From piccolos to pizza – meet Nobby Beach’s new all-day dining spot Salty’s
Finding somewhere that works just as well for your morning coffee as it does for pizza and cocktails at sunset isn’t always easy. That’s precisely the gap Salty’s Nobby Beach is hoping to fill. Taking over the former Nobby’s Shack and tobacconist site on the Gold Coast Highway, the expansive new venue blends cafe, bar and restaurant into one easygoing neighbourhood destination where you can start the day with breakfast and coffee, settle in for lunch, then roll straight into dinner and drinks without changing address.
Behind Salty’s is husband-and-wife duo Rick and Karen Ferris, who spent more than a decade running backpacker hostels on the Gold Coast while calling Byron Bay home. When border closures brought that chapter to an abrupt end, the pair spent several years rebuilding before stumbling across a ‘For Lease’ sign in Nobby Beach.
At the time, they were living in Brisbane, but the opportunity was one they couldn’t shake.
“We needed to be back near the beach,” Karen says. “The location reminds us of Byron 15 years ago. You can just tell everyone who’s walking around is local.”
That sense of community was exactly what drew them in. If there’s one thing backpacker hostels are known for, it’s creating places where people naturally come together – somewhere to grab a drink, share a meal and strike up a conversation. Rick and Karen have taken that same easygoing philosophy and applied it to Salty’s.
Rather than chasing white tablecloths or fine dining, the pair wanted to create somewhere you could wander into after the beach, after work or simply because you felt like a drink and something to eat.
Visually, Salty’s strikes a balance between polished and approachable. The front of the venue centres around a welcoming bar that spills onto the footpath, while beyond it an open kitchen keeps the energy humming throughout the day. Continue further and you’ll discover the venue’s biggest surprise – an enormous rear deck lined with long picnic tables that feels purpose-built for lazy afternoons, group catch-ups and family dinners. Inside, maroon tiles, white VJ panelling and sconce lights create an understated coastal aesthetic.
The sheer scale of the project is impressive, particularly considering Rick tackled much of the fit-out himself. A boilermaker by trade, he spent months on site helping bring the venue to life, transforming two adjoining tenancies into one seamless hospitality space.
The menu, led by head chef Tom, whose background spans wineries and pubs around England, delivers familiar favourites, done well. Breakfast keeps things classic with eggs your way, breakfast burgers and quality coffee from Byron Bay roaster Loma, whose founders previously built cult cafe Bayleaf.
From lunch onwards, the kitchen shifts gears with a line-up of share plates including warm olives, roasted macadamias, truffle fries, Byron Bay burrata, shaved prosciutto and crispy calamari. Pizzas emerge from the oven topped with everything from San Marzano tomato, fior di latte and basil to wild mushrooms, truffle cream and parmesan, while heartier fare covers pub favourites with a considered twist. Think panko-crumbed chicken schnitzels, towering burgers, poke bowls and a 300-g black Angus porterhouse, alongside rotating additions.
The drinks list comfortably stretches from sunrise to sundown. Coffee and matcha give way to an extensive cocktail list featuring signatures like the Pistachio Cloud, Salted Caramel Martini and Peach 75, alongside classics including margaritas, mojitos, negronis and old fashioneds. Wines, beers and spritzes ensure there’s plenty of reason to linger long after lunch.
For Rick and Karen, however, Salty’s isn’t about reinventing hospitality. It’s about creating the kind of place they felt Nobby Beach was missing – somewhere locals can pop in for a coffee, families can gather over dinner and friends can settle in for a few drinks without feeling rushed.
Subscribe for updatesOnly a few weeks in, they’re already seeing familiar faces return.
“We’ve only been open a couple of weeks,” Karen says, “but we’ve already got the same people coming back every night.”
With breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks all under one roof, Salty’s is shaping up to be the kind of neighbourhood venue that slots effortlessly into every part of the day.
Salty’s Nobby Beach is now open. Head to The Directory for opening times.
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