Featured, Restaurants, Reviews

Inside Light Years Newcastle: lush interiors, bold favours, and cocktails to match

August 20, 2025

Quick Bites:

🍤 What we ate: King prawn roll, Mud crab prawn & scallop dumplings, Pork belly bao, Spicy Korean fried chicken, Light Years special fried rice, Espresso martinis
🍷 Best for: Group dinners, friend nights or date nights
🌅 Location perks: Right on Darby Street in a beautiful art deco building, close to Newcastle’s café and bar scene
🚗 Parking: Street parking available around Darby Street
⭐ Vibe: Lush, stylish, and lively
🧼 Hygiene: Clean and well-maintained
🧻 Amenities: Restrooms available on-site
🛜 Wi-Fi: Not available
📍 Where? 5–7 Darby St, Newcastle NSW
💰 Price: $$–$$$ depending on how much you share
🪑 Reservations: Bookings recommended, especially on weekends

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Stepping into Light Years Newcastle feels a little like being transported out of the city and into a lush, light-filled retreat. Housed in a beautiful art deco building on Darby Street, the restaurant immediately draws you in with its soaring double-height ceilings, leafy greenery, and those curved booths you see on every aesthetically stimulating feed on instagram. The oversized pink marble bar is a centrepiece in itself, perfect for sipping cocktails while watching the bartenders in action. It’s easy to see why Light Years has quickly become one of Newcastle’s most talked-about dining spots.

Hanok is an authentic korean BBQ experience in Newcastle

The space is undeniably striking. Warm pink tones play against cream walls and green accents, creating a setting that’s both vibrant and calming. It’s the kind of place where the natural light makes every dish glow and where a simple weekday dinner feels like an occasion. You could almost come here just for the atmosphere – the aesthetic is that inviting. But once you do settle in, the food and drinks prove to be every bit as considered as the design.

What we ate at Susuru Newcastle

The menu at Light Years Newcastle celebrates modern Asian flavours, crafted for sharing and paired beautifully with their punchy cocktail list. Each dish we tried balanced freshness with indulgence, and while everything was enjoyable, there were definite standouts. My personal favourite was the pork belly bao, a perfect richness of Asian flavours paired with a soft bao. The king prawn roll, while tasty, could have used a little more filling, but the rest of the spread easily made up for it.

Light Years Newcastle menu: See here

King prawn roll – $16
Yuzu tartare, lettuce, tobiko, furikake, brioche bun. A fresh, small bite with subtle citrus, though a little more filling would have elevated it further.

Mud crab, prawn & scallop dumplings (4) – $22
Red vinegar, shellfish oil, dill. A delicate balance of seafood sweetness and acidity, very moreish. Anyone hates it when dumplings only come in fours? I wish every dumpling dish had a minimum of eight pieces, haha.

Pork belly bao (4) – $32
Chilli caramel, cucumber kimchi, sriracha mayo, lettuce. The star of the table – tender pork with a fiery-sweet glaze, cooled by crisp vegetables. The bao buns were soft and chewy, just the way I love it.

Spicy Korean fried chicken bao (4) – $32
Cucumber, Light Years ranch, lettuce. Crispy, juicy, and just the right amount of heat. The sauce paired with the soft bao is a match made in Asian heaven.

Light Years special fried rice – $28
Prawns, BBQ pork, egg, sweet corn, snowpeas, mustard greens, peas, and their signature flavour bomb. Comforting and packed with textures. It think any type of their stir fried rice options is a must-have for the table.

Why Light Years Newcastle belongs on your list

Dining at Light Years Newcastle feels more like a whole experience. Between the vibrant setting, thoughtful menu, and easygoing atmosphere, it’s the kind of restaurant you’ll want to revisit whether it’s for a date night, cocktails with friends, or simply to indulge in your favourite bao. If you haven’t been yet, it deserves a spot at the top of your Newcastle dining list.

Have you checked out Light Years Newcastle? They also have branches in Byron Bay, Noosa, Burleigh, and Perth. I’d love to hear what you ordered and if you love it. I think the place is perfect for special occasions and a nice brunch with girlfriends. Let me know if you’ve tried it and how you felt about it!

Check out the blog and instagram for more local food stories, and tag me on Instagram if you want me to try something! I’m always up for a food recommendation.

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