
Rails Kitchen
A historic railway station turned iconic pub offering over 30 years of free live music, a bustling beer garden, and classic pub fare.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Rails Kitchen

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A historic railway station turned iconic pub offering over 30 years of free live music, a bustling beer garden, and classic pub fare.
"Experience the legendary live music scene and historic charm of this beloved Byron Bay institution."
Embrace the Beer Garden
Visit during summer afternoons for a relaxed experience in the beer garden with numerous tap beers.
Check Schoolies Events
For exciting parties and Schoolies.com events, keep an eye on their website around August.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Pub Fare
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+61 2 6685 7662
Address
The Railway Hotel, 86 Jonson St, Byron Bay NSW 2481, Australia
Website
therailsbyronbay.com/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Live Music Haven
Experience over 30 years of free live music featuring local & touring bands playing roots, reggae, blues, funk, folk, and rock nightly.

Historic Railway Station Charm
Dine in a unique venue that was once Byron Bay's train station, retaining its charm with a public bar on the old platform.

Sun-Drenched Beer Garden
Relax and enjoy classic pub fare in the idyllic beer garden, perfect for summer afternoons with over 20 brews on tap.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Embrace the Beer Garden
Visit during summer afternoons for a relaxed experience in the beer garden with numerous tap beers.
Check Schoolies Events
For exciting parties and Schoolies.com events, keep an eye on their website around August.
Order with Confidence
While the atmosphere is great, food quality can be inconsistent. Be clear about dietary needs.
Be Prepared for Waiting
On busy nights, meals can take a while. For quicker service, consider off-peak times.
Tips
from all over the internet
Embrace the Beer Garden
Visit during summer afternoons for a relaxed experience in the beer garden with numerous tap beers.
Check Schoolies Events
For exciting parties and Schoolies.com events, keep an eye on their website around August.
Order with Confidence
While the atmosphere is great, food quality can be inconsistent. Be clear about dietary needs.
Be Prepared for Waiting
On busy nights, meals can take a while. For quicker service, consider off-peak times.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Rails Kitchen offers a vibrant atmosphere with a rich history and a lively live music scene. While many praise the energetic vibe and friendly staff, particularly noting the unique setting and enjoyable music, some diners find the food to be overpriced and inconsistent in quality. There are also occasional complaints about slow service during busy periods and limited options for specific dietary needs.
"Went to see Soul'D band and decided to have dinner as well. Food really good, wasn't sure as it's a rough and ready casual fun vibe there. Five stars as one of our friends got up for a dance and staff didn't realise and took her only just started dinner. They had no problems replacing it. Would definitely go back for just the food."
Kaz
"Gus was great. The food was very ordinary, very. I think cook wasn't happy. The fish is just small bit and overcooked. The bar staff are friendly and happy except one girl, with long pony tails, who said she was so tired she wanted to leave. I would do permanently. The new USA guy was a good bartender, remembering what you drink and was happy."
Mully Johnsen
"BROCK OH BROCK, my heart purrrs for the delightful man that charmed me, my wife and Austin (the most well respected seamstress / tech executive of Vancouver, Canada, North America ) thank you thank thank you BROCK - forever changed forever in love - Give BROCK A RAISE, $250k minimum or I get Austin my good friend to call her good friendS Christian Laboutin AND the house of Gucci AND Anthony albanese"
Vince Hallam
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Rails Kitchen features free live music nightly, with genres ranging from roots and reggae to blues, funk, folk, and rock.
Yes, the sun-drenched beer garden is ideal for summer afternoons and offers a wide selection of tap beers.
While they claim to accommodate, reported vegan options are minimal, often consisting of plain vegetables.
Wait times can vary. On quiet nights, it's been over 50 minutes, while busy periods might see delays. It's recommended to be patient or visit during off-peak hours.
Rails Kitchen has a casual and relaxed atmosphere, so there is no strict dress code.
Some reviewers find the food to be overpriced for the quality and portion size. It's advisable to manage expectations.
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For over four decades, The Rails Hotel has established itself as a cherished institution on Byron Bay's lively Jonson Street, offering not only free live music but also an abundance of positive energy. This humble venue has become a hub for both local and touring bands, showcasing a diverse range of genres, from roots and reggae to blues and funk. With its sun-drenched beer garden, The Rails Hotel provides an idyllic setting to relax and enjoy a summer afternoon, complete with classic pub fare that perfectly complements the quintessential hotel experience.
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Central Byron comes alive at night with amazing live music and vibrant nightlife options, venues like The Beach Hotel, Great Northern Hotel, The Rails, Cheeky Monkeys and Cocomangas are all of legendary status in Byron Bay. Official Schoolies.com events are held in some of the best venues in Byron Bay, info for these is released around August. These are the parties you want to be at, to be among the Schoolies crowd and celebrate the end of the school days with your fellow school leavers.
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A post shared by T A Y L O R (@taylorbandlive) on Jun 18, 2018 at 3:38pm PDT. Having a drink while on a holiday isn’t unheard of, but try grabbing it at a cool location like the Railway Friendly Bar, and you’ll surely want to take a picture (or more likely a selfie) to remember your stop here. It gets its name because visitors to the bar used to hear the sounds of the trains on the Casino to Murwillumbah railway line until the line ceased use.
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Just one street back from the main road on Jonson Street, The Rails is a beloved venue with over 30 years of free live music history. Originally an active railway station, a thoughtful refurbishment has turned this spot into a favourite nightlife venue attracting both locals and tourists. Its relaxed beer garden with 20 different tap beers is perfect for those seeking a laid-back but fun evening.
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Located just a short walk from the town centre, this iconic pub has been a favourite among locals and visitors for over 30 years. The Rails has a laid-back, welcoming atmosphere, with a spacious outdoor area where you can enjoy a drink and catch up with friends. The pub has live music almost every night, ranging from local acts to big-name artists, and the food is delicious too.
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A true local gem, The Rails is known for its welcoming atmosphere and live music scene. Nestled just a short walk from the beach, this pub features an extensive beer garden and a diverse menu, including tasty pub classics and daily specials. With live music performances almost every night, The Rails is perfect for those looking to experience Byron Bay’s vibrant music culture.
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The Rails is what the locals affectionately call The Railway Hotel. The best thing about it is that the railway stopped coming through town about fifteen years ago, but we so loved our local pub that it’s remained open for business. There is a beer garden that spills out onto the car park, plus a cute little public bar that still sits on the dysfunctional railway platform.
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Just a three minute stroll from Basq House, The Rails has been presenting free live music to Byron Bay locals and lovers of this special place for more than 30 years. Formerly the Byron Bay train station (hence the name), this venue hosts local and touring bands that are best served loud. You’ll hear everything from roots, reggae and blues to funk, folk and rock.
Bars and Clubs
We’ve been home to free live music every night of the week for over 30 years. Join us nightly to see local and touring bands playing everything from roots, reggae and blues to funk, folk and rock. Catch up in our famous open beer garden, choose from over 20 brews on tap and enjoy a long, lazy lunch or dinner with live music as your soundtrack.
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Every evening, we have live music for your enjoyment, with a diverse range of genres including reggae, roots, blues, funk, folk, and rock. Our spacious and airy bar is filled with quirky decorative items, and we also have plenty of outdoor seating available. Just remember to grab your own food and drinks, as we don’t have waitstaff.
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In the heart of Byron Bay is an old train station renovated into a now popular bar and restaurant called The Rails. For over 30 years, The Rails has been a popular hangout for locals gathering after work to enjoy live music, including reggae and rock, as well as great-tasting food and sports screenings.
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Explore Byron’s Arts Scene – The town hosts numerous festivals, live music events, and art exhibitions throughout the year. Try Byron’s School of Art, Lone Goat, Yeah, Nice Gallery, Ninbella Bangalow and Thomgallery to name a few. Check out local venues for a taste of the region’s cultural offerings
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If you’re into live music, The Rails Hotel will be your Byron go-to. Delivering free live music every night of the week for the past 30 years, these old-school legends know how to deliver a laid-back pub atmosphere. You’ll find Rails in the centre of town just a quick 5min walk from The Surf House.
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Rails Byron Bay is one of the best bars in Byron Bay because it’s where all the locals head to enjoy live bands that play most nights. The bands range from reggae to blues to funk and rock. You can even head there for a good pub meal before sipping on a drink and dancing along to the music.
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Local publican and ex-rugby league great Tom Mooney owns a string of watering holes throughout northern NSW – but you’ll rarely find him drinking anywhere but at The Rails. The same applies to Byron locals. And the reason is clear – The Rails (aka the Railway Friendly Bar) is unique.
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The Railway Friendly Bar, known as “The Rails,” offers a laid-back setting with live music every night of the week. This venue, once a railway station, is famous for its open-air beer garden, where locals and travelers gather to enjoy great tunes and cold drinks under the stars.
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The Rails is just one of those places, your night out should start here, no matter how you look at it. Live music every night of the week (booked in chunks, way in advance, to the best of my knowledge). The Rails is just a well-known legend in these here parts.
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With bands playing live most nights and more than 20 draft beers, The Rails is the venue to let your hair down. Bands range from reggae to roots, blues to funk, and folk to rock. The open-plan bar is spacious, with quirky memorabilia dotted around.
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In a celebration of what the best this town can do, the folks at Stone & Wood are coming together with the Rails to put on a night of great local music, good food and chilled beers with a Cloud Catcher tinnie bar in operation.
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There's also live music and dance parties at the Beach Hotel, Saltwater Social Club, and The Rails, similarly casual surf-esque shacks where you'll find people having a boogie and a bevvie (to borrow the Aussie lingo).
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Catch buskers holding impromptu performances and local and international musicians playing different music genres in some of the Bay’s top bars and hotels such as The Beachy, The Rails, and the Northern Hotel.
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The Rails is a perfect bar in Byron to spend a nice relaxed evening. They serve awesome food that you can eat outside while enjoying live music. Most of the time the band plays till 9pm, but sometimes longer!
The Byron Bay Schoolies Guide.
Just behind the shelter is The Bay's main information kiosk, and behind the kiosk is The Rails. This is actually a good place to start your club rounds.
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Rails: For birthday dancing, no matter which day of the week!. From roots, reggae and blues to funk, folk and rock, enjoyed from the open beer garden.

Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit