🍽️ Eat & Drink
The best restaurants & bars on Willoughby Road
Seafood and oysters, courtyard wine bars, a rustic smokehouse, Southeast Asian hawker food, the Crowie and rooftop cocktails — here's where Crows Nest eats and drinks in 2026.
Crows Nest is one of the Lower North Shore's best little eating villages, and almost all of it runs along one street. Willoughby Road is the heart of it — a tight strip of seafood, small bars, smokehouse plates and hawker food — with more places spilling onto Alexander Street and up towards Falcon Street. It's an easy night out now the new Crows Nest Metro drops you right at the top of the hill.
Below are our current picks across restaurants, small bars and pubs. Standard listings are editorial and free — a venue can't pay to be called good.
Our top picks to eat & drink
Six places we'd happily send a friend — from a dozen oysters to a long Friday on the strip.
How to eat & drink Crows Nest like a local
- Book weekend dinners and groups. Willoughby Road tables go fast on Friday and Saturday — reserve ahead, especially for a crowd at somewhere like The Hayberry.
- Fri & Sat are the big nights. The strip is at its liveliest end of week; midweek is quieter and easier to walk into.
- Small bars from 5pm. The little wine bars and the Crowie start pouring from around five — perfect for a knock-off drink before dinner.
- Come on the Metro. The new Crows Nest Metro drops you at the top of the strip, so you can leave the car at home and have a wine.
Eating & drinking in Crows Nest — FAQ
Where's the best dining on Willoughby Road?
Willoughby Road is the heart of the strip — seafood at Garfish, hawker food at Luho and smokehouse plates at The Hayberry are all walkable, with more on Alexander Street and Falcon Street. It's liveliest Fri & Sat, so book a weekend table.
Where are the best bars and rooftops in Crows Nest?
Small Bar's courtyard is the go-to for a date night, the Crows Nest Hotel (the Crowie) has a rooftop and live music, and The Falconer does rooftop cocktails on Falcon Street. The little wine bars start pouring from about 5pm.
Where can I eat late or grab dessert in Crows Nest?
The Crowie and the small bars run late on weekends, and the Willoughby Road strip keeps gelato and dessert spots open into the evening — handy for a late bite.
Do I need to book restaurants in Crows Nest?
For a weekday meal or a pub counter you can usually walk in; for weekend dinners and groups — especially at The Hayberry — book ahead, as the strip fills up Fri & Sat. See the general FAQ.
Get your restaurant or bar listed
Free listings for independent Crows Nest restaurants, cafés, small bars and pubs. Reach locals and the Willoughby Road crowd.