The best places to eat in Jervis Bay

Carla Grossetti Carla Grossetti
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The pull of an epicurean getaway has never been stronger in jewel-coloured Jervis Bay.

From a romantic candlelit dinner in a restaurant hidden in the treetops, to pared-down space for sashimi, to a brewery with a roster of food trucks, here are the best places to eat (and drink) in Jervis Bay.

Best for Southeast Asian flavours: Wildginger

Chef Kierrin McKnight (ex-Sailors Thai Sydney; Darley Street Thai) delivers straight-up Thai dishes and reimagined Southeast Asian flavours to an appreciative audience at Wildginger. The menu, best enjoyed in banquet format, includes options such as crispy pork belly in betel leaf with chilli jam and slow-braised beef cheeks in Thai green curry. Despite being in beachside Husky, the restaurant, all dark timbers and mood lighting, evokes a back-street-in-Bangkok vibe.

Wildginger.
Southeast Asian flavours are served at Wildginger.

Address: 42 Owen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

For fresh-as sushi: Kanpai Japanese

Kanpai literally means ‘empty the glass’ and is a Japanese drinking toast. Let’s raise a glass of sake (and empty it) to chef Yoshi Tanimo at Kanpai Japanese, which is both a relaxed bar and restaurant next door to Huskisson Bayside Resort. That informal ikayaza vibe extends to the staff who work the floor with humour and grace delivering dishes such as lotus chips, karaage fried chicken, yakitori skewers and agedashi tofu to indoor and outdoor tables opposite Husky’s beaches. Kanpai!

Kanpai Japanese
Kanpai Japanese is both a relaxed bar and restaurant.

Address: 28-32 Bowen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

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For a kicked-back Sunday sess: Jervis Bay Brewing Co.

Australia’s booming craft beer scene has trickled into the regions and one of the Shoalhaven Coast’s biggest draws is the Jervis Bay Brewing Co. The taphouse founded by four friends transformed a grey square of the town’s industrial estate into a fun, boisterous, beer garden that is ideal for kicking back on a lazy weekend, Bay of Plenty IPA in hand. Check the website for the rotating roster of food trucks such as Cheeky Taco and Nomad Kitchen & BBQ. A beer-centric itinerary should also include nearby Flamin’ Galah Brewing Co.

Jervis Bay brewing.
Pull up a chair at Jervis Bay brewing.

Address: 3 Duranbah Dr, Huskisson NSW 2540

For a brew with a view: Jervis Bay Pavilion @ The Huskisson Hotel

Pub barons looking to open a successful South Coast venture should study the Huskisson Hotel formula to see how things should be done. The Husky is light, bright and breezy. The beer is cold. It has a dreamy waterfront setting with an outdoor terrace. There’s fish and chips on the menu. And Jim Wild’s oysters. And live music. And if you haven’t got a superyacht moored out front, you can stay the night.

The Husky
The Husky is light, bright and breezy.

Address: 75 Owen St, Huskisson NSW 2540

For the romantics: The Gunyah

Paperbark Camp is four kilometres as the crow flies from the pristine white-sand beaches and walking trails of Jervis Bay National Park. The camp has been at the forefront of ecotourism in Australia since it opened in 1999 and it remains one of the best places to stay in Jervis Bay.  It’s also one of the top spots to eat and drink: enjoy a candlelit dinner at The Gunyah, which focuses on seasonal set menus that nod to native ingredients, and then sit around the campfire for a night of storytelling with Gadhungal Murring.  (Pre-bookings are essential).

The Gunyah Jervis Bay
Enjoy a candlelit dinner at The Gunyah.

Address: Paperbark Camp, 571 Woollamia Rd, Huskisson NSW 2540

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For ‘lovers’ of the outdoors: Picnics Naturally Jervis Bay

Want to elope to Jervis Bay? Surprise your sweetheart with a proposal at a pop-up chic-nic? Or maybe you just want to consciously uncouple with your Bumble boyfriend? Picnics Naturally Jervis Bay can help curate all these special moments by either setting up a picnic or dropping off a grazing board to your preferred picnic spot and adding quirky touches and pops of colour that aesthetes will appreciate. The pull of a picnic in mystical jewel-coloured Jervis Bay has never been stronger.  Bubbles anyone?

Picnics Naturally Jervis Bay
Picnics Naturally can help curate special moments.

For lovers of quirky design: The Quarters

If you’re a fan of Bill Murray best sit with your back to the bar at The Quarters in order to give your dining companion your full attention, as the giant print of the US actor is a showstopper. Housed in a charming, century-old cottage, The Quarters takes as much care with the food, wine and service as it does with the design. The good-looking restaurant and bar is where locals and visitors go to enjoy mod-oz dishes such as twice-cooked pork belly or spiced lamb rump.

The Quarters
The Quarters takes as much care with the food, wine and service and design.

Address: 13 Currambene St, Huskisson NSW 2540

 

For more great travel tips and itineraries read our Ultimate guide to Jervis Bay holidays here.

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Carla Grossetti
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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Why the Central Coast is a foodie mecca

    Elise Cullen Elise Cullen
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    Underpinned by grassroots hospitality and award-winning organic produce, the Central Coast’s gastronomy scene is thriving, with the region quickly becoming one of the best destinations in NSW for epicures.

    Revered for its rugged natural splendour and laid-back seaside charm, NSW’s Central Coast has soared in popularity in recent years, becoming a top choice for an affordable slice of weekend escapism for Sydneysiders. Just a short 45-minute drive north of Sydney, it’s the kind of place that, no matter how many times you visit, leaves you with the sense that there’s always more to uncover. But while the ocean pools, bushwalks and beaches have (rightly) taken the spotlight, it’s the Central Coast food offerings which have been quietly simmering in the background.

    From fresh-as-it-gets seafood and juicy organic citrus you can pluck yourself, through to regenerative farming and reputable farm-to-fork dining, this coastal gem has become an idyllic foodie mecca. Here are some of the best ways to immerse yourself in grassroots hospitality and gastronomic glory on the NSW Central Coast.

    vegetables in a basket at Bells Garden at Bells At Killcare
    From picking your own, to farm-to-table, discover the best Central Coast food experiences. (Image: Remy Brand)

    Central Coast oyster experiences

    From humble grub to opulent delicacy, oysters have ascended into a league of their own. Epicureans are fascinated by them – willing to pay upwards of $35 per dozen (double at some of Sydney’s reputable fine dining restaurants) – and ‘shuck bars’ seem to be popping up at every milestone celebration.

    But it’s rare to find places that really draw back the curtain on how they’re farmed and why everyone is mad for these molluscs. The Central Coast, however, is home to several of these venues. With its pristine waters, mild climate and nutrient-rich estuaries, it’s the perfect breeding ground for oysters.

    Learn about oyster farming and, importantly, how to shuck them at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours. Nestled on the Hawkesbury River at Mooney Mooney, Sheridan Beaumont and her team offer a hands-on foodie experience where you can feast on dozens of oysters (white tablecloth and all) while wading through the calm waters. You can even bring your own bottle of bubbles to wash them down.

    guests in the water for an experience at Sydney Oyster Farm - Central Coast food
    Learn tricks of the trade at Sydney Oyster Farm Tours. (Image: Remy Brand)

    Elevate your oyster knowledge even further by heading north over the Hawkesbury River Bridge to the Hawkesbury River Oyster Shed. Tour their scenic oyster leases and saltwater paddocks by boat to uncover the distinct characteristics of the Sydney rock oyster and creamy Pacific oyster. They’ve also partnered with Broken Bay Pearl Farm to offer a one-of-a-kind oyster and pearl farming guided tour, showcasing the Central Coast’s very own pearl oyster, the Broken Bay ‘Akoya’. But if you’re simply in the mood to devour a dozen delectable oysters while soaking in the tranquil river views, pull up a chair at the shed. It’s friendly in every sense of the word: pets, families and BYO welcome.

    shucking oysters at Broken Bay Pearl Farm
    Taste freshly shucked oysters at Broken Bay Pearl Farm. (Image: James Horan)

    Central Coast farms to pick your own fruit

    While the Central Coast is known for its breathtaking 40 beaches and 80-kilometre coastline, its lush hinterland is equally impressive – abundant with orchards and agriculturally rich farmland. And when it comes to the simple joy of picking your own fruit, the Central Coast is a ripe playground.

    Family-owned Meliora Farm at Peats Ridge is an orchard that blends conventional, biodynamic and organic philosophies. Third-generation farmer Tim Kemp and his wife Elise are dedicated to honouring the family legacy by growing a rich variety of oranges, lemons, limes, mandarins and avocados. In late May, roam the sustainable and nutrient-dense property during ‘Pick Your Own’ weekends.

    Eastcoast Beverages is another bountiful citrus orchard boasting over 60 hectares of fruit. From June you can learn about the cultivation of high-quality ingredients – like lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges – by touring both the farm and factory before setting out and picking your own straight from the source. You can also sample an array of citrus-inspired sweet and savoury treats at their on-site cafe, Bambino’s.

    If it’s just juicy oranges you’re after, Cedar Farm in Dooralong is a must-visit. Located about 30 minutes north of Peats Ridge, it features 15 flourishing orchards and over 3000 orange trees – with take-home bags during the season (from July) at low prices. Not bad for a fruity weekend haul.

    woman picking oranges at Oranges at Dooralong
    Pick your own citrus fruits on the Central Coast. (Image: James Vodicka)

    Organic dining

    What makes the Central Coast hinterland so special is the unwavering respect the communities have for their cherished backyard. Locally owned and operated farms are all striving for more sustainable practices and methods to both enhance biodiversity and reduce environmental impact, each with a heartwarming food philosophy.

    The Food Farm in Wyong Creek believes good food is worth both the work and the wait. Devoted to regenerative farming, first-generation ‘farmily’ Tim Eyes and Hannah Greenshields are recognised for their grass-fed, grass-finished beef and pasture-raised, gold medal-winning chickens. With an open gate policy, The Food Farm encourages visitors to swing by and try some of their slow-grown produce at their small ‘honesty’ farm shop. With no staff, you can pick up a few quality cuts of meat and pasteurised eggs, leaving the owing amount in cash or via eftpos.

    Keeping the spirit of generational organic farming alive is Fanelli Organics. Nestled in the Central Coast’s scenic and sleepy Mangrove Mountain, founders Eden and Louise Fanelli own over 45 hectares of plentiful farmland and orchards that produce a huge range of organic fruit and vegetables, like purple Dutch carrots, blood oranges, broccoli and Tuscan kale. A true home-grown operation, Fanelli Organics shares its fresh produce with local restaurants and community markets, including the beloved markets at Like Minds Cafe at Avoca Beach every Wednesday afternoon.

    farmers holding fresh produce picked at Fanelli Organics
    See where your food comes from at Fanelli Organics.

    Paddock-to-plate dining

    High-quality ingredients go hand in hand with premium dining, and the Central Coast is home to several paddock-to-plate restaurants that showcase its diverse and rich agriculture. Paired with warm, grassroots hospitality, there are culinary triumphs, new menus and revered chefs constantly popping up, putting the local dining scene firmly on the map.

    Award-winning Mount White restaurant Saddles is a quintessential Australian dining destination, dedicated to country-style cooking and seasonal produce. Nestled in thick bushland with wraparound verandahs, floral gardens and an idyllic dam, the gourmet homestead and bakehouse is unlike any restaurant on the Central Coast. Here, head chef Reece Collins and his team serve up an impressive breakfast and lunch menu that oozes rustic charm. Pull up a comfy armchair on the expansive deck, listen to birdsong, and tuck into flavoursome dishes like the farmhouse Benedict with honey-cured ham, lemon myrtle hollandaise and Warrigal gremolata, or the hearty beef brisket pie with confit garlic potato purée and rainbow chard.

    woman writing in notebook next to a table of food at Saddles, Central Coast food
    Taste country-style cooking at Saddles. (Image: Destination NSW)

    Delivering a slice of sophistication and luxury to the shores and bushland of Bouddi Peninsula is Bells at Killcare. One of the few boutique resorts on the Central Coast, it’s known for its premium service and five-star suites, as well as its bountiful kitchen gardens that boast an orchard, olive trees, avocado trees, free-range hens and a honey bee hive.

    Cameron Cansdell has returned to Bells at Killcare as head chef, bringing his expertise to the casual yet refined menus that feature a raw bar with Oscietra caviar, freshly shucked Sydney rock oysters and Moreton Bay bugs, all served alongside optional matched wines. Sample some of Australia’s best regional wines and standout dishes, like roasted Wollemi duck with grilled leeks, rocket, grilled grapes and 10-year-aged balsamic, or the shareworthy salt-crusted snapper with herb salad and salsa, before roaming the picturesque gardens, wine in hand.

    cocktail at Bells At Killcare
    Sample incredible wine, cocktails and dishes at Bells At Killcare. (Image: Nikki To)

    Plan your next visit to the delicious Central Coast.

    The Best Places To Eat In Jervis Bay, New South Wales