Rhea Food + Wine
PUBLISHED ON 25 AUGUST 2026
Introducing ‘Rhea Food + Wine’
Each month, we shine a light on one of the incredible businesses that help Lennox Head thrive, not just through great service, but by showing up for the community, collaborating with others, and bringing their unique spark to the table.
This August, we’re celebrating Rhea Food + Wine, owned and beautifully managed by Tyson Graham, as our Business of the Month. Approaching its first birthday, Rhea has quickly carved out its place in Lennox Head as a modern Australian and European-inspired tapas and wine bar where the records are always spinning.
Tyson Graham
Bringing Innovative Events To Our Town
There is a lot to love about Rhea, but what stands out to us is Tyson’s enthusiasm for creating a place people genuinely want to spend time in. That was the idea behind Rhea from the beginning. After around 15 years working in hospitality, Tyson wanted to open the kind of venue he would choose to spend his own afternoons and evenings in. Almost one year later, that personality runs through everything Rhea does.
Their own words capture it well: “Food with soul, wine that lingers, vinyl that never stops.”
Rhea isn’t designed around rushing you through a sitting. You can stop in for Social Hour between 3pm and 6pm every day, share a few plates over wine, or claim the corner booth with friends and let lunch stretch into the evening.
That same thinking is behind the growing calendar of music, food nights and collaborations at Rhea. Wednesday Pasta Nights pair house-made pasta and wine with Italian records spinning in the background. Local artists and vinyl DJs are becoming a bigger part of the venue, and Tyson wants to continue developing Rhea as an events and music space over the year ahead.
The Best Ideas Happen When Local Businesses Work Together
In July, Rhea teamed up with Winding Road Distilling Co. from Tintenbar for a one-night-only four-course dinner. Each course was paired with cocktails and spirits from the distillery, with the Winding Road team joining guests to share the stories behind what they produce.
This is exactly the kind of local collaboration we love seeing in Lennox Head. One business brings an idea to the table, another adds their craft, and together they create something new that gives people another reason to head into town. That entrepreneurial and cooperative spirit can spark new ideas across our whole business community.
And there is plenty more to come.
Rhea celebrates its first birthday on Friday, 11 September, with acoustic music marking the occasion. The celebrations continue the following day for Lennox Alive on Saturday, 12 September, with a DJ taking over through the afternoon and evening and a special late-night Social Hour.
For Tyson, the next chapter is about continuing what Rhea has started: more music, more local collaborations, more events and more reasons to make a night of it in Lennox Head.
Community Impact
For Tyson, supporting local starts with the everyday decisions behind Rhea.
Where possible, he sources from businesses across the Northern Rivers, including Northern Rivers Seafood in Ballina, Splendour Meats in Alstonville, Winding Road Distilling Co. and Beudi Agave. Those relationships often come full circle as suppliers become customers, businesses recommend each other, and collaborations reach new audiences.
When Local Support Comes Full Circle
We experienced Tyson’s community spirit firsthand in the lead-up to the 2026 Love Lennox Festival. During countless hours of preparation, he welcomed our volunteer committee into Rhea, offering Wi-Fi, power for our laptops and phones, and a place to keep working late into the evening.
There was no expectation attached. He simply helped.
So it was beautiful to see that kindness come back around on festival day. Rhea’s stall introduced the venue to many locals for the first time, while that evening the restaurant filled with people eating, laughing and staying in town longer than planned.
A week that had started as one of Rhea’s quietest became its strongest trading night to that date, helping recover earlier losses and, even better, introducing Rhea to customers who have since become regulars.
For a young independent business, that kind of exposure can make a huge difference. It’s a great reminder that showing up for your local business community has a way of coming back around.
What They Do Best?
🍇 Modern Australian & European-inspired share plates
🍷 Curated wines, cocktails & local spirits
🎶 Vinyl playing all day, from lunch into late
🍝 Wednesday Pasta Nights
🎧 Live music, DJs & late-night Social Hours
🤝 Local produce, suppliers & collaborations
Did You Know?
Rhea has built a community of close to 6,000 followers on Instagram.
Standing out online is getting harder for small businesses, but Rhea does a fantastic job of bringing its personality to life beyond the venue. Their feed mixes food, wine, vinyl, humour, events and behind-the-scenes moments, giving people plenty of reasons to follow along.
And for those in the know, there’s even a private Instagram channel called “Off the Record at Rhea”, where Tyson shares specials, upcoming happenings and other news with Rhea’s insiders community. Check out their Instagram Story Highlights for your chance to join.
Experience Rhea
Come for a quick glass of wine, stay for a few plates, and don’t be surprised if one record turns into another and suddenly it’s late. Rhea is open every day from lunch until late, serving delicious food, curated drinks and plenty of reasons to linger.
Get in Touch
Rhea Food + Wine
6/90–92 Ballina Street, Lennox Head
Opening hours
12 pm - late, every day
Website: rhealennox.com.au
Instagram: @rhea.food.wine
Facebook: Rhea Food + Wine
Photography: Ryan Baldwin
Instagram: @ryanbaldwinnn
Are you a local supplier, business, musician or creative with an idea for a collaboration? Tyson is always keen to connect with other locals and explore new ways to create something together at Rhea. Email: hello@rhealennox.com.au
