Places to Refuel and Relax
- Renato Keca
- May 11
- 4 min read
Updated: May 12
Lismore
There is more than meets the eye in our humble home town. Here are some of our suggestions: favoured by cyclists due to friendly vibes, good food options and reliable service of caffeine. This list is by no means conclusive.
Taco Love Bros + LLB Coffee Nook are Lismore institution providing quality coffee, cake and yummy Mexican Street Food from Dawn til Dusk. You can get a Breakfast Burrito and Taco as early as 6:30am with your choice of coffee, served by super friendly crew.
Dark Horse provides all your sweet and savory cafe favourites. Coffee is strong and most importantly served 7 days a week.
Bebey and Timbré feature ethically sourced beans and an educational library about First Nation People: a space to learn and decolonise your mind.
Bench Top Espresso cannot be rivalled for their attention to detail and work ethics: friendly staff will know your name and order way before you can remember their first names. If you happen to ride to Alstonville you will find their outpost there as well, armed with equally friendly and fast staff.
For Vegetarian and Vegan option visit Garden Plate (Open Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm) for an extended stop on your RDO.
Your afternoon rides might require rehydration as well as substantial food serves.
The Stockpot Kitchen will satisfy your cravings for slow cooked, BBQ'd and generously served meats. Make sure you leave some space for exquisitely crafted deserts made on premises.
Village People Pizza serves finest Italian style pizza on yummy sourdough bases. Make sure you're properly carb loaded for that morning ride. Located in Goonellabah with finest carpark views: you could be forgiven to think you are at a shopping mall in Italy.
Sherwood and Metropol Hotels both offer a range of pub meals and feature local breweries on tap.
Bexhill
The General Store does a really good coffee and like any good general store, sells pretty much anything else you can think of. From Indian curries to gluten-free energy bars, lollies and chocolates etc etc. You’ll find something to pick you up for the next leg of the journey. Some undercover seating too.
Clunes
The Clunes Store has a popular café and restaurant with plenty of seating. You’ll find muffins, cakes, haloumi burgers etc on the menu and all the basics in the general store.
There is also a coffee option at the mechanic / petrol station. Echidna coffee offers locally grown coffee and a small seating nook.
Dunoon
The Dunoon General Store does coffees plus all the usual basics plus has pies and makes hamburgers and gourmet toasties during the week. Undercover seating here too.
Nimbin
Famous for being the hippy capital of Australia, no trip to the Northern Rivers is complete without a visit to this colourful, quintessential village. Plenty of options for coffee and food. Armonica is a great option for the early starters…
Federal
The Federal Doma Café is a popular day trip destination for their predominantly Japanese inspired menu. But they also do great coffees and associated sweet and savoury treats. Plenty of seating and a lovely park across the road too.
Alstonville
Alstonville is a larger village located approximately halfway between Lismore a Ballina. Plenty of options for food and coffee here. ESP, Buckley’s Chance and Home bakehouse are all good options. Summerland Farm is a bit out of town but a lovely option for something rural and kid friendly.
Newrybar
Newrybar is a gorgeous village located just off the Old Pacific Highway between Bangalow and Ballina. The Harvest restaurant and café was renown by hipsters and coffee snobs but has (sadly) been closed for some time. The general store in Newrybar still does a good coffee and has some other treats and somewhere to sit. Still worth a visit. Just a little bit out of town sits a pretty Zentfelds farm with sweeping views of their own coffee plantation. Sample the coffee grown, roasted and served on premises and stuff your back pockets with locally produced fruit and vegies for later.
Bangalow
Throw a rock and you’ll probably hit a coffee shop in the main street strip of this upmarket hinterland village. Ciao Mate, Butcher Baker, The Bangalow Bread Co and Bangalow General Store are all good options as well as the monthly arts and craft market held at the Show Grounds.
Coorabell
Between Bangalow and Mullumbimby along the ridge overlooking the coast stop at Cosmos (Monday to Friday) for banging coffee, views and banana bread
Casino
Known as the ‘beef capital’ of Australia, coffee culture hasn’t really permeated Casino like it has the rest of the known universe. The Wild Soul Bakery is your best bet. Bacon and eggs rolls and bakery treats a plenty here too.
Kyogle
For those who make it as far west as Kyogle, well done and you’ve earned a good rest stop. The Roxy Lane Café is a groovy space but only open Thursday to Sunday. Swan Bay delicatessen serves coffee in addition to fresh fruit, sweets and bikepacking essentials like dried salami sticks. There’s also a bakery in the main street and an IGA just up from the public toilet block at ANZAC Park.
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