7 incredible Murwillumbah restaurants to try now

Lara Picone Lara Picone
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Tuck into the beautiful produce of the Tweed Valley at these Murwillumbah restaurants that showcase both provenance and culinary talent.

Sprawling across both sides of the Tweed River, the bucolic and Art Deco town of Murwillumbah has long been an arts stronghold, but now this hinterland gem is turning up the dial and delivering good dining, too. From Murwillumbah restaurants to eateries tucked into the surrounding villages, these diners are making the most of the incredible produce of the region and plating it up with reverence.

1. Bistro Livi

Best for: Date nights and long Saturday lunches with friends.

This sleek fine diner wouldn’t look out of place in a city laneway, but here Bistro Livi sits in the corner position of an Art Deco building in Murwillumbah’s M-Arts Precinct. With the owners coming by way of some of Melbourne’s best restaurants, it’s little wonder this refined 36-seater is faultless.

Local produce is expressed on the plate with respect and refinement, the drinks are well-stirred and the wine list elegant. Diners are tended to expertly amid the minimal-luxe interiors, making it very easy to lose time devouring exquisite dishes with a gentle Italian leaning. Book a babysitter and settle in for the night.

outside Bistro Livi restaurant, Murwillumbah
Find the refined Bistro Livi in Murwillumbah’s M-Arts Precinct.

Open: Dinner Wednesday–Saturday; lunch Saturday

Address: 1A, 1-3 Brisbane Street, Murwillumbah

2. Tweed River House

Best for: Special occasions or afternoon sessions by the water.

Stepping into this tenderly restored Queenslander-style homestead set right on the river is a little like taking a portal to the era of the British Raj. Opulent and expertly styled in sympathy with the breezy building, Tweed River House is a special occasion restaurant.

the Tweed River House by the side of the river
The Tweed River House sits by the river in South Murwillumbah.

Service is en pointe and affable and the plates beautifully considered with local flavours assembled to showcase the region.

the restaurant interior of Tweed River House
The outdoor verandah offers peaceful views.

If you can’t get a spot for dinner, or even if you can, head to the downstairs Lawn Bar on a Saturday and Sunday sundowner.

a plate of food at Tweed River House, Murwillumbah
Plates are assembled to showcase the best produce in the region. (Image: Nelly le Comte Photography)

Open: Dinner Friday and Saturday; lunch Thursday–Sunday; Lawn Bar weekends from noon

Address: 131 River Street, South Murwillumbah

3. Barrels Pizza Restaurant

Best for: Casual dining with family and friends.

A contemporary pizzeria that honours the produce of the region, at Barrels Pizza you’ll find oven-blistered pizza from classic Italian toppings to a few Aussie curveballs.

a table-top view of pizza at Barrels Pizza Restaurant
Taste your way through the menu at Barrels Pizza.

There’s also a range of antipasto to get the party started, from buffalo mozzarella with Roma tomatoes to goat’s cheese, roasted grape and walnut focaccia. You can also opt for takeaway if you prefer not to enjoy your hot pizza in the family-friendly dining room.

a woman holding a wine glass at Barrels Pizza Restaurant
It would be rude not to drink wine with your pizza.

Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 5pm

Address: 13 Wharf Street, Murwillumbah

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4. Potager

Best for: Intimate and cosy dalliances and group celebrations.

This gorgeous cottage garden setting with sweeping valley views is a stunning locale for a long lunch. Inside the charming timber cottage, guests are warmly welcomed with impeccable hospitality and treated to a menu with provenance and community at its heart.

the Potager Restaurant in a garden setting, Murwillumbah
Dine at the garden-themed Potager Restaurant.

Despite the country cottage vibes, the food at Potager is elegant, refined and generous with influence from the antipodes to Europe and Asia without labouring the point.

an aerial view of the Potager Restaurant
Find yourself in a stunning location for a long lunch.

Open: Dinner Friday and Saturday; lunch Friday–Sunday

Address: 502 Carool Road, Carool

5. Husk Distillery

Best for: Lawn sessions on sunny afternoons and gatherings with mates.

Northern Rivers rum distillers, Husk, are equally loved in the region for their delicious tipples as they are for their cellar door digs. The beautiful brick building houses the barrels of spirits quietly maturing, as well as a gorgeous bar and restaurant that sprawls out onto a terrace and onto the grassy lawn overlooking cane fields, from which their rum is made.

the Husk Distillery in Tumbulgum
It’s not all about the spirits at Husk, it also features a gorgeous bar and restaurant.

Start the experience with a distillery tour, where you’ll get to taste rum and their violet-hued ink gin, then grab a table or patch of grass to sip cocktails and savour share plates. There’s a very handy shuttle service, should you wish to loosen your restraint.

Husk Distillery aerial view
Expect to find space to roam at the sprawling Husk property.

Open: Daily from 11am

Address: 1152 Dulguigan Road, Tumbulgum

6. Farm & Co Restaurant

Best for: long lunches that go on and on…

This farm-to-plate eatery has some of the Tweed’s best restaurateurs at the helm, ensuring the organic produce that lands on the plate is deftly crafted to showcase seasonality and flavour.

Perched on a 52-acre farm in the Tweed Valley, Farm & Co Restaurant’s agrarian setting makes for a lovely place to unwind with good food and wine, while the kids free-range in the sunflower patch.

Nourishing share plates may include the likes of wood-smoked lamb shoulder with chimichurri or roasted goldband snapper with aromatic oil and curry leaves or opt for the signature banquet and be surprised and delighted.

Open: Dinner Thursday–Saturday; all-day dining Friday–Sunday

Address: 529 Cudgen Road, Cudgen

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7. House of Gabriel

Best for: Gazing across at the twinkling river while you enjoy fresh fare.

Housed in a charming riverside building once home to a bakery and a confectionery, House of Gabriel serves a slice of history with a menu of seasonally changing dishes.

the House of Gabriel in Tumbulgum
Drop by House of Gabriel for a meal served inside a charming riverside building with an eclectic past.

Take up a spot on the front deck festooned by purple wisteria and enjoy simple but delicious contemporary Australian fare and local beverages from Husk Distillery and Stone & Wood, as well as carefully curated wines.

sweets and pastries at House of Gabriel, Tumbulgum
The High Tea is exceptionally popular here for good reason.

High tea is a popular affair here (bookings essential) with handmade treats and elegant teaware really leaning into the bygone nostalgia of the building.

tea and pastries at House of Gabriel, Tumbulgum
Score Parisian-style pastries and desserts at House of Gabriel.

Open: Breakfast and lunch Wednesday–Sunday; pizza night Friday

Address: 106 Riverside Drive, Tumbulgum

Discover more hidden gems, insider tips and local delights in our travel planning hub for the Tweed.
Lara Picone
Working for many of Australia’s top publications, Lara Picone has had the distinct pleasure of writing, editing and curating content about the finer things in life for more than 15 years. Graduating from Macquarie University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, her editorial foundation began at Qantas: The Australian Way magazine, before moving on to learn the fast-paced ropes of a weekly magazine at Sunday Magazine and picking up the art of brand curation at donna hay magazine. Pivoting a near-problematic travel lust into a career move by combining it with storytelling and a curious appetite, her next role was as Deputy Editor of SBS Feast magazine and later Online Editor of SBS Food online. She then stepped into her dream job as Editor of Australian Traveller before becoming Online Editor for both International Traveller and Australian Traveller. Now as a freelancer, Lara always has her passport at-the-ready to take flight on assignment for the Australian Traveller team, as well as for publications such as Qantas Magazine, Escape and The Weekend Australian. As ever, her appetite is the first thing she packs.
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The secret Sydney suite life: a luxury under-the-radar stay right on the harbour

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    This winter, these secret Sydney harbour suites are the staycation we’ve been looking for.

    Whether it’s the crisscrossing ferries or the white sails of the Opera House rising out of blue depths, Australia’s biggest city lives for its harbour. But while locals might glance at that watery expanse on their daily commute across the Bridge, it can still be hard to truly connect with Sydney’s maritime soul. The secret: seeing the harbour eye-to-eye, right at water level. And what better place to submerge yourself in that energy than sleeping there? That’s where Pier One Sydney Harbour comes in (and with new all-inclusive bed and breakfast benefits, there’s even more to love).

    All-inclusive VIP benefits

    Who Is Elijah Amenities at Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Book in for the all-inclusive VIP treatment.

    The hard truth is that it will be very difficult to tear yourself away from your ultra-luxurious harbour home-away-from-home to explore the city. If you want to make leaving even harder, opt for Pier One’s all-inclusive VIP treatment.

    The Bed and Breakfast with Suite Benefits package turns up the volume on what is already the ultimate staycation, with complimentary valet parking, daily breakfast for two and turndown service. The biggest perk? Enjoy a bottle of French champagne every day during your whole stay

    Pier One Sydney Harbour

    Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Step into a piece of history with all the modern comforts. (Credit: Dave Wheeler)

    The five-star Pier One Sydney Harbour is quite literally old Sydney through and through. Built on what was once a working cargo wharf and the passenger terminal for those heading to the North Shore before the bridge was constructed, the heritage building sits right between the tangle of cobblestones, pubs and alleyways of The Rocks and the historic docking zone of Walsh Bay – at the centre of the city’s old sea trade.

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    Pier One Suites

    Pier One Sydney Harbour admiral suite
    Enjoy incredible views from your suite.

    Across the 189 rooms and suites built on and over the water, the maritime theme continues. Sculptural aged brass fittings, exposed girders, colour schemes that evoke shifting currents, and mirrors that reflect ripples that – depending on your booking – sit just metres from your pillow.

    United on theme yet unique in set-up, each room or suite is different. On the ground floor, dog-friendly rooms with direct access to the pier are all prepped for pampered pups, while others have views and even balconies overlooking Walsh Bay, the Bridge and the Harbour.

    But the 19 suites step things up even more. Gaze out through floor-to-ceiling windows, or get even closer. Your private balcony is made for sipping a Nespresso coffee on as the sun comes up – or soaking in the bathtub of the Admiral Suite on the deck, a drink from the locally stocked mini bar in hand. This mini bar was recently completely transformed, so you have more Aussie favourites to choose from, including alcohol and snacks.

    Dining at Pier One

    Pier Bar Pier One Sydney Harbour
    Settle in for an afternoon of good drinks and views.

    Once you’re checked in, start your afternoon with a spritz at PIER BAR – or arrive by boat via the private pontoon if the occasion calls for it – and settle into one of the cabanas. Weekdays bring Happy Hour (or ‘sunset hour’ at Pier One); weekends bring the DJs. After an even sweeter experience? The Everyday Creamery and Matcha Kiosk is slinging mango and vanilla soft serve – classic and those spiked with Midori and gin alike.

    PIER Dining is an ode to contemporary Australian flavours across the terrace, pier and dining room. On its seafood-leaning menu are Sydney rock oysters from Merimbula, potato scallops with salmon roe and crème fraîche, chicken with melting sundried tomato butter, vodka rigatoni with Shark Bay prawns. And the ‘Pierlova’ – that’s pavlova with chocolate, dulce de leche and banana is worth saving room for. Make sure to ask for the wine list – it’s 100 per cent Australian drops.

    Around town

    luna park, sydney opera house and sydney harbour bridge
    Explore the neighbourhood during your stay. (Credit: Destination NSW)

    If you’re strong enough to polish off just one last pastry from the breakfast buffet and walk out the door, we applaud you. Luna Park across the harbour beckons with its wide grin, while a glance upward might spur you to climb the Bridge’s famous iron arches. The Opera House – just across Circular Quay from the Museum of Contemporary Art – sings out for a concert.

    You’ll want to book ahead for those hot-ticket performances at Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Dance Company, just a few minutes’ walk south of the hotel. Ten minutes further brings you to the waterfront bars, restaurants and clubs of Barangaroo, or the karaoke, gardens and dim sum of Chinatown further afield.

    Keep the mellow of your weekend getaway going with a stop at Barangaroo Reserve, watching the yachts go by – all before returning for that Sydney sundowner at Pier One.

    Ready to make that Pier One stay a reality? Book the ultimate Sydney staycation at pieronesydneyharbour.com.au