20 February 2025
13 mins Read
Take a short detour off the highway between Brisbane and Sydney and you will find a range of excellent Port Macquarie cafes. Follow the smell of roasting beans off the street to find the best cafes in Port Macquarie, which run the gamut from long-standing establishments to cult roasters who helped kickstart the specialty coffee scene. Van lifers no longer need to rely on jars of instant coffee while road-tripping down the east coast of Australia. Here’s our guide to the best cafes in Port Macquarie that will help you get a sense of place in the seaside town.
The Shortlist
Hidden gem: Banks Cafe
Best for brunch: Chop ’n Chill
Best for digital nomads: Holy Goat Coffee
Family-friendly spot: Seasalt
Best coffee: Peak Coffee
Best pastries: Baked Culture
Dog-friendly: The Hill Café
Best for gluten-free dining: Bent on Food
Step into Banks Cafe for breakfast overlooking the Hastings River.
Banks Cafe is housed in a repurposed waterfront cottage appropriately named after its location on the banks of the Hastings River. The dinky beach shack is always filled with locals who exude a kind of robust pride in their lifestyle. You’ll see them pulling up on their stand-up paddleboards for the Banks Breaky Hot Pot or Pork Belly Benny. Follow Banks Cafe on Instagram to see what’s on as the café morphs into a restaurant offering dinners on Friday and Saturday nights. Although this tucked-away gem is mostly crewed out with locals you’ll find a steady trickle of tourists joining them for brekkie with a view.
Get your coffee fix at Baked Culture.
Plastic bags are a no-go in Wauchope. Avoid the evil eye from locals and tote your retro eco bag into Baked Culture so you can stock it with sourdough, seasonal fruit Danishes and cruffins lacquered with honey. The patisserie has evolved from a pop-up at the Foreshore Markets to a brick-and-mortar bakery in Wauchope (pronounced War Hope puh-lease) that locals love. If you can’t get to Wauchope, you can enjoy the artisan baked goods at Port Macquarie cafes such as Studio 3 and The Hill Café. You can also pick up a loaf from Wild Culture Organics. Sourdough is the specialty at Baked Culture which sources its grain from Wholegrain Milling.
It’s clear the winds of change have roared through Port Macquarie when you stumble across cool-as cafes like The Hill in nearby Thrumster. If we’re using sourdough as the litmus test then The Hill proves its pedigree by using its loaf and making its toasties from Baked Culture. The Hill Café is near the gateway service station centre dubbed ‘the Donut’ so you can order ahead on the Hey You app if you’re passing between Wauchope and Port Macquarie. Have more time to spare? Order the Not Avo Toast special which offers a more seasonal green splash of colour with zucchini, peas, mint and goat’s cheese with alfalfa sprouts and charred lime on sourdough.
Have you even been to the Mid-North Coast of NSW if you haven’t stopped off at Ricardoes Tomatoes & Strawberries. The business that sprouted from an honesty box is the perfect pit stop located just one minute from the M1 roundabout just north of the Port Macquarie turnoff. In addition to filling your esky with jams, chutneys, salsas, passatas and soups, you can keep the kids entertained by picking their own strawberries for lunch. Families who have booked accommodation in Port Macquarie can pick up fresh produce from nearby farms for a picnic or settle in at the sunny Cafe Red for afternoon tea featuring house-made strawberry jam.
Tuck into a healthy acai bowl at Salty Crew Kiosk. (Image: Supplied)
Port Macquarie cafes are at an advantage when they have a waterfront view. And few cafes can boast a location as quintessentially Port Mac as the motley gang behind the Salty Crew Kiosk. The dinky cafe is at Town Beach and is a popular hangout thanks to its orientation; it’s protected from southerly busters and close to the centre of Port Macquarie. Start your day with a wind-in-the-hair walk along the breakwall before heading to the Salty Crew Kiosk for a latte. The cafe is one of the best places in Port Macquarie to see the sunrise and is known to take care preparing its coffee, tea and espresso blends – all from Clandestino Roasters in Noosa. Ask the staff for a surf report while tucking into a ham-cheese-tomato toastie and double espresso under a stripey umbrella.
Peak Coffee is for those who are passionate about supporting ‘crop to cup’ businesses. Peak was one of the first coffee roasters on NSW’s Mid North Coast and is considered one of the best Port Macquarie cafes to get a hit of caffeine. As early exponents of specialty coffee, owners Sean and Kristine Edwards have been blazing a trail in the Third Wave coffee movement for decades. And they’re responsible for training up some of the best baristas in Port Macquarie with a roster of courses on offer for those who want to turn their passion for coffee into a career. Visit the brew lab and roastery to enjoy a coffee flight in the tasting room featuring a mural of Francesco Illy by local street artist PSY.
This lovely Port Macquarie cafe dishes up Mediterranean and Aussie-style breakfast favourites.
Social Grounds has been considered one of the best cafes in Port Macquarie for rhythm and brews since opening its doors in 2014. This graffiti-clad cafe with indoor and outdoor seating is perennially packed with loyal locals. Sip on an exceptional espresso inside the rustic space where the walls are charcoal and the floors are timber. The courtyard outside is a lovely spot to sit admiring the street art and crayon-green plants in the courtyard, espresso in hand. Order a bowl of Grounds Granola and flat white brewed from beans ethically sourced from Ethiopia, Sumatra, Colombia or Rwanda. Check the blackboard for daily specials such as the Brisket Benny Stacker or Social Roll stuffed with smoked bacon, fried egg, sriracha, baby spinach and beetroot relish.
A lot of visitors to Port Macquarie are surprised to discover that the town is starting to rival NSW towns like Newcastle and Wollongong for their live music scene. Places like Chop ’n Chill are at the centre of the action and serve as incubators for young local musical talent. In addition to its line-up of DJs and live bands, Chop ‘n Chill is a draw for its Asian-American big brekkies. Fuel up after a surf on excellent options such as smoked chicken rolled up in a roti taco with cream cheese, fresh Asian salad, slaw and lime. Chop ’n Chill has river views and overlooks the Town Green, making it popular with families.
Swoon over this cutesy koala latte art. (Image: Supplied)
Parents visiting Port Macquarie during the school holidays should drop a pin at Billabong Zoo, one of the best places to visit in Port Macquarie. We advise parents to start with an espresso, the grounded equivalent of putting your oxygen mask on before being able to properly attend to your kids. The shady courtyard cafe overlooks the enclosure of spider monkeys so you can compare the behaviour of your children with their evolutionary cousins. Gather at the Meeting Point Cafe before your mooch around the zoo to enjoy frappes, muffins, croissants and fish and chips. Find a few pun-tastic options on the Little Lion $12 meal deals menu such as the Egg-chidna, Pandacakes and Chicken Little.
Dine on fresh seafood overlooking the marina at Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant. (Image: Supplied)
Make sure you have conquered the art of having flawlessly tousled beach hair before you lob at Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant for your morning coffee. The weather in Port Macquarie is near perfect so you will likely join salty sea dog types who are wearing thongs (of the flip-flop variety) and arranging to wet a line later in the day. Don’t worry if you can’t speak fluent fisho; the locals here are super friendly. Seasalt cafe is barnacled to the Port Macquarie Marina and a top spot to start your day. Head to Seasalt if you’re looking for Port Macquarie cafes with a waterfront view. Find a list of classic breakfast options such as eggs benedict and bacon and egg rolls with gluten-friendly alternatives, too. Ask the staff for a tub of fish food so your kids can feed the bream off the marina.
You’ll need plenty of energy to go stand-up paddleboarding in Port Macquarie. Drop a pin at the Rivermark Cafe so you can locate this riverside haunt just a short paddle up the Hastings River. Find a place to dock and then kick back with a hot cup of coffee while feasting on views of the surrounding waterscape. Sit at a coveted window seat or in the shade in the outdoor area, where you might spot dolphins enjoying an early-morning frolic. Although the menu has the ubiquitous avo on toast, there’s nothing ordinary about its version served with haloumi and slathered with a hollandaise sauce. The Rivermark Cafe is licensed so you can enjoy a crisp glass of vino after your paddle.
Bandwagon has an enticing breakfast menu to choose from. (Image: Supplied)
It’s easy to get onboard at Bandwagon. Port Macquarie’s latest destination for specialty coffee, quality food, live music, good vibes and sick views. The casual, rustic cafe is set within a century-old beach house and should be on itineraries for sun-seekers and families keen on coastal hang. The piccolos here are perfect made using Ona beans, which are also available for sale. But Bandwagon is not just a place for breakfast. Follow Bandwagon on Instagram to book a special-themed dinner or find inspiration before ordering. Order the sourdough made bright with cooked pumpkin and spices, fried sage and pelted with fetta, house macadamia and pepita.
Enjoy your coffee outdoors in a lush garden setting. (Image: Jake Davey Studios)
Donna Carrier is a legend of the hospitality scene and Bent on Food the most awarded tourism cafe in the Legendary Pacific Coast region. The vibe is Port Macquarie casual with colourful artwork lining the walls and jars of jams, chutneys and preserves available to procure for your pantry. This cafe is in the pedestrian-friendly township of Wingham, which will automatically make you change down a few gears and remind you you’re on holiday. Spicy corn fritters, pork tacos and poke bowls are the go-tos. But to truly maximise your experience make sure you time your visit to coincide to return to sip on local wines and listen to live music.
Book somewhere cosy to stay near Lake Innis, which is just 12 kilometres from Port Macquarie, so you can visit the Little Fish Cafe & Vineyard. Book a tasting with the winemaker from Innes Lake Vineyard and then head to the cafe to enjoy authentic French fare prepared by Steve Delandemare. Adventurous epicureans will also enjoy tasting the wines paired with Little Fish dishes the chef grew up with. Think pork filet mignon with tomato Dijon sauce or Braised Bourguignon beef cheeks with a glass of the Innes Lake Shiraz. And confit duck leg served with vegetables and red wine jus and an Innes Lake rose. Visiting the vineyard is one of the best things to do in Port Macquarie.
Holy Goat Coffee is an essential stop for a good cup. (Image: Astyn Saggers)
Don’t expect to hear any yacht rock at Holy Goat Coffee. The industrial-chic cafe is cool and quirky with multiple odes to goats, which inspired the name of the business. Ask the barista and she’ll explain Holy Goat Coffee considers the very origins of coffee in 600AD when the hollow-horned animals reportedly discovered the glorious red coffee cherries. Come sup on the nectar of productivity here in the espresso bar at Holy Goat HQ, which includes a dedicated co-working space aimed at digital nomads. Start strong with a double espresso and then pick up bespoke blends such as Scape Goat and the Hairy Goat. Expect a rotating roster of baked goods supplied by Casseras Bakery and Sugar Mummah such as baguettes, quiches and donut cookies with salted caramel.
This place is already recognised as a favourite hangout for sunset drinks. But few are aware of its reputation as a bastion for barista-made coffees. Port Macquarie is a mecca for water sports such as surfing and kayaking. It also has quiet waterways such as the Hastings River, where The Beach House is located. You’ll need to be energised to squeeze everything onto your itinerary. Try and play it cool as you arrive by kayak to The Beach House to find a range of brekkie options to satisfy your cravings for carbs. The Beach House is one of the most visited spots around, thanks to its location on the Town Green and Hastings River. Use it as a pit stop while getting their steps up along the iconic Port Macquarie Breakwall walk.
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