Best New Restaurants in Newcastle

Newcastle’s hospitality scene has never tasted so good, with more and more eateries opening up to offer foodies a delicious feed and memorable dining experience to match.

From global cuisine and fine dining with a view, to a casual meal out the whole family can enjoy, there’s a new restaurant in Newcastle for any occasion and budget. You’re spoilt for choice.

Join us as we cruise the menu to serve up some of our city’s best.

With breathtaking views of Newcastle's landscapes and impeccable architecture to admire, the 5-star additions to the city’s repertoire are the ideal location for a date night to remember or a place to impress the in-laws.

Standing proud in Newcastle’s East End, QT Newcastle’s signature restaurant Jana Restaurant & Bar is the perfect place to wine and dine in style. Situated in the recently transformed heritage-listed David Jones building, Jana oozes class, boasting spectacular views of Newcastle’s iconic harbour and fashionable interior to match. Expect to be wowed!

Sitting atop the Crystalbrook Kingsley luxury hotel, one of Newcastle’s most iconic buildings due to its unique rounded design, Roundhouse Rooftop Bar & Restaurant is a must-visit venue for locals and visitors alike.

Inspired by its uninterrupted views of Newcastle’s harbour, coastline and Hunter Valley region beyond, Roundhouse Rooftop Bar & Restaurant stays true to its Novocastrian roots as it delivers a modern Australian cuisine that sings with local, seasonal produce. For the cherry (or should we say grape?) on top, the wine list showcases a wide range of the region’s most decadent wines. 

For days when a good schnitty and cold beer is calling your name, these new restaurants in Newcastle won’t disappoint.  

The Beach Hotel or ‘The Beaches’ as the locals affectionately call it, is a Newcastle staple that is undergoing massive restorations to bring the iconic Merewether pub into the 21st century. 

Located only a short stroll from the city’s most renowned surf break, the new owner's vision is to create a true modern and family-friendly Aussie seaside pub. The first of the renovations has seen the opening of ‘Larrie’s’, a hole-in-the-wall beachside kiosk styled to replicate a local milk bar from the 70s and 80s, serving up honest Aussie beach staples with a twist.

Did someone say beer? When husband and wife duo, Jaz and Grant Wearin relocated the HQ of their successful brewery from Mona Vale to the seaside suburb of Merewether, they brought with them a unique dining concept and brewery experience never seen before in Newcastle...introducing Modus Merewether.

Grab a beer from one of the 36 taps rotating an impressive selection of Modus’ beers, plus limited-edition ranges, and take a seat amongst the grandeur of the large brewing vats and gigantic pandanus trees. The menu offers a Mexican twist on much-loved pub specials and a creative kids menu that will definitely drag them away from the indoor playground. This is the perfect spot to enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon!

Humbug is a charming, neighbourhood eatery you simply must try when exploring the city’s East End.

With a kitchen led by Michael Portley, former Head Chef of local favourites Subo and The Edwards, Humbug serves a delicious and carefully curated Italian-inspired menu featuring snacks, pasta dishes, meats cooked over charcoal, and a sustainable wine list. Don’t forget to try Humbug’s signature pasta dish, Campanelle, King Prawn, Pork and Fennel Chilli Crunch. There are no words!

This place has a contemporary, yet cosy feel and its location along the leafy Hunter Street gives you a sense of the true Novocastian lifestyle. Book in advance to avoid disappointment.

Bringing the delights of the Hunter Valley to the heart of Newcastle, Harrison’s Food & Wine gives you the comfort of dining at home with the culinary experience of some of the best restaurants around.

As you venture away from the beachside to explore the suburbs, stop into Harrison’s on Tudor Street in Hamilton for lunch, or make a night of it and indulge in the exquisite local wine list and a la carte menu for dinner. It’s cosy, it’s quirky, it’s delicious and it won’t disappoint.

From the streets of Asia to Nonna’s kitchen, these new restaurants in Newcastle are serving up some mouthwatering dishes that are rich in passion and flavour.

Pino’s isn’t exactly ‘new’ to town BUT its tasty breakfast menu definitely is! This Islington-based authentic Italian diner offers up some of the best vegan brekky dishes in town.

The majority of their menu’s elements in-house with locally sourced ingredients, and once you have a taste you’ll 100% be recommending it to anyone who will listen. Its unique yet familiar flavour profile mimics the light-soaked and rustic decor. It’s the perfect opportunity to try something new from your local faves.

Originating in Byron Bay, Light Years Asian Bar & Diner is the latest bold and trendy restaurant to call Darby Street home.

Ideal for after-work drinks or your next birthday bash, Light Years not only delivers punchy flavours, it serves up party vibes that promise to kick-start your evening. Specialising in share-plate style food, zesty cocktails (try the Pineapple Margarita!) and toe-tapping playlists, this is your next destination for a guaranteed good time.

In the heart of Honeysuckle’s harbourside foodie precinct lies Âpē Yakitori Bar, a traditional Japanese yakitori (skewers) haven. The team behind Newcastle’s award-winning Japanese restaurants Nagisa and Susuru, Âpē Yakitori Bar pulls from the traditions of the northern islands of Japan by cooking the entire menu over charcoal flames. 

Engaging every one of your senses, with not only the food but also the enticing outdoor harbour view and indoor seating options, you’ll have gained an experience of a lifetime. 

Bursting with personality and flavour, Oh My Papa is another new restaurant to open its doors and breathe life into the newly developed East End Village. Brought to you by the people behind established local favourites, The Humble Thai and The Grateful Thai, Oh My Papa’s anime-style neon lights and dimly lit interior set the scene for a playful and intimate dining experience.

Explaining their menu as a ‘rollercoaster ride of taste’, the restaurant features some much-loved Asian classics with a modern twist, the food speaks for itself and the vibes are good.

Whether you’re out to impress, seeking an immersive culinary experience or hunting a budget-friendly feed, the Newcastle foodie scene has you covered. The forever growing list of new restaurants in Newcastle each bring their own distinctive and irresistible flair, you’re in for a mouthwatering treat whichever restaurant you choose.