The prawn toast doughnuts land first — split, stuffed, and served with a yuzu kosho dip — and they tell you what Light Years is about before the cocktails arrive. Kim Stephen and James Sutherland opened the modern-Asian diner on Jonson Street in 2017, and it has been Byron Bay's loudest good time since. The format is share-style: a Chef Selection banquet runs A$69 a head, the premium version A$89, and a weekday express lunch is A$30. Head chef Joachim Borenius keeps the kitchen fast and the flavours loud.
The Kitchen
Light Years started in 2017 as Kim Stephen and James Sutherland's bet that Byron Bay wanted modern Asian food with the volume turned up — share plates, big cocktails, a room that runs late. Head chef Joachim Borenius, who came through Sydney's Mjølner, runs a menu split across raw, vegetable and grill, built to be passed around rather than guarded.
The dishes that define it: prawn toast doughnuts with a yuzu kosho dip, salt-and-pepper tofu dusted in Sichuan pepper, and honey king prawns rolled in crisp typhoon-shelter crumbs. None of it is precious; all of it is built for sharing and for drinking. Order by the banquet — Chef Selection at A$69 a head, the premium upgrade at A$89 — and let the kitchen send the run of dishes; the weekday express lunch at A$30 is the cheapest way in. The diner sits at 139 Jonson Street in the centre of Byron Bay, a short walk from the beach, and the cocktail list pulls as many people as the food.
The Room
The room is dark, loud and lit for a night out rather than a quiet dinner — neon glow, close tables, a busy bar at the centre of it. The noise level is high once it fills, so this is a place to lean in and laugh rather than murmur. Seating runs from two-tops to long share tables that suit a group of eight. There is no dress code; Byron turns up in linen and thongs as readily as in something sharper. Service is quick and friendly, and the cocktails keep coming.
Best for Team Dinner
Book Light Years for a team dinner because the format does the work: share banquets mean nobody agonises over the menu, the long tables seat a real group, and the noise gives cover for a loud, relaxed night. Put the team on the A$69 Chef Selection, add a round of the honey king prawns, and let the bar run a cocktail list alongside. It suits the end-of-project blow-out better than the quiet client dinner. For more rooms that take a crowd, see Best for a team dinner and the Byron Bay dining guide.
Not for a quiet first date — the room is loud, the tables sit close, and the menu is built for sharing and volume rather than a hushed two-person dinner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Light Years worth it?
Yes, for a fun, share-style night rather than a fine-dining meal. The kitchen, led by Joachim Borenius, sends modern Asian plates built for the table — prawn toast doughnuts, salt-and-pepper tofu, honey king prawns — and the cocktails are a real draw. A Chef Selection banquet is A$69 a head and the premium A$89. Come for the energy and the group dinner, not for a hushed tasting menu.
How hard is it to book Light Years?
Book a week ahead for a weekend dinner and longer over the summer holidays, when Byron Bay is at its busiest. Weeknights and the early sitting are easier, and the A$30 express lunch (Monday to Thursday, noon to 3pm) rarely needs much notice. The diner is at 139 Jonson Street in the town centre; reserve online and ask for a long table if you are bringing a group.
What should I order at Light Years?
Start with the prawn toast doughnuts and the salt-and-pepper tofu, then build the table around the honey king prawns with typhoon-shelter crumbs. The simplest route is the Chef Selection banquet at A$69 a head, which sends a spread without the decision fatigue. Pair it with cocktails rather than a heavy wine list — the kitchen's loud, sweet-savoury flavours suit a drink with some acid and bite.
Is Light Years good for a team dinner?
Yes — it is one of Byron Bay's best group rooms. The share banquets feed a table without fuss, the long tables seat eight or more, and the noise level suits a loud, relaxed night out. Book the A$69 Chef Selection for the group, warn them it is share-style, and let the bar handle the rest. See our Best for a team dinner guide for more.