When Pat opened Luna in April 2022 on the beachfront strip of veteran Terrigal cafes it was his determination to not be “just another cafe”. The combination of consistently great coffee, unique Middle Eastern-inspired flavours, and a chill vibe is drawing locals to welcome Luna as one of the community.

Pat grew up a Matcham local and after working around NSW in hospitality for 15 years, including running his first place in Grafton for the last six, he and his wife decided it was time to move home. When the spot in Terrigal next door to the famous Bellyfish cafe came up they backed themselves and moved on in.

“We know our food and coffee is good. We make everything on-site and want to be a little bit edgy as it’s so easy to become a carbon copy of everything else,” Pat said.

You’ll find that edge in the West Asian-inspired flavour spin on some of your classic favourites such as Middle Eastern Hot Cakes, or the most popular dish on the menu Green Garlic Scramble; featuring Middle Eastern style scrambled eggs with green garlic chives and chilli labne served on sourdough.

As a business owner, Pat found he was craving the opportunity to create a unique menu during his first venture in Grafton where fresh homemade food didn’t fit the market of takeaway and on-the-go items for those travelling through. In Terrigal, he’s finding a solid community of locals who support the culture of small businesses in the area.

“It’s nice to have the local support and get to know our customers, and to show that all cafes can coexist and share those customers.”

Luna serves up its consistently fresh and tasty breakfast and lunch menu alongside coffee by Dark Arts Coffee Roasters in a modern and chic space. The decor reflects the unique twists found in the menu with pops of character such as textured tabletops, subway station tiles and wall art by Indigenous artist Vesper Creations.

Next up for the Luna team is transforming from cafe to bar in the afternoons, with beers on tap and a bar snacks menu.

“We want to be somewhere to chill for a beer without having to dress up or go to the beer garden.”

With the outlook straight across to Terrigal Beach, we’d happily pull up a chair at 5am for coffee, stay all day and finish with a sundowner!