For more extensive eating try High Street, particularly at either end - around the City Centre Mall and nearby Grafton Street, and down in the block or so before Coffs Jetty. At the ocean end of High Street, on the corner of Camperdown Street, the Pier Hotel has a bistro with good, inexpensive counter meals (daily 7-9am, noon-2pm & 6-9pm), while the Tahruah Thai Kitchen , 360 High St (tel 02/6651 5992), is recommended for its spicy stir-fries. Tandoori Oven , nearby at no. 384 (tel 02/6652 2279), has tasteful, marine-inspired decor and a menu to match, along with good-value vegetarian thalis. Tequila at no. 24 (tel 02/6652 1279) serves Mexican food and margaritas while Maria's , no. 368, is an Italian BYO with pasta, pizza and seafood chowders. For French-style cuisine, try Peter's Peppermill at no. 372 (closed Sun & Mon; tel 02/6652 5855), with specialities such as barramundi in Chardonnay sauce. Chinese food is available at the Golden Crown at no. 374 (Tues-Sat eve only; tel 02/6651 6787), which serves a large selection of seafood stir-fries. Innovative, international food with a hefty price-tag can be found at Passionfish Brasserie , 384 High St (closed Sun & Mon; tel 02/6652 1423). Down at the Marina, the Tide & Pilot Brasserie (tel 02/6651 6888) has excellent, though expensive, seafood specials with waterfront views, while the Fisherman's Co-op does $5 fish & chips to die for, but closes at 5pm.

Nightlife in Coffs is lively in summer, but very mainstream. There are generally live bands playing cover versions at some venue around town from Wednesday to Sunday, usually with free entry. On Friday and Saturday nights the RSL Club , on the corner of Vernon Street and the Pacific Highway, has two live bands, free entry and very cheap drinks until 2am. The Plantation Hotel , 88 Grafton St, puts on live music once or twice a week. For a more sedate drink, the Greenhouse Tavern , on the corner of Bray Street and the Pacific Highway, lets you sip in a reasonable approximation of tropical rainforest surroundings in its gazebo - they also serve tasty, good-value food. For a contemplative drink overlooking the ocean, the verandah at the yacht club bar in the marina is hard to beat.