Seabreeze Bays — Best Restaurant with a Casino Hall
We’ve kept four tables going at the back of Seabreeze Bays Club since the trawler days, right where the icehouse used to stand two doors from the river mouth. Five hundred, crib, canasta and euchre run most nights, dealt by whoever’s behind the box that evening, with a Saturday poker table that never asks for a buy-in. Nothing here is played for cash, nothing runs online, and chips only ever count points. We take dinner bookings and card bookings on separate lines, so tell us which one you’re after when you call.
What does an evening at Seabreeze Bays Club actually look like? Much the same as it has for years — the tables fill slowly, the kitchen runs its own clock, and nobody’s in a hurry to deal the first hand.
We’re two doors back from the river mouth, in a building that iced prawns before it ever held a card table, and we’ve kept enough of the old fittings to remind us of it.
We take dinner bookings separately from card bookings, and most nights the two barely overlap — dinner’s cleared well before the tables really get going.
The Kitchen
From the Kitchen
We run the kitchen off its own clock, well ahead of the card tables, drawing on what comes off the boats at the river mouth and out of the cane country behind town.
Barramundi’s on the board most weeks, alongside a soup and a pudding that hardly ever come off it.
Book dinner on its own, or ask us to hold your table on through to cards — we’ll note it either way.
Richmond River Barramundi
Pan-fried, served with greens and a squeeze of lemon.
Macadamia Pumpkin Soup
Finished with a scatter of toasted macadamias from the hinterland.
Lamingtons
Made in-house, served with the tea or coffee that closes the meal.
At the Tables
Casino Hall: Four Tables by the Old Icehouse Door
Four tables sit where the icehouse floor used to run cold, close enough to the kitchen that supper reaches the tables while it’s still hot.
We run five hundred and crib early, canasta and euchre later, and a Saturday poker table for friends that never asks for a buy-in.
Nothing at these tables is worth cash. Chips count points and nothing else, nobody’s playing on a screen, and everyone at a table is 18 or over — every hand, in person, right here.
Four Tables
Set on the old icehouse floor, close enough to the kitchen for a hot supper.
Four Games
Five hundred, crib, canasta and euchre, with Saturday poker for friends.
No Machines
Every hand’s dealt by hand — no machines, no wagering, no cash prizes.
Find Us
Find Seabreeze Bays Club in Ballina
Address
136 River Street, Ballina NSW 2478
Phone & Email
+61 2 6686 7215 · cards@seabreezebays.com
Open Hours
Tuesday to Saturday, from half six in the evening until midnight.
A Look Inside
Around Seabreeze Bays Club
A Few Things
How We Keep Things Simple
We book dinner and cards on separate lines, and if you’re after both, just say so when you call and we’ll sort the timing between the two.
Everyone at a table needs to be 18 or over, and we’ll ask for ID at the door if there’s any doubt about it at all.
Chips at our tables are worth points only, never cash, and nothing we run here happens online or through an app of any kind.
How We Play
Questions About the Games
How do we learn a game we’ve never played?
Whoever’s dealing that night will walk you through five hundred or crib before the first hand — it only takes a minute or two.
Can we swap tables partway through the evening?
Sure, between hands — just have a word with whoever’s dealing so the next table knows to expect you.
Is there a minimum number to book a table?
Two’s enough for most games, though five hundred plays best with four — we’ll seat you either way.
What happens if a table’s full when we arrive?
We’ll hold you a spot at the tea counter and call you over as soon as a seat comes free.
Do the games change through the week?
Five hundred and crib run most nights; canasta and euchre come later in the evening, and Saturday’s kept for poker.
Can we play more than one game in a night?
Plenty of regulars do — move tables once a hand’s finished, so long as the next table’s got room.
This Month
Four Dates Worth Knowing
First FridayExtra table for five hundred
Bookings open a week ahead
Second SaturdayPoker night, no buy-in
Fills fast, worth a call
Third SundayCanasta afternoon, earlier start
Doors from 4 pm
Last WednesdayQuiet night, one table of crib
Good for a first visit
One Evening, Filed
Four Cards From One Evening
ArrivalsDoors open at six, tea poured before anyone’s sat down at a table.
First DealCards go round from half six, four tables filling in whatever order people turn up.
SupperPlates come out from the kitchen around eight, a pause most tables take together.
Last HandWhoever’s still at a table past midnight plays the last hand under the one lamp left on.
Ask any regular how the night runs and they’ll give you much the same four beats — we’ve written them down here, filed like an old index.
Book In
Book Your Table
Dinner or cards, or both — give us a call and we’ll sort the bookings on our end. We keep the two separate, so let us know which one (or both) you’re after.
Seabreeze Bays Club doesn’t offer gambling for money. Our chips carry no cash value, and every game we run happens in person, at our own address.
We use two small cookies here — one for the age check, one to remember you’ve seen this notice. Neither one stores anything that identifies you personally.More Info
