Light Years - Newcastle
5-7 Darby St, Newcastle NSW 2300, Australia
ClosedToday 17:00 – 22:00 · by the venue's published hoursFull hours
A vibrant restaurant on Newcastle's lively Darby Street, rated 4.7 across more than 1,600 reviews.
Practical details
Opening hours
Closed- Monday
- 17:00 – 22:00
- TuesdayToday
- 17:00 – 22:00
- Wednesday
- 17:00 – 22:00
- Thursday
- 17:00 – 22:00
- Friday
- 12:00 – 22:00
- Saturday
- 12:00 – 22:00
- Sunday
- 12:00 – 22:00
Why it's worth checking out
Light Years sits on Darby Street in Newcastle, one of the city's most popular and characterful eating-and-drinking strips, just back from the city centre and the beaches. With its buzzy, social atmosphere, it's become a firm favourite for a lively night out in a part of town that takes its food and its vibe seriously.
The appeal is the energy as much as anything — a vibrant, welcoming room that suits a group dinner or the start of a bigger evening, right in the heart of one of Newcastle's best strips. In an area with no shortage of options, it's carved out a strong reputation and a loyal following.
With a 4.7 rating from more than 1,600 reviews, it's clearly resonating with locals and visitors alike. Menus, opening hours and pricing change with the seasons, and a popular Darby Street venue fills up on weekends, so it's worth checking current details and booking directly before you go — particularly if you're heading out with a group or planning a weekend dinner.
Spot Score
The Spot Score is our composite of five signals — two about the venue's standing with visitors and three about how complete and current this listing is. It is not a visitor rating and not a verdict on the food or the experience. The 4.7 from 1,610 reviews is Google's visitor rating, shown separately and never altered by us.
About the venue · from Google
- ReputationGoogle star rating, smoothed for review count
- 88
- PopularityHow many Google reviews it has
- 97
About this listing · our record
- Information qualityWebsite, menu and structured details on file
- 30
- Category fitHow well it matches its listed category
- 70
- FreshnessHow recently we last checked our sources
- 30
Last checked against sources 19 June 2026.
Our independent editorial score — not a user rating.
Nearby venues
One Picket Fence
$$One Picket Fence is a cafe in Newcastle East, Newcastle. It holds a 4.6-star Google rating from 150 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 59/100.
Hilliers Cafe
Hilliers Cafe is a cafe in Cooks Hill, Newcastle. It holds a 3.7-star Google rating from 9 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 44/100.
Coco Monde Chocolateria
$$Cafe dishes, high tea & sweet delicacies in a Parisian chocolaterie with a quaint, retro vibe.
Mr.Sister Coffee Newcastle
$$Mr.Sister Coffee Newcastle is a cafe in Newcastle, Newcastle. It holds a 4.7-star Google rating from 247 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 62/100.
More restaurants in Newcastle
Atmos
A waterfront restaurant at Shoal Bay in Port Stephens, rated 4.7 across more than 2,000 reviews — dining with a bay view.
Duke's Restaurant & Bar
A standout restaurant and bar at East Maitland near Newcastle, rated a near-flawless 4.9.
Rustica Newcastle Beach
$$$Rustica Newcastle Beach is a restaurant in Newcastle, Newcastle. It holds a 4.6-star Google rating from 1870 reviews. Our editorial Spot Score is 67/100.
Casa Nova Italian Restaurant & Bar, Green Hills
A popular Italian restaurant and bar at Green Hills near Maitland, rated 4.7 across more than 1,200 reviews.
