Food & Drink in Port Stephens

Savour the splendours of Port Stephens on a sunset dinner cruise, at a waterfront restaurant or by visiting a brewery. Enjoy menus inspired by the region’s local produce, including fresh seafood sourced directly from fishing trawlers, and locally grown macadamias, avocados and figs, which you can also purchase from farm gates.

Restaurants, cafes & pubs

You’ll find plenty of waterfront restaurants, charming cafés and laid-back pubs in Port Stephens. If you’re after top coastal dining with fresh seafood and the ultimate water views, head to Rick Stein at Bannisters and The Point Restaurant in Soldiers Point or Poyer’s in Lemon Tree Passage. You can also dine al fresco on the deck at the Little Beach Boathouse in Nelson Bay.

Other great eateries in Port Stephens include The Little Nel for brunch and Cheeky Dog for stone-baked pizzas. The beachfront Shoal Bay Country Club offers something for everyone, from morning to night. Throughout the area, you’ll also find plenty of takeaway fish and chip shops selling the catch of the day or enjoy fresh fish at the Cookabarra Restaurant.

Seafood & local produce

Pick up fresh local seafood from the Nelson Bay Fish Market and then head to beautiful beaches nearby for picnic tables and barbecue facilities. Make sure you try the delicious local oysters at Holberts Oyster Farm, where the Holbert family have been growing and distributing their award-winning oysters for over five generations.

Visit Pasta di Porto in Anna Bay for artisan pasta products and stop at nearby farm gates to pick up tomatoes, avocados, farm-fresh eggs and figs. You can also try various homemade macadamia products at Medowie Macadamias, a nut farm with a cute café. The weekly Homegrown Markets in Nelson Bay is another top spot to pick up gourmet treats.

Dinner cruises

The natural beauty of Port Stephens creates a stunning backdrop for a fabulous foodie adventure. A great way to appreciate the setting and the food is on a twilight dinner cruise. Both Moonshadow – TQC Cruises and Imagine Cruises offer sunset dinner cruises on the calm estuary. Keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins.

Cellar doors & breweries

Wine lovers should visit the cellar doors of Tynan Wines and Wonganella Estate Winery. Murray’s Craft Brewing Company makes craft beers and shares its home with Port Stephens Winery, the oldest vineyard in the region. Here you can enjoy local beers and wines, as well as a brewery tour, lunch at the Brewery Restaurant, a game of bocce and live music.