Keen to chew through tasty dishes from the best restaurants in the Tweed?

You’ve stumbled on the right blog post.

This enchanting Northern Rivers shire resides in the Green Cauldron, a bubbling melting pot of ancient Gondwana rainforest and fertile agricultural land. Farm-to-table gastronomy made from top-notch local produce makes these culinary haunts a sure-fire hit.

Tweed River House

A must in Murwillumbah, this superb waterfront restaurant straddles the Tweed River on the southern edge of town. Michelin-Starred chef Joseph McGrattan takes charge of the kitchen team, creating refined contemporary cuisine grounded in classic culinary techniques. Organic, locally grown ingredients dominate his ever-evolving menu.

For the full silver service experience, opt for the degustation menu in their twinkling chandelier-clad dining room. Otherwise, a prix fixe 2, 3, or 5-course menu overlooking the river will have to do. Either way, it’s going to be good–the joint snagged a Chefs Hat in the 2022 Australian Good Food Guide Awards. You can get a taste of this sublime dining experience on our Tantalising Tweed day trip. Alternatively, we can incorporate it into a tailored private tour of the region based on your budget and preferences.

Pipit Restaurant

Perched in the heart of Pottsville, Pipit offers refined fine dining degustation menus expressing the best of the Northern Rivers. The steadfast farm-to-table establishment exclusively sources top-notch ingredients from the surrounding region.

 

Creative contemporary techniques and a smokey wood-fired oven add flavour to crowd favourites like grilled yellowfin tuna with nduja sauce, squash and chickpea. If you can’t make the three-or-eight-course tasting menu (Thursday to Sunday), Pipit puts on a casual a la carte bistro each Monday. 

 

Potager – A Kitchen Garden

Located 30 minutes inland from Kingscliff, this chef’s hatted venue is well worth the drive. Set within a gorgeous hinterland estate, the elegant restaurant has earned a legendary reputation for impeccable service, and world-class a la carte eats. 

The paddock-to-plate establishment puts provenance at the forefront. Tables come from local woodworkers, and the plates are provided by nearby artisans. But most importantly, the kitchen sources fresh ingredients from the estate, as well as local farmers and fishermen. From Byron Shire beef to Urliup mushrooms and Chinderah lobster, everything is regional, seasonal, and fresh. 

Mavis’s Kitchen

Nestled in the shadow of Wollumbin-Mt Warning, Mavis serves sensational seasonal fare from its laidback, country-style restaurant. The esteemed culinary team sources most ingredients from their on-site organic herb garden (everything else comes from sustainable local producers).

The elegant white weatherboard venue sits in a lush, 25-acre former dairy farm surrounded by World Heritage rainforest—it’s a tranquil spot to dine. Love the location? Stay overnight in their B&B.

Husk Distillery

Husk Distillers is the best artisanal booze producer this side of the Tweed River. And as it so happens, their food is bang on, too. To line the stomach before imbibing the world-famous Ink Gin, hit the in-house restaurant, Planter’s Kitchen. The gang works hand-in-hand with Lou, the Husk horticulturalist, to grow and harvest almost everything on-site.

From cheese-laden grazing boards to quinoa-infused salads and juicy lamb roasts, there’s a scrumptious shared dish for every taste. Order one of the set menus to savour Husk’s full spectrum of flavours.

No. 35 Caba

Situated a stone’s throw from the spectacular Cabarita Beach, this chic whitewashed eatery is one of the town’s top culinary haunts. The menu evolves with the seasons to incorporate fresh regional produce, and each dish is elegantly prepared with utmost love and care.

Not sure what to order at No. 35 Caba? Grab the menu mainstay – No. 35’s local snapper fish finger sandwich.  Hungrier punters might prefer the Carnaroli rice risotto, seasoned with butternut pumpkin, saffron, and goat’s cheese.

Paper Daisy

Also in Cabarita Beach, this two-hatted restaurant has earned an enviable reputation (and several prestigious awards) for its sophisticated yet simple seafood-based cuisine. Executive Chef Jason Barratt runs the kitchen, creating refined dishes from top-quality local produce and sustainably sourced seafood.

Paper Daisy serves Halcyon House (and outside diners), a landmark Cabarita Beach boutique overlooking the clear blue sea. Its group dining packages are a brilliant option for special events.

Visit the Best Restaurants in the Tweed with Kiff & Culture

Seeking to savour the best restaurants in Tweed? We explore the culinary scene of this green fertile region on our Tweed Hinterland Food & Drink Tour. Door-to-door transfers, a fun, chatty guide, epic food, and newfound pals come included in the deal.

Image Credit: No. 35 Caba via Instagram & Paper Daisy via Instagram