Raes on Wategos

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!

Superb Sunday lunch at this truly iconic place. Service was friendly, warm and knowledgeable. The food was inventive and even playful, and showed lots of local touches. Everything was to a very high standard. Great wine list too.

If you visit for the right reasons… the food, the wine and the team… you will be blown away by this 2 hatted restaurant! Leave your insta cocktail and preconceived ideas at the door and allow yourself to be bedazzled by experts in kitchen and front of house! The octopus, duck and cheese tart were our standouts, with a knowledgeable team that guided us through matching wines, which added to the perfect bite!🤌🏻 It was emotional!✨

Raes on Wategos – Pure Coastal Luxury From the moment we arrived at Raes on Wategos, we knew we were in for something truly special. Nestled on the edge of Wategos Beach, the location is nothing short of breathtaking — crystal-clear waves, golden sand, and the relaxed Byron Bay vibe all come together seamlessly. The service was warm, attentive, and incredibly personal. Every staff member made us feel welcome and cared for, striking the perfect balance between professionalism and friendliness. Our suite was stunning — spacious, beautifully designed with Mediterranean touches, and a private balcony with ocean views that made every sunrise feel magical. The attention to detail was evident in everything from the luxury linens to the curated mini bar. Dining at the restaurant was another highlight. Each dish was a celebration of fresh, local ingredients, prepared with creativity and finesse. The seafood in particular was outstanding. Raes isn’t just a place to stay — it’s an experience. Intimate, elegant, and effortlessly chic. Whether you’re looking to unwind, indulge, or celebrate something special, this is the place. We can’t wait to return.

Genuinely some of the best customer service I have ever received and the food was so amazing. Definitely the best restaurant I have ever tried handsdown the waitress Elena I believe that was her name was so lovely and so accommodating. My only suggestion is to make their menus a little bit clearer as I ordered two glasses of wine thinking they were $13 but instead were 25 each as the 13 meant the page number where you could find the wine list but was not clear on the front page that it wasn’t linked to a page number so I assumed it was the price and would not have paid $25 for two glasses other than that would 1000% go back multiple times. Definitely worth the price.

Went to Rae's for lunch. Food was great but hands down what made the experience phenomenal was one of the wait staff. Our designated server was good but nothing could top Gaby's aura - constantly smiling, extremely warm and overall, her authenticity. As someone that regularly dines out at restaurants, if I think about the staff at these venues, none of them are any better than the last. You get a decent service as you expect, but aside from that, it becomes just another restaurant. Anytime Raes comes up in conversation, I will always mention that if you're lucky enough to meet Gaby, you will agree that she's absolutely amazing.

Raes on Wategos is the first place we've stayed where my husband and I felt that it was a home away from home! We recently got engaged and the team went above and beyond to set the perfect scene. We were blown away by the staff - they were all very cheerful, kind and attentive. You could tell that they love what they do and they do it with pride. We were extremely happy with the service and we look forward to our next stay at Raes. We would also like to thank them for their wonderful recommendations - because of Rae's we were able to meet our 2 talents - Shane the photographer & Jonathon the violinist who played a massive part in our surprise proposal. The entire experience was a dream, so much so that we wanted to continue dreaming and invite them both back to be a part of our wedding! These two are experienced, great communicators, flexible, reliable and have a great person centred approach to creating a moment personalised to your needs. We are extremely grateful and glad to have enjoyed our experience here at Raes. Thank you all, The France family

We had a superb experience at Raes Restaurant. Delicious dishes, especially the squid ink pasta. The service from Cindy and her colleagues was excellent! We thoroughly enjoyed the night

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.