The best places to eat and drink in Cairns and Tropical North Queensland

The “rainforest to the reef” mantra is one you’ll hear repeatedly during your time in Queensland’s tropical north, with the region’s restaurants perfectly embodying the theme. Whether you want to try Indigenous ingredients among the foliage or enjoy fresh-as-it-gets seafood at a venue with a view, your tastebuds are in for a treat.

CAIRNS

Ochre

Bush food on the boardwalk
Founded by award-winning chef Craig Squire, who pioneered the use of native ingredients in Australia in the 1990s, Ochre is a great place to try dishes like salt and pepper prawn and crocodile, grilled kangaroo with quandong chilli glaze and wattle seed pavlova. Dine inside or outside on the covered terrace, where you can watch ships sail across Trinity Inlet and dock at the nearby Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal.
Harbour Lights Boardwalk, 1 Marlin Parade, Cairns. Phone: (07) 4051 0100. See ochrerestaurant.com.au

Rocco

The city’s highest rooftop bar
Graze on mezze plates featuring house-made labneh cheese, spiced eggplant pastillas or grilled lamb cutlets as you take in panoramic views over Cairns and the Coral Sea from this rooftop restaurant and bar. Located on the 12th floor of the landmark tower at Crystalbrook Riley, which has an ethos of using sustainable, locally-sourced produce, it offers everything from tropical to Moroccan-inspired cocktails to complement a menu of Middle Eastern delights.
Level 12, Tower, 131/141 Esplanade, Cairns. Phone: (07) 4252 7777. See crystalbrookcollection.com

Prawn Star

Hop aboard for the freshest seafood in town
Seafood lovers, rejoice! This is the place to go to indulge in freshly caught salmon sashimi, prawns, crayfish and oysters, served in their simplest form and washed down with a can of beer or a cold glass of chardonnay. Spread across four restored fishing trawlers moored permanently at Marlin Marina and decorated with hanging buoys and coloured lights at night, Prawn Star has the novelty factor in spades.
Marlin Marina, E Finger, Berth 31, Cairns. Phone: 0497 007 225. See prawnstarcairns.com

The Chambers Cairns

Boozy brunch in heritage setting
Housed in a restored Federation-style building built for the National Bank of Australasia in the 1920s, this family-run café and cocktail bar is a hit with locals and tourists alike. Its coconut marinated lamb benedict is so good some customers return for it every day of their holiday, while its bloody Mary has a kick you won’t forget. Helmed by award-winning chef Chris Jarvis, The Chambers has retained many of its original features, including exposed brick walls, bank shutters and steel beams.
21 Spence St, Cairns. Phone: (07) 4041 7302. See the-chambers.com.au

Salt House

Hedonist heaven on the waterfront
With a large garden dotted with day beds, wicker lounges and timber stools topped with colourful cushions, it’s easy to while away the hours at this bar and restaurant on Marina Point. As well as a custom-built Argentinian wood-fired grill pumping out dishes like smoked duck, lamb cutlets and rib-eye steak, there’s a pizzeria, with chilled seafood also popular. For something different, opt for the open seafood lasagne. Ponds, lanterns and live music add to the vibe.
6/2 Pier Point Rd, Cairns. Phone (07) 4041 7733. See salthouse.com.au

Oak & Vine

Rooftop restaurant with lagoon views
Perched atop the Oaks Cairns Hotel, this rooftop restaurant serves up modern Australian fare with panoramic views over the lagoon and The Reef Eye ferris wheel. The vibe is coastal-casual, with tiled floors, festoon lights, ceiling fans and hanging plants setting a relaxed tropical tone. On the menu, expect fresh and punchy flavours, such as gin-cured barramundi, Asahi-battered prawns and miso-roasted eggplant. It’s also one of the best places in town to go for breakfast.
59/63 Esplanade, Cairns. Phone: (07) 4281 6938. See oakshotels.com

The Backyard

Casual waterfront dining at its best
Watch super yachts bobbing in their berths at Marlin Marina from the deck of this understated restaurant in the Shangri-La hotel. The eclectic menu features everything from burgers and steaks to bahn mi and kombucha-cured tuna sashimi, but the fries with truffle mayonnaise are the real winner. There’s a great vibe in the garden on weekends, with plenty of room for kids to play and a bar housed in a repurposed shipping container.
Pier Point Rd, Cairns. Phone (07) 4052 7670. See thebackyardcairns.com.au

Sails Cairns by Hemingway’s

Nikkei cuisine on the waterfront
Located on the Cairns Esplanade with sweeping views of Trinity Inlet, Sails Cairns by Hemingway’s delivers a bold new take on waterfront dining. Opened in early 2025, this breezy, elegant venue pairs a tropical al fresco setting with Nikkei cuisine — a fusion of Japanese precision and vibrant Peruvian flavours. Expect fresh, seasonal share plates such as smoky lomo saltado and tuna nigiri with aji amarillo, alongside craft cocktails and fine wine. Head chef Karel Polo Solis brings global flair to local ingredients, inviting diners on a culinary journey in one of the city’s most exciting new dining spots.
34 Esplanade, Cairns. See sailscairns.com.au

Calypso Club

Beach club cool
With bright hues, daybeds and a striking terrazzo marble bar, this rum bar and seafood eatery fronting the Esplanade at the base of the Crystalbrook Riley tower is an excellent place to while away the afternoon. Sip cocktails infused with tropical touches while nibbling on dishes inspired by seaside tavernas and crab shacks, including Daintree barramundi burgers, ceviche, and the signature Calypso Roll), safe in the knowledge that everything on the menu is sourced within a three-hour radius of the restaurant.
141 Esplanade, Cairns. Phone: (07) 4252 7777. See crystalbrookcollection.com

Mexicairns

Margaritas with a kick
This colourful cantina-meets-arcade brings a fiesta vibe to the heart of Cairns, combining casual Mexican street food with a grown-up playground of games such as shuffleboard, pool, ten-pin bowling, augmented darts and beer pong. The menu includes quesadillas, tacos and sliders alongside share-style dishes while behind the bar, frozen margaritas are the name of the day. Mix it up with tropical mango, coconut and passionfruit options — or there’s the fiery mango and jalapeño for the really brave. Kids are welcome by day, but after 6pm it’s a strictly adults-only affair.
36 Lake St, Cairns. Phone: (07) 4285 9532. See mexicairns.com.au

PALM COVE

Nu Nu

Atmospheric eatery with top-notch cuisine
In a prime position at the end of the Esplanade at Palm Cove, this acclaimed restaurant was founded by a group of friends from Melbourne in 2003. Executive chef Nick Holloway, who has appeared on MasterChef, changes the menu with the seasons, with innovative offerings like caramelised duck ham served with molasses pineapple stick and kangaroo xo bao bun and mandarin ponzu. Ideal for a long lunch or a romantic dinner on the deck under the fairy lights.
1 Veivers Rd, Palm Cove. Phone (07) 4059 1880. See nunu.com.au

Vivo

MediterAsian flavours in a tropical setting
Sip on a Cojito cocktail – a Mojito with a coconut twist – as you admire the view over the Coral Sea from the verandah of this longstanding restaurant on the Esplanade at Palm Cove. Housed in a white colonial-style building with a small gallery showcasing local artists’ work, it serves Mediterranean cuisine with an Asian influence. The crab tagliatelline is a firm favourite, with salmon tartare and nasi goreng among its other offerings.
49 Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove. Phone: (07) 4059 0944. See vivo.com.au

Beach Almond

Beach shack chic
Rustic beach‑house vibes meet the fiery soul of South-East Asia at this Palm Cove favourite, which can be found under a centuries-old Melaleuca tree at the northern end of the Esplanade. The eatery’s design was inspired by a traditional Malaysian longhouse to complement its mouthwatering menu, with dishes such as Singaporean chilli mud‑crab, buttery prawns and barramundi wrapped in banana leaf. With fairy lights, warm breezes and waves lapping just across the decking, the atmosphere is both relaxed and romantic.
145 Williams Esplanade, Palm Cove. Phone: (07) 4059 1908. See beachalmond.com

PORT DOUGLAS

Seabean Tapas Bar

Small plates and a social vibe
Adorned with Spanish dolls, ’60s-style Spanish art and a tropical-themed mural, this quirky eatery is a fun place to dine. Bi-fold doors and tables on the footpath and side deck create a welcoming space, with a range of share dishes on offer. Its seafood croquettes and seafood paella are particularly popular, but it’s best known for its crema catalana – a Spanish dessert similar to crème brulee served in half a coconut shell.
3/28 Wharf Street, Port Douglas. Phone: (07) 4099 5558. See seabean.com.au

Nautilus

Open-air dining among the rainforest
The first restaurant in Port Douglas when it opened in 1954, Nautilus was founded by one-time Her Majesty’s Secret Service agent Max Bowden and his wife Diana, a cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II. David Bowie, Sir Laurence Olivier and Bill Clinton are among those who have dined at the breezy restaurant, which offers dishes such as Singapore chilli mud crab, locally-caught whole coral trout served whole with Thai spiced caramel, kaffir lime and green papaya salad and an incredible mango souffle.
17 Murphy St, Port Douglas. Phone: (07) 4099 5330. See nautilus-restaurant.com.au

Barbados

Barefoot luxury on the boardwalk
On the timber boardwalk of Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, Barbados Port Douglas feels like your holiday glow come to life. Sink into a daybed or lounge or perch at a barrel table beneath one of the navy and white striped umbrellas and take in the view of Dickson Inlet stretching across to the Daintree Rainforest. Sip a tiki cocktail and graze on share-style bites like Japanese-inspired panko prawns, Peking duck spring rolls and Banja fish tacos.
Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, 44 Wharf St, Port Douglas. See barbadosportdouglas.com.au