The dining room looks straight down onto Wategos Beach, one of the few sands in Byron Bay that faces the sunrise. Raes is the restaurant inside the small luxury hotel of the same name, perched at 6-8 Marine Parade, and executive chef Jason Saxby cooks a Mediterranean menu built on the day's local catch. The house tagliolini with Ballina king prawns, bottarga and a tomato crumb is the signature. A three-course dinner runs AUD 125, the eight-course tasting AUD 195.
The Kitchen
Raes sits above Wategos Beach at 6-8 Marine Parade, the restaurant of a seven-room luxury hotel that has drawn the Byron Bay set since the 1990s. Executive chef Jason Saxby leads the kitchen, cooking a Mediterranean menu with an Australian coastal accent, and the dining room has held two hats in the Good Food Guide through its recent editions. Saxby's cooking leans on what the local boats and farms send in, so the carte shifts with the season.
The signature is the house-made tagliolini with Ballina king prawns, bottarga and a tomato crumb, a dish that has become the table's reason to book. Around it Saxby builds a short menu of local seafood, hand-made pasta and wood-grilled plates, available as a three-course dinner at AUD 125 or an eight-course tasting at AUD 195, with a wine pairing at AUD 135. The cellar is deep on Australian and Italian bottles, and the Cellar Bar downstairs offers a more casual beachside option. This is refined coastal cooking that trusts its produce rather than crowding the plate, and the view does the rest.
The Room
The room is small and bright by day, framed by windows that fill with the beach and the headland, and candle-lit and intimate after dark. Sound stays low and conversational, the lighting softens to warm at dinner, and the handful of tables are spaced for privacy rather than packed in. Dress is smart-casual with a coastal ease; this is Byron Bay, so linen outranks a jacket. Seating is limited, which makes a booking feel like an event. Ask for a window table at sunset, when the light comes off the water and the headland turns gold.
Best for Proposal
Book Raes for a proposal because few rooms in Australia stack the odds in your favour like this one. Three reasons it works: the window tables look straight onto Wategos Beach and the headland at sunset, the room is small and intimate enough that the moment feels private, and the eight-course tasting gives the evening a slow, deliberate arc. Reserve a window seat, time the tasting to land dessert at dusk, and let the staff know in advance so they can help. Picture the last light on the water, the prawn tagliolini between you, and a ring in your pocket. See our proposal dining guide for more.
Not for a quick or casual bite. The dining room is a destination tasting-menu room with resort pricing; for a relaxed walk-in, the downstairs Cellar Bar is the better call.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Raes at Wategos worth it?
Yes, for a special occasion above Wategos Beach. Raes is the dining room of a small luxury hotel, executive chef Jason Saxby holds two hats in the Good Food Guide, and the prawn tagliolini and eight-course tasting deliver on the setting. It is resort-priced and the seats are limited, so it earns its bill for a proposal, an anniversary or a milestone rather than a casual dinner out.
How hard is it to book Raes at Wategos?
Booking is hard, mainly because the dining room is small. Reserve directly or through the hotel as far ahead as you can, especially for a sunset window table on a weekend, when seats go first. Midweek is a little easier. If the dining room is full, the downstairs Cellar Bar takes walk-ins for a more casual beachside meal with the same view.
What should I order at Raes at Wategos?
Order the house tagliolini with Ballina king prawns, bottarga and tomato crumb, the signature dish, and if you have the evening, take the eight-course tasting at AUD 195 with the AUD 135 wine pairing. The menu changes with the local catch, so ask what came in that day. Time dessert to land at dusk for the view. See our Byron Bay dining guide for more.
Is Raes at Wategos good for a proposal?
Yes, it is one of the best proposal rooms in the region. The window tables look onto Wategos Beach and the headland at sunset, the small dining room keeps the moment private, and the long tasting gives the evening a deliberate build. Reserve a window seat, time it for dusk, and tell the staff in advance. For more options, see our proposal guide.