Shaws Bay Hotel

Set on the water at Shaws Bay in Ballina, Shaws Bay Hotel is a renovated pub with a distinctly waterfront setting. The venue offers dining, drinks and live music, with its beer garden, courtyard and pavilion arranged around a beachside backdrop. The dog-friendly beer garden makes it an easy option for a relaxed catch-up where four-legged companions can join the group.

Food is a central part of the venue, with a bistro menu built around fresh, locally sourced produce where possible. The menu is curated by hatted chef Justin North, with local head chef Lachlan Smith leading the kitchen. The website also highlights signature cocktails, sunset drinks, pizzas from the oven and a seafood platter, giving visitors a choice between a casual bite and a longer meal with drinks. Its weekly program includes bottomless brunch, happy hour, trivia and live music, although offerings may vary by date.

The hotel is suited to a range of occasions, from an afternoon drink or casual meal to birthdays, celebrations and larger functions. The venue’s team takes enquiries for intimate gatherings and bigger events, with dining and entertainment available across the renovated space. Couples can settle in for a drink by the water, while families and groups have room to spread out between the courtyard, pavilion and beer garden. Solo visitors can also drop in for a meal or live music without needing a formal occasion.

There is a deeper local story behind the site. The hotel’s history page describes Fenwick House, a grand residence built in 1886 by Captain Tom Fenwick near the mouth of the Richmond River, overlooking Shaws Bay. The house later served as a boarding school, hotel and private residence. That history, combined with the current waterfront setting and broad mix of food, drinks and events, gives Shaws Bay Hotel a strong sense of place in Ballina.