The Best Restaurants and Food Experiences in Wollongong Right Now

Wollongong's food scene has improved dramatically over the past decade, driven by the city's rapid population growth (driven by interstate migration and the expansion of the University of Wollongong's international student population), the influx of Sydney food professionals seeking better value and lifestyle, and the growing recognition of the Illawarra's exceptional produce (the Southern Highlands fruit and vegetables, the South Coast oysters and seafood, the Illawarra dairy and meat). The result is a food scene that increasingly rivals much larger cities on a per-capita basis.

Crown Street and the Wollongong City Centre — Crown Street (the main commercial street running through the Wollongong CBD) has emerged as the city's most dynamic restaurant and cafe street over the past five years: the extraordinary variety of independent cafes, restaurants, and bars (including some genuinely excellent ramen, Thai, and modern Australian options) alongside the heritage art deco and Victorian shopfronts create a food culture that is more interesting and diverse than Wollongong's modest reputation would suggest. The Wollongong Farmers' Market (monthly, at Levey Street carpark) and the Wollongong City Markets (Thursday and Saturday, in the CBD market square) provide regular access to excellent local and regional produce.

Thirroul and the Northern Illawarra Villages — the northern Illawarra villages (Thirroul, Bulli, and Clifton, 15-25km north of Wollongong) have developed an excellent cafe and restaurant culture that complements the extraordinary beachside setting: the Thirroul village cafe culture (the Perch, the Marlin Hotel, and the new generation of specialty coffee cafes) and the Thirroul Beach (one of the Illawarra's finest surf beaches) together create a beach-and-brunch experience that rivals Noosa and Manly for natural setting if not scale. The Lawrence Hargrave Drive (the coastal road connecting the northern Illawarra villages to Stanwell Park and the Royal National Park) is one of NSW's most spectacular coastal drives.

The Illawarra Escarpment Produce and Berry — the Illawarra Escarpment hinterland (the dairy farms, berry farms, and market gardens on the tablelands above the escarpment) provides excellent produce accessible by the Macquarie Pass road: the Robertson area (40km west of Wollongong) is famous for its dairy and cool-climate produce, and the town of Berry (55km south, on the South Coast) provides an outstanding artisan food and boutique wine experience that is easily combined with a Wollongong base.

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