The FOLLO Guide to Newcastle : Follo

Culture connects us all

It’s how we make friends, why we travel and explore other places, how we spend our time, make memories and live our best lives.

This is our extensive guide for you to stay & experience Newcastle without spending your entire stay wondering what to do.

We’ve got you covered from breakfast to day-spas, arts to beaches and picnic spots. Read on for our top picks in Newcastle.

On this page

Cafes

Restaurants

Bars

Family-friendly licensed venues

Take away & home delivery

The FOLLO Guide to Newcastle

Cafe’s

The Autumn Rooms

Fresh local ingredients, Autumn Rooms take breakfast and lunch to the next level. Upstairs you will also find The Tea Rooms.

Darby St, Cooks Hill

Talulah

One of our favourites in Newcastle, Talulah at The Junction offer evolving seasonal menus and a homey space to enjoy with your close ones.

Glebe Rd, The Junction

Good Brother Espresso

This place is a local coffee legend.

Opening as later-on as a wine bar too.

The best of both worlds really!

King St, Newcastle

Xtraction Espresso

The menu offers the freshest ingredients and a consistency that keeps people returning week after week. Order ahead on the app.

King St, Newcastle

The Kiosk Newcastle Beach

The ultimate local coffee spot. Whilst the view is incredible as you sit right on Newcastle Beach, the coffee and food choices are too!

Newcastle Beach, Newcastle

Three Monkeys

A balance between healthy, delicious and photogenic food. Always delicious and Instagramable! We personally love the smoothies.

Darby St, Cooks Hill

A few of our other favourites:

LOLAs, Darby St Cooks Hill

East End Hub, King St Newcastle

Estabar, Shortland Esp Newcastle

Welsh Blacks, Bull St Cooks Hill

Akuna Cafe, Patrick St Merewether

Merewether Surfhouse, Henderson Pde Merewether

Goldbergs, Darby St Newcastle

Equium Social, Pacific Hwy Mayfield

Wickham Boatshed, Hannell St Wickham

Crumb, Elder St Lambton

Restaurants

Rustica

With stunning views over Newcastle Beach Rustica offer an unforgettable dining experience with food from the heart. Definitely book ahead!

Shortland Esp, Newcastle

Blanca

A blend of traditional and new. Coastal mediterranean in the heart of Newcastle, in the ever growing and vibrant Honeysuckle precinct.

Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle

Signal Box

Known for their delicious seafood options, with harbour views and a modern contemporary setting you can sit inside the glasshouse or top-deck!

Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle

Antojitos

Antojitos is a casual California/Mexican street food restaurant specialising in burritos, tacos, nachos and more. Delicious food in a very cool warehouse space.

Steel St, Newcastle West

Scratchleys

Scratchleys on the Wharf, and Battlesticks Bar offer some of the best seafood and wine in the region, with stunning views of Newcastle Harbour.

Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle

Light Years

Delicious modern Asian cuisine and great cocktails, amongst a beautifully curated, palm filled oasis. For any groups larger than 2, make sure you book ahead!

Darby St, Newcastle

A few of our other favourites:

Âpé Chilean Nikkei, Honeysuckle Dr Newcastle

The Kingfish, Honeysuckle Dr Newcastle

Locks Paddock, Watt St Newcastle

Napoli, King St Newcastle

Elementa, The Ln Maryville

Humbug, Hunter St Newcastle

Alfie’s Italian, Regent St New Lambton

Peregrin, Frederick St Merewether

Casa Nova Italian, Honeysuckle Dr Newcastle

Meet, Darby St Newcastle

Bars

Urban Deli

A little taste of Europe, right here in Newcastle curated by Kasia and Tim. On offer are gorgeous home made fresh pastas, charcuterie and cheese, and great wine.

Darby St, Cooks Hill

The Koutetsu

A small speakeasy bar, The Koutetsu specialise in cocktails, craft beers and premium wines, and stock a great range of Australian Gin and Japanese Whiskey.

Hunter St, Newcastle

Charlies Rooftop

A taste of Palm Springs, Charlies features a large undercover rooftop, a large menu, and house music DJs for those who love a little boogie on the weekend.

Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle

Bar Mellow

Great cocktails, wine, and snacks in the beautiful heritage bank corner. Cocktail classes are also on offer if you’re looking to upgrade your hosting skills.

Hunter St, Newcastle West

The Blind Monk

The Blind Monk caters to all crowds, couples date night in the front bar, families in the restaurants or a girls group in the beer garden.

Beaumont St, Hamilton

Merewether Surfhouse

Watch the sun go down with ocean views and cocktail in hand at the Surfhouse Terrace Bar. Great food, great drinks, and great views!

Darby St, Newcastle

Family-friendly licensed venues

Modus Brewery

Modus is a great space to catch up with extended family and friend groups, with a playground area for the kids and chilled out vibes.

Merewether St, Merewether

Sydney Junction Hotel

SJs is a family-friendly pub in Hamilton, just minutes from the CBD. With a sports bar, live events, and kids playground, theres something for the kids, big & small.

Beaumont St, Hamilton

The Mary Ellen

With a recent renovation, The Mary Ellen now has a kids play room, and dining area with booths to enjoy. The food is top tier, and the service fantastic.

Glebe Rd, Merewether

Lowlands Bowling Club

With a playground within eyesight at Centennial Park, and two greens for social bowls, Lowlands offers a casual space for families to enjoy.

Dawson St, Cooks Hill

Adamstown Bowling Club

A popular spot for families and larger groups, ABC has an onsite playground and lots of space for kids to run. Saturday afternoons with live music are our favourite.

Glebe Rd, Adamstown

Sunnyside Tavern

The kid friendly and casual beer garden with playground is the perfect spot for a relaxed meal with your little ones. All of their favourite meals too!

Broadmeadow Rd, Broadmeadow

Take away & home delivery

Betty’s Burgers

For classic burgers, tasty sides, and a great selection of desserts, Betty’s Burgers is available for pickup or delivery via DoorDash.

Perkins St, Newcastle

Banh Mi 233

A delicious selection of Vietnamese dishes, Banh Mi 233 is hard to go past if you’re craving fresh, and full of flavour. Delivery via Uber or Menulog.

Hunter St, Newcastle

Sapphire Indian

With multiple awards and accolades, choose to dine in, takeaway or have delivered some of the best Indian Cuisine in Newcastle.

Glebe Rd, Merewether

Don Beppino’s

Established over 50 years ago, Don Beppino’s offers authentic Italian full of flavour and love. Dine in, or take away and enjoy.

Railway St, Merewether

Eight Buns

From dumplings and noodles to soups and stir fry’s, choose from all of your favourite Chinese dishes. Dine in, take away, or delivery available.

Beaumont St, Hamilton

Susuru

Described as ‘Japanese Soul Food. Made with Heart’, Susuru has a range of delicious ramen and gyoza dishes. Eat in, take away, or have delivered.

King St, Newcastle

Gyms – with casual visit available

Muse Pilates

Directly opposite Newcastle Beach you will find a boutique Reformer Pilates studio. For those who can’t miss their weekly classes, this is a must! Casual and package options available.

Shortland Esp, Newcastle

BFT

In the Newcastle CBD on Hunter St, BFT offers high intensity group classes. With multiple classes a day and casual and package options available, it’s great if you’re just visiting Newcastle.

Hunter St, Newcastle

Genesis Cooks Hill

Conveniently located in Cooks Hill, Genesis is a spacious gym with free weights and pin-loaded weight room, functional training room, cardio area and sauna facilities.

Brooks St, Cooks Hill

Spa & Relaxation

Endota

Relax and rejuvenate in tranquility with Endota. From massages, to facials, tanning and waxing, this is the perfect spot to pamper yourself during your stay.

Hunter St, Newcastle

Zadig

Zadig Studio offers a new standard of wellness using infrared sauna therapy and cold immersion therapy to transform your health and wellbeing.

King St, Newcastle

Ngaya Wellness

Ngaya Wellness offer healing through message, energy work, dry needling and spa packages and have an extensive service list to choose from.

Hunter St, Newcastle

Art, Cinema, Exhibition

Civic Theatre

From musicals to comedy, live music to kids entertainment, there is always something on to suit every member of the family.

Hunter St, Newcastle

Entertainment Centre

When some of the worlds biggest acts or sporting teams stop by, you’ll find them at Newcastle Entertainment Centre or McDonald Jones Stadium.

Showground, Broadmeadow

Newcastle Art Gallery

Although currently closed temporarily as it’s being reimagined, keep an eye out for the exciting upcoming exhibitions once it reopens later in 2025.

Laman St, Cooks Hill

Newcastle Museum

With a variety of permanent and special exhibitions, there is something to see and experience for people of all ages.

Workshop Way, Newcastle

Mitch Revs Gallery

Mitch is a bit of a Newcastle icon, creating icon pieces and experiences. You can purchase his artwork, homewares and merch, or get involved in a workshop.

Union St, The Junction

Event Cinema Kotara

Offering Gold Class and Vmax, catch the latest and greatest films in comfort. Conveniently located in Westfield Kotara, you can both shop and watch!

Park Ave, Kotara

Family Activities

Dullboys Social Co

Eat, drink, play, bowl and party at Dullboys Social Co. They have it all including cocktail bar, karaoke, arcade, dodgem cars, mini golf, and tenpin bowling!

Hillsborough Rd, Warners Bay

Treetops Adventure Park

From beginners to more advanced courses, Treetops offers a climbing and outdoor experience that will get your heart rate moving whilst enjoying nature.

Treetops Rd, Minmi

TimeZone

TimeZone is the perfect family activity especially for the rainy days! Arcade classics and immersive VR experiences are just the beginning.

Pearson St, Charlestown

GoKartsGo

For those with the need for speed, this is a great one to switch off the devices and onto the track. Unleash your competitive side!

Griffiths Rd, Broadmeadow

Ice Skating

Take to the ice and ace the glide at Hunter Ice Skating Stadium. Check their weekly timetable for Public Skating times and get moving with the kids.

Macquarie Rd, Warners Bay

Ninja Parc

For first timers or pros, Ninja Parc offers obstacle courses and climbing activities that will keep your energetic bundles occupied for hours!

Brooks St, Cooks Hill

Beaches

Nobbys Beach

The iconic resting spot of the Pasha Bulker back in 2007, Nobbys is a popular patrolled beach for locals and tourists with volleyball nets

Newcastle

Horseshoe Beach

Just around the corner from Nobbys, you’ll find Horseshoe Beach – our favourite dog friendly spot to cool off with your fury friends.

Newcastle

Newcastle Beach

Home to Newcastle Ocean Baths, Newcastle Beach is a renowned surf spot with a promenade, skate park, art deco pavilion and kiosk.

Newcastle

Bar Beach

At the base of Newcastle’s Anzac Memorial Walk, cool off after a run, a workout or spot of wall ball at Empire Park, with a sweet treat from Swell Kiosk.

Bar Beach

Dixon Park Beach

Patrolled and perfect for a beach day, Dixon Park beach boasts enough space for every cool mum, her cool bubs and her cool cabana.

Merewether

Merewether Beach

Hop between the ocean surf and ocean pools at Merewether Beach, maybe stop in for an iced coffee or cocktail at Surfhouse in between!

Merewether

Newcastle Ocean Baths & Beach

Merewether Ocean Baths

Bar Beach

Parks & Lookouts

King Edward Park

Home to Newcastle’s famous Bogey Hole, spend a day at King Edward Park amongst stunning gardens and beautiful scenery.

The Hill, Newcastle

Empire Park

Relax with a book or run around at Empire Park, with tennis courts, wall ball courts, skate park and sports oval.

Bar Beach

Foreshore Park

With shaded playground, picnic shelters and walking paths, and often host to markets and events, stop in at Foreshore park.

Newcastle

Blackbutt Reserve

Experience a wildlife encounter at Blackbutt Nature Reserve, home to a number of cute Koalas and Peacocks within the purpose built wildlife exhibits.

New Lambton

Hickson Street Lookout

One of the most instagramable spots in Newcastle, Hickson St Lookout has stunning views over Glenrock reserve, perfect for a picnic on a sunny day.

Merewether

Strzelecki Lookout

At the top of Anzac Memorial Walk, Strzelecki Lookout is accessible, with some of the best views out to the Pacific Ocean.

The Hill

Empire Park

King Edward Park – The Bogey Hole

Hickson St Lookout

Walks & Trails

Newcastle Memorial Walk

Memorial Walk was constructed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Anzac landing in Gallipoli. Accessible entrance from Strzelecki Lookout.

The Hill, Newcastle

Yuelarbah Walking Track

Yuelarbah walking track is a great day walk, tracking through Glenrock State Conservation area with scenic views, small waterfalls and picnic spots along the way.

Kahibah / Merewether