When Jedd Rifai took over the former Sun Bistro on Bayshore Drive, he had big plans for the space, starting with a name change and removing the ‘no dogs allowed’ sign. His vision was to create a community hub, the kind of place you can while away an afternoon in the open-air beer garden with your furry mate, bring the family or celebrate the region’s bounty of local produce grown on the doorstep. With an impressive 20-year track record of successfully managing pubs, hotels and restaurants throughout Australia and New Zealand, including director of food and beverage for QT Resorts, Jedd got to work creating the kind of space he wanted to spend time in. Looking around the sun-drenched beer garden that’s brimming with edible flowers, herbs and some of the hottest red chillies known to humankind, it’s pretty clear Jedd has fulfilled his vision. If you needed any proof, beyond the sea of smiling faces, when a devastating fire ripped through the nearby bushland at the end of last year, the directive from the local firefighters on the ground was to save the pub at all costs. The reason being, that North Byron Hotel is so much more than just a place to drink.
When it comes to the menu, you’ll find a selection of elevated pub classics alongside Mediterranean-style share plates such as fresh oysters, crudo with citrus gel, verjuice, fermented chilli and lime, Byron Bay burrata with heirloom tomatoes and local macadamia, and local king prawns with burnt-lemon butter. Chef Jack Edwards is known for his 48-hr Napoli-style pizza dough, making over half a tonne of fresh pizza dough weekly. On the last Saturday of every month, North Byron Hotel hosts Open Skies BBQ in the garden. Each iteration of the event partners with local producers and a different local beverage provider. Among the selections, you’ll find prime cuts sourced from Cromwell Farms, fresh vegetables from Sun Coast, and sustainably caught seafood from Northern Rivers Seafood all cooked on a custom-built rig that hovers over a smouldering charcoal barbecue. In winter, the barbecue sessions transition to classic Sunday Roast with all the trimmings. There’s also a roster of events that range from kids pizza and pasta cooking classes through to Drag Trivia and the comforting camaraderie of Tuesday Night Pasta Club. Come weekend, the rhythm of local and international DJs and bands transforms North Byron Hotel into an idyllic, fairy light-lit hub of good vibes and Byron Bay buzz. Oh, and if you happen to be in town for Caper Food & Culture Festival from May 17–26, North Byron Hotel is the presenting partner and will be rolling out events over the 10 days.
