Your Guide on Where to Eat in Kiama
While the Kiama area is known for its sandy beaches, rolling coastlines, and of course the blowhole, the foodie scene here will be sure to have you coming back for more.
Whether you’re here for a family weekend away, a romantic escape or a solo sojourn, we’ve rounded up some of the best eating experiences across the Kiama area.
Feel the Flavours
It would be hard to dispute that Gerringong’s Buena Vista Farm (literally ‘good view’) is one of the most picturesque in the country, with views out over the golf course and onto the sea on one side, and to the escarpment on the other. The farm itself boasts a dedication to practising sustainable agriculture and is home to a kitchen garden, a coffee grove, an ‘almost-avocado grove’, a hen house, beehives , a goat yard, – and that’s just the start. To help encourage people to make connections with where their food comes from, they offer cooking classes where you can learn to make sourdough, cheese, ferments and probiotics and coffee!
Photo Credit: Buena Vista Farm
If the concept of caffeine has got your veins all jittery, head up the road to Daily Grind Coffee Co where you can see the batch roasting process first-hand. Not only do they roast the beans, they make a mean coffee – whether you like yours as a cold drip, frothing with milk or as a straight shot, you’re sure to be impressed. Enjoy a bite to eat with your coffee from their small but mighty menu while watching the production team in action through the roasting window.
Mid-week wanderers, rejoice – the Kiama Farmers’ Markets is foodie heaven. Held weekly on a Wednesday afternoon at Kiama’s Surf Beach, it’s the perfect way to spend an hour or three. Of course there’s the quintessential fresh produce and locally grown goodness, but on top of that you’ll find everything you need to create a ready-made feast. Grapes and grains (and berries) are on display from local wineries, breweries and distilleries, flowers are in full bloom and there’s even kombucha on tap. Tuck into baked goods from Flour Water Salt, take home a curry-pack ready to heat-and-eat, stock up on spices, meats and cheese, or make your way through the eat street, sampling flavours from all corners of the globe.
Take a Seat
With a coastline that looks like this, it would be remiss not to have places (and menus) equally as beautiful for you to sit back and take it all in.
If you’re seeking ocean views, great service and the freshest local produce, Kiama’s Silica is the place to be. Saturday nights see a 6-course degustation menu grace the plates of savvy diners, generally starting with oysters and a ceviche, moving through poultry, pasta and on to red meat before the sweetness of dessert descends. Pair the meal with one of their signature cocktails and you’ll be set.
For those wanting to be a little more active in their choices, but not entirely overwhelmed, only 15-minutes south lies the hidden gem of Gerroa, home to The Blue Swimmer at Seahaven. With a focus on local, seasonal produce their menu is tightly curated to offer only the freshest flavours. From harissa lamb ribs to mussels in laksa, their ideas are bold and execution divine. Offering wine from around the world, there is something that pleases even the most discerning of palettes – think French Grenache Rose, Tempranillo straight from Spain’s Rioja region, a Vermentino blend from the Riverlands and a smattering of biodynamic wines from across the country which truly tell the story of their terroir.
Photo Credit: Diggies Kiama
Group Grazing
No one wants food envy when they’re dining out, so why not have it all. Small plates and tapas-style experiences are a perfect way to while away an afternoon or evening. Add a cocktail or two, and you’re in for the time of your life. Conveniently nestled on Terralong Street, Miss Arda brings the flavours of the Middle East to Kiama. From creamy baba ganoush with fresh Turkish bread to zesty sumac chicken and a show-stopping rose-tahini-pomegranate crusted cauliflower, every bite will transport you straight to the bustling bazaars of the Levant.
Fly Away with Me
If you want to travel without the price tag, taking your taste buds on a journey is the next best thing. Friojoles,
If the boulangeries of Paris are calling you, look no further than Parfait Patisserie. Their shelves are brimming with petits gâteaux and the scent of fresh-baked bread in the air you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’ve made the continental crossing.
The backstreets of the world’s greatest cities are lined with smoky bars, and Kiama’s Little Betty’s brings the New York feel to our coastal hamlet. The self-professed ‘drinking den’ brings some of Australia’s best and most interesting wines to our doorstep, perfectly pairing them with oysters, sashimi, burrata and wagyu steak.
Photo Credit: Parfait Pattisserie
Views and Vines
Perched atop our hills and headlands, and set back only metres from the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Kiama is spoiled for choice of venues to simply sit back and watch the water pass by. On the western side, we have Yves, a modern brasserie offering French-style fare and an extensive cocktail list. Only a stone’s throw away you’ll find Penny Whistlers catering to your every need from the early morning coffee fix to the last espresso martini on a Saturday night. The malted buttermilk hotcakes are a must-try!
Just across the bay, you’ll find Diggies Kiama – offering fresh breakfasts overlooking the harbour, as well as everything from the old-fashioned fish and chips through to the freshest salmon soba noodle salads, fresh juices, cold cans and a cheeky cocktail or two. Stop by for their weekend sundowners and watch the day’s light disappear behind the hills.
The Hill Bar and Kitchen is the place to be seen while in Gerringong, and the view down to the sweeping arc of Werri Beach from the sun drenched patio is close to unbeatable. The menu is filled with favourites, standouts being Prawn Linguine, Arancini and the Buddha Bowl.
Holidays are more than where you stay and what you do, some of the most memorable moments can be where you eat. Download our Dining Guide here, and get to planning your next adventure.
Feel free to share your culinary journey through our area by tagging us on Instagram or Facebook with #KiamaNSW
Helen Demertzis