New restaurant ready to rock Byron Bay

A LATIN American eatery has opened at Aquarius Resort in Byron Bay, in the space previously home to The Rocks restaurant.

Roca, which means “rock” in Spanish, is helmed by Peruvian chef Diego Aguirre Vallenas, who is known for his innovative and artistic dishes made using fresh, high-quality ingredients.

The Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef has worked in the Caribbean, the Middle East, France, Germany, Thailand, Brazil and Chile.

He was also the resident chef on the luxurious Rihanna Yacht for the 2024 season.

His wife Camilla, who is also a chef, will join the team in the kitchen at the end of January.

The menu at Roca includes ceviche, empanadas and spanner crab croquettes, which are a popular Brazilian street food.

There are also plans for an Argentinian parrilla (grill) for the restaurant’s Eat Like Papi concept, which will feature a set menu offering with charcoal barbecued steak or vegetarian options and choripan (a sandwich with grilled chorizo).

The business is co-managed by Chris Schneider and Brad Duncan on behalf of the CitiClub Group.

Gold Coast-raised Schneider started his hospitality career with the company in Melbourne when he attended university there.

Duncan, who is originally from the UK, began working at Aquarius after coming to Australia as a backpacker in 2008, working his way up to general manager.

He visited Peru with his father in 2020 and fell in love with the food, while Schneider’s partner is from Chile.

The pair noticed a gap in the market for authentic Latin cuisine and family-style share dining and saw it as a great opportunity, especially considering the area’s large South American population.

The restaurant’s design incorporates natural materials like terrazzo, rattan and woven textures, with soft pastels and warm, earthy tones accented with pops of colour, including a pink mosaic wall that frames the outdoor dining area.

Bookings and menu – Roca website