3 Best Restaurants in North Coast, New South Wales

Opposite Town Beach, Port Macquarie's best restaurant also has the best views, but don't let that distract you from the food. With so much sea in front of you it's only natural that the menu also features lots of seafood—all of it sustainably line caught or farmed. The menu rotates but generally, there's a seafood mixed with pasta option. And at least one meat option, like pork loin served with quince. The wine list is suitably impressive but limited vegetarian and vegan options.

Meaning "rural" in Italian, this lushly decorated restaurant with stunning views over Newcastle Beach is one of the shining stars in the city's expanding dining scene. The restaurant serves cuisine inspired by the Mediterranean, from the shores of northern Africa to the foothills of Tuscany. There's sharing plates, substantial meals and the grand banquet, which is a six-course menu costing A$55. There's a wide range of vegan and vegetarian options. The rich, Spanish-inspired interior design includes a retro Mediterranean map on the wall, brass sculptures, and a tiled bar adorned with a bull's head, while the outdoor look is pure Australian beach culture.