Newy Locals Dish On All The Best Bars, Brunch Beachy…

Newy Locals Dish On All The Best Bars, Brunch Beachy Spots They Think Are Better Than Sydney

Newcastle is one of NSW’s most bountiful gems. Over the last few years, it’s developed a rep for hosting some of Australia’s most gorgeous surf beaches and a huge number of chic restaurants, boutique stores, cultural hubs, and of course, classic pubs to boot. In short, it’s way more than just a pit-stop location on your way to, say, Byron Bay. Considering it’s just a hop, skip and a jump away from Sydney (it’s approximately a two-hour drive), it makes for the perfect weekend getaway destination for winter, summer or anything in between. Whether you consider yourself a foodie, an outdoor adventurer or someone who likes to ‘rock up and see what happens’, you’re bound to find something that tickles your fancy there. In my opinion, asking a local for recommendations ahead of visiting a new spot is a must, and if you’ve ever spoken to a Newy resident, you’ve probably gotten the vibe that they’re proud as heck of their town (and for a good reason). Here’s what a bunch of ’em recommend getting up to when you visit (and what they think is actually better than what you get in Sydney).

Food & Drink

Modus Merewether The Grain Store The FalconTim

“For drinks, Saints Gin Bar is a must. I would recommend Scotties, Ship Inn, Oh My Papa or Light Years for dinner and then Three Monkeys is a must for brekky. If you’re not in the mood for a sit-down sitch, fish and chips on the beach during sunset is unbeatable.” — Cass

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“For Pizza, I would recommend Masa Madre (they make their own sourdough bases), Foghorn (for NY style Pizza and a to-die-for on-site brewery) or Centrale Napoli (Italian style). They’re all incredible and on par (if not better) than what I’ve had in Sydney.” — Max

“For casual food, I would absolutely recommend Kitami, Antojitos and Rascal. For cocktails: The Koutetsu and Ginger Meg’s are bomb.” – Bell