14 top Port Macquarie restaurants to try in 2025

By Carla Grossetti
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Explore Port Macquarie restaurants with our in-depth guide featuring the best restaurants in Port Macquarie. Discover hidden gems and top dining spots in 2025.

Port Macquarie restaurants barely made a blip on our radar a decade or so ago. But it’s only natural that Port Mac follows the trend that sees road-trippers wanting to eat and drink their way around regional Australia. With culinary tourism on the rise, here is the ultimate guide to the best Port Macquarie restaurants to add to your food-focused itineraries while on the traditional lands of the Birpai people.

THE SHORTLIST

Hottest new opening: Zebu Bar & Restaurant
Best views: Boathouse Bar & Restaurant
Best date spot: Whalebone Wharf
Fine dining gem: The Stunned Mullet
Budget-friendly: Moo and Bean
Best Farm to Table: taste @ Cassegrain
Best outdoor dining: Rivermark
Best for seafood: Bills Fishhouse & Bar

1. Whalebone Wharf

waterfront views at Whalebone Wharf, Port Macquarie

Whalebone Wharf boasts spectacular waterfront views. (Image: Destination NSW)

There’s nothing quite like dining by the water at Whalebone Wharf in Port Macquarie. The seafood restaurant is one of the best in Port Macquarie for its envious location on the banks of the Hastings River. Established in 1971, the waterfront diner is a landmark destination that rises above the river’s choppy shores where paddleboarders and kayakers pootle past. Keep your sunglasses on and get a little tipsy over cocktails paired with fresh lobsters from the tank or a magnificent seafood platter. You can also choose a fish, the style it should be cooked (baked, steamed, crumbed etc) and then a side dish.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Average price: $$$$
• Atmosphere: Bright and breezy
• Review: 5/5
• Location: 269 Hastings River Drive, Port Macquarie

2. The Stunned Mullet

seared scallops from The Stunned Mullet, Port Macquarie

Enjoy elevated food and wine at the iconic The Stunned Mullet. (Image: Destination NSW)

It’s not a guide to Port Macquarie without including the OG fine diner The Stunned Mullet. It’s the place to go for elevated food and wine. Yes, it can be busy and it attracts a well-heeled crowd of sea changers, but the people-watching is all part of the fun. Go for lunch so you can drink in the views over the arc of sea and sand that is Town Beach in the Paris end of Port Macquarie. Explore the flavours of the region with offerings such as watermelon carpaccio splashed with a green gazpacho, silk tofu, jalapeno and asparagus salsa. The Glacier 51 toothfish with shiitake suimono, savoy cabbage, black rice, and daikon with an enoki crisp is another showstopper.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Average price: $$$$-$$$$$
• Atmosphere: Bright and lively
• Review: 5/5
• Location: 24 William St, Port Macquarie

3. Boathouse Bar & Restaurant

alfresco dining at Boathouse Bar & Restaurant, Port Macquarie

Soak up the beachy vibes at Boathouse Bar & Restaurant.

The seafood at the Boathouse Bar & Restaurant is so fresh it looks like it’s been caught by Neptune’s net. The bar and restaurant is at Sails Port Macquarie by Rydges, which is one of the best places to stay in Port Macquarie. Step inside and the Boathouse will still whisk you away to Nantucket with its picture windows, blond timber tones and beach-chic colour scheme. Moor your superyacht outside and strut inside in your deck shoes for freshly shucked oysters, scallop crudo and a seafood tower. This restaurant is the ideal destination year-round if your idea of a holiday involves great food and a tranquil time on the water.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian.
• Average price: $$$$
• Atmosphere: It’s giving Nantucket.
• Review: 5/5
• Location: 20 Park St, Port Macquarie

4. Zebu Bar & Restaurant

waterfront views at Zebu Bar & Restaurant, Port Macquarie

Dine by the water at Zebu Bar & Restaurant. (Image: Remy Brand Photography)

Spend the day out on the water in Port Macquarie and then tie up your yacht and join your sailing group for cocktails at Zebu Bar & Restaurant. The restaurant is on the ground floor of the newly refurbished Rydges Port Macquarie. The ‘jewel in the town’ overlooks the Town Green with manicured lawns stretching all the way to the Hastings River. And it celebrates the very best of what Port Macquarie restaurants have to offer. The sophisticated setting is giving Amalfi Coast where diners enjoy live tunes and delightfully fresh seafood beneath an endless blue canopy of sky. Start with hiramasa kingfish, saffron crab risotto and barramundi with zucchini, tomato, spring herbs and verjus.

• Cuisine: Modern Italian
• Average price: $$$$
• Atmosphere: Amalfi Coast
• Review: 5/5
• Location: 1 Hay St, Port Macquarie.

5. Rivermark

food plates by the Hastings River at Rivermark, Port Macquarie

Enjoy a sit-down lunch by the Hastings River. (Image: Rivermark)

This casual neighbourhood cafe serves up some of the most spectacular waterfront views in Port Macquarie. And if there’s one thing Port Mac locals like to do it’s revel in the great outdoors. Rivermark has been earmarked as one of the best cafes in Port Macquarie for coffee and a bite of brekkie. But the captivating views it commands over the Hastings River and surrounding greenery also calls for a proper sit-down lunch. The laidback local is not fancy; it’s more of a casual place for fish and chips, salt and pepper squid, burgers and schnitties. Great for watching the ebb and flow of customers.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Average price: $$
• Atmosphere: Super chill.
• Review: 3/5
• Location: 261 Hastings River Drive, Port Macquarie.

6. Florence Jones

Florence Jones is a dinky little wine bar that sits alongside the Hastings River and offers a one-two punch with its cellar and deli. Sit at the long communal counter overlooking the water where you can watch joggers puffing past looking envious of your platter of charcuterie and glass of wine. Be sure to offer them the peace sign with a pout. Or choose from the thoughtful selection of wines, craft beer, artisan cheeses, pates and terrines to take home to your Port Macquarie accommodation. Florence Jones has large glass windows so you watch boats bobbing by while enjoying sunset sips.

• Cuisine: Charcuterie.
• Average price: $$$
• Atmosphere: Laid-back local vibe.
• Review: 5/5
• Location: 74 Clarence St, Port Macquarie

7. Bills Fishhouse & Bar

a spread of food on white background at Bills Fishhouse & Bar, Port Macquarie

Bills Fishhouse & Bar takes pride in their sea-to-plate menu.

Bills Fishhouse & Bar provides a compelling reason to make your dream of a sea change a reality. It’s the place to go when you’ve had your fill of sun, sea, surf and sand. As a destination diner, Bills is a broad church drawing a diverse group of people together who cherish conversation and connection. Channel your best mid-life slacker energy and cast yourself adrift for the day over a sea-to-plate selection of seared scallops, torched squid, swordfish sashimi and crisp-skinned ocean trout. The fun-as fishhouse is housed within the new Clarence House development. BYO bib.

• Cuisine: Seafood
• Average price: $$$$
• Atmosphere: Contemporary coastal-chic.
• Review: 5/5
• Location: 2/18-20 Clarence St, Port Macquarie

8. Moo and Bean

You won’t have to shell out a tonne of coins for a casual meal at Moo and Bean. In fact, you get a lot of bang for your back with a line-up of local musos such as Max Marvell served alongside $1 oysters. The North Haven cafe overlooks the pristine waters of Camden Haven, some 30 minutes south of Port Macquarie. The Sunday sessions here will defo up your chances of meeting someone IRL as the layout of the bright and airy venue enables a certain kind of alchemy. Trim your neckbeard so you can better impress with those moves you learned on TikTok.

• Cuisine: Ribs, wings and smokey things
• Average price: $$$$
• Atmosphere: Clean, beachy aesthetic.
• Review: 4/5
• Location: 613 Ocean Dr, North Haven.

9. Black Duck Brewery

wood-fired pizza at Black Duck Brewery, Port Macquarie

Wood-fired pizza fresh from the oven at Black Duck Brewery. (Image: Destination NSW)

We spent a lot of time fishing around to find the best places to eat and drink in Port Macquarie. And Black Duck Brewery certainly gave us something to quack about. Cue the sound of a guitar being furiously strummed on Friday nights as the brew bar hosts its weekly pizza night set to live music. Black Duck also curates BBQ lunches and platters designed to pair well with its rotating roster of craft beers. You will find this vibrant local brewery in the middle of a scattering of buildings in the town’s industrial estate.

• Cuisine: Beer and bites.
• Average price: $$
• Atmosphere: Jovial
• Review: 4/5
• Location: 6b Acacia Avenue, Port Macquarie

10. Little Shack

a small kiosk of food at Little Shack, Port Macquarie

Pop into the Little Shack for a quick seafood snack.

Port Macquarie was somewhat of an under-the-radar coastal paradise until places like Little Shack popped up. Lovers of a sundowner are known to camp out here for an afternoon in anticipation of cocktail hour. It’s like a portal to a posh seafood shack in Key Largo with the crowd a perfect cross-section of backpackers, Port Mac locals, and fishos. The Little Shack is now a long-standing landmark by the sea. And, as you correctly assume from the name, Little Shack mastered the art of serving seafood-centric cuisine in an al fresco environment.  Swing by the Town Green to nab a table under one of the towering pine trees festooned with fairy lights.

• Cuisine: Good vibes only.
• Average price: $$$$
• Atmosphere: Chill
• Review: 5/5
• Location: 1 Munter St, Little Shack

11. The Local

What a lot of visitors to Port Macquarie don’t realise is the city rivals Newcastle and Wollongong for its live music scene. Yes, Port Macquarie has a chain of beautiful beaches and waterways that keep visitors smitten with the place.  But there’s nothing like tapping into the town’s zeitgeist through its schedule of live performances. Lunch at The Local Flynns Beach is a great way to get to know the city while tapping your feet to live music performed by local acts such as Chris Rose. Soak up Port Mac’s culture while enjoying smokey BBQ pork ribs, Malaysian lamb curry and chicken parmis.

• Cuisine: Bistro food.
• Average price: $$-$$$
• Atmosphere: Laidback beachy
• Review: 4/5
• Location: Ocean St, Port Macquarie

12. taste @ Cassegrain

pouring a bottle of Cassegrain wine into a glass,

Cassegrain wines are as good as the food. (Image: Destination NSW)

Port Mac locals take the restaurant renaissance in Port Macquarie in their stride. Expect the wine list at Cassegrain Wines to be as dynamic as the menu at taste @ Cassegrain, an offshoot of the estate. The Cassegrain family’s history of winemaking dates back to 1643 France and winemaker Alex Cassegrain proudly married the traditions of French winemaking with Australian innovation. Dining here is worth a detour for dishes such as the cured salmon, chicken liver pate, confit duck with sauteed cabbage and bok choy and white fish with baby capers and leek. There’s also a very considered kids’ menu with options such as grilled sirloin and chips paired with sparkling grape juice. We love to see it.

• Cuisine: Modern Australian
• Average price: $$$$
• Atmosphere: Relaxed yet refined
• Review: 5/5
• Location: 10 Winery Drive, Port Macquarie.

13. Bago Vineyards

morning mist at Bago Vineyards

Morning mist hugs the lush landscape at Bago Vineyards. (Image: Destination NSW)

Bago Vineyards is surrounded by a tall eucalyptus forest in Wauchope that caters to the East Coast’s largest koala population. The vineyard – one of five in the region – blankets the surrounding hillside, its healthy appearance belying the effort it takes to successfully grow grapes in this region. The family-run vineyard is very much a family affair and includes a maze to keep kids entertained. Tell the kids to ‘get lost’ while you enjoy a glass of verdelho and a cheese platter and the kids bounce happily around the pruned pathways. Visit for Sunday Music Days once a month and keep your eyes peeled on Bago’s socials for seasonal pop-up mazes.

• Cuisine: Charcuterie platters.
• Average price: $$
• Atmosphere: Family-friendly
• Review: 4/5
• Location: 197 Lambs Road, Herons Creek.

14. Little Fish Cafe Restaurant Vineyard

Having access to the Mid North Coast’s bounty hasn’t hurt The Little Fish Cafe & Vineyard.  Add a Michelin-trained chef who hails from the Cotignac, in Provence, France, and you have more than a few legit reasons to extend your stay in Port Macquarie. Chef Steve Delandemare started his career working at his family’s vineyard and restaurant and he pays homage to French culinary traditions on the Little Fish menu. Order the feuilleté de chêvre au miel et au poivre, salade de mesclun (honey-drizzled goat’s cheese tart with cracked pepper and a mesclun salad) or bouillabaisse to see what the fuss is about. Little Fish is also a must for coffee. Open every Friday for dinner.

• Cuisine: French Australian
• Average price: $$$
• Atmosphere: Charming and boutique
• Review: 4/5
• Location:  147 The Ruins Way, Innes Lake Vineyard.

Discover the best cafes in Port Macquarie.

Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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The best cafes and coffee in Port Macquarie

    By Carla Grossetti
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    Port Macquarie cafes are as sophisticated as any you will find in a major city. Here’s where to get your fix and find the best coffee in Port Macquarie.

    Take a short detour off the highway between Brisbane and Sydney and you will find a range of excellent Port Macquarie cafes. Follow the smell of roasting beans off the street to find the best cafes in Port Macquarie, which run the gamut from long-standing establishments to cult roasters who helped kickstart the specialty coffee scene. Van lifers no longer need to rely on jars of instant coffee while road-tripping down the east coast of Australia. Here’s our guide to the best cafes in Port Macquarie that will help you get a sense of place in the seaside town.

    The Shortlist

    Hidden gem: Banks Cafe
    Best for brunch: Chop ’n Chill
    Best for digital nomads: Holy Goat Coffee
    Family-friendly spot: Seasalt
    Best coffee: Peak Coffee
    Best pastries: Baked Culture
    Dog-friendly: The Hill Café
    Best for gluten-free dining: Bent on Food

    1. Banks Cafe

    people outside the Banks Cafe, Port Macquarie

    Step into Banks Cafe for breakfast overlooking the Hastings River.

    Banks Cafe is housed in a repurposed waterfront cottage appropriately named after its location on the banks of the Hastings River. The dinky beach shack is always filled with locals who exude a kind of robust pride in their lifestyle. You’ll see them pulling up on their stand-up paddleboards for the Banks Breaky Hot Pot or Pork Belly Benny. Follow Banks Cafe on Instagram to see what’s on as the café morphs into a restaurant offering dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. Although this tucked-away gem is mostly crewed out with locals you’ll find a steady trickle of tourists joining them for brekkie with a view.

    • Cuisine: Contemporary Australian
    • Average price: $$$
    • Atmosphere: Beach club vibes
    • Location:  9 Mcinherney Cl, Port Macquarie

    2. The Hill Café

    It’s clear the winds of change have roared through Port Macquarie when you stumble across cool-as cafes like The Hill in nearby Thrumster. If we’re using sourdough as the litmus test then The Hill proves its pedigree by using its loaf and making its toasties from Baked Culture. The Hill Café is near the gateway service station centre dubbed ‘the Donut’ so you can order ahead on the Hey You app if you’re passing between Wauchope and Port Macquarie. Have more time to spare? Order the Not Avo Toast special which offers a more seasonal green splash of colour with zucchini, peas, mint and goat’s cheese with alfalfa sprouts and charred lime on sourdough.

    • Cuisine: Expect specialty coffees and killer toasties.
    • Average price: $-$$
    • Atmosphere: Super-super friendly. Good music, food and coffee.
    • Location: T16, 15 Chancellors Drive, Thrumster

    3. Baked Culture

    pouring milk over a latte cup at Baked Culture, Port Macquarie

    Get your coffee fix at Baked Culture.

    Plastic bags are a no-go in Wauchope. Avoid the evil eye from locals and tote your retro eco bag into Baked Culture so you can stock it with sourdough, seasonal fruit Danishes and cruffins lacquered with honey. The patisserie has evolved from a pop-up at the Foreshore Markets to a brick-and-mortar bakery in Wauchope (pronounced War Hope puh-lease) that locals love. If you can’t get to Wauchope, you can enjoy the artisan baked goods at Port Macquarie cafes such as Studio 3 and The Hill Café. You can also pick up a loaf from Wild Culture Organics. Sourdough is the specialty at Baked Culture which sources its grain from Wholegrain Milling.

    • Cuisine: Pastries
    • Average price: $
    • Location:  2/3 31 High St, Wauchope

    4. Cafe Red @ Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries

    Have you even been to the Mid-North Coast of NSW if you haven’t stopped off at Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries. The business that sprouted from an honesty box is the perfect pit stop located just one minute from the M1 roundabout just north of the Port Macquarie turnoff. In addition to filling your esky with jams, chutneys, salsas, passatas and soups, you can keep the kids entertained by picking their own strawberries for lunch. Families who have booked accommodation in Port Macquarie can pick up fresh produce from nearby farms for a picnic or settle in at the sunny Cafe Red for afternoon tea featuring house-made strawberry jam.

    • Cuisine: Mod Oz.
    • Average price: $-$$
    • Atmosphere: Warm and inviting.
    • Location: 221 Blackmans Point Road, Port Macquarie

    5. Salty Crew Kiosk

    a woman holding an acai bowl on her lap at Salty Crew Kiosk, Port Macquarie

    Tuck into a healthy acai bowl at Salty Crew Kiosk. (Image: Supplied)

    Port Macquarie cafes are at an advantage when they have a waterfront view. And few cafes can boast a location as quintessentially Port Mac as the motley gang behind the Salty Crew Kiosk. The dinky cafe is at Town Beach and is a popular hangout thanks to its orientation; it’s protected from southerly busters and close to the centre of Port Macquarie. Start your day with a wind-in-the-hair walk along the breakwall before heading to the Salty Crew Kiosk for a latte. The cafe is one of the best places in Port Macquarie to see the sunrise and is known to take care preparing its coffee, tea and espresso blends – all from Clandestino Roasters in Noosa. Ask the staff for a surf report while tucking into a ham-cheese-tomato toastie and double espresso under a stripey umbrella.

    • Cuisine: Classic Aussie café fare.
    • Average price: $
    • Atmosphere: Beached as.
    • Location: Town Beach, William St, Port Macquarie

    6. Peak Coffee

    Peak Coffee is for those who are passionate about supporting ‘crop to cup’ businesses. Peak was one of the first coffee roasters on NSW’s Mid North Coast and is considered one of the best Port Macquarie cafes to get a hit of caffeine. As early exponents of specialty coffee, owners Sean and Kristine Edwards have been blazing a trail in the Third Wave coffee movement for decades. And they’re responsible for training up some of the best baristas in Port Macquarie with a roster of courses on offer for those who want to turn their passion for coffee into a career. Visit the brew lab and roastery to enjoy a coffee flight in the tasting room featuring a mural of Francesco Illy by local street artist PSY.

    • Cuisine: Grab-and-go toasties and baked goods from the display cabinet
    • Average price: $$
    • Atmosphere: Gritty industrial feel with an edgy street vibe.
    • Location: 30 Jambali Road, Port Macquarie

    7. Social Grounds

    breakfast fare at Social Grounds

    This lovely Port Macquarie cafe dishes up Mediterranean and Aussie-style breakfast favourites.

    Social Grounds has been considered one of the best cafes in Port Macquarie for rhythm and brews since opening its doors in 2014. This graffiti-clad cafe with indoor and outdoor seating is perennially packed with loyal locals. Sip on an exceptional espresso inside the rustic space where the walls are charcoal and the floors are timber. The courtyard outside is a lovely spot to sit admiring the street art and crayon-green plants in the courtyard, espresso in hand. Order a bowl of Grounds Granola and flat white brewed from beans ethically sourced from Ethiopia, Sumatra, Colombia or Rwanda. Check the blackboard for daily specials such as the Brisket Benny Stacker or Social Roll stuffed with smoked bacon, fried egg, sriracha, baby spinach and beetroot relish.

    • Cuisine: Traditional Aussie breakfast fare served with Mediterranean twists.
    • Average price: $$-$$$
    • Atmosphere: Groovy.
    • Location: 1/ 151 Gordon St, Port Macquarie

    8. Chop ’n Chill

    A lot of visitors to Port Macquarie are surprised to discover that the town is starting to rival NSW towns like Newcastle and Wollongong for their live music scene. Places like Chop ’n Chill are at the centre of the action and serve as incubators for young local musical talent. In addition to its line-up of DJs and live bands, Chop ‘n Chill is a draw for its Asian-American big brekkies. Fuel up after a surf on excellent options such as smoked chicken rolled up in a roti taco with cream cheese, fresh Asian salad, slaw and lime. Chop ’n Chill has river views and overlooks the Town Green, making it popular with families.

    • Cuisine: Asian American
    • Average price: $$-$$$
    • Atmosphere: Bright and breezy.
    • Location: 17-19 Horton St, Port Macquarie

    9. The Meeting Point Cafe

    coffee koala at The Meeting Point Cafe, Port Macquarie

    Enjoy playful latte art. (Image: Supplied)

    Parents visiting Port Macquarie during the school holidays should drop a pin at Billabong Zoo, one of the best places to visit in Port Macquarie. We advise parents to start with an espresso, the grounded equivalent of putting your oxygen mask on before being able to properly attend to your kids. The shady courtyard cafe overlooks the enclosure of spider monkeys so you can compare the behaviour of your children with their evolutionary cousins. Gather at the Meeting Point Cafe before your mooch around the zoo to enjoy frappes, muffins, croissants and fish and chips. Find a few pun-tastic options on the Little Lion $12 meal deals menu such as the Egg-chidna, Pandacakes and Chicken Little.

    • Cuisine: Old-school Aussie cafe options.
    • Average price: $$-$$$
    • Atmosphere: Unique.
    • Location: 61 Billabong Drive, Port Macquarie.

    10. Seasalt

    Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant, Port Macquarie

    Dine on fresh seafood overlooking the marina at Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant. (Image: Supplied)

    Make sure you have conquered the art of having flawlessly tousled beach hair before you lob at Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant for your morning coffee. The weather in Port Macquarie is near perfect so you will likely join salty sea dog types who are wearing thongs (of the flip-flop variety) and arranging to wet a line later in the day. Don’t worry if you can’t speak fluent fisho; the locals here are super friendly. Seasalt cafe is barnacled to the Port Macquarie Marina and a top spot to start your day. Head to Seasalt if you’re looking for Port Macquarie cafes with a waterfront view. Find a list of classic breakfast options such as eggs benedict and bacon and egg rolls with gluten-friendly alternatives, too.  Ask the staff for a tub of fish food so your kids can feed the bream off the marina.

    • Cuisine: Modern Australian
    • Average price: $$$
    • Atmosphere: Casual and friendly.
    • Location: 18 Park St, Port Macquarie

    11. Rivermark Cafe

    You’ll need plenty of energy to go stand-up paddleboarding in Port Macquarie. Drop a pin at the Rivermark Cafe so you can locate this riverside haunt just a short paddle up the Hastings River. Find a place to dock and then kick back with a hot cup of coffee while feasting on views of the surrounding waterscape. Sit at a coveted window seat or in the shade in the outdoor area, where you might spot dolphins enjoying an early-morning frolic. Although the menu has the ubiquitous avo on toast, there’s nothing ordinary about its version served with haloumi and slathered with a hollandaise sauce. The Rivermark Cafe is licensed so you can enjoy a crisp glass of vino after your paddle.

    • Cuisine: Modern Australian
    • Average price: $$
    • Atmosphere: Bright and breezy
    • Location:  261 Hastings River Drive, Port Macquarie

    12. Bandwagon

    a spread of food at Bandwagon cafe in Port Macquarie

    Bandwagon has an enticing breakfast menu to choose from. (Image: Supplied)

    It’s easy to get onboard at Bandwagon. Port Macquarie’s latest destination for specialty coffee, quality food, live music, good vibes and sick views. The casual, rustic cafe is set within a century-old beach house and should be on itineraries for sun-seekers and families keen on coastal hang. The piccolos here are perfect made using Ona beans, which are also available for sale. But Bandwagon is not just a place for breakfast. Follow Bandwagon on Instagram to book a special-themed dinner or find inspiration before ordering. Order the sourdough made bright with cooked pumpkin and spices, fried sage and pelted with fetta, house macadamia and pepita.

    • Cuisine: Colourful and creative.
    • Average price: $$
    • Atmosphere: Warm and inviting.
    • Location: 76 William St, Port Macquarie

    13. Bent on Food

    alfresco dining at Bent on Food cafe in Port Macquarie

    Enjoy your coffee outdoors in a lush garden setting. (Image: Jake Davey Studios)

    Donna Carrier is a legend of the hospitality scene and Bent on Food the most awarded tourism cafe in the Legendary Pacific Coast region. The vibe is Port Macquarie casual with colourful artwork lining the walls and jars of jams, chutneys and preserves available to procure for your pantry. This cafe is in the pedestrian-friendly township of Wingham, which will automatically make you change down a few gears and remind you you’re on holiday. Spicy corn fritters, pork tacos and poke bowls are the go-tos. But to truly maximise your experience make sure you time your visit to coincide to return to sip on local wines and listen to live music.

    • Cuisine: Contemporary Australian.
    • Average price: $$
    • Atmosphere: Warm and inviting.
    • Location: 93/95 Isabella St, Wingham

    14. Little Fish

    Book somewhere cosy to stay near Lake Innis, which is just 12 kilometres from Port Macquarie, so you can visit the Little Fish Cafe & Vineyard. Book a tasting with the winemaker from Innes Lake Vineyard and then head to the cafe to enjoy authentic French fare prepared by Steve Delandemare. Adventurous epicureans will also enjoy tasting the wines paired with Little Fish dishes the chef grew up with. Think pork filet mignon with tomato Dijon sauce or Braised Bourguignon beef cheeks with a glass of the Innes Lake Shiraz. And confit duck leg served with vegetables and red wine jus and an Innes Lake rose. Visiting the vineyard is one of the best things to do in Port Macquarie.

    • Cuisine: Oh-so French
    • Average price: $$$-$$$$
    • Atmosphere: Country
    • Location: 147 The Ruins Way, Innes Lake Vineyard, Port Macquarie

    15. Holy Goat Coffee

    Holy Goat coffee in Port Macquarie

    Holy Goat Coffee is an essential stop for a good brew. (Image: Astyn Saggers)

    Don’t expect to hear any yacht rock at Holy Goat Coffee. The industrial-chic cafe is cool and quirky with multiple odes to goats, which inspired the name of the business. Ask the barista and she’ll explain Holy Goat Coffee considers the very origins of coffee in 600AD when the hollow-horned animals reportedly discovered the glorious red coffee cherries.  Come sup on the nectar of productivity here in the espresso bar at Holy Goat HQ, which includes a dedicated co-working space aimed at digital nomads. Start strong with a double espresso and then pick up bespoke blends such as Scape Goat and the Hairy Goat. Expect a rotating roster of baked goods supplied by Casseras Bakery and Sugar Mummah such as baguettes, quiches and donut cookies with salted caramel.

    • Cuisine: Bakery treats.
    • Average price: $$
    • Atmosphere: Busy and buzzy.
    • Location: 5/8 Merrigal Road, Port Macquarie.

    16. The Beach House

    This place is already recognised as a favourite hangout for sunset drinks. But few are aware of its reputation as a bastion for barista-made coffees. Port Macquarie is a mecca for water sports such as surfing and kayaking. It also has quiet waterways such as the Hastings River, where The Beach House is located. You’ll need to be energised to squeeze everything onto your itinerary. Try and play it cool as you arrive by kayak to The Beach House to find a range of brekkie options to satisfy your cravings for carbs. The Beach House is one of the most visited spots around, thanks to its location on the Town Green and Hastings River. Use it as a pit stop while getting their steps up along the iconic Port Macquarie Breakwall walk.

    • Cuisine: Old-school Aussie favourites.
    • Average price: $$-$$$
    • Atmosphere: Relaxed and breezy.
    • Location: 1 Horton St, Port Macquarie

    Discover the best pubs and bars in Port Macquarie