By Vivienne Pearson
If you haven’t been to Lismore for a while, you might be in for a pleasant surprise. On a recent day-trip, I found the centre of town to be full of laneway cafes, street art and buskers. Though the centre of town is bordered by four streets in a rectangle, I admit to getting lost – happily so, as I discovered a few gems as a result. Just don’t expect this many choices if visiting on a Sunday – quite a few Lismore hospitality staff take a well-deserved rest day.
A Retro Mecca
There is a lot of history in the Mecca Café, having been built in the 1930s and with most of the current décor from the 1950s. Owners Kelly and Todd McLean have ‘only’ been here for ten years but have so many people dropping in to share their memories that they have plans for a memorabilia wall.
80 Magellan Street. M–F 6.30am–5pm, Sat-Sun 6.30am–2.30pm.
Facebook: @themeccacafe
New but the same
After 16 years, Goanna Bakery and Café changed hands at the end of 2016 but there will be little change to this popular eatery other than a freshen up. New owners, Wendy and Wade Perrins, plan to stay with the ethos of vegetarian food with lots of gluten free and vegan options, all made onsite, along with reverse-osmosis filtered water, and supporting community communication (including distributing the Byron Shire Echo!). It is also one of the few places open on a Sunday.
171 Keen Street. M–F 8am–5.30pm, Sat 8am–3pm, Sun 8.30am–3pm.
