For decades The Cowrie has been a fine dining institution on the Coast, perched high on the hills of Terrigal with panoramic views of the ocean and town below. Awarded a chef’s hat by the 2022 Australian Good Food Guide, chef and owner Dimitris Aronis (ex-Bathers Pavilion) heads up a team that includes alumni from the likes of Quay and Aria. There is a strong focus on local and sustainable produce, as well as an entirely plant-based menu matched with Australian Ikou teas or organic wines.

Take a culinary journey through Asia with a meal at this new restaurant adjacent to Terrigal Beach, which is already proving popular with locals. Expect a flavourful fusion of Chinese dumplings, Taiwanese bao, Japanese yakitori and an array of large plates from Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. There’s also a super-cheap $12 kid’s menu too.

Perched on the water’s edge at The Haven in Terrigal, Terrigal Pavilion has the best views in town. Run by the duo behind Burleigh Pavilion and Manly Wharf Bar, this light and airy venue is the place to enjoy live tunes, sundowners and casual eats – think fish and chips, nachos and burgers. While downstairs at the kiosk, you can grab a coffee, pastries and bread and chill out oceanside.

There’s a lot of chatter about Yellowtailand for good reason. This hatted restaurant may be small but it packs a punch with a refined and relaxed dining experience inspired by the flavours of the Middle East, Asia and the Mediterranean.Offering a la carte and a five-course degustation, the seafood is a stand-out, such as the saki-cured Kingfish sashimi and Hervey Bay king prawns with yuzu butter.

As a nod to owner Bernard Mallet’s Mauritius heritage, it’s all about the reinvention of classical French dishes with the flavours of Asia and Africa at L’isle de France. Head chef Jeremy Pace (ex Bistro Guillaume) and sommelier Fabrice le Boulanger (who has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe) both hail from France bringing authenticity to the menu. The elegant beachside restaurant has a cosy fireplace for winter and an alfresco courtyard adorned with festoon lighting for summer.

When it comes to epic brunches, Bellyfish is hard to beat. This long-running café is one of the busiest spots in town – not only do they do really great coffee and a hearty menu featuring lots of local ingredients, it also has funky interiors and is a hop, skip and jump to Terrigal Beach - one of the best beaches to visit on the Central Coast.

Run by the same people who own cult burger shop Chop n Grind just around the corner, Arc. Est has fast become a favourite among locals, especially for a long lunch of seasonal comfort food (from steak sandwiches to slow-cooked lamb shoulder). Unmissable for its charming wooden entry doors and warm, rustic interiors, it has a vibe that could very easily slot right into the heart of Byron Bay or Bali.

Avoca Beach House screams summer, with a white, bright and airy interior and panoramic views of the beach so you can watch local surfers catch waves as you enjoy high-quality seafood and share-style platters.

When you want to cook authentic woodfired pizza, where better to learn than in Napoli itself? That’s what Lagune owner and chef Alex Benedictas did. And the result? Arguably the best pizza on the Central Coast, made with fresh handmade dough and premium Italian ingredients. Lagune has two venues, one that serves takeaway and another, a stroll from Wamberal Beach, that is open for breakfast (think eggs benny, smashed avo, coffee) and lunch (housemade foccacias and pasta) and dinner (artisan pizza).

Right next door to Lagune, Suq is an intimate family-owned restaurant with a menu bursting with global flavours from France, Italy, North Africa, Japan and the Med. You’ll find everything from Japanese tempura soft-shell crab to a 12-hour slow-cooked lamb souvlaki, all designed to share. Though we think this restaurant is pretty perfect for a romantic meal, too.

From the same clever people behind Motel Mezza, Kefi is a Greek restaurant with a name that translates to ‘good times’ in Greek. The huge venue, which sits on the waterfront at Koolewong Marina, has been given an extensive reno, creating a bright space with a neutral palette with timber and cobalt blue furnishings, a nod to the national colours.

The menu features classics such as chargrilled octopus souvlaki, moussaka, and lamb keftedes, and the drinks list is a celebration of Greece’s winemaking history and also features Med-inspired cocktails. The dining area boasts views over sparkling Brisbane Water, while there is casual seating on the outdoor deck by the water’s edge.

Inspired by a 1950s Polynesian tiki bar, Tropicana Social Club serves pizzas, boutique wines, craft beer and tropical drinks.The aesthetic is so well done, adorned with wood-panelled walls, cane furniture and tropical plants it has a self-described vibe that is Blue Hawaii meets Twin Peaks meets Cocktail.

Like no other dining experience on the Coast, hatted Osteria Il Coccia offers a six-course degustation that oozes distinctive flavours from the red gum, yellow bark, and hay-fuelled flames that it has been cooked over.

Run by Nicola and Alexandra Coccia, who are from Italy and France respectively, the menu fuses the best of both worlds, while the beautifully designed dining space is a little more coastal with a relaxing palette of creams and terracotta with timber and wicker furniture.

Its name is a bit of a hint: The Box on the Water at Ettalong sits pretty on the waterfront of Broken Bay, affording spectacular views through the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows. The modern Australian menu features hearty options to share (roasted lamb shoulder and a seafood platter) as well as smaller dishes including fish and chips and paella.

Located within The Galleria at Ettalong, the ever-changing menu at hatted restaurant Safran is centred around authentic Turkish recipes and techniques. But Chef Suleyman Kirbancioglu – who grew up in Mengen, Turkey – shakes things up with the flavours of the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and the Balkans.

Pink walls and disco balls are not what you would expect from the languid seaside suburb of Ettalong: insertThe Lucky Bee, a funky mod Asian restaurant from clever restauranteurs Rupert Noffs and Matty Bee. Located at Ettalong Galleria, enjoy share-style dishes that burst with Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese flavours, a yum cha menu on weekends and seriously delish cocktails.

A few sandy hops from the gentle shores of Pearl Beach, this charming cottage-turned-chic Italian restaurant oozes la dolce vita vibes. The venue that once housed iconic restaurant Pearls on the Beach has been given a refreshing makeover, resplendent with a white and lemon palette and festooned with fairy lights and striped umbrellas on the outdoor terrace and a wraparound porch that capture the views and the sea breeze.

Designed to be shared in good company, the menu features antipasti, crudo and formaggio, as well as heartier pasta dishes and kids’ options. It would be remiss not to enjoy an alfresco Aperol Spritz during happy hour as the sun begins to set on the ocean horizon. It’s the next best thing to Europe.

The heritage-listed Hotel Gosford underwent a stunning revamp in 2021; its brooding Art Deco design paying homage to its 1920s roots.Earl’s Kitchen is a relaxed dining space with pub classics such as chicken schnitzel and Caesar salad, as well as share plates and an impressive range of vegetarian and gluten-free options, much of it made up of local ingredients.The tipple list is also extensive with 32 tap beers and creative cocktails, such as the Smoked Negroni created with locally made Moore's Dry Gin and smoked with hickory wood.

The swanky café and bar is light and airy with large windows, fresh white walls, timber and Terrazzo flooring, and a refreshing palette of blues and greens. The seasonal menu is fresh, modern Australian using local ingredients where possible, with a great cocktail and wine list to enjoy over a long lunch.

Housed in a charming 1970s mud-brick hut nestled on the lush grounds of Distillery Botanica,Bar Botanicais an idyllic spot for enjoying cocktails with friends – created with spirits made next door and botanicals from the garden, of course.It’s home to a Bottomless Brunch, which includes charcuterie grazing boards, for long and lazy sun-drenched afternoons accompanied by live jazz in the garden on weekends. Locally brewed Six Strings beer and wine are also available.

Adjoining the renowned Ken Duncan Gallery, Kew Dining is a relaxed space that complements the surrounding bush landscape: natural timber and wicker furniture and a sage green and blush colour palette. The café serves breakfast and lunch, but its high tea is a local favourite. Served from 10am on Tuesdays and Saturdays, diners can enjoy sweets such as freshly baked scones and savoury bites such as housemade arancini balls and finger sandwiches, with tea or bubbles.

Combining local and Italian ingredients, Remy & Co creates a seasonal menu featuring ever-so-fresh handmade pasta, such as gnocchi gorgonzola and smoked three meat ragu, as well as pizza and antipasti.

Under the guide of culinary director Sean Connolly, the Wild Flower Bar + Dining menu is ‘inspired by food of the sun’, boasting flavours from the Mediterranean to Morocco.Part of the ultra-luxe Bells at Killcare, the menu at this hatted restaurant is designed around ingredients from the impressive 500 square-metre kitchen garden, and locally sourced produce, especially the seafood from nearby Macmasters Beach, Hardys Bay and Brisbane Water.

The former Entrance Hotel is almost unrecognisable with its latest multi-million-dollar rebrand as The Entrance Social Club. Sports fans will love Taffy’s, which has booths with personal TVs to watch all the big games, from NRL to NBA to UFC. While across the corridor, Mrs May Bistro & Bar is a very different, more feminine vibe: all soft tones, curves and gold accents, a round pavilion with fireplace and cane swinging chairs to relax. Dine on pub classics and fresh seafood or enjoy a drink in the alfresco beer garden, which will be buzzing in summer.

Meat lovers: contain your tastebuds. Café by day, American barbecue by night, Cue and Crew offers up takeaway boxes of your choice of fresh smoked American barbecue meat. Choose from beef brisket, pulled pork, pork belly, pork ribs, pulled lamb and wings, all served with house pickles, slaw and potato crisps. (From 6pm, Friday and Saturday nights until sold out.)

Long Jetty’s 1950s theatre The Savoy was given a new lease on life a couple of years back when it was turned into a multi-purpose bar and restaurant. Fill up on casual bites such as pizza or share plates, browse the long list of beverages, and enjoy a film screening (every Thursday night) or groove along to the live DJs on the weekend.

Housed in a former 1930s bank, Motel Mezza is a speakeasy-style bar with a Middle Eastern menu that’s designed to share with friends (falafel, kebeh, sambousek) along with a tipple from the extensive beverage list.Signature cocktails such as a mango and chilli heat and pineapple and saffron martini will leave a lasting impression.

Set right on the shores of Budgewoi Lake, The Beachcomber is a hip and happening place with a chic Hamptons look and beach club vibe for locals and visitors to eat, drink, stay and play.Pub food is available at The Beachie, a casual dining space, while the soon-to-be-opening Pelican’s promises semi-fine dining.

Good food and good times are on the agenda at Johnny Tapas, a buzzy restaurant in the heart of the beachside suburb of Norah Head.The menu, unsurprisingly, features tapas as well as woodfired pizza, tacos and some epic cocktails, beer and wine. There’s also live music and other events such as comedy shows.

Inspired by a traditional bakehouse and set on 11 hectares of quintessential Australian bushland, the rustic but luxe Saddles Mt White serves a heart-warming menu of modern Australian cuisine.Whether you order a pork and fennel sausage roll followed by a lamington with chocolate ganache, or a six-week dry-aged T-bone steak, all dishes are elegantly plated.

A Mediterranean-inspired fine diner with the ocean crashing just across the street, Meribella is the latest addition to the Crowne Plaza, Terrigal. Set within a unique space with high ceilings and curved expansive windows that capture views of the sea through Terrigal’s iconic Norfolk pines, the design is nostalgic and comforting, while the meu is avant-garde, conceptualised by chef Joshua Mason.

Local beverages feature on the menu, including Moore’s Gin and Amber Lane whisky, paired with premium dishes such as Waguy tartare and caviar and gold leaf tart. It’s a sophisticated dining destination tucked on the first floor of this landmark hotel.

The Budgie (aka Budgewoi Hotel) is unrecognisable these days after an impressive makeover that has catapulted it into 2023. While downstairs is still all pub-style frivolity, on the first level, Lago Cucina is its refined dining option.

The sophisticated space is designed with a warm neutral palette and curves, natural stone and timber. The contemporary Italian menu features antipasti, woodfired pizza, and hearty main dishes including crab linguine, Black Angus New York steak, and a whole lamb shoulder or one-kilo pork tomahawk to share.