Top 5 picks for date night venues on the Mid North Coast

Here's a helpful list of venues you may wish to visit when you’re in the mood to dress up, have something to celebrate, or simply craving a candle-lit dinner.

Yes, there’s Valentine's Day, but there’s also birthdays, anniversaries, or days when there’s too many dishes in the sink already. Maybe you mowed the lawn and deserve a treat, or perhaps you’ve been to the hairdresser and can’t waste the blowdry style. You get it – we all deserve a little spoiling sometimes.

Take a look at our date night ideas and if you have a recommendation yourself, please send it over to [email protected]

🟡 The Stunned Mullet, Port Macquarie

I recently asked a Port Macquarie local for his date night recommendation. He said “the stunned wallet”, giggled, and assured me it was worth it. Looking online, I’d happily save my pennies for a night out at this venue.

The Stunned Mullet is known for its innovative menu and world class wines. The restaurant offers lunch and dinner, and has a menu just for oysters and an extensive wine list. Dinner is a fixed price menu of $110 per adult and offers a kids menu, too.

ℹ️ Open Tuesday to Saturday

🟡 Whalebone Wharf, Port Macquarie

Overlooking the Hastings River, it’s no surprise this Port Macquarie restaurant is popular with seafood lovers with local prawns, oyster, calamari, and various fish dishes on the menu.  

The thing I love about Whalebone is its commitment to supporting local suppliers from Hastings River Oysters, to Milly Hill lamb and Kenny Little’s vegetables – they even use herbs and edible flowers from the onsite garden.

The restaurant offers lunch and dinner, with mains ranging between $45 and $58, alongside an impressive wine list. 

ℹ️ The waterfront venue also offers several function packages, including weddings.

🟡 The Garden Bar, Frederickton

Another waterfront restaurant, this time over the banks of the Macleay River. The Garden Bar is a popular venue for functions and events including weddings. 

The lunch and dinner menu is designed for sharing, with their large plates ranging from $24 to $32, and kids meals for $16. There are plenty of cocktails to choose from  – perhaps that's why it also has a shuttle bus available for bookings.

ℹ️ If you’re keen to keep date night to the comfort of your own home, The Garden Bar has a takeaway menu.

🟡 Stef & Co, Coffs Harbour

Book a table in Stef & Co’s osteria restaurant and enjoy modern Italian dishes together.Choose a pasta dish from $34 or a premium steak for $56. Or perhaps you’d prefer to set up for sunset at  Stef & Co’s pizzeria and cocktail bar where all pizzas are made with organic slow fermented (72 hours) dough.

Located on the jetty promenade this venue also has water views.

ℹ️ Stef & Co hosts regular gigs and events including live bands, DJs, jazz fusion and free latin dance nights every Wednesday from 6pm.

🟡 Twotriplefour, Port Macquarie

Twotriplefour by Bills is a farm-to-table restaurant that focuses on seasonal, locally sourced produce. 

The venue also offers Farmhouse Picnic Hampers for those looking to find a patch of grass with a view for date night.

ℹ️ Tuesday to Friday, the venue offers a lunch menu from the deli you can enjoy in the garden

Before we go, here’s a bonus top-three Bellingen restaurants.

For Mediterranean vibes Bruno’s is a must, for rustic Italian check out Charlie’s on Church, and if you happen to be in the area on a Saturday night Fiume is a fave.

Do you have a recommendation for date night venues on the Mid North Coast?
📧 Email us at [email protected]