Once a railway station, now a watering hole, the pub’s aesthetics haven’t lost much in the way of its former layout – that’s including a ticket window that now takes beer orders and a beer garden that overlooks dilapidated railway tracks. Yes, it’s only a six-minute walk to Byron Bay’s main drag of beach, but that’s not even its selling point. Railway Friendly Bar hosts live music seven nights a week and has been doing so for 30 years.

The Railway Friendly Bar hosts free gigs every night of the week (everything from funk to reggae). The Beach Hotel is a good spot for sundowner drinks and crowd-pleasing cover bands. La La Land has DJs spinning tunes for the party set.

Where to soak it up all depends on your tastes—you’ll find folk singers busking at Main Beach during the day or on Jonson Street corners in the evenings, a regular rotation of touring Australian and international rock bands at The Northern Hotel, and free, rollicking shows by mostly local acts every night of the week at The Railway Friendly Bar (aka The Rails). The Beach Hotel (the Top Pub or The Beachy in the local vernacular), a sprawling venue overlooking the bay and originally built by Paul Hogan (Crocodile Dundee) and his sidekick John Cornell, has a regular reggae night on Mondays, plus cover bands, DJs, and the odd 1990s nostalgia gig. Pick up the local free magazine The Byron Bazaar for a gig guide.

Trading Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10:00am – 12:00amAddress: 86 Jonson St, Byron BayA mere saunter away, The Rails at 86 Jonson Street promises an authentic slice of Byron with its daily servings from mid-morning till late. This venue, a beacon of community and music for over three decades, hosts an array of live performances echoing with roots, reggae, blues, and rock. Patrons find solace and excitement in the open beer garden, sampling from an extensive selection of brews.

Popular hotspot The Mez Club is the breezy bar Byron has longed for with a trendy Mediterranean design and vacation ambiance. Upstairs has been skillfully developed to cater for groups, leaving downstairs for couples as well as pals to laze by the floor-to-ceiling windows flung open to allow the balmy winds and also forage on tapas. Happy hour is leisurely, from 3pm to 5pm on a daily basis and includes local favourites Ink or Brookie’s G&T s for the ultimate sunset sips.

Step into a world of nostalgia and conviviality at the Railway Friendly Bar, nestled in the heart of Byron Bay. This cherished establishment isn’t just a bar; it’s a living piece of history that adds a distinctive charm to the town’s vibrant social fabric. Between 4 and 6 PM daily, the Railway Friendly Bar offers a journey through time with a happy hour experience that seamlessly merges the past with the present.

Travellers to Byron Bay quenched their thirst at the Railway Friendly Bar for the best part of a century until the final whistle blew on the Casino to Murwillumbah railway line. The trains through Byron Bay might have stopped but the bar by the historic station is thriving, and is a favourite watering hole with locals, particularly on Friday nights.

The Railway Friendly Bar, Beach Hotel and Great Northern Hotel all offer live music on various nights. The Top Hat Bar offer relaxed cabaret night while the Latin offers everything Latin from food and music to dancing. A couple of nightclubs in the area include Cocomangas and the Carpark Nightclub, again offering a selection of music.

The Railway Friendly Bar proffers your typical Aussie pub experience with an ample outdoor setup and an open beer garden. Accompanied by local and international live music acts, this is a great place to eat and drink in Byron Bay, Australia. With over 20 brews on tap, the Railway Friendly Bar is a scenic spot to enjoy a drink in town.

No matter what day of the week it is, you’ll be able to head into the Rails Hotel, aka The Railway Friendly Bar, to enjoy live music. This venue has been a staple on the Byron Bay bar scene for over 30 years and has kept all of its original, quirky charms. The lineup of talent is varied and features local and touring bands.

The Rails (The Railway Friendly Bar): Known for its relaxed atmosphere and nightly live music, The Rails is a staple of Byron Bay’s nightlife. It offers an intimate setting where you can enjoy great music and a cold drink under the stars.

You haven’t been to Byron Bay if you haven’t had a beer with the locals at The Railway Friendly Bar, or a dance at the famous Beach Hotel. It’s a local thing, baby!. Why not head to all the best local bars on a little pub crawl?

For more than 25 years, The Railway Friendly Bar, fondly known as The Rails, has been Byron Bay’s number one spot for hanging out and cracking open a cold one with friends.

If cocktails aren’t your thing you may prefer the ‘Railway bar’ – a converted railways station where it’s all about the beers and the live bands!