Top Towns for 2022: Head to Byron Bay for a beachside nightcap

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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The coastal town that almost needs no introduction, this perennial favourite on the NSW North Coast is a place of big skies and big ideas – and new and noteworthy bars to drink to them in. Discover what makes Byron Bay striking enough to land it at no. 15 on your list of Top 50 Aussie towns.

Find the complete list of the Top 50 Aussie Towns here.

It’s easy to make friends in Byron Bay. It’s full of people from elsewhere with infectious energy and impulses. It’s a holiday town, where every day is a shindig and tourists extend their stay so long they become accidental locals.

emerald blue waters at Byron Bay
A breathtaking aerial shot of Byron Bay’s main beach.

Head to the northern car park at dawn or dusk each day and you’ll find people walking barefoot along the beach, surfers dusting the sand off their feet, and van lifers sipping from steaming keep cups of coffee. 

Your timezone-friendly destination

Travellers fly here from different time zones. Friends drive down from Cairns and up from Sydney for the music festivals. It’s a world of big skies and digital nomads carving out niches. It’s where you will encounter whales and pods of dolphins, see sunsets the colour of molten gold and rockpools teeming with fish.  

It’s where your best ideas will come to you. But unless you can afford to buy property here, you will have to face the fact the time will come to leave. Until then, maximise every moment with our guide on new and noteworthy spots to take your Byron bae for a bevvy. 

A few of the best bars in Byron  

Lovers Lane is one of the hottest new spots to linger in Byron. It’s a grungy yet glam bar and restaurant serving natural wines and crazy-good cocktails inspired by botanicals from the Byron region. It’s got a bit of a disco vibe with caramel lounges and mottled lamps and posters of ’80s-era Ford Falcons.  

cocktails and bar bites at Lovers Lane
Linger over cocktails and bar bites at Lovers Lane.

Expect soundtracks that range from hip-hop to house and considered bar bites from executive chef Tyler Preston (Bang Bang, Chin Chin) such as beef tartare and barbecued king prawns.

friends hanging out at Bar Heather
Hang with the cool crowds at Bar Heather. (Image: Jess Kearney)

Bar Heather is a refined Parisian-inspired place to put on your radar when you’re in the Northern Rivers region.  

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

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A rotating roster of vintage collection

Brought to you by the team behind Byron’s best bottlo, Luna Wine Store, and chef Ollie Wong-Hee (ex-Sixpenny, Ester and Franklin), the menu is designed to work with a rotating roster of back vintages from producers such as Matassa and Gut Oggau.

Bunker down in one of the aged green leather banquettes in this sophisticated dark, loud and fun 60-seater bar for lively snacks such as mulloway skewers with tare and cumquat paired with 2018 Maria & Sepp Muster ‘Erde’ skin-contact sauvignon blanc.

glam spot in one of Byron Bay's bars
This hot new spot with caramel lounges and a disco vibe is grungy yet glam.

The perfect spot to spend your laid-back afternoons 

Light Years Asian Bar & Diner is one of the best bars to visit in Byron Bay when you’re dreaming of ways to spend a long, lost afternoon. The laid-back cocktail hangout is tucked away behind Main Beach and it’s caught our eye thanks to the pops of pink, thumping beats and Asian-inspired eats. It’s not new, but it is noteworthy and a very cool find.

It’s also such a successful format that it’s rolled out in Noosa, Burleigh Heads and Newcastle. Head here for miso caramel eggplant, chilli caramel pork and a few pineapple margaritas. 

Explore more of Byron Bay in our travel guide or find out which other towns made it into your Top 50.
Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti has written across print and digital for Australian Traveller and International Traveller for more than a decade and has spent more than two decades finding excuses to eat well and travel far. A prestigious News Corp cadetship launched her career at The Cairns Post, before a stint at The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald gave way to extended wanders through Canada, the US, Mexico, Central America, Asia and Europe. Carla was chief sub editor at delicious and has contributed to Good Food, Travel & Luxury, Explore Travel, Escape. While living in London, Carla was on staff at Condé Nast Traveller and The Sunday Times Travel desk and was part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK.
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9 of the best Sydney hotel bars for a local adventure during Vivid

(Credit: Nikki To)

    Lucy Cousins Lucy Cousins
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    A great night out doesn’t need a road trip, just the right bar. Swap the long drive for an evening at these standout Sydney venues.

    If you’re thinking of a staycation or a long weekend (with foodie benefits), you can’t get much better than the bright lights and beautiful vistas of Sydney. From tucked-away bars to late-night hidden hangs, Australia’s (unofficial) favourite city is packed full of venues that make staying local feel like an adventure.

    And with Vivid lighting up the sky this winter, there’s no better time to find the perfect cosy spot to enjoy the views or escape the crowds.

    1. El Vista, Circular Quay

    bar tender at El Vista, Circular Quay sydney hotel bars
    Enjoy tasty cocktails and gorgeous Sydney views. (Credit: Mario Francisco)

    This welcoming bar by the Maybe Sammy team offers a fun buzz and jaw-dropping harbour views. Part of the Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, this lounge bar sits above Circular Quay with the harbour on one side and the Botanical Gardens on the other. You may start here for pre-dinner drinks, but you won’t want to leave before the early hours. If the 1960s Acapulco vibe isn’t enough, the views will be – the Sydney Harbour Bridge is so close it hardly fits in the window, while ferries glide by all night.

    2. Bar Allora, CBD

    Bar Allora, CBD Sydney hotel bars
    Settle in for a taste of Italy.

    Inspired by Milan in the 1980s, Bar Allora brings Italian style and culture to the CBD. Although it’s officially part of the Mantra 2 Bond Street hotel, it’s designed to look and feel like you’ve travelled to Italy for all-day dining. Think espresso in the morning, aperitivo in the afternoon and Negronis late into the night. Accompany your liquid diet with Italian-style small plates and pastas with a modern twist.

    3. Percy, Pyrmont

    Percy Sydney hotel bars
    Spanish-style tapas and wine is the name of the game. (Credit: Steven Woodburn)

    Taking centre stage in the luxe foyer of the Woolstore 1888 Hotel in Pyrmont, Percy is a popular Spanish-style tapas and wine bar serving food that makes you want to linger. The restored 138-year-old wool store creates an atmospheric backdrop to your glass of merlot with exposed timber beams, brick and the echoes of Sydney’s past. With an air of Barcelona, expect low conversations, creative dining and the city moments away.

    4. The Crudo Bar at Flaminia, CBD

    The Crudo Bar at Flaminia, CBD Sydney hotel bars
    Seafood lovers should head to The Crudo Bar. (Credit: Nikki To)

    Grab a seat at the beautifully designed crudo bar, taking centre stage of Giovanni Pilu’s latest CBD restaurant, Flaminia. Enjoy a glass of chilled Vermentino from Sardinia or prosecco from the hills of Treviso, matched with freshly shucked oysters. Complement your seafood with a range of special dressings, influenced by iconic Italian port cities. It’s the perfect spot for a pre- or post- glass of wine before visiting the Sydney Opera House.

    5. Mee So, Sydney Central

    Mee So sydney
    Enjoy Japanese-influenced food and drinks.

    For something a little different, Mee So is a modern, neon-lit Japanese-influenced bar in the Ibis Sydney Central. Serving bold flavours and umami-heavy dishes alongside sake and yuzu-infused cocktails, this Tokyo-esque venue offers an escape from the busy streets outside. Order steaming ramen, a Japanese whisky and make a corner of Mee So yours for the night.

    6. Bar Morris, Haymarket

    Bar Morris sydney
    Settle into old-world European glamour.

    Housed in a 1929 heritage-listed building, Bar Morris brings old-world European glamour to the Hotel Morris Sydney, part of Accor’s Handwritten Collection. More of a destination than a pitstop, this bar leans into its Art Deco past with velvet features, intimate lighting and bold brass finishes. Here you can order smaller plates like burrata, cured meats, and seasonal seafood to match your martini.

    7. Pumphouse, Darling Harbour

    Pumphouse sydney
    Enjoy a tipple inside a building from the 1880s.

    When you first walk into Pumphouse, you’ll quickly notice the high ceilings, exposed brick and industrial style decor. Officially part of the busy Novotel Darling Square, this busy local hang doesn’t feel like it; it’s housed inside a former hydraulic pumping station from the 1880s – hence the name – and a local institution. Grab a seat if you can and order off the classic modern Australian menu, before trying one of the many craft beers on tap to wash it down.

    8. Wentworth Bar, CBD

    Wentworth Bar sydney hotel bars
    Drink where the celebrities once did.

    Designed for big groups and late-night cocktails, this open-air terrace bar is part of the Sydney Sofitel Wentworth – one of Sydney’s most iconic hotels. Once the watering hole of royals and celebrities, this mid-century building has recently been refurbished to be sleek, modern and inviting. The stunning rooftop bar attracts Sydneysiders who love to watch the sunset with a table full of Vietnamese and French-inspired dishes.

    9. Monica Rooftop Bar, Paddington

    Monica Rooftop Bar, Paddington sydney
    See the city skyline, drink in hand.

    Sitting pretty on top of a restored 110-year-old theatre, Monica is a Hollywood-style rooftop bar with views across Paddington and the city skyline. Part of the 25hrs The Olympia hotel, this isn’t a quick drink kind of place, it’s a ‘let’s stay all night’ kind of venue. Weekend DJs will take you from sunset to late-night conversations, while you graze on ceviche, grilled meats or sharing plates.

    For more information on how to enjoy Sydney for a long weekend, visit ALL.com.