Iconic pubs, ramen bars and fancy chook shops – where to eat in Brunswick Heads
Brunswick Heads might be small, but its food scene punches well above its weight. From beachside taquerias and woodfired pizza joints to pasta bars, iconic pubs and cult-status bakeries, this coastal town has something delicious on every corner. Here’s our pick of where to snack, sip and eat in Brunswick Heads.
La Casita
La Casita is the breezy Mexican cantina from the team behind Fleet, serving antojitos, tacos and agave just steps from the sea. It’s relaxed but full of flavour, with tacos built on housemade tortillas with fillings like confit pork collar, wood-grilled mushrooms or battered local fish. Don’t miss the wood-grilled jalapenos stuffed with pork sausage and cotija, and the sweet potato and local-fish empanadas. Build your own margarita from the deep tequila and mezcal list – and definitely finish with the tres leches cake with dulce de leche.
Saint Maries
Tucked beneath the ever-popular Sails Motel, this neighbourhood pizzeria and wine bar has earned a loyal following for its standout snacks, woodfired pizzas and easygoing charm. Begin with the stracciatella – topped with smoked tomato, chilli oil and pickled shallots, served with warm focaccia – then take your pick from a menu of garlic or tomato-based pizzas. There’s also a prawn spaghetti laced with ’nduja butter that’s well worth a pizza detour. Drinks-wise, expect fun, low-intervention wines and sharp takes on classics like margaritas and negronis.
Roco Ramen
Taking up extended residency in the home of Fleet (while the beloved fine-diner remains on sabbatical), Roco Ramen is a petite Japanese eatery known for its soulful ramen, kushiyaki and snacks. Helmed by former Fleet chef Daiki Shigeta, the menu is short, sharp and shaped by the region’s best produce and local catches. Start with oysters dressed in macadamia and negi oil, nibble on smoky bites from the robata, then choose from just two ramen bowls – including the Tokusei Ramen, built on a rich chicken-bone broth and finished with pork-neck char siu, shoyu-marinated egg and chiyu. Plus, there are plenty of sakes to sip while you slurp.
Yami
A local favourite for good reason, this long-standing Middle Eastern-inspired spot is entirely vegetarian and regularly buzzing with the lunch crowd. The falafel pockets are a must – generously stuffed with Yami’s signature hummus, tahini, Israeli salad, tabouli, salsa, lettuce and pickle. Or opt for a share-style hummus platter topped with tahini, Egyptian-style broad beans, boiled egg, pine nuts and olive oil, served with warm pita. To drink, there’s fresh juice, turmeric lattes and strong Turkish coffee on pour.
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Old Maids
If you’re chasing old-school milk bar vibes, Old Maids in Brunswick is a must. This charming cafe has earned a loyal following for its all-day breakfasts, great coffee and stacked burger menu. Whether it’s a turmeric latte or a matcha-mango smoothie, the drinks list delivers – best enjoyed from a sun-drenched picnic table out front. On the burger front, you’ll find go-tos like the Sunny Jane, loaded with pineapple, egg, beef and bacon, and veg0-friendly fillings like organic satay tofu and daikon slaw. Drooling yet?
Hotel Brunswick
The team Three Blue Ducks took the reins in the kitchen at the iconic Hotel Brunswick in late 2024, giving the beloved pub menu a fresh, produce-driven twist. Expect elevated staples like vodka-sauce parmis, bay-lobster pizzas and Cali-style seafood bites, all made with local Northern Rivers produce. It’s pub food, Ducks-style – best enjoyed in the beer garden with a schooner or margarita.
Birds of Paradise
Don’t be fooled by the humble ‘Chicken Shop’ sign – Birds of Paradise is no ordinary chook spot. Created by Josh Lewis and Astrid McCormack (the duo behind Fleet and La Casita), this Brunswick Heads takeaway turns out smoky, succulent charcoal-roasted chicken with all the right sides. Think golden crinkle-cut chips dusted in housemade chicken salt, vibrant seasonal salads, hot veggies and rotating daily specials that keeps locals coming back. Pro tip – get the chips with chicken-bone gravy.
BK’s
Just up from the Brunswick pub, BK’s is a laid-back spot serving breakfast, brunch and lunch with specialty coffee and breezy views across the park to the river. The bacon and egg roll on a soft potato bun (with optional sausage and cheese) is a crowd favourite, but the shakshuka eggs with housemade hummus, citrus labneh and chilli jam are just as tempting. BK’s toastie game is strong – think combos like slow-roasted chicken, Szechuan chilli crisp, cheese and miso aioli with pickled slaw on the side.
Bruns Bakery
A local icon since the 1950s, Bruns Bakery is a must-visit in Brunswick Heads – always buzzing with a mix of regulars and first-timers eyeing off the jam-packed cabinets. Bakers work in full view, turning out everything from fruit-topped tarts and cream-filled eclairs to doughnuts, brownies, mini cakes and flaky croissants. On the savoury side, expect pies, sausage rolls, fresh sandwiches and salads – with Campos coffee pouring all day long.
Pink Lotus
Located in the corner site formerly occupied by salumi bar Honour, Pink Lotus brings traditional Vietnamese flavours to the heart of Brunswick Heads. A sibling to the much-loved Mullumbimby original, this pink-hued spot has quickly become a go-to for steaming bowls of fragrant pho, herb-packed rice-noodle salads, seasonal curries, rice paper rolls and banh mi loaded with fillings like xiu mại (Vietnamese meatballs) and crispy barramundi karaage.
Lello’s Pasta Bar
Tucked away on Brunswick Heads’ Park Street, Lello’s is a family-run pasta bar loved by locals for its laid-back charm and Mediterranean-inspired menu. The team handcrafts pasta using organic flour and free-range pastured eggs, with a rotating selection shaped by the seasons. Highlights include the squid-ink taglioni with crab, prawn bisque and gremolata, and the oven-baked gnocchi Sorrentino, finished with Napoli sauce, basil and creamy stracciatella – just like Nonna’s.
Trouble San
Serving ‘untraditional Japanese’ with a side of fun, Trouble San is a must when in Bruns. Snack on kimchi-butter scallops, miso-caramel-glazed salmon skewers and prawn katsu sandos, or tuck into larger plates like pork katsu with BBQ pineapple, pistachio mayo and ginger cabbage. Keen to sip? The spicy yuzu margarita is a great time, or opt for the Osaka negroni crafted with sake and plum wine.
The Salt Mill
The Salt Mill might just have the breakfast brief down pat – seriously good coffee and a knockout avo toast. Located on Tweed Street, a few hundred metres from the heart of Brunswick Heads, The Salt Mill has everything you want for a morning, from buildable acai bowls and delicious toasties to delectable pastries. The baristas sling a mean puppuccino that’ll keep furred friends distracted while you soak up the sunshine with a brew in hand.
Bottle & Hoop
Planning a picnic by the river? Bottle & Hoop is a specialty store dedicated to local and international artisanal smallgoods, from cheeses and cured meats to beer, wine and spirits. With a passionately invested team and a high-quality, curated stock list, this Fingal Street retailer has certified itself as the one-stop shop for charcuterie enthusiasts and enjoyers of boutique booze. The store’s concrete and wooden interior gives the feeling of stepping into a rustic French deli, ducking in to pick up your picnic essentials. Shelves stacked with treats like aged Highwayman whisky, decadent local cheeses, and a collection of sake and wine, Bottle & Hoop will make you feel like a starry-eyed child in a toy shop again.
Want more southern goodness? Check out our guide to Byron Bay’s best restaurants.