Light Years
Designed by Studio Plenty and Sarah Ellison, Light Years Asian Bar & Diner in the Jonson Lane precinct in Byron Bay, is yet another Byron destination to add to your must-visit list.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Jessie Prince
Light Years co-founders Kim Stephen and James Sutherland have tapped head chef Joachim Borenius (ex- Mjølner Sydney) to create a menu alongside executive chef Robbie Oijvall. Photo: Jessie Prince
Starters include prawn toast doughnuts with a yuzu koshu dipping sauce, or salt-and-pepper tofu seasoned with szechuan pepper and honey king prawns with typhoon shelter crumbs. Photo: Jessie Prince
At the bar, find cocktails such as the ‘Netflix and Chill’ combining popcorn infused rum, passionfruit and lemon; or the Szechuan Sour infused with gin, Aperol, vermouth and orange. Photo: Jessie Prince
The elevated new menu stays true to the classic and much-loved Light Years style of share plates tailored to group dining. Photo: Jessie Prince
Interior designer Sarah Ellison has led the restaurant’s fit-out in collaboration with Studio Plenty. Photo: Jessie Prince
The open-plan dining room includes a peachy colour palette. Photo: Jessie Prince
Perch at the bar for a drink, or settle into one of the cosy banquets for a lengthy feast. Photo: Jessie Prince
Without any doubt, the number of must-visit food destinations in Byron Bay are on the rise.
Light Years, is one such foodie stop you must visit while you’re in town.
After closing the original venue in early October, Light Years reopened late last year in the new Jonson Lane precinct with expanded food and drink menus, and new head chef Joachim Borenius (ex- Mjølner Sydney).
Co-founders and restaurateurs Kim Stephen and James Sutherland have worked together with executive chef Robbie Oijvall and Borenius, as well as interior designer Sarah Ellison and Studio Plenty, on the change in location, menu and upgraded design.
‘We’re so proud to be opening this new venue in the heart of Byron Bay, where our journey began, so that the community who helped us grow the brand can continue to be a part of its evolution,’ says James.
With that evolution comes custom designs by Sarah Ellison and Studio Plenty, who have created a space that is a departure from Light Years’ signature tropical style, utilising the venue’s L-shape, natural light and a peachy colour palette to create an open-plan dining room with a terrazzo table-top bar at its centre.
While the food and drink menus remain playful, the venue emulates the maturation of the brand. ‘Our broad concept was informed by the sensibility and order of traditional Asian interiors; an exciting juxtaposition to the bubbly personality of the food, cocktails and wait staff,’ says Will from Studio Plenty.
For Sarah Ellison, creative direction of the interiors were driven by focus to design a contemporary restaurant that felt at home in Byron Bay with an elevated and urban feel akin to a more metropolitan location.
‘This allowed us to bring in all of the things we love about Byron; the warmth, the sun, some earthiness and a grounded “barefoot” vibe that enhances the feeling of being on holiday, which we’ve been able to bring in through materiality and colour palettes,’ she says.
Light Years will be open 7 days for dinner, with lunch service from Friday-Sunday. There is a private dining room available for hire as well as multiple areas suitable for entertaining large groups, and dog friendly seating on outside tables.
The new space makes the most of the venue’s L-shape, with the prettiest peachy colour palette. Photo: Jessie Prince
The Light Years private dining room. Photo: Jessie Prince
Highlight dishes on the menu include hot and tingly BBQ lamb ribs; and honey king prawns with typhoon shelter crumbs. Photo: Jessie Prince
“We’re so proud of the new venue in the heart of Byron Bay, where our journey began, so that the community who helped us grow the brand can continue to be a part of its evolution.”
The Light Years menu is a modern take on Asian cuisine. Photo: Jessie Prince
The peach-hued restaurant is in the new shiny Jonson Lane precinct in Byron Bay. Photo: Jessie Prince