7 incredible Murwillumbah restaurants to try now

Tuck into the beautiful produce of the Tweed Valley at these Murwillumbah restaurants that showcase both provenance and culinary talent.

Sprawling across both sides of the Tweed River, the bucolic and Art Deco town of Murwillumbah has long been an arts stronghold, but now this hinterland gem is turning up the dial and delivering good dining, too. From Murwillumbah restaurants to eateries tucked into the surrounding villages, these diners are making the most of the incredible produce of the region and plating it up with reverence.

1. Bistro Livi

Best for: Date nights and long Saturday lunches with friends.

This sleek fine diner wouldn’t look out of place in a city laneway, but here Bistro Livi sits in the corner position of an Art Deco building in Murwillumbah’s M-Arts Precinct. With the owners coming by way of some of Melbourne’s best restaurants, it’s little wonder this refined 36-seater is faultless.

Local produce is expressed on the plate with respect and refinement, the drinks are well-stirred and the wine list elegant. Diners are tended to expertly amid the minimal-luxe interiors, making it very easy to lose time devouring exquisite dishes with a gentle Italian leaning. Book a babysitter and settle in for the night.

Find the refined Bistro Livi in Murwillumbah’s M-Arts Precinct.

Open: Dinner Wednesday–Saturday; lunch Saturday

Address: 1A, 1-3 Brisbane Street, Murwillumbah

2. Tweed River House

Best for: Special occasions or afternoon sessions by the water.

Stepping into this tenderly restored Queenslander-style homestead set right on the river is a little like taking a portal to the era of the British Raj. Opulent and expertly styled in sympathy with the breezy building, Tweed River House is a special occasion restaurant.

The Tweed River House sits by the river in South Murwillumbah.

Service is en pointe and affable and the plates beautifully considered with local flavours assembled to showcase the region.

The outdoor verandah offers peaceful views.

If you can’t get a spot for dinner, or even if you can, head to the downstairs Lawn Bar on a Saturday and Sunday sundowner.

Plates are assembled to showcase the best produce in the region. (Image: Nelly le Comte Photography)

Open: Dinner Friday and Saturday; lunch Thursday–Sunday; Lawn Bar weekends from noon

Address: 131 River Street, South Murwillumbah

3. Barrels Pizza Restaurant

Best for: Casual dining with family and friends.

A contemporary pizzeria that honours the produce of the region, at Barrels Pizza you’ll find oven-blistered pizza from classic Italian toppings to a few Aussie curveballs.

Taste your way through the menu at Barrels Pizza.

There’s also a range of antipasto to get the party started, from buffalo mozzarella with Roma tomatoes to goat’s cheese, roasted grape and walnut focaccia. You can also opt for takeaway if you prefer not to enjoy your hot pizza in the family-friendly dining room.

It would be rude not to drink wine with your pizza.

Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 5pm

Address: 13 Wharf Street, Murwillumbah

4. Potager

Best for: Intimate and cosy dalliances and group celebrations.

This gorgeous cottage garden setting with sweeping valley views is a stunning locale for a long lunch. Inside the charming timber cottage, guests are warmly welcomed with impeccable hospitality and treated to a menu with provenance and community at its heart.

Dine at the garden-themed Potager Restaurant.

Despite the country cottage vibes, the food at Potager is elegant, refined and generous with influence from the antipodes to Europe and Asia without labouring the point.

Find yourself in a stunning location for a long lunch.

Open: Dinner Friday and Saturday; lunch Friday–Sunday

Address: 502 Carool Road, Carool

5. Husk Distillery

Best for: Lawn sessions on sunny afternoons and gatherings with mates.

Northern Rivers rum distillers, Husk, are equally loved in the region for their delicious tipples as they are for their cellar door digs. The beautiful brick building houses the barrels of spirits quietly maturing, as well as a gorgeous bar and restaurant that sprawls out onto a terrace and onto the grassy lawn overlooking cane fields, from which their rum is made.

It’s not all about the spirits at Husk, it also features a gorgeous bar and restaurant.

Start the experience with a distillery tour, where you’ll get to taste rum and their violet-hued ink gin, then grab a table or patch of grass to sip cocktails and savour share plates. There’s a very handy shuttle service, should you wish to loosen your restraint.

Expect to find space to roam at the sprawling Husk property.

Open: Daily from 11am

Address: 1152 Dulguigan Road, Tumbulgum

6. Farm & Co Restaurant

Best for: long lunches that go on and on…

This farm-to-plate eatery has some of the Tweed’s best restaurateurs at the helm, ensuring the organic produce that lands on the plate is deftly crafted to showcase seasonality and flavour.

Perched on a 52-acre farm in the Tweed Valley, Farm & Co Restaurant’s agrarian setting makes for a lovely place to unwind with good food and wine, while the kids free-range in the sunflower patch.

Nourishing share plates may include the likes of wood-smoked lamb shoulder with chimichurri or roasted goldband snapper with aromatic oil and curry leaves or opt for the signature banquet and be surprised and delighted.

Open: Dinner Thursday–Saturday; all-day dining Friday–Sunday

Address: 529 Cudgen Road, Cudgen

7. House of Gabriel

Best for: Gazing across at the twinkling river while you enjoy fresh fare.

Housed in a charming riverside building once home to a bakery and a confectionery, House of Gabriel serves a slice of history with a menu of seasonally changing dishes.

Drop by House of Gabriel for a meal served inside a charming riverside building with an eclectic past.

Take up a spot on the front deck festooned by purple wisteria and enjoy simple but delicious contemporary Australian fare and local beverages from Husk Distillery and Stone & Wood, as well as carefully curated wines.

The High Tea is exceptionally popular here for good reason.

High tea is a popular affair here (bookings essential) with handmade treats and elegant teaware really leaning into the bygone nostalgia of the building.

Score Parisian-style pastries and desserts at House of Gabriel.

Open: Breakfast and lunch Wednesday–Sunday; pizza night Friday

Address: 106 Riverside Drive, Tumbulgum

Discover more hidden gems, insider tips and local delights in our travel planning hub for the Tweed.