- Glenelg Murwillumbah
- 4 min read
The Tweed region continues to impress food lovers, with Murwillumbah at the heart of its culinary rise. Known for its lush valleys, creative community, and rich agricultural roots, the town is now home to restaurants celebrated both locally and nationally.
GOURMET TRAVELLER NEWS
Gourmet Traveller has revealed its Top 100 Australian Restaurants for 2025, and the Tweed is shining bright. Of the 25 NSW venues named, two are right here: Pipit and Bistro Livi.
This accolade makes The Tweed the most awarded region in NSW outside of Sydney.
Congratulations to both Pipit and Bistro Livi for their extraordinary achievements.
The Tweed Fine Dining Icons
Bistro Livi – Murwillumbah’s Modern Marvel
Located in the M|Arts Precinct, Bistro Livi blends refined design by Flack Studio with a warm and friendly, regional spirit. Its Spanish-influenced, seasonal plates — from silky braised eggplant to Moreton Bay bug in curry butter — have earned it multiple chef’s hats and Gourmet Traveller recognition.
Pipit – Coastal Innovation in Pottsville
Chef Ben Devlin’s Pipit champions sustainable coastal dining with menus that shift daily according to tide and season. Expect dishes like duck with smoked beetroot or tuna tartare with preserved yuzu. Two Good Food Guide hats confirm its standing as one of the country’s most inventive regional restaurants.
Potager – Dining in the Hills
Set on a Carool farmstead, Potager brings modern Australian dining to the hinterland. Chef-hatted and locally beloved, it transforms Tweed produce into polished yet approachable dishes. Its 2025 Tweed Business Award celebrates both its culinary excellence and community spirit.
Paper Daisy – Coastal Elegance at Halcyon House
The signature restaurant at Halcyon House, Paper Daisy offers contemporary Australian dining in a breezy, beachfront setting. With a focus on seasonal produce and a menu shaped by coastal influences, it delivers an elegant but relaxed experience.
Tweed River House – Verandah Dining with History
Housed in a restored colonial manor overlooking the Tweed River and caldera, Tweed River House serves contemporary chef hated menus that highlight regional ingredients all with super friendly service and attention to detail. Its wide verandahs and heritage interiors make it one of the Tweed’s most atmospheric fine dining destinations. For more casual dining try a relaxing grazing menu on the lawn by the river.
Fins Seafood – A Pioneering Institution
Founded by celebrated chef Steven Snow, Fins is Australia’s most-awarded seafood restaurant. With a focus on sustainability and ocean-fresh produce, it delivers sophisticated coastal dining that has shaped the region’s culinary reputation for over three decades.
Beyond Fine Dining: Local Flavours to Discover
A light-filled gallery café offering a wide and diverse menu of seasonal dishes that champion Northern Rivers produce, paired with sweeping views of Wollumbin and the caldera.
A favourite local hangout, Keith roasts its own coffee and serves artisan toasties and brunch plates in a relaxed, stylish retro space.
A riverside café with a homely country feel, where meals are complemented by the chance to wander through the nursery and browse local gifts.
A whimsical garden café famed for Devonshire teas, high teas, and weekend live music — a fairytale-style escape in Tyalgum village.
A community hub serving pub classics and craft beers, complete with live music, trivia nights, and a buzzing social atmosphere.
The home of Ink Gin and Husk Rum, this distillery offers paddock-to-bottle spirits, long lunches, and cocktails on expansive lawns with mountain views.
A plant-based café known for creative vegan dishes, raw treats, and a down-to-earth vibe — making it a go-to for conscious dining in town.
A paddock-to-plate restaurant set among sunflower fields, offering seasonal menus crafted from produce grown onsite and nearby farms.
A boutique bar specialising in minimal-intervention and organic wines, with share plates that highlight the Tweed’s local food culture.
A regenerative poultry farm known for ethical practices, also operating Pastah Bar, where handmade pasta and farm produce create hearty, casual meals.
An iconic attraction offering guided tours, fruit tastings, and orchard-to-table dining experiences with rare and exotic fruits.
A relaxed coastal restaurant with a Mediterranean-leaning menu, where fresh seafood and vibrant flavours meet a laidback Cabarita setting.
Together, these spots prove that dining in and around Murwillumbah is as much about atmosphere and connection as it is about flavour.
Final Word
With restaurants like Bistro Livi, Pipit, Potager, and fellow icons Paper Daisy, Tweed River House, and Fins setting the benchmark, the Tweed has moved firmly onto the national stage as a leader in regional dining. From chef-hat accolades and Gourmet Traveller recognition to Potager’s 2025 Tweed Business Award, the region continues to prove that innovation and excellence thrive well beyond the cities.
Add to this the warmth of its cafés, the charm of country pubs, the creativity of plant-based pioneers, and the immersive farm-to-plate experiences that define its landscape, and the Tweed becomes more than a place to eat — it’s a destination where every table, whether fine dining or casual, tells the story of the region itself.