Byron Bay Date Ideas: Our Romantic Recommendations
Last updated: December 2023
As far as date settings go, Byron Bay gets a delightfully dreamy tick of approval. From honeymoons and babymoons, to Valentine’s Day and romantic ‘just because’ getaways, there are plenty of reasons why Byron is a popular destination for loved-up couples.
We sought out our team’s local expertise and asked for their favourite couples activities, things to do and romantic recommendations when it comes to date ideas in Byron Bay. Whether you’re looking to spoil (or be spoilt!), do something adventurous or unique, or toast to your love at a beautiful Byron restaurant, this list covers it all.
Taking you from sunrise to lunch and into the evening, we’ve broken down our guide of Byron Bay date ideas into Where to eat and Things to do. So, dive in and start planning out your romantic holiday away…
PS. You can find more of our Byron Bay food and drink recommendations here!
Places to eat for romantic lunches and special date nights
1. Moonlight Hibachi and Grill
Moody, intimate, monochromatic. Moonlight is the kind of place that will temporarily transport you from beach life to New York-esque date night vibes. From plates of raw kingfish and watermelon sashimi, to larger dishes like the Tokyo steak frites, the Moonlight menu flirts with tempting options to be shared between the two of you.
2. Bar Heather
Self-described as a ‘place to drink with’, Bar Heather’s tagline is as accurate as it is understated. It’s 700+ wine list puts an emphasis on natural and rare wines, from around the world. The Parisian-inspired interiors are beautifully inviting, the disco beats keep the vibes high, and the unique menu ensures your date night conversation won’t run dry!
3. Beach Byron Bay
It’s hard to beat dining with the simply beautiful waterfront views that Beach Byron Bay offers. Overlooking Clarkes Beach, Beach Byron Bay restaurant serves up a very special dining experience, where the flavours are akin to those of the Mediterranean and the pastas are as silky as they are sumptuous. Beach usually offers a set Valentine’s menu every February 14 – see their website for details.
4. Barrio
For a comfortable and relaxed vibe, we love Barrio. The super-cute lantern tree that you walk past on arrival sets the scene for the unpretentious yet perfectly romantic vibe within. Barrio’s Spanish-style menu is designed for sharing, so rest assured there shall be no food envy on this date night!
5. Pixie Food & Wine
Combining Byron Bay’s laidback ambiance with the best of city dining, Pixie Food & Wine is a gorgeous choice for a couple’s dinner. We suggest grabbing a seat at the golden-pink marble bar, for extra romantic luxe. Good to know: Pixie Food & Wine also offer gluten free and vegan menus.
6. The Hut
When you can’t quite make it to the Italian Riviera to spoil your significant other, then The Hut might be your next option! The Hut is set in the Byron Hinterland, just 20 minutes by car from The Lord Byron. Its menu celebrates traditional Mediterranean flavours, and the dishes and decorations are almost as superbly Italian as the meals themselves. Foodie couples, this one’s for you! Open for lunch, Thursday to Sunday.
7. Il Buco
Is it obvious that we have a soft spot for Italian? Il Buco is next on our team’s hit list of date spots for you and your Valentine. For a more casual dinner date in an intimate setting, the honest, beautiful Italian food coming out of Il Buco’s kitchen will serve you well. Start off with antipasto, burrata and salad, share a pizza, and treat yourselves to a tiramisu to complete a perfectly romantic evening.
8. Rae’s
Rae’s idyllic surrounds at Watego’s Beach are enough to set the scene for a romantic outing done well. But if you (or your significant other) needed some extra convincing, they’ve also been awarded Two Hats in the Good Food Guide 2024, and Two Glasses at Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards 2023.
9. Treehouse
If you’re scouting out a setting that caters for a casual vibe, surrounded by quintessentially Byron decor (think, natural timber, vintage furnishings and elevated beach shack-style trimmings), then Treehouse is your answer. By nightfall, live DJs create a fun buzz and your candlelit tables hold plenty of space for date night cocktails, wood fired pizza and shared bites.
Couple activities and romantic things to do in Byron Bay
1. Group cooking class
A culinary adventure is always a fun date day out. At Open Table Cooking School, award-winning chef Ronit Robbaz takes you through a learning journey of the senses, where you’ll learn and help to prepare a delicious shared feast to enjoy at the end of the class. Types of classes you can choose from include Moroccan Banquet, Ayurvedic Cuisine, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Feasts, and Vegetarian and Vegan Celebrations.
2. Horse riding on the beach
Looking for a unique, special experience, that makes the most of Byron Bay’s beautiful scenery? A horse riding experience with Zephyr Horses is for you! The 2-hour ‘Forest to Beach’ tour is spectacular, particularly so at sunrise or sunset. You can book the group experience (capped at an intimate 8 people per group), or go all out and organise a private tour.
2. Couple’s massage
For your honeymoon, babyboon, Valentine’s, or for no reason at all, a couple’s massage at Comma is a simply divine idea. The space itself is (almost) worth the journey alone. The regenerative massage experience is made that much more special by experiencing it as a couple. You can choose from a 60, 75 or 90 minute massage, from any of their Signature Treatments. Another wonderful option, is Endota Spa’s Couple’s Indulgence massage treatment: a totally replenishing and blissful two-hour experience.
3. Infra-red sauna experience
Both of you deserve to unwind, detox and disconnect. Nimbus Co’s full-spectrum infrared saunas are a unique and invigorating experience that you can share together, in the privacy of your own room with just the two of you. If you feel like going for the full experience, top your sauna off with a cold plunge ice bath!
4. Have a sunrise or sunset picnic
Sometimes, romance doesn’t get any better than the two of you and a picnic by the beach. Pack your own picnic food (be sure to include delicious goodies from Sunday Sustainable Bakery which is just moments from The Lord Byron); or purchase a ready-made picnic hamper. Harvest has a range of hampers available, including a Sunrise and Sunset Hamper. Enjoy it together at The Pass, the Lighthouse, or your favourite part of the beach. Want to leave the work to someone else? Let The Picnic Portal take charge!
5. Get creative together
For a date idea that’s different and fun, why not fuel your creativity! Byron School of Clay is the town’s leading pottery school and has a range of beginner workshops ranging from two to four hours. Art and Wine Co offer adult classes, where you can BYO favourite wine and have a bit of fun over a relaxing evening of painting!
6. Fish and chips on the beach
On par with a picnic by the beach, has to be the unwavering perfecting of a casual night of fish and chips on the beach. Grab deliciously fresh takeaway from Fishmongers or Fishheads and set yourselves up on Main Beach or Apex Park right in front of it. You may even have a local busker playing sweet sunset tunes while you’re there!
7. Bike ride throughout the town
A couple’s activity that’s a bit off the beaten track? Jump on our bikes (bike hire is complimentary for all guests of The Lord Byron) and wheel yourselves around town. Wind through streets you mightn’t otherwise have discovered, visit the Industrial Estate, and have fun doing a date activity that you likely wouldn’t otherwise do back home!
8. Spoil them with flowers
Ok, this one’s not so much an activity to do together. But if you’re looking to spoil your Valentine with flowers, then Braer Studio is one of our favourite florists in Byron Bay. They have beautiful arrangements and deliver Monday to Friday for $15, or you can also do pick up.
Ready to book a romantic holiday in Byron Bay?
The Lord Byron Hotel makes for the perfect setting for a loved-up getaway. Book yourself into one of our King or Queen Suites, each complete with curated textiles and furniture, with the option of adding a bottle of sparkling, red, white or local beer on arrival. The facilities lend themselves to a couple’s retreat, with the swimming pool which has wraparound decking, spa bath that can be enjoyed under the stars, a spacious cabana where you can enjoy a cosy corner to yourselves, a tennis court to bring out the relationship competitiveness, and complimentary bike hire.