Byron Bay’s Best Bars & Pubs You Need to Visit
Eloise Luke
Contributor | Urban List
There's no shortage of beautiful beaches, trendy yoga classes and hinterland hikes to partake in on your next trip to Byron—wellness is the name of the game. But when you've had enough wheatgrass shots and whole foods to last you a decade, Byron's nightlife is the perfect place to reintroduce the party.
Take a stroll through the main street or surrounds—you'll find beachfront beer gardens perfect for sinking a cold one after a session on the waves, elevated cocktail bars ideal for people watching, and late-night venues where live music is pumping well after the sun comes up.
Here at Urban List, we've narrowed down our fave finds—whether you're rolling deep into the evening, or keeping things classy with a lunchtime sesh. These are Byron's best bars and pubs, for any and every mood.
How we choose: local hotspots and anticipated new arrivals, which hit every mark—great drinks, atmosphere, views and appeal (and of course, a banging happy hour).
Best Byron Bars & Pubs At A Glance
Jump to:
- Beachfront Beer Gardens & Classic Pubs
- Rooftop & “Elevated” Cocktail Bars
- Late-Night, Live Music & Hidden Gems
Beachfront Beer Gardens & Classic Pubs
Beach Hotel
1 Bay Street, Byron Bay
Image credit: Beach Hotel | Instagram
The Beach Hotel (or Top Pub to locals) is an absolute Byron Bay staple, and a must-visit if you are headed in for the weekend. Parked right across from Main Beach, you'll find a massive sun-soaked beer garden, an elevated but reliable pub menu, and live music nightly from both touring Australian and international acts.
This spot is all about the classics—settle in for the arvo with a pizza, burger or schnitty, or keep things classy with a selection of small plates that champion local produce (hello, Byron Bay burrata). Their happy hour always pops off, as both locals and tourists roll in from a day on the waves—score $8 schooners of tap beer and $8 house wines.
Insider intel
- If you're in for a beachside sundowner, stick around to watch whoever is performing—there's often free gigs from big names, and the dance floor always goes off.
North Byron Hotel
61 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay
Image credit: North Byron Hotel | Instagram
Just out of the town centre, you'll find the North Byron Hotel—a local watering hole that's all about appreciating all things Byron. Surrounded by lush greenery and flowering gardens, this spot is a true tropical escape. Inside, you can expect intimate dining with a real coastal feel that flows out onto the sunny deck—perfect for Sunday sessions. If untraditional seating is more your vibe, pull up a picnic rug and an oversized cushion and chill out on the lawn.
The menu is a get-to-know guide of local produce—90% of fruits, vegetables, and meats used in their kitchen are sourced within a 350km radius of Byron Bay. Our eyes are on the bay lobster and king prawn roll, with Yarra Valley Salmon Roe and Kettle crisps. For drinks, it would be wrong to go past a schooner of Stone and Wood—their brewery is based nearby, so it really doesn't get more local than that.
Insider intel
- DJ's are live and loud on Friday and Saturday nights, playing everything from disco to afro house.
Treehouse
25 Childe Street, Byron Bay
Image credit: Treehouse | Instagram
If a Mediterranean feast and a fruity little drink (or five) is your preferred post-swim fare, Treehouse Byron Bay is the spot to hit. A short trot from Belongil Beach, this airy beachside surf shack might not be your typical beer garden—but we reckon driftwood benches, palm trees and live music crowds that spill out onto the street would have us parked up for hours.
Whether you are ready to scoff an entire woodfired pizza or prepared to split a few share plates between friends, this menu has you covered. Pizzas are hand-spun with housemade Napoli sauce, while smaller bites have a focus on fresh seafood and Mediterranean flavours.
The real star, in our humble opinion, is the cocktail menu: leaning into the tropical surrounds, you'll find three signature margs, as well as a variety of fruit-forward features we're keeping an eye on. Even their espresso martini has an island feel—a Bounty-inspired mix of 1800 coconut tequila, Kahlua, a shot of cold brew coffee and coconut cream.
Insider Intel
- Special occasion or not, the Treehouse bottomless is a must—for just $109pp, you'll receive a classic marg on arrival, followed by a 7-course shared menu of Treehouse favourites, and 1.5 hours of unlimited tap beer, wine and seltzer.
Raes Cellar Bar
6-8 Marine Parade, Byron Bay
Image credit: Raes on Wategos | Instagram
If a booking at Raes on Wategos was a little out of your price range this year, a beachfront drink at their Cellar Bar is the next best thing. Open to walk-ins, Raes Cellar Bar offers a casual dining experience, with refined bar snacks, a curated wine and cocktail list—not to mention picturesque views of Wategos beach.
Food-wise, anticipate snacky small plates with an antipasto focus: oysters with finger lime, tuna crostino with grilled bread, and a selection of local salumi and cheese with condiments and pickles. The wine list spans both Australian and European labels, and cocktails have a coastal focus—the Maca Colada, with Bacardi rum, macadamia liqueur, pineapple, lime, and coconut foam, is a trip straight to the tropics.
Insider intel
- Walk-ins are welcome at the Cellar Bar, but seatings are on a first-come, first-served basis—so you may have to wait for a table.
Rooftop & “Elevated” Cocktail Bars
Loft Byron Bay
9/4 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Image credit: Loft Bar | Supplied
Airy white interiors, rattan light hangings and beachy vibes—the recently renovated Loft Bar is about as Byron as they come. Just steps from the main beach, you can catch the ocean views from high above Jonson Street—on a clear day, the large window awnings will be rolled up to let in a crispy sea breeze, and there's a rotating lineup of live music and DJs.
There is a full food menu in the restaurant, but we'd be headed here for the bar snacks, natural oysters and a cocktail menu that'll have you spoilt for choice. There are five different house margs, four espresso martinis, a host of signatures and classics and a rotating bartender's cocktail of choice.
Insider intel
- Get in early for their daily happy hour (4pm–6pm), and stay for the late-night drink specials: $15 Margarita, Chilli Margarita, Espresso Martini and Negroni.
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Balcony Bar & Oyster Co.
7/3 Lawson Street, Byron Bay
Image credit: Balcony Bar & Oyster Co. | Instagram
Balcony Bar & Oyster Co. is everything you want in an elevated coastal bar: a dedicated oyster menu with eight different serving styles, cocktails by the glass and carafe—plus, it's literally located above Byron's main street, with balcony-style seating that's ideal for people watching.
Oysters are the pride and joy of this spot, and for good reason. Take them natural, dressed in chardonnay and cabernet mignonette; aguachile, with cucumber, jalapeno, coriander, lime; pomegranate, with molasses and red wine vinegar; or baked as a kilpatrick or bagna cauda.
When things start to get sweaty, their signature frozen cocktails are the go: try the hinterland paloma with Lord Byron Hinterland gin, rosemary salt, grapefruit, and lime. If you came for the seafood (same), try an oyster shooter—Mary the Mollusk is one of three: an aged bloody mary with vodka, fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, signature spices and lemon, and topped with a Pacific oyster.
Insider intel
- Happy hour is daily between 4pm and 6pm—and their oyster happy hour gets you half-priced natural oysters on Wednesdays, fresh shucked to order.
Bar Heather
G9 Jonson Lane, 139 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Image credit: Bar Heather | Instagram
Bar Heather is a chic, Parisian-inspired natural wine bar from the team behind Byron's Luna Wine Store. There are some 650 natural and biodynamic wines on offer, a rotating list sourced from a roster of the world's best winemakers and the most treasured parts of the Lo-Fi cellar.
Obviously, the menu leans natural wine-friendly—made up of snacks like fried bread with garlic scapes, betel leaf with pork and pickles, and egg noodles with cuttlefish and squid ink. Inside, you'll find a peachy mortadella-coloured horseshoe bar, aged green leather banquettes, and French wooden flooring.
Kick off your night with the Bar Heather Half Martini, sink into the afro beats, funk, and late-disco vibes beaming out of the speakers, and settle in for the night.
Insider intel
- If you'd rather someone else pick your pairings, go for the $95pp set menu.
The Mez Club
4/85-87 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Image credit: The Mez Club | Instagram
Right in the centre of town, The Mez Club is the fresh Mediterranean-style cantina that you'll be inclined to call home after a lazy day at the beach. Tapas-style dishes are inspired by Morocco, Greece and Turkey, and the cocktail menu follows suit—think spritz, sangria, and kombucha margaritas.
The downstairs seating leans more living room than dining room—white washed walls, low-set bench-style seating and rattan chairs plush with brightly coloured cushions. Take things up a notch (literally) with The Souk, the upstairs bar with a stand-alone cocktail menu—ideal for a pre-dinner aperitif or nightcap.
Insider intel
- The weekend bottomless is a Byron staple: from 12-3pm, $99pp gets you a selection of whipped hummus, halloumi and wagyu striploin—paired with tap beer and wine. It's $50 extra for a dozen oysters, and just $20 more for a cocktail addition.
Late Night, Live Music & Hidden Gems
The Rails
86 Johnson Street, Byron Bay
Image credit: The Rails | Instagram
The Railway Friendly Bar (known as The Rails by any regs), is a local go-to for a drink and a boogie—they've been hosting free live music every day of the week for thirty-odd years. On stage, they host local and touring bands across any and every genre of music—funk, folk, rock, blues, roots and reggae are all on the table.
If you need a break from the dancefloor, their beer garden is the perfect spot to put your feet up: their pub grub is always reliable, and the beers on tap span breweries across Australia.
Insider intel
- The Rails is open daily, and there's always something going on—which is great if you are rolling into town on a Monday or Tuesday.
Saltwater Social Club
32 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Image credit: Saltwater Social Club | Instagram
Saltwater Social Club is a two-storey bar and club overlooking Byron's main drag, and it's got everything you could ever need for a night out that kicks on. Open seven nights a week, there's a games room (complete with shuffleboard and pool), a library bar with a fireplace for those cooler nights, and live DJs in the main bar with dancing until late.
Don't forget the balcony-style seating, with an outlook to the street below—the fit-out is more vintage clubhouse than upmarket coastal, so you won't be afraid to get a little loose.
Insider intel
- Saltwater Social Club is open until 3am, Monday–Saturday, and 2am on Sundays—solidifying it as one of Byron's best late-night venues.
The Northern
35/43 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Image credit: The Northern | Instagram
This heritage pub may seem inconspicuous on the outside, but step inside to discover one of Byron's most character-filled spots. First established in 1892, The Northern has seen two fires in its time—the rebuild that stands today has held pride of place since 1936.
Multiple renovations have allowed for the addition of The Back Room, a purpose-built live music venue. Known globally, The Back Room has become an institution in the Australian live music scene—hosting international and local touring acts from the likes of Paul Kelly and Fat Freddies Drop to Billy Bragg and Ocean Alley.
There's some form of live music kicking off at The Northern every day of the week: the front bar showcases some of the best Northern Rivers musicians, and their duelling piano bar is in a league of its own (even prompting copy-cat acts in some Sydney venues). They open until 3am, Monday–Saturday, so you'll be sorted for a late-night session.
Insider intel
- Song requests are the backbone of the duelling piano bar—the crowd throws in their requests, and the pianists bring them to life. If a sing-along is what you're after, head to The Northern.
Main image credit: Bar Heather | Instagram
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