Graze with Booze on the Sapphire Coast

Cool bar culture is thriving on the Sapphire Coast, not least thanks to the team that has brought us Bar Superette! Serious about food and wine but casual in nature, Bar Superette beckons with an irresistible lineup of hard-to-find wines, perfected Euro-inspired bites and traditionally preserved seafoods and fine cheeses.

Bar Superette is both a wine bar and store with more than 450 bottles of wine on offer, and about 20 offerings by the glass. You can savour wines in their cosy bar (complete with vinyl spinning on the daily) or otherwise pick your favourite drop for a boozy picnic or night in. Ask the sommelier for a recommendation and they'll be sure to surprise you.

Uptown in holiday central Merimbula, hidden behind a picket fence, is a little cottage with fabulous things on offer. A humming bar for beers and cocktails, a caravan serving up great burgers and oysters, an outdoor courtyard garden under a shady Jacaranda tree, and there’s often a DJ spinning tunes to help shimmy away the evening (which may have started as an afternoon) all helped along by authentic and professional service. By great burgers we mean the Dulcie burger, cheese burger, chicken burger, shroom burger, build your own burger and a load of pickly, bacony, sides and fries. Dulcie's is a legendary Merimbula hang out, for good reason; the team delivers on all levels and has a few awards to show for it. Open every day, Monday to Friday from 5pm and weekends from 12.

Firstly, Fat Tony is not fat. We think Ant Little was named ironically, but perhaps he keeps fit by shaking cocktails all summer long or maybe it’s from surfing… whatever, many a legendary Margarita has been shaken and consumed alongside a plate of natural oysters at the busy bar of this very local eatery over the years. Ant grew up in the old version of the Tathra Hotel so he has a few stories to share. Fat Tony’s is housed in the lovely Harbourmasters cottage right at the top of the hill, conveniently next to his brothers bottle shop. Favourite dishes like ‘Fat Oysters’, ‘Chicken Little’, the generous steak, pasta and crispy calamari can never leave the menu. White Rabbit and Kosciusko on tap and a strong wine list. The vibe is casual and convivial, with gleaming floorboards and simple warm deco. Ant loves large groups and there are outdoor tables for those long Summer evenings. Open Wednesday to Saturday from 5.30 with occasional Sunday sessions with local musicians to be watched for.

On the main street of lovely Pambula Village you’ll find a little cafe / eatery with a dedication to big flavours, consistent culinary excellence and good times. Toast Cafe has a lot more going on that its name would suggest, with chef’s dinners, Mexican nights, some incredibly refined specials and a cocktail philosophy worth investigating. Both cooks and coffee makers at Toast take their responsibilities very seriously, the coffee here is mindfully made with ONA beans from the popular Canberra roasters. Chef Ollie is always creating something new and delicious so you can visit again and again. Breakfast cocktails on the shaded outdoor deck under a big cedar tree? Why not? Breakfast is as good as it gets here. One thing we’ve learned recently is that we should celebrate life when we can, and Toast is ready to help you with that. Open seven days from 8am with Mexican on Wednesday nights.

Up on the main street of Eden, Ollie Mason’s offers delicious food, an extensive wine and beer list and great times with live music Saturday nights and Sunday lunch time. The team at Ollie Mason’s are passionate music lovers so it is worth checking out the live sessions each week. Chef Jodie’s menu offers meals from around the globe, with oysters, seafood platers, fish and chips, grilled prawns, Thai salads, lobster ravioli, cheese souffles, desserts, many smaller plates to combine and add to, for brunch, lunch, drinks and dinner. As with the best on the Sapphire Coast, Ollie Mason’s sources local produce seafood and meat. The bistro offers indoor and (covered) alfresco dining and fur babies are welcome on a leash. Open from 11am Wednesday to Sunday, dinner Thursday, Friday and Saturday. (Bookings essential, there’s a button on Facebook!)

Located in Candelo’s historic general store building, carefully refurbished in 2014, cafe / store combo, is an elegant hot spot in this lovely creek-side village. The Cafe is a busy and popular licensed eatery, making great coffee and drinks, serving hearty, rustic food with a courtyard that is often a stage for local musicians, of which there a many. Enjoy a glass of Prosecco with your housemade cake, a beer with your BLT, and the veggie burgers are perfect to pair with a glass of red. Smoothies like green kiwi and ginger, and a selection of tarts and slices for take away also, but the space is so pretty and vibe so warm and friendly you could end up dining in. The store has a range of groceries, local produce, breads, hardware and farming supplies and collectible Candelo souvenirs, extremely browseable. Open every day.