Jervis Bay Cafes: Here Are 8 Of The Best

You’ve explored the beautiful beaches. Now where to for coffee, brunch and lunch?

Planning a jaunt to Jervis Bay? Be it coffee and gelato from an Airstream caravan, lunch at a vegetarian institution that is converting carnivores around NSW one curried lentil burger at a time or killer fish and chips enjoyed on the jetty, here are the best cafes and casual eateries in Jervis Bay.

BEST FOR COFFEE

Merciers Gelato & Coffee

A glossy salted butterscotch and chocolate gelato is best enjoyed amid groves of gums standing their ground in the open air or near to the dreamy white sands of Jervis Bay. That’s clearly the vision when the Merciers Gelato and Coffee vans roll into town. Track the cool 1960s Airstream caravan at festivals, festooned with bunting and fairy lights, or join the hordes queuing outside its perma pop-up spot near Kanpai Japanese Restaurant for coffee and a scoop of something comforting.

nsw-pos The Merciers Gelato and Coffee vans readily roll into town.

Address: 32 Bowen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

Albert & Miso

After placing your order at Albert & Miso, you should pay your respects at the shrine dedicated to Albert the rescue dog, who has sadly passed away. The name Albert & Miso nods to the late mastiff mix and his little mate Miso, who belonged to one of the co-owners. The homey cafe, brimming with framed photographs, is located in Vincentia Shopping Village and is a hub for locals who converge here for Little Coffee Co. lattes and B.L.A.Ts on toasted Turkish bread.

This is a delicious hub for locals who converge.

Address: 2/5 Burton St, Vincentia NSW 2540

BEST FOR BRUNCH

Salty Joes

Hold the smashed avo. No really. It’s not on the menu. It doesn’t need to be. There’s enough to satiate at Salty Joes, which evokes the essence of salty hair, sea breezes and southern Californian beach vibes. Treat yourself to a breaky burger or a more healthful mixed berry acai bowl with toasted muesli, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, coconut, strawberries and banana in the popular cafe where the walls are colour-matched with the turquoise seas.

There’s enough to satiate at Salty Joes.

Address: 1/54 Owen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

5 Little Pigs

5 Little Pigs is a top spot for a blowout on bacon with options such as the big pig breakfast with bacon, eggs, tomato, spinach and tomato on sourdough or simply eggs on toast served with a few curls of bacon. The rustic cafe in Huskisson, which is part of the Shoalhaven region of the NSW South Coast, serves locally roasted Swell coffee and, thanks largely to its core customer base of barefoot, plaid-clad surfers, has nailed the laidback beachy vibes.

Five Little Pigs is the spot for a hearty feed.

Address: 64-66 Owen Street, Huskisson NSW 2540

Cooked Goose on Hyams

Hyams Beach is certainly no secret spot. But if you go outside the peak scene-y season of summer, the beach is a pretty mellow place to hang. Dust the crumbs of sand off your feet and enjoy lunch overlooking the water at the Cooked Goose on Hyams, which has one of the best outlooks in Jervis Bay. Order fish tacos and prawn linguini for lunch and then have a gander at the goodies you can take away from the cafe, which has an elder sibling in Wollongong.

Cooked Goose on Hyams has one of the best outlooks in Jervis Bay.

Address: 76 Cyrus St, Hyams Beach NSW 2540

BEST FOR: LUNCH

Pilgrim’s Vegetarian Cafe

Pilgrim’s Vegetarian Cafe is Huskisson’s hippie headquarters and, hands down, one of the best places to eat in Jervis Bay. If you were to go by the enticing aroma of sizzling onions at the Husky outpost you might swear you’d walked into a steakhouse. And while there’s no mistaking the ‘millenium burger’ is sans meat, that curry lentil pattie hiding between two pillow-soft buns stuffed with salad and sprouts is one of the best renditions of a veggie burger in all the land.

Pilgrim’s Vegetarian Cafe is Huskisson’s hippie headquarters.

Address: 4,5,6/57 Owen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

Tuna Tail Husky

Poke is a staple in Hawaii and it’s great to see it popping up at dedicated poke bars like Tuna Tail in Huskisson, just a block and a bit back from the beach. Lunching at the light, bright poke bar is an insanely good experience as the healthful creations are made fresh to order: pick a base (rice, noodles or cabbage), choose a bowl (fins, feathers, or flowers), or build your own with add-ons that include avocado, seaweed and sesame seeds.

This bright poke bar is an insanely good experience.

Address: 2/12 Currambene Street, Huskisson

World Famous Fish and Chips

It’s a big call naming your eatery World Famous Fish and Chips. But that’s been this fish and chipper’s claim for the past 21 years and well, if they believe they can fry, so do we. It’s pretty hard to go past old-school prawn cutlets, but it’s the fish and chips that are on high rotation here at the relaxed chipper where you can dine in or get a side order of fresh air and picnic with your feet dangling over the jetty. Pick up some fresh Jervis Bay mussels for dinner.

Pick up some World Famous Fish and Chips.

Address: 2/54 Owen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

For more great travel tips and itineraries read our Ultimate guide to Jervis Bay holidays here.

Your job? Eat, sip, stroll, repeat.

The Shoalhaven region on NSW’s South Coast is a place of abundance. A sun-drenched haven where bush meets sea, local towns are abuzz and seasonal produce thrives. Bringing it altogether is Coastal Forage, a weekend celebration of food and wine that takes place at one of the region’s biggest drawcards – the beach.

The festival

Emerging as one of Jervis Bay’s best experiences, Coastal Forage is an annual festival that pairs the region’s natural beauty with its fresh produce and culinary excellence. Unfolding across just one weekend each year, the program is packed with mouth-watering events, inviting locals and tourists alike to get a true taste of the region. But while food is the star of the show, Coastal Forage is more than just a long lunch.

Coastal Forage on the South Coast of NSW

Stroll between 10 beachfront degustation stations.

Beginning at Moona Moona Creek Reserve in Huskisson, groups of 20–25 guests make their way along six picturesque kilometres of coastline, where 10 different degustation stations await in intervals. Part gourmet trail, part beachside bushwalk, it’s an opportunity for people to take a breath, enjoy the moment and feel the sand between their toes – literally.

“Coastal Forage is about slowing down and savouring the connection between place, produce and people,” said Amanda Fry, founder of Experience Nature, the local tourism brand behind the event. “There’s nowhere else in Australia where you can enjoy a ten-course meal with your feet in the sand, whales offshore and a local chef plating up what was caught or harvested fresh locally. It’s pure Shoalhaven.”

Dine on fresh produce prepared by local producers.

Meander along the shore with friends and other festival-goers, paddle your feet in the cool ocean and devour delicious fare cooked up and served by local producers. Afterwards, sun-warmed and satisfied, guests will be transferred back to the start of the trail by boat with Jervis Bay Wild.

The local cruise company also offers wildlife tours, and with migration season peaking, you’re perfectly positioned to spot whales along the coast. There’s no better way to end an already magical day.

Moona Moona Creek on the South Coast, NSW

Guests will be dropped back at Moona Moona Creek Reserve by boat.

The program

This year marks six years of Coastal Forage, with a program that speaks to the festival’s steady growth and evolution. It’s part of a wider trend that has seen foodie festivals across NSW ranking among Australia’s top emerging experiences.

In 2025, the event holds fast to its primary goal – providing an immersive nature-based dining experience for guests while platforming local chefs and producers. While newcomers like Cupitt’s Estate will join the line-up this year, the cast remains mostly the same – much to the delight of attendees.

Coastal Forage brings foodies together on the NSW South Coast.

Returning favourites include Bangalay Dining, Paperbark Camp, Appellation Oysters & John Harley Seafood, Old Salt Distillery, Blackhen Kitchen, Caterina and Trolley’d. All are preparing to plate up everything from sea-foraged delicacies and fire-grilled native ingredients to cool-climate wines and artisan spirits. You know what they say – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The details

Occurring over the second weekend of spring, Coastal Forage is a wonderful way to welcome the new season. It will run for two days only, from 13 to 14 September, with start times staggered every 15 minutes between 10am–3pm.

With many guests travelling from interstate, Coastal Forage is the perfect excuse for a scenic Sydney to South Coast road trip. The drive takes around three hours, with onsite parking available at Moona Moona Creek Reserve.

Groups of up to 25 taste their way along the trail at intervals.

If you’re making the trek, why not turn it into a memorable weekend away? Jervis Bay is dotted with peaceful places to stay, from cosy farmer cottages to beachfront shacks. Or you can treat yourself to the exclusive Stay Package, which includes two nights at Bangalay Luxury Villas, breakfast and two Coastal Forage tickets, priced at $1680.

Bookings for Saturday are available now, but are selling fast. Reservations for Sunday are on sale from 8 August – with both days priced at $225 per person. Each ticket includes a 10-course degustation, paired beverages, tasting glass, event booklet and return boat transfer. Coastal Forage is an 18+ event and dietary requirements cannot be accommodated.

The best cafes in Jervis Bay