HUMBUG

Get around the creative snacks and impressive pastas at Humbug, which is also home to one of the most exciting wine lists in town. The Flotilla is a must – the fun atmosphere and the delicious, clever and seasonal dishes will have you planning your return visit before you leave. Fall in love with Harrison's Food & Wine’s home-style interiors, stunning coastal artworks and honest, tasty plates of food.

Two years in, this Italian-inflected one-hatter continues to surprise and delight with an ever-shifting menu reflecting the region's best bounty at any given moment. Co-owner Mike Portley creates new dishes whenever something grown or reared locally captures his imagination, while out front his business and life partner Stephanie Wells shares her passion for sustainable and under-the-radar wine stars. You'll discover new favourites while your tabletop disappears beneath pasta bowls - the lamb ragu is stunning - and charcoal dishes served with banchan, little flavour-crammed serves of house-made pickles, ferments and condiments.

It's only a few years old, but Humbug is one of the most recognised restaurants in Newcastle, known for breezy, globally inspired eats and its epic wine list. The cuisine absolutely can't be pinned down, but it's delicious and changes regularly (though there's always pasta); think school prawn fritti ssam, Wagyu short rib sandos with karashi mustard, barbecued Fremantle octopus with Calabrian chilli and garum, and pappardelle with lamb ragu, purple peppers, black olive and pecorino. They also take their vegan offering seriously.

Bringing a wealth of experience from working in some of Australia's culinary hotspots, including Africola in Adelaide, Bodega in Sydney, and Newcastle restaurants like Subo and The Edwards, Mike Portley and Stephanie Wells' expertise is vividly reflected in every dish at Humbug. With her background as an event stylist and now a sommelier, Wells adds a unique flair to their partnership, ensuring a delightful Newcastle dining experience. While often described as a pasta bar, Humbug's menu is a global journey of flavours.

The hatted Newcastle CBD restaurant is brought to you by local couple Michael Portley and Stephanie Wells. Humbug is your neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar, serving up an evolving selection of pasta, snacks, and an all-sustainable wine list. Offering a cosy atmosphere for both couples and larger groups alike, we recommend ordering the Feed Me option to get a full appreciation of Michael's talents in the kitchen.Where: 87-89 Hunter St, Newcastle

You’ll hear the hubbub from diners leaning into warm hospitality and generous wine pours before you’re even inside intimate Humbug in Hunter Street Mall. It’s a comfortable space, commanded by cheery co-owners Stephanie Wells (on the floor) and Mike Portley (on the pans). Portley is all about familiar ingredients and dishes with flavour set to stun, so anchovy arrives on flaky Danish pastry piped with lemon zest-spiked parmesan custard.

Mike Portley and Stephanie Wells have collectively worked at some of Australia’s most popular restaurants, from Africola in Adelaide, Black Star Pastry, Porteno, Bodega in Sydney, and in Newcastle, Subo and The Edwards. This kind of pedigree really shows on the plate at Humbug. Throw in Wells’ former life as an event stylist and now, sommelier, and the partnership is all but guaranteed to show a good time.

Stefanie Wells and Michael Portley are the couple that started Humbug, one of the most popular restaurants in downtown Newcastle. Michael takes care of the food creating a menu that he describes as "free flowing and borderless" with a modern take on pasta while Stef takes care of the wine list focusing on small producers around the world. The restaurant is busy - booking is definitely recommended.

Best for: The Feed me option where you leave all the decisions up to the staff. Chef Michael Portley has garnered a lot of attention at Humbug for his Italian-leaning fare with Asian accents. Portley (ex-The Edwards, Bodega, Sydney; Africola, Adelaide) and his partner Stephanie Wells define the spirit of the Newcastle hospitality scene: Humbug is casual, yet sophisticated.

While everything on the menu at Humbug jumps out at you, regulars rave about the Feed Me set menu, where you can get a little taste of everything served banquet style while you sit back and enjoy. Even better is the fact it includes dessert. Menu standouts include homemade pasta (obviously), the 48-hour sourdough focaccia, mushroom dumplings, and BBQ lamb skewers.

With a kitchen led by Michael Portley, former Head Chef of local favourites Subo and The Edwards, Humbug serves a delicious and carefully curated Italian-inspired menu featuring snacks, pasta dishes, meats cooked over charcoal, and a sustainable wine list. Don’t forget to try Humbug’s signature pasta dish, Campanelle, King Prawn, Pork and Fennel Chilli Crunch.

HUMBUG is a special eating experience bar and restaurant in the Newcastle team’s central business district. They have a wide range of pasta dishes and snacks on their menu that are suitable for any occasion. The restaurant’s dedication to ecology is made apparent by its carefully chosen wine list, which only consists of sustainable selections.

Representing the best of Newcastle dining right now is Humbug. A food-lovers paradise, Humbug expertly matches bold flavours with a fun line-up of booze. Every detail within this quirky, art-filled space has been carefully considered and brought to life in a fresh and playful way.

Location: 87-89 Hunter St, Newcastle, NSW 2300 Ph: (02) 4044 4803. Coming in with One Hat in the SMH Good Food Guide Awards 2025, HUMBUG is clearly doing a lot of things right. For a restaurant that does Pasta dishes as its Mains, the Snacks selection is surprisingly eclectic.

Good times diner Humbug came onto Newcastle’s food scene only recently but it’s already made a name for itself among Novocastrians and visitors alike. The neighbourhood restaurant is run by young hospitality couple Michael Portley and Stephanie Wells.

While everything on the menu at Humbug menu jumps out at you, regulars rave about the Feed Me set menu, where you can get a little taste of everything. Even better is the fact it includes dessert. You’ll want to wear your stretchy pants for this one.

The attentive staff take care with gluten-free requests, ensuring dishes are thoughtfully prepared without compromise. The menu's distinctive flavors and standout options, including a wonderful vegan selection, complement the

Michael Portley and Stephanie Wells are, humbly, the ultimate hosts. Mike’s menu paired with Steph’s sustainable wine list and front of house charisma is a guaranteed delight.

By far, the best place to do this in Newy is Humbug, a modern restaurant with a menu that at first glance looks Italian, but actually holds a lot of Asian-inspired touches.

Hunter Street foodie haven, HUMBUG scored second place with a slightly lower average rating of 4.8 but a higher number of reviews.