Surf's up at Byron's new rooftop barByron Bay, Australia

Byron Bay, the epicentre of Australia’s counter-culture where hippies and surfers share their idyllic coastal space with backpackers and other transients, has a hot new address where you can blow the froth off a few and watch the waves roll in.

The Rooftop is Byron’s newest and only rooftop bar, located right in the heart of town among the smoothie bars, yoga studios, crystal stores and designer swimwear shops that the coastal hamlet has become renowned for. Best of all though, it’s only a hundred metres from Main Beach.

It’s part of The Surf House, an affordable new boutique property that oozes cool vibes with its bright and breezy interiors and modern facilities. Upstairs, The Rooftop is full Byron surf chic with a little nod to old-school coastal California – think artisan rugs, whitewashed walls and vintage Aussie surf posters and photos, including one featuring a young Bob Hawke.  

After a day of sun, sea and sand, it’s the ideal place to kick off a laid-back Byron evening by indulging in a pint from the local Stone & Wood Brewery or a Brookies G&T from Cape Byron Distillery. The menu’s chock-full of some pretty tasty bites, too.

For those who want to bunker down for the night there’s a range of accommodation options to suit every traveller’s needs, including private suites with balconies and shared rooms for up to eight people. The Surf House also offers complimentary boards to all guests, meaning you can hit the waves nice and early – provided you haven’t had a late one up at The Rooftop.

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