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Newcastle is a city in transition. Its days as an industrial port are gone, replaced by a time where hospitality reigns supreme. Newcastle, also often lovingly referred to as Newy by locals, has a thriving café scene to rival Melbourne, a growing selection of craft beer and dining options specific to the city.
And if you’re not spoilt for choice by that, it’s also just a short drive to a number of other mouth-watering destinations, from the vineyards of the Hunter Valley to the choice foodie options in Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie and the Central Coast.
Cafes in Newcastle
Café culture is alive and well in Newy, with options for your morning coffee available almost anywhere you go. If you’re not too worried about where you go, take a stroll along Darby Street or Beaumont Street and you’ll soon find somewhere to go. One name that stands out in an ever-changing café scene is Goldbergs, an institution on Darby Street that dates back to 1995. If you’re hungry, the sticky date pudding is the pick of the menu.
Elsewhere in the city, Mr Sister and Xtraction battle it out for supremacy on the mall, Surfhouse Café is one of the many beachside coffee stops and the Signal Box is a true sign of a changing city, taking over the railway signalmen’s office that became unused when the heavy rail closed in the city centre in 2014.
Of course, cafes aren’t just about coffee. Try Autumn Rooms on Darby for your tea fix or Cake Boi in Hamilton where you can try baked delights from Masterchef contestant Reece Hignall, famous for old school cakes.
Restaurants in Newcastle
When you’re on holiday, you want to spoil yourself. Subo has long been the champion of fine dining in Newy, but it’s a close contest with the likes of Roundhouse and Rustica offering excellent food and stunning views as you eat.
There are plenty of options for almost all cuisines without the need to break the bank too. For shortcuts to the best options, try Rascals for burgers (King Street), Kings XI for Indian (Beaumont Street) or Il Volcano for homely Italian-style cooking (Hunter Street).
Bars in Newcastle
With a recent lifting of lockout laws, Newcastle’s nightlife is bouncing back. Whether you want craft beer, cocktails or live music, there’s always options.
Foghorn Brewery (King Street) is perhaps the jewel in the crown when it comes to Newy-made beer, but places like Rogue Scholar (Union Street) and The Grain Store (Scott Street) also eschew the mainstream beers.
For cocktails, you have options all over the city. Blue Kahunas (Hunter Street) specialises in rum-based options, but you also have options like MoneyPenny (Honeysuckle) and 5 Sawyers (Darby Street) for variety.
In terms of live music, nowhere beats The Lass O’Gowrie (Railway Street) where you can watch local bands or enjoy the sprawling beer garden. The Grand Hotel (Church Street) has jazz nights every Tuesday, Lizotte’s (Morehead Street) has a variety of dinner shows and The Wicko (Maitland Road) mixes live music with classic pub fare to perfection.
Raise a toast on the Central Coast
The Central Coast is about an hour’s drive south of Newcastle, although you may prefer to relax and take the trip by train and gaze over the beautiful waterways.
For food, enjoy the best of all worlds at The Bon Pavilion, with five dining options in one spot – diner, baker, cellar door and more. If you want to go all out, head to Saddles in Mount White. There, you can enjoy a gourmet dining spot that’s set on 28 acres of near unspoilt bushland.
Being on the coast, you may be attracted to waterside options like Box on the Water or The Boathouse.
Try award-winning wines in the Hunter Valley
The Hunter Valley is Australia’s oldest wine-producing region and home to some of the country’s best vintners. Dalwood Estate is thought to be Australia’s longest running vineyard, established back in 1827 and still operating today.
The Semillon is the area’s specialty, but other varieties like the Shiraz and Chardonnay are held in high regard too. With more than 150 wineries in the Hunter Valley, it can be hard to know where to go. Some of wineries to visit include Capercaillie, Ivanhoe and Tulloch.
From Newcastle, it’s less than an hour to the heart of the Hunter Valley. Because you’re likely to sample a few wines, it’s best to join a tour of the vineyards. You can find plenty in the region, but some bus companies will pick you up in Newcastle.
Head south to Lake Macquarie
Half an hour south of Newcastle is Lake Macquarie, the largest saltwater lake in the southern hemisphere. For comparison’s sake, it’s twice as big as Sydney Harbour.
Sitting on the water’s edge, Warners Bay is one of the area’s hubs. Stroll the Esplanade and you’ll find a wide choice of options. Enjoy the sumptuous waffles at Table 1 Espresso or breakfast at Brennans Cafe, have a curry for lunch at The Grand Pavilion and book a table at Brownsugar for a fine dining experience.
Elsewhere in Lake Mac, The Corner in Charlestown has been winning plaudits for its hyperlocal approach. Eat Thai fusion at Schilly or contemporary Asian at Bao Brothers before finishing off with an ice cream at Popolo.
Enjoy holiday treats at Port Stephens
Take a trip north to Port Stephens, home to some of the quietest, most pristine beaches in the country. It’s also the launching point for many of the area’s whale and dolphin watching tours.
Sunset dinner cruises are available most nights, giving you another way to enjoy Port Stephens’ beautiful waters and food. The marina itself has a few dining options, but for something a bit more special to mark your time here, why not try stone-fired pizzas at Cheeky Dog or The Little Beach Boathouse.
