WOODS Bangalow

I had an absolutely amazing experience! From the moment I arrived, everything was perfect. The food was incredibly good and very yummy — fresh, full of flavour, and beautifully prepared. Every bite was a delight. Maya was especially wonderful. She was so kind, attentive, and welcoming, which really made the experience even more enjoyable. Her friendly service made us feel comfortable and well looked after. The environment was great — clean, cosy, and with such a lovely atmosphere. On top of that, the service was super fast without ever feeling rushed. Overall, it was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend this place. I’ll definitely be coming back again!

One of the best cafes I’ve been to in a long time anywhere in Australia and definitely the best in the Byron Shire. Charming setting amidst a bunch of “hipster sheds” and courtyards with plenty of outdoor seating - perfect for the winter sunshine. Service is friendly and full of positive vibes. Menu is creative and very interesting with lots of eclectic options and specials. All of the breakfast egg dishes were delicious and bursting with flavour and perfectly seasoned. The homemade cakes were also amazing, including the white chocolate matcha tea cake and the peanut butter and fudge brownie. Looking forward to coming back many more times whenever I’m passing through the Shire. Came back a year later and remains equally good!

This happened sometime in 2025. I've waited a number of months to post it. I ordered a vegan panini-type thing - something that goes into a sandwich press. Inside it was a lump of chicken. I hadn't eaten meat for 37 years at the time, so it wasn't great. I spat it into a tissue and had to go back to the car to rinse my mouth. I told one of the staff and she didn't apologise. (I am calm. Not making a drama out of it. I am just telling her that the vegan item I ordered had a sizeable chunk of chicken in it.) I would expect an apology or some kind of attempt to remedy the situation. She said it wasn't done on purpose, but said that it must have been in the sandwich press (or whatever the tool they use to grill it is) from the sandwich before... (Not great that they put a non-vegetarian sandwich into the press without cleaning it before the next sandwich that is vegan.) There was no offer of reimbursement or of replacing the item. They just kind of looked at me as in...well? I suggested that I order something else, which was actually of lesser value and there was no offer to at least return the difference (bearing in mind I had eaten a very small amount of the sandwich...not that that should change the situation in any way. Even if I got the chicken on the last bite, then I haven't received the item I paid for). Then the replacement item took a long time to come out...to the point that I thought it had been forgotten. Overall it was a very disappointing experience, as we loved the vibe of the place when we arrived. If not for the 'chicken incident' we would have definitely returned when in Bangalow. Maybe it was a one-off and badly handled on the day. I was very softly spoken, not making a scene, but the whole thing was not dealt with well. Based on this experience, I would never return.

We stopped by WOODS in July for a cosy brunch and it was such a lovely experience. Sat at a little table tucked under greenery, with a nice warm sun glow coming through. We had the full breakfast with salmon, eggs, avocado and veggies and also tried their burger, which was one of the best I’ve had in Australia. The mango coconut smoothie was spot-on, and the cold brew coffee with coconut milk was really nice. It’s definitely on the trendy (and pricey) side, but the vibe is worth it. Cute, stylish, and one of the coolest spots in Bangalow. After brunch we wandered over to the nearby record store and craft shops, which was a nice experience and our first time poking around that part of Bangalow. A charming find and highly recommended if you’re passing through town. My Instagram: @BenCanTravel My Youtube: @BenCanTravel

While many tourists will grab a cuppa in the Main Street of Bangalow, those looking for something a bit more eclectic will venture down a side street to The Lumber Yard complex. Woods is nestled up the back with plenty of seating under cover. Service is friendly and attentive, coffee has grunt and the gf muffin is a meal in itself. Stay away if you can’t stand the sight of lots of happy punters! If you walk across the road to the show grounds, you may be lucky to see some working equitation in progress.