You’ll find the light and breezy Lighthouse Beach Cafe sitting rather happily on top of the Ballina Surf Club.
As soon as you arrive at the Lighthouse Beach Cafe, the first thing that completely grabs hold of your attention is the view! This coastal vibe cafe enjoys some world-class ocean views from pretty much every table of the ocean, sand, and surf. Seriously, what more could you ask for? Oh yes, and pre-breakfast ocean dips aren’t mandatory, but they sure do come highly recommended!
On my most recent visit, I arrived just ahead of the Saturday breakfast rush, and was lucky enough to score a table next to the window, so I could watch the storm clouds roll in over the water and the local SLSC volunteers set up their beach-patrol equipment, while sipping on my cappuccino.
The cafe is owned by husband-and-wife team Peter and Karen Sinclair, with their head chef Scott Bennett being in the kitchen since first opening five years ago.
With plenty of local fresh seasonal produce throughout the menu, you’ll often see fresher-than-fresh Ballina prawns make an appearance on the daily changing specials menu, and on the super-popular seafood platter, with fresh locally caught fish also a big feature on the lunch and dinner menus.
Okay, but back to breakfast! I was feeling like being healthy, having only just returned from my little foodie adventure around Tasmania, so ordered the Vegetarian Breakfast $22 (only narrowly avoiding the temptation of adding a side of bacon, mind you!), which was piled high with two perfectly oozy poached eggs, toasted sourdough, fresh spinach, baked mushrooms and a tasty pumpkin-and-corn fritter, along with pickled vegetables that provided a lovely little balance to the beautiful rich eggs. We also ordered the Smashed Avocado $18, which came with a generous serving of seasoned-like-a-pro creamy and lush smashed avocado, juicy and sweet roasted cherry tomatoes, rocket salad, and toasted sourdough, both satisfying our hunger and need for healthy flavours cooked with love.
If lunch or dinner is more your thang, and you’re keen to enjoy a wine, beer or cocktail with your meal, you are in luck, my friend, as these guys are fully licensed – YAY! So you can enjoy the summer coastal classic of local beer-battered fish, along with a cold beer AND a cracking view over the ocean all at the same time! Yew!
Lighthouse Beach Café is open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch. With dinners from mid-October through to mid-February. Plus private hire of the venue and catering are also available year round.
www.lighthousebeachcafe.com.au or follow the food, views and fun @lighthouse_beach_cafe.
Words and images by Terase Davidson: Terase is the founder of Taste Byron Bay, a local business that showcases local produce across all their menus for catering, events, private dining, food tours & cooking classes. For more information contact: www.tastebyronbay.com or follow the fun on INSTAGRAM @tastebyronbay.
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