and ornate glassware, the food and drink is artistically presented. While the menu regularly changes, you might find the likes of smoked fish, which is served with Davidson plum cracker, as well as potato dumplings that come with a delightful snapper mousse and pickles, on it.
Address: 27 Coldstream St, Yamba, NSW, 2464
The Kiosk Yamba
As a coastal destination Yamba has plenty of eating options, but few are as enchanting as The Kiosk.
Located within Yamba’s iconic Surf Life Saving Club, which first opened in 1908, making it one of the oldest surf clubs in the world, the views of the main beach are sensational.
Featuring quaint picnic benches and striped parasols this relaxed and unassuming cafe is open very early for breakfast, all the way through until lunch.
Serving up delicious coffee, as well as simple but tasty food, options here include the likes of acai bowls and bacon, egg and cheese rolls. Which you can enjoy whilst watching the waves gently break on the shoreline.
The coffee is good here too, whilst they also offer an excellent range of cold-pressed juices and milkshakes.
Address: 1 Marine Parade, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Sweet N Spicy Cafe
Looking for something a little bit different? Then try the Sweet N Spicy Cafe.
A modest, low-key venue that is situated adjacent to a real estate agency, the food menu here includes a range of Asian and other internationally inspired delights.
This includes the likes of Thai-style choo chee prawns, Malaysian chicken curry and Vietnamese beef salad. As well as buffalo wings, arancini and beef empanadas. All of which are perfectly cooked and beautifully plated.
A warm and congenial venue that is situated on the heart of vibrant Yamba Street, the BYO restaurant is well known locally for its efficient and friendly service.
Address: 28B Yamba St, Yamba, NSW, 2464
Phone number: +61 490 027 301
BRGR SPOT
Beach and burgers go hand-in-hand, so when the urge for one hits whilst you are in Yamba, be sure to head to Brgr Spot.
Situated just one block from the main beach, this fabulous burger joint has stood the test of time.
Known for its fabulous shoestring or sweet potato fries, as well as its delightful burgers, the menu here is reasonably priced and full of options.
They even have a number of vegetarian and vegan options too, whilst if you are gluten-free, or not all that hungry, all of their burgers can be converted into a salad instead.
Also offering a decent selection of wines, beers and cocktails, there are plenty of very good drink choices for you to enjoy here too.
Address: 2/15 Clarence St, Yamba, NSW, 2464