Raes on Wategos

A birthday lunch to remember at Raes on Wategos. From the moment of arrival, the experience felt special, with a warm welcome and attentive, genuine hospitality that set the tone for the afternoon. The setting was stunning, and the relaxed yet elegant atmosphere made it the perfect place to celebrate a birthday. The food was truly excellent – beautifully presented, full of flavour, and thoughtfully balanced across each course. Service throughout the lunch was superb: professional, friendly, and intuitive without ever feeling intrusive. The team anticipated needs before they were voiced, checked in at just the right moments, and added a personal touch that made the celebration feel extra special. Overall, the experience at Raes on Wategos was exceptional and turned a birthday lunch into a memorable occasion. It is a place that inspires a return visit and is highly recommended to anyone looking for a refined, memorable dining experience for a special day.

Wow what a night! Francesco had plenty of presence and character. The restaurant was absolute quality. Thank you so much to Francesco - who is too good looking for his own good! A wonderfully giggly character who made our night so special we can’t thank you enough. The food was marvellous too might I add… the waffle and cornetto are add ons you must try! Thank you all! I’d defo recommend what a treat on our last night of our holiday :)

This is little more than a collection of words, but it is all I can offer in return for what was, is, and may well always remain the highest calibre of hospitality I have experienced in Australia. The location itself is the result of good fortune meeting intelligent planning, and from a business perspective it speaks for itself. That is not where my focus lies. What truly deserves attention is the food. Jason Saxby, whom I had the privilege of working with briefly, is in my opinion one of Australia’s premier chefs. His (and his teams) clarity of thought and continuity of expression are present in every bite. Each dish is precise, purposeful, and intellectually sound while remaining deeply satisfying. Nothing is forced. Nothing overreaches. It is cooking driven by understanding rather than ego. He does not work harder for the sake of it. He works smarter. And that intelligence is unmistakably felt in the food. I am deeply grateful for my experience at Raes. I can only hope the rest of Australia continues to evolve toward valuing experience, restraint, and genuine culinary expression at this level. Thanks Jason, and of course your wonderful team. ❤️

I came for dinner and had the taster menu and what a fantastic experience all round! The staff are incredibly friendly, knowledgable and passionate about the menu. Every dish was explained brilliantly, any questions I had were answered and if they couldn’t immediately, went to the chefs and came back with the answer! Every dish was incredibly well thought out, the trio of pre-starters were all wonderful, then each dish after that was hit after hit! A Wonderful experience and I’ll be back again! Thank you to the chef and the team!

Amazing welcome from the moment we arrived, with a lovely introduction to the staff. Everyone was incredibly kind and professional. The food was a true show, the tasting menu was absolutely delicious from start to finish . A wonderful experience overall, and we would definitely come back for another special occasion. Thank you so much.

I booked a night at Rae’s as a surprise for my partner’s birthday. The night cost nearly $2000 with breakfast included. Having recently been to Qualia (their birthday gift to me) on Hamilton Island for about the same cost, I was expecting great things. Other than Watego’s Beach at the end of the street, there was nothing on offer. We had a nice cordial on arrival and a cheap bottle of prosecco waiting in our room when we got there. At Qualia there is unlimited French champagne on check in and a lovely bottle of the same when you get to your room. There are chocolates and freshly brewed herbal tea waiting for you after dinner alongside the bed turn down service. Nothing like that at Rae’s. Dinner at the original guest house was good and reasonably priced. When we got to breakfast most things were either no longer available or too much trouble (my partner doesn’t eat eggs, but the egg with avocado and feta could not be removed - they’re integral apparently). A piece of toast with avocado on it really doesn’t constitute a gourmet breakfast. I’ve been going to Byron Bay since the late 70s and there is no doubt it is a beautiful part of the world, but Rae’s should not be charging for that. It’s there already! It was a very expensive night for what it was and we would not go back

The Raviolo entrée was delicate and full of flavour, and the Bay Lobster tagliolini was the standout — perfectly cooked and beautifully balanced. The Iced VoVo dessert was a playful, nostalgic finish. Overall, Raes Wategos delivered thoughtful dishes, flawless execution, and a gorgeous setting. Special shout-out to Daniel, our wonderful server. Highly recommend.

I just wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you all for the amazing experience we had at our annual girly lunch on Sunday, 5th September. From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely welcomed. The service was absolutely outstanding—even though I can't remember all your names, please know how much we appreciated each and every one of you. Rae’s management team should be incredibly proud to have such dedicated and professional staff. The food was out of this world—beautifully presented, full of flavour, incredibly fresh, and very reasonably priced. Every detail, from the delivery to the plating, was spot-on. It truly was the highlight of our trip, and we’re so grateful for the special memories you helped create. We’re already looking forward to seeing you all again in 2026!

This is a bucket list venue if in Byron Bay, amazing menu, wine list and service in a fantastic building. It is just one of those places that will stick with you for a long time, the food melts in your mouth, wine is to die for and the ambience is everything and some that has you leaving very happy indeed. I was lucky to have a father-daughter lunch and a disclaimer my daughter went to school with the owner's daughter and that aside this is an objective review. Hats off to all staff and I just love the coffee van at the entrance and the amenities were spotless given this Covid crisis you would expect nothing less. Looking forward to returning.

View is fabulous. Wait staff was attentive and well informed. Entrees, Mains and Desserts were all well constructed and tasty. Wines were as advertised. The only downside was being asked to leave after 90 minutes...our waiter had just offered coffee when the "hostess" arrived with the bill and stated they had another party waiting for the table....My husband was in fact up paying the bill. I might suggest in the future that if you have overbooked your tables you invite your guests to enjoy coffee or an aperitif in the bar....maybe even on the house. Sure would be better public relations than having six offended guests each tell six more potential guests where they might get a good meal and not be hustled out the door like Hungry Jacks. I won't be back!

They need to up their game. We stayed in the most expensive room in the hotel at $1450.00 per night. We asked for feather free pillows and they forgot and when someone did show up pillows in hand and we had to put on the pillow covers. NO turn down service. The only water available was mini bar bottles. Our first breakfast was delivered without proper utensils. We went to pay our bill as we were leaving early but they left for the day. You could not get breakfast before 7 am. The plus is that our room was fabulous with a Bali vibe but I don't know if the room was worth it with the lack of attention they pay to their guests.

Situated on Watego's Beach, Rae's is absolutely sensational, the choice of a degustation or order from the menu. Nothing here will disappoint. The wine list specializes in small bouquet wineries so nothing mainstream here. It is a small intimate place and the staff were lots of fun. Great place for couples or a larger group. A Byron Bay must visit.