A top-notch cuppa, seasonal produce and a generous dollop of sea breeze — the best cafes in Yamba absolutely nail the good life.
Slow mornings spent soaking up the coastline over a stellar cup of joe – is there anything more desirable on a long-awaited beach break? You’re spoiled for choice in Yamba, one of the NSW North Coast’s shining stars, as outstanding AM pit-stops dot the beach town. From undiscovered gems to the most popular haunts around, your all-important caffeine and fresh, bountiful meals are found at the best cafes in Yamba.
The shortlist
Best family-friendly spot: Beachwood Cafe
Best for vegetarian: Angourie Cafe & Wine Bar
Best hidden gem: Bowen’s Delicatessen & Fine Foods
1. Gather
Perched high above Main Beach in the bustling hub that encompasses some of Yamba’s best restaurants (think BRGR Spot and the Pacific Hotel) is Gather; they’re famous for frothing up some of the best coffee in town (although a close second or third would be Summi’s right next door). It offers delicious, flavour-crammed meals across breakfast and lunch, like mushroom bruschetta with buffalo mozzarella, a chilli crab scramble, a signature hash with pressed smoky pork and a matcha tapioca pudding topped with coconut mousse.
They’re open until 2pm daily, only take walk-ins, and offer a children’s menu that includes mini French toast among other fuss-free favourites.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Trendy
Review: 4.5/5
Location: 3/14-15 Clarence St, Yamba
2. Spilt Milk
Serving up superb Hill Roasters beans from nearby Kungala, about an hour south of Yamba, Spilt Milk arrived on the cafe scene in November 2024 and instantly endeared locals. Run by a Yamba family who have slowly taken over the space that Bean Scene once thrived in, the hot spot is gaining attention for its creative smoothies and milkshakes, plus left-of-centre breakfast and lunch options.
You can expect the likes of ‘Breaky Fried Rice’ which resembles a Nasi Goreng tossed in sesame hoisin sauce, plus rich curries served alongside all-day classics like avocado smash, bacon and egg rolls and open grill sandwiches.
Cuisine: Comfort food with Middle Eastern influences
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Casual
Review: 3.5/5
Location: Shop 4/8 Yamba St, Yamba
3. Beachwood Cafe
Open for breakfast and lunch, Beachwood Cafe is one of the homeliest cafes in Yamba, attracting a cult-like status to its side street location. Sevtap Yuch, the Turkish-born owner and chef who also moonlights as a cookbook author, delivers an authentic slice of the Mediterranean, maintaining a tightly curated blackboard menu of breakfast all-stars with a twist.
Expect humble yet wildly fresh local produce transformed into memorable dishes like scrambled eggs with feta and sucuk (Turkish sausage), coconut and cinnamon toast, braised octopus, lamb kofta and grilled sardines. As for the vibes, they’re plenty cosy as patterned mismatched crockery and a leafy patio create an inviting atmosphere for parents and kids.
Love what you’re gobbling down? Sevtap’s ‘less is more’ approach to cooking is ripe for the adopting, with her collection of cookbooks available to purchase in-store.
Cuisine: Modern Australian with Turkish influences
Average Price: $$
Atmosphere: Family-friendly
Review: 4/5
Location: 22 High St, Yamba
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4. Angourie Cafe & Wine Bar
Dishing up soul food in a beautiful boho-inspired, white timber fit out, Angourie Cafe & Wine Bar is a local gem. While the bar element of the brand was still under reconstruction in December 2024 (they’re promising to be back with a vengeance soon), the kitchen nails a menu of breakfast classics that embrace seasonal ingredients and a healthy lifestyle.
A six-minute drive from the centre of Yamba, this beloved cafe offers acai bowls, vegetarian baked beans, garlic mushrooms on sourdough, toasted sandwiches, mega-loaded salads, tacos and more across its breakfast and lunch menus.
Cuisine: Modern Australian, skewing vegetarian
Average Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Hippy
Review: 3.5/5
Location: 11/13-15 The Crescent, Angourie
5. The Kiosk Yamba
Yamba is not a beach town that’s short on great cafes, but few boast views as striking as The Kiosk Yamba. Housed within Yamba’s Surf Life Saving Club, this unassuming spot right on Main Beach features picnic benches and striped parasols and is open from breakfast through to lunch.
Whether you’re in the mood for something salubrious (hello acai bowls and fresh, cold-pressed juices) or something more indulgent (perhaps a bacon, egg and cheese roll with a milkshake on the side) this popular Yamba cafe always delivers.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average Price: $-$$
Atmosphere: Easy and breezy
Review: 4/5
Location: 1 Marine Parade, Yamba
6. Bowen’s Delicatessen & Fine Foods
Find a smashing morning meal and charcuterie supplies for later at Bowen’s Delicatessen & Fine Foods. Renowned across the region for its exceptionally fresh focaccias and wraps, plus creamy, strong coffee, the cafe in Yamba also stocks a brilliant range of cured meats, indulgent cheeses and ultra-rich sweets.
Best of all, the team are endlessly inviting, on hand to walk you through its cabinet and the mainstays, including the popular chicken and sundried tomato wraps with garlic aioli, as well as the dine-in headliners – Bowen’s burgers. Crispy chicken, double cheese, bacon and pineapple… whatever you fancy, the gang’s all here.
Cuisine: Artisanal snacks and Modern Australian meals
Average Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Casual
Review: 4/5
Location: Shop 33, 1-3 Treelands Drive, Yamba (inside Yamba Fair shopping centre)
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7. Pinewood Corner
A beloved local’s secret, Pinewood Corner takes the best picks from Yamba Farmers and Producers’ Market, one of the best things to do in Yamba, and spins them into scrumptious dishes with dialled-up heart. Think fluffy layered cakes with seasonal fruit, buttery tarts dressed in greens, herbs and nuts, toasties with artisanal bread and sweet focaccias alongside savoury variations.
The owners are natural-born creatives themselves, showcasing their favourite art on the café’s walls and even hosting the odd life drawing class. But first, coffee, right? The beans are among Yamba’s best, sourced from Botero Roastery Cafe in nearby Maclean.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Free-spirited
Review: 4/5
Location: 1/2-4 Yamba St, Yamba
8. Laneway Lunchbox & Espresso
Now you’re really getting into the locals’ treasure trove of most-loved cafes in Yamba. Laneway Lunchbox & Espresso is a serious gem, tucked behind a butcher on Coldstream Street. It’s only open during the week, feeding the centre of town’s business crowds, and you’ll need to be quick as a rotating menu of internationally inspired dishes tends to sell out quickly.
Spanning Asian, like wok-tossed noodles and traditional chicken balls, and even traditional British pub classics like bangers and mash, the menu is experimental and a ton of fun. Additionally, the coffee is strong, and the service is friendly.
Cuisine: International
Average Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Busy
Review: 3.5/5
Location: 3/18 Coldstream St, Yamba
9. Yum Yum Angourie Cafe and General Store
A delightful old cottage converted into a morning eatery and grocer, Yum Yum Angourie Cafe and General Store is pure charm. Hearty dishes span the typical spectrum of breakfast classics (avocado on toast, eggs your way and more), but everything is treated with extreme care.
Don’t leave without taking home a flaky baked good or few, and if you’re feeling extra generous, there’s always the ice cream freezer for kids to fight over at this cafe in Yamba.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average Price: $$-$$$
Atmosphere: Cosy
Review: 4/5
Location: 29 Coldstream St, Yamba
Ready for lunch? Discover the best restaurants in Yamba
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