5am is a hell of a time. It’s dark, it’s cold, it’s about five hours prior to when I would prefer to get out of bed. But it was at 5am that I found myself at Folk in Byron Bay last week.

If you ever have to be up at five, I really recommend that you do it in Byron Bay. It’s such a beautiful place. It’s on the coast of New South Wales, just below the border to Queensland, and about 2 1/2 hours from where I live.

And if you’re in Byron, you should go and visit this joint, Folk. It’s owned and run by the very talented photographer Maggie Dylan and her partner Jules.

Their Folk instagram feed is on point, check it out here, and the place is incredibly lush. As in, can I please move in and have this be my house? Lush.

Byron is well known for being a hippy paradise. And it is, but that’s why it’s so great. If the people of Byron were any more laid back, they’d be lying down.

Unlike the surly slackitude of city-slicker hipsters, it translates into big smiles, people who seem to like their jobs, and a place where hanging around for a couple of hours and chatting over a coffee is what it’s all about. There’s also a record player in an old washing machine. So, you know, good times.

Maggie and Jules were updating the landscaping when I was visiting, hence the orange plastic fence, but the interior is more than warm and inviting enough to make up for it.

Plus if their boss collection of hanging plants is anything to go by, I bet the garden is going to look amazing when they’re done.

The coffee (I had two) was literal perfection, made with beans from Duke’s Coffee Roasters, and the food all looks amazing, though I didn’t get to try any. But seriously, take a look at the insta feed, and you’ll see what I mean.

Adorable little succulents in mugs dot every surface, and I so wanted to take one home and name him Henry. But I restrained myself.

Anyway, this place is great. The kind of place where you’ll get looked after. Where the chef will tell you about his trip to Tasmania, and they’ll ask you if you want any sugar in your coffee before they make it.

Oh, also, if you do visit you should ask for a house-made chai tea with fresh ginger and turmeric. Since we’re in Byron Bay, it’s an ayurvedic, healing brew, but honestly it just sounds amazing. And say hi to Maggie from me!

xx Sarah.