Bottomless oysters at World Oyster Day event in Byron

HOTEL Marvell is gearing up to celebrate World Oyster Day with a week of exclusive offers and events, culminating in a laneway party featuring bottomless oysters on Saturday August 8.

The boutique Byron Bay hotel — home to the Byron Bay Oyster Bar and rooftop venue Horizon — is also offering a complimentary half dozen oysters with any tasting menu for two or more guests from August 5 to 9.

“We really wanted to throw our hat into the ring and throw a bit of a party for locals and all the oyster lovers out there,” the hotel’s culinary director Morgan Hoey said. “We want to celebrate oysters for that whole week, not just the day.”

Tickets for the laneway event cost $55 and include unlimited oysters, a glass of prosecco, live tunes by DJ Sammy, cocktail specials and snacks.

Hoey, who joined the hotel last year after working at Sofitel Brisbane Central, was partly drawn to the role by his deep love for oysters.

The oysters served at Hotel Marvell are sourced from farms across Australia and delivered via cold freight to their custom tank in Byron’s arts and industry estate, which can hold up to 500 dozen oysters.

“It’s almost like a little farm of our own that we have off-site,” Hoey said. “Most oysters you get in restaurants could be eight to 12 days out of the water. Ours are out of the water that morning and shucked to order. They are as fresh as you can get.

“We serve them with ten different garnishes, plus natural. Being an oyster bar we’re treating it very much like a cocktail bar. We have your classic garnishes, and our signatures.”

The restaurant is also now offering its oysters for takeaway, with both Sydney Rock and Pacific varieties available, shucked by the dozen or half dozen.