Hey Lady Bar& Diner

By day a relaxed River Street cafe, this Ballina room shifts after dark into a low-lit diner built around Japanese-inspired share plates, craft beer and inventive cocktails. Evenings run Wednesday through Saturday, with the kitchen going late on Friday and Saturday nights, so a table can stretch from an early bite to a long, unhurried sit. The format is generous and social rather than formal, small plates to pass around, a considered drinks list and an easy neighbourhood mood. It stays firmly a local, owner-run operation, with none of the polish-by-numbers of a franchise, and the food leans on the kitchen's own hand. A good pick for anyone after dinner in central Ballina that feels personal, a little playful and made for lingering.