The Best Jervis Bay Restaurants | Australian Traveller

The pull of a weekend getaway to the NSW South Coast has never been stronger thanks to a plethora of great places to eat and drink in and around Jervis Bay.

The ultimate guide to Jervis Bay restaurants narrows the field to focus on the seaside village of Huskisson. But it also zooms out to include the broader Shoalhaven coast region. Be it casual vibes at a low-key food truck, or a romantic candle-lit dinner hidden in the treetops, or a fine dining restaurant with rooms, here are the best restaurants in Jervis Bay and surrounds.

Hottest new opening: Peter Eva Gusto Italiano
Fine dining gem: Bangalay Dining
Hidden gem: The Gunyah @ Paperbark Camp
Family-friendly spot: The Huskisson Hotel
Great for special occasions: Cupitt’s Estate

Bangalay Dining

Bangalay Dining is both destination diner and restaurant with rooms and one of the best places to eat and drink in the Shoalhaven region of the NSW South Coast. The venue is a standout thanks to the stellar service, cracking wine list and care taken by head chef Simon Furley. Locals and visitors flock to the handsome restaurant to enjoy contemporary dishes such as kingfish with compressed grapes and whole butterflied fish with soured cream and Warrigal greens. Wander back along the boardwalk to your luxury villa.

Cuisine: Contemporary Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: The elegant restaurant overlooks an up-lit pool that glows emerald in the evening light.
Location: 30 Staples St, Shoalhaven Heads

Peter Eva Gusto Italiano

Peter Eva is the bricks-and-mortar version of the pizza truck husband-and-wife team Peter Sanna and Maria ‘Eva’ Guareri opened when they moved to Australia from Italy in 2020. The Jervis Bay restaurant was recently reimagined after the couple returned from a holiday to the Amalfi Coast, where they drew inspiration from the sunshine-yellow lemons of Sorrento. Plump for the pizza draped with prosciutto crudo with rucolo Parmigiano on the side. Bellissimo.

Cuisine: Traditional Italian (handmade gnocchi, woodfired pizza, pasta, antipasti)
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Casual and family-friendly
Location: 2/52 Owen St, Huskisson

Wildginger

Chef Alex Morvai designs inventive takes on Southeast Asian cuisine to an extremely appreciative audience at Wildginger. The menu, best enjoyed in banquet format, is a mix of vibrant options such as baked pumpkin jungle curry, colourful and crunchy pork loin katsu with wok-tossed greens and slow-roasted lamb betel leaf. Despite being in beachside Husky, the atmosphere is more reminiscent of an elegant upscale eatery in Bangkok.

Cuisine: Southeast Asian fusion
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: The dining room is upscale but welcoming.
Location: 44 Owen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

Pasta Buoy

The menu at Pasta Buoy is anchored to the seaside. And you’ve got to hand it to owners Steve and Jess Cantarakis as the nero di seppia (squid ink) spaghetti here presents like a dreamy ode to the Mediterranean. The ‘rock on’ symbol used in the branding for the informal Italian eatery ensures it’s much-loved by a mostly millennial crowd who flock here for Marg & Martini night and live DJ sets. The young, sun-kissed staff also work the floor with grace delivering dishes such as agnoletti filled with spinach and ricotta and rich, rustic wagyu lasagna.

Cuisine: Modern Mediterranean
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Fun and playful mod Med joint known for its good vibes.
Location: 60 Owen St, Huskisson

Cupitt’s Estate

Cupitt’s Estate is a winery, brewery, farm and restaurant. And it’s one of the compulsory pit stops when you’re road-tripping from Sydney to Jervis Bay. The colour of the landscape is lacquered crayon green after recent rains and the vineyard gazes down on the valley toward the sea. Book a table near the glass louvres so that you can drink in the scenery over a glass of Cupitt’s Estate fiano and Ulladulla yellowfin tuna crudo with tonnato dressing. The charred spring asparagus with pecorino custard and salted breadcrumbs also sings of the seasons. Loads to love here.

Cuisine: Mod Oz with Mediterranean accents
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Country charm turned up to full volume.
Location: 58 Washburton Road, Ulladulla

Jervis Bay Brewing Co.

Australia’s booming craft beer scene has rolled into the regions. And one of the best places to eat and drink in Jervis Bay is Jervis Bay Brewing Co . The taphouse founded by four friends transformed a grey square of the town’s industrial estate into a fun, boisterous, beer garden that is ideal for kicking back on weekends. My husband has fallen headfirst into his obsession for craft beer and loves JBBC’s Bay of Plenty IPA. Check the menu at the 5 Little Pigs food truck ahead of your visit so you can decide in advance whether to order the pulled pork tacos or chargrilled cheeseburger.

Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Rowdy, boisterous, beer-lariously fun place for a Sunday sesh.
Location: 3 Duranbah Drive, Jervis Bay

The Huskisson Hotel

Pub barons looking to open a successful South Coast venture should study the Huskisson Hotel formula to see how things are done. The renovated hotel, known as ‘the Husky’ has a dreamy waterfront setting with an outdoor terrace. Start with a dozen of Jim Wild’s oysters in the waterfront bar. Follow up with fish and chips or roast lamb in the bistro. There’s a roster of live music and entertainment. And, best of all, you can stay the night if you haven’t got a superyacht moored out front. Few Jervis Bay pubs have been embraced with such fervour and the Husky deserves its best Jervis Bay pub mantle.

Cuisine: Solid pub grub
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: The pub is light, bright and breezy.
Location: 75 Owen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

The Gunyah @ Paperbark Camp

Paperbark Camp is four kilometres as the eastern bristlebird flies from the pristine white-sand beaches and walking trails of Jervis Bay National Park. The camp has been at the forefront of ecotourism in Australia since it opened in 1999 and remains one of the best places to stay in Jervis Bay. Onsite eatery The Gunyah is also one of the best Jervis Bay restaurants. Enjoy a candlelit dinner that focuses on seasonal set menus that celebrate native ingredients. You can also pre-book a night of Indigenous storytelling with Gadhungal Murring under a starlit sky.

Cuisine: Innovative mod Oz cuisine with an emphasis on native ingredients
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: A whimsical dining experience; like being in the Magic Faraway Tree
Location: Paperbark Camp, 571 Woollamia Rd, Huskisson

Picnics Naturally Jervis Bay

Picnics Naturally Jervis Bay can help curate all these special moments by either setting up a picnic or dropping off a grazing board to your preferred picnic spot. The pull of a picnic in mystical jewel-coloured Jervis Bay has never been stronger. Bubbles anyone?

Cuisine: Grazing boards and cheese and charcuterie platters
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Choose your own adventure and bush or beach picnic spot
Location: At the world’s perfect picnic spot in Jervis Bay.

Mountain Ridge Wines

Mountain Ridge Wines is one of the best places to eat near Jervis Bay. This is not fancy fine dining. Instead, it’s all about rustic pizzas served at sunset and loaded with everything from hunks of vegetables to circles of salami and blobs of molten fior di latte. Wear your designer trackies with the elasticised waistband so you can tuck into pizzas with a few share plates on the side. Sign up for a tasting then close the deal with a Michelangelo pizza laden with feta, parmesan, pepperoni and flecked with chilli flakes and herbs, and a few glasses of vino.

Cuisine: Small plates, pizzas and grazing platters
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: The bucolic winery gazes down over the vines and valley.
Location 11 Coolangatta Road, Coolangatta

Discover the best cafes in Jervis Bay

NSW’s beach towns take on a new kind of magic when the cooler months hit.

Autumn and winter cast a whole new light on the New South Wales coastline. The sun hangs lower, the shadows stretch longer and the air is crisp and fresh. The frenetic summer crowds are gone, and the rhythm slows to the pace of a leisurely winter bush walk through still, damp quiet. From wineries pouring winter reds to the annual whale migration up the ‘humpback highway’, here’s why winter on the New South Wales coast is better.

Winter on the NSW South Coast

Winter down south means misty dawns, sipping a flat white on the beach. The thrill of a whale spotting from the headlands and evenings spent slowly savouring Shoalhaven’s wines by the fire.

Start in Kiama, where waves crash into the famous Blowholes. This natural spectacle is achieved when underground pressure and swell unite, sending sea spray soaring above the basalt cliffs. This means, due to larger waves, you’re even more likely to see an explosive display in winter.

two people standing in front of kiama blowhole — See Kiama’s blowholes in full force. (Image: Destination NSW)

Inland, the Minnamurra Rainforest Walk in Budderoo National Park is all subtropical forest and trilling lyrebird song. Make sure to walk silently along the elevated boardwalks, past winter-swelled creeks and the tangled roots of fig trees. You might just hear one of the musically talented birds mimicking your footsteps.

Feeling adventurous? Book a session at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures for a wobbly walk through the canopy on Australia’s highest zipline.

Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures on the new south wales south coast — Walk among the tallest trees. (Image: Destination NSW)

Next, it’s time to take the speed down a notch with a drive over to the historic village of Berry. It’s been a beloved stop for generations of Sydneysiders heading south, as has the obligatory stop at its famous doughnut van for crisped, cinnamon goodness. If you’re ready for something a little more chunky, stroll right past the boutiques (okay, go on, just one quick peek) to Milkwood Bakery . Their flaky pastries and all-day breakfasts are best enjoyed under cream-coloured fringed umbrellas.

Back in Kiama, you’ll also find modern Middle Eastern share plates at Miss Arda , and next-level burgers on The Hungry Monkey ‘s extensive menu: an ode to everything pattie-shaped.

End the day at The Sebel Kiama on the harbour. The apartment-style rooms come with full cooking facilities — a welcome addition for families looking to test out the local produce they picked up along the way. Including, but not limited to, vintages from nearby Crooked River Wines .

The Sebel Kiama exterior — Sleep by the harbour.

Winter on the Mid-North Coast

A trip up north is a gentle one at this time of year. You’ll still feel that sunshine warming your shoulders, but the lower temperatures make space for rainforest walks, vineyard lunches and long coastal hikes. All without that pesky humidity.

First stop? It has to be the town of Port Macquarie. Start by marking out a stretch of the nine-kilometre coastal walk you want to tackle (or do the whole thing), which winds from Town Beach to the lighthouse along rugged headlands and quiet beaches. Hot tip: binoculars. Don’t forget them if you want to partake in some close-up sightings of dolphin pods or whales migrating up the ‘humpback highway’.

Port Macquarie Coastal Walk, winter on the New South Wales coast — Wander the Port Macquarie Coastal Walk. (Image: Destination NSW)

Swap sea for canopy at the Sea Acres Rainforest Boardwalk , one of the last remaining pockets of coastal rainforest in the state. The accessible elevated trail passes under climbing ferns and tangled strangler figs, and is alive with scarlet robins, goannas and diamond pythons – if you’re lucky, you might see one slipping through the leaf litter.

Afterwards, lunch is sorted at Cassegrain Wines , where crisp whites and elegant reds are grown using a blend of French winemaking tradition and Australian innovation. After a tasting, saddle up for a horse ride through the estate.

port macquarie koala hospital — Meet Koala Hospital inhabitants at their temporary home. (Image: Destination NSW)

The beloved Koala Hospital is rebuilding, so meet its furry patients in their temporary bushland abode at Guulabaa – Place of Koala . Here, you can see rehabilitation up close and learn how one of Australia’s most iconic animals is being carefully rewilded and protected.

Back in town, Whalebone Wharf serves up fine dining with serious views to go with your oysters. Prefer something breezier? Bills Fishhouse + Bar does everything from blue swimmer crab toast to zucchini noodles drizzled in basil and wattleseed pesto. Down by the waterfront, Little Shack slings ceviche, mushroom burgers and fish tacos with casual aplomb.

At the end of it all, check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie , right in the heart of town. From here, everything’s walkable. Just park the car, pop your keys in your pocket, and stroll down to the beach.

bed at Mercure Centro Port Macquarie — Check in to Mercure Centro Port Macquarie.

Winter on the Central Coast

On the Central Coast, expect to explore oyster farms that sit on estuaries, beaches that stretch empty for miles, and the kind of surprise sightings of whale sprays that can stop a hiker in their tracks.

The best way to settle into this slower rhythm is with the Bouddi Coastal Walk , an 8.5km trail that dips through rainforest and eroding cliffs. It’s made for unhurried walkers and long-lens photographers.

Up the coast in Terrigal, it’s prime time to spot humpbacks on the move. Join a cruise or find your own perch — Crackneck Lookout and Norah Head Lighthouse are both local favourites.

a humpback whale breaching on the central coast — Spot migrating humpback whales. (Image: Destination NSW)

Travelling with kids? It would be sacrilege not to visit the Australian Reptile Park . Here, Elvis the saltwater crocodile reigns supreme, and the venomous snake talk somehow manages to be simultaneously terrifying and fascinating.

If that isn’t enough to wear them out, zip and climb your way through Treetops Adventure Central Coast , a ropes course in the canopy of Ourimbah State Forest. Afterwards, steady your nerves with a garden tasting at Firescreek Botanical Winery , where fruit- and flower-infused wines are served under the trees.

Switch earth for sea and hop on a boat tour with Broken Bay Pearl Farm . Once you’re out on the water, you’ll learn how pearls are cultivated and have a hands-on lesson in grading and shucking.

woman holding a pearl at Broken Bay Pearl Farm — Get a hands-on pearl lesson. (Image: Destination NSW)

As the day winds down, grab a seat at Yellowtail in Terrigal , which takes seasonal native produce and presents it with Asian flair. Prefer something simple? Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination. Find an impressive breakfast and lunch menu, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce.

Stay the night at Pullman Magenta Shores , between the ocean and the lake. There are plenty of ways to relax, with a massage at the day spa, a poolside beanbag and a round or two at the golf course.

restaurant at Pullman Magenta Shores central coast — Eat well at Pullman Magenta Shores’ restaurant. (Image: Destination NSW)

Winter in Wollongong

Wollongong does contrast pretty well. One moment you’re walking beneath an enormous Buddha, the next you’re ordering soju a few blocks from the surf. It’s a town where skydivers land on beaches, trails lead to paddocks and winter days stretch long and clear beneath the Illawarra cliffs.

If you’re coming from the north, start by crossing over the Sea Cliff Bridge. Curving dramatically out like a jutting ‘C’ out above the water means you won’t be able to resist pulling over (safely, in designated lookouts) to gaze down at the waves crashing on the cliffs below.

Just inland is the serenity of the Nan Tien Temple , the largest Buddhist temple in the Southern Hemisphere. You can trace the prayer path, explore the temple gardens and sip delectable Kam Quat Tea in the quiet light at the Dew Drop Inn Tea House.

monk teaching tai chi at Nan Tien Temple — Learn about Buddhist practices. (Image: Destination NSW)

Next, dust off that cowboy hat. It’s time for the Darkes Forest Riding Ranch . Take a guided canter via trail rides among peppermint gums and paddocks. If you’re happier to look at animals than ride them, Symbio Wildlife Park has red pandas dozing in trees, kangaroos that hop up to you and lessons on conservation.

The brave among you shouldn’t miss Skydive Australia – Wollongong . A free fall over the coast via tandem jumps before tumbling down to the sand is a breath-stopping thrill. Prefer to keep your feet on the ground? Check out the program at Wollongong Art Gallery , which delivers contemporary and Aboriginal exhibitions in the centre of town.

monkey at Symbio Wildlife Park — Hang out with the locals at Symbio Wildlife Park.(Image: Destination NSW)

As evening settles in, nab a table at Baby Face Kitchen . It has an ever-changing set menu, with dishes like hand-picked mud crab with white asparagus and salty brown butter, to sheep’s milk and honey ice cream. For something more casual, Dagwood Bar + Kitchen brings the fun with Korean fried chicken, sake cocktails and weekly all-you-can-eat bao buns.

Check in to Novotel Wollongong Northbeach , right by the sand. With a beachfront pool and ocean views, it’s an ideal base for whatever pace you choose.

Winter on the New South Wales coast starts with a cosy place to stay. Start planning your adventure at all.com.

Our guide to the best Jervis Bay restaurants