Six South Coast dining experiences for your next road trip
Posted on
These South Coast dining experiences are worth hitting the road for.
A splash at the beach might be off the cards as the weather turns colder, but that doesn’t mean a trip to the South Coast is. Home to hatted restaurants serving fresh seafood and fresh venues making waves, the pristine coastline is a veritable haven for Canberra foodies looking to escape the city.
Whether you’ve already booked a holiday or are just looking for an excuse to plan one, here are five dining experiences for your next South Coast road trip.
Outpost Bar (Broulee)
View this post on Instagram
A coastal small bar tucked into Broulee on the NSW South Coast, Outpost Bar brings a moody, unexpected edge to the seaside dining scene.
Inspired by the spirit of Ned Kelly, the 40-seat space is dark, intimate and art-driven – all layered textures, low lighting and contemporary Australian works that give it a refined, slightly rebellious feel. At its core is a strong focus on Australian produce, led by Chef Pete (formerly of The River, Moruya). The share-style menu celebrates local, seasonal ingredients from across the South Coast, designed to be generous, considered and ever-evolving.
As for behind the bar? Everything is proudly Australian, from craft beers and a tightly curated wine list to cocktails built on native ingredients and house-made syrups. Make sure to try the lemon myrtle margarita.
Unit 9/40 Train Street, Broulee | outpostbar.com.au
Bar Something (Moruya)
View this post on Instagram
A new neighbourhood wine bar just a short walk from the banks of the beautiful Moruya River, Bar Something is all about good wine, good food and the promise of a good time.
Serving a menu that changes with the weather, popularity and produce, expect small and share plates that include a Lagom baguette served with umami butter, potato crisps with guindilla and noix de jambon and steak tartare with fermented chilli and rice crisp.
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 3 pm until late.
60 Vulcan Street, Moruya | barsomething.com
GWYLO (Mollymook)
View this post on Instagram
GWYLO is fresh and moody – perfect for a late night spent eating Asian street eats and sipping on cocktails that are more fun than fussy.
Open Wednesday to Saturday for dinner, we’ll warn you now: you’ll want to pre-book a table if you want to dine here. With a menu that lists options like bao, local sashimi, ssamjang chicken wings and Chinese-style pork skewers, it’s often filled with locals (and it’s not hard to see why).
Choose a seat at the bar to watch the woks fire and charcoal smoke or snag a booth and let the classic tunes wash over you. The streets of Tokyo will feel like they’re right outside the door.
Shop 2/85 Tallwood Avenue, Mollymook Beach | gwylo.com.au
Bangalay Dining (Shoalhaven Heads)
View this post on Instagram
A multi-award-winning restaurant that’s become known as a gourmet dining destination with a commitment to sustainable and innovative cuisine, Bangalay Dining is a must-try.
Promising an elevated coastal dining experience, the menu highlights native Australian ingredients and locally sourced produce. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serving up dishes like ‘Bush Curry’ made with lemon myrtle, charred zucchini and desert lime, grilled Murray cod loin with almond cream, nduja glaze, and smoked almonds and a blood orange “Magnum” ice-cream. Hungry yet?
30 Staples Street, Shoalhaven Heads | bangalayvillas.com.au
Merry Street (Kioloa)
For those who prefer casual dining, Merry Street is a hidden gem worth uncovering. Ideal for a long lunch or delicious dinner, choose between their dine-in or set menu and enjoy the seasonal, locally sourced modern Australian cuisine and carefully curated drinks menu.
The highlights? Think jamon-stacked onion rings, Spencer Gulf king prawns with fermented chilli jam, their take on a chicken schnitty and freshly churned ice cream or sorbet for dessert.
Keep an eye out for the surfing kangaroos at Murramarang National Park while you’re there.
3a Merry Street, Kioloa | merryst.com.a/
Bar Superette (Merimbula)
View this post on Instagram
A little wine bar with Parisian vibes, Bar Superette might have a tiny kitchen, but it has a mighty menu. A bistro, bar and bottle shop all in one, you can pop in for snacks, settle in for drinks or take a bottle of something special home for later.
Sit back, sip on natural wine, and nibble on options like ham hock and cheddar croquettes, classic steak frites, smoky grilled on a hibachi, and a calamari fritti roll with yuzu aioli. Just make sure to get there early to score yourself a seat by the front window.
16/20 Market Street, Merimbula | superettesuperette.com
PLAN AHEAD FOR
Sara Dining (Berry)
Set to open in June, Sara Dining is a brand-new farm-led restaurant set within Moraea Farm. Created in partnership with Alex Prichard (the head chef of Icebergs Dining Room and Bar), all the produce is grown on the property, resulting in a menu that’s shaped by the seasons.
Beyond the kitchen? There will be orchards, bees and honey, woodfire cooking, and even highland cows, goats and chickens. It sounds like it will be well worth the trip.
450b Coolangatta Road, Berry | saradining.com.au
Feature image: GWYLO.
