Port Macquarie is a favourite NSW holiday destination that draws families, couples, road-trippers, food and wine connoisseurs and adventure seekers. When it comes to eating out, there are plenty of dining options to suit all tastes and budgets. We’ve rounded up the best local places to eat in Port Macquarie, from café breakfasts to family-friendly pubs, casual restaurants with stunning water views and fine diners with exceptional wine lists and polished service for those special occasions. We’ve also included some gluten-free dining, vegetarian & vegan options too.
Fine dining in Port Macquarie
- Twotriplefour by Bills
Nestled on the outskirts of Port Macquarie, within our Cassegrain Wines Estate, Twotriplefour restaurant is a proudly local, paddock-to-plate eatery that champions hyper-seasonal produce. Built on the philosophy ‘savour the region’, it’s the place to relish in a shared feast, indulge in a glass of wine, kick back in the welcoming dining space or enjoy a moment of sun on the patio. Serving brunch and lunch, menu highlights include the drink-friendly grazing plates, which include the likes of beetroot-cured ocean trout gravlax with rye bread and house-made crème fraiche, or Mother Fungus mushrooms, confit garlic and porcini butter on sourdough. As you’d expect, there’s a fabulous selection of Cassegrain wines on offer, along with other local craft beers. Kids are well looked after with their own menu. Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am-4pm, with picnic baskets available to take out into the Cassegrain picnic grounds.
- Bills Fishhouse & Bar
Twotriplefour’s sister restaurant Bills Fishhouse & Bar is one of only two local restaurants to be awarded an AGFG Chef Hat. They champion the same values of quality and simplicity in a casual, modern dining space where you can enjoy locally sourced seafood. Conveniently located along the main street in the main shopping precinct, this is the place for an evening drink and snack or smart dinner after a day at the beach. Start with freshly shucked oysters and pickled sardines as you sip Cassegrain Edition Noir Three Tiers, then explore the bounty of Port Macquarie’s seafood through dishes such as poached scallops with tomato broth, mullet with hazelnut romesco and roasted red spot whiting with spiced labneh and snow pea salad. There are plenty of creative vegie sides to mix n’ match with your seafood and for dessert, you can’t go past the apple pie affogato.
- Whalebone Wharf
Another modern seafood restaurant with an impressive wine list is Whalebone Wharf, nestled on the banks of the Hastings River in Port Macquarie. The décor has a breezy beach-house vibe with plenty of white, rattan and blonde wood, while the lunch to dinner menu has a classic seafood line-up of calamari, king prawns, cured hiramasa kingfish and daily market fish offered crumbed, beer battered, pan-fried, roasted or steamed. Punchy salads and warm vegetable sides round out the offering and you’ll find Cassegrain Seasons Spring Rosé on the menu – the perfect sun-downer with the seafood platter for two.
- The Stunned Mullet
The Stunned Mullet is a top pick on Port Macquarie’s food map, often surprising the discerning wine lover by the extensive list and by the glass options available. There’s a breezy beach vibe in the glass and pale-wood dining room with front-row views over Town Beach, which belies the polished service and serious approach to food in the kitchen. The food is contemporary Australian with a global accent. There’s an Asian accent to Byron Bay pork belly with choy sum, pickled lotus, apple gel and crispy soybean; while WA scampi linguine comes with a classic Italian combination of garlic, lemon, parsley and pangratatto. There’s an attention to detail in every aspect from the food to the service and an extensive wine list that also spans the corners of the globe. Book in advance so that you don’t miss out on a table as it gets very busy, especially over the summer months.
Casual Dining in Port Macquarie
- Bar Florian
With retro, 60’s Italian theme, Bar Florian has been created for patrons to share some of the finest cured meats, cheeses and condiments served on hand crafted glass platters. Together with a wide range of boutique beers, including fine wines and spirits, Bar Florian is the place to be for the discerning food and beverage patron to experience in a relaxed and inviting environment.
- Cafe 66
An ideal spot for families looking for a casual meal out, this neighbourhood Italian restaurant is a local favourite with plenty of options for all-day dining. Cafe 66 has a casual vibe and a menu of crowd-pleasing pastas, salads and antipasti for lunch and dinner, as well as breakfast go-tos from eggs to great coffee. An insider tip: save room for the tiramisu, which has a cult following.
- The Burger Rebellion
For the best burgers in town, head to The Burger Rebellion. Open for lunch and dinner, there are classic and contemporary burgers featuring all manner of pulled, grilled, fried and roasted meats from lamb to beef, pork and chicken, plus bunless burger bowls, salads and gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options. Make sure you order the sweet potato fries and a glass of Cassegrain Premium Stone Circle Merlot to go with your burger of choice.
- Suzu Dining
For well-executed Japanese fare with water views, follow the waterfront to Suzu Dining, an intimate spot for sushi, sashimi, hearty bowls of soba and bento boxes. Open for lunch and dinner, it’s a licenced restaurant and the Cassegrain team recommend our White Label Chardonnay, which you’ll find on the drinks list, with one of Suzu’s sashimi platters.
- Mekong Restaurant
Perched on the shore of the Hastings River, the water views at this casual Thai eatery are as pleasing as the dishes, fragrant with chilli, coconut, lemongrass and kaffir lime coming out of chef/owner Dang’s kitchen. Dang comes from the north-east region of Thailand known as Isaan, an area renowned for its incredible food culture, and her extensive menu features local Port seafood and produce expertly cooked in classic Thai noodle dishes, stir-fries, curries, salads and soups. Try the whole snapper with sweet chilli and tamarind with a glass of Cassegrain White Label Verdelho.
- Settler’s Inn
For pub grub that caters to all tastes in a casual setting, head to Settler’s Inn. The generous menu has pub classics such as ribs, steaks, burgers and fish and chips, alongside modern plates of prawn tacos and burritos and poké bowls. There are special menus for kids and vegans, and a dedicated schnitzel menu that takes the chicken parmigiana to the next level – you can pick your own adventure from their selection of schnitzel toppers. If you’re just dropping into their leafy beer garden for a drink and some live music, they also serve drink-friendly snacks all day.
Gluten-Free Dining Options in Port Macquarie
For the coeliacs or those who just choose to dine gluten-free, there are a few options in town to put on your list. Be sure to check with the staff about the options, many are very much aware of allergies and we’ve found they will go out of their way to accommodate.
Our on site restaurant TwoTriplefour is very used to catering for dietary requirements so would be the first place to come and visit – there’s always something on the menu gluten free to enjoy, with an awareness in the kitchen about the cross contamination protocols for coeliacs.
Ridge Didge Pies bake gluten-free versions of their old-fashioned pies, sausage rolls, pasties and quiches fresh daily, but they still sell out quickly, so get in early.
Restaurants that cater to gluten-free diners include Mike’s Seafood, a local pick for classic fish and chips; casual all-day Italian eatery Cafe 66 where you can drop in for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and Lotus at Lighthouse Chinese and Malaysian restaurant at Lighthouse Beach.
For something sweet, Pancake Place has a separate gluten-free menu of pancakes and crepes (there are savoury options too) and Blue Cow Gelato does excellent silky artisan gelato, with many scoops gluten-free.
When you’re finished dining, don’t forget to add a trip to the Cassegrain Cellar Door into your itinerary. We’ve got a range of wine experiences on offer to help you discover the unique taste of NSW Wine.
