Cairns Restaurants & Dining
Cairns is smack bang between the Coral Sea and the wonderful grazing lands and tropical fruit orchards in the Cairns Hinterland. This means that the produce you'll find in cafes and restaurants is the highest quality with the freshest seafood Australia has to offer, premium beef and an amazing assortment of fruits that you won't find in other places. You might also get to try some local delicacies like Kangaroo, Crocodile and local Barramundi.
There's a range of dining options in Cairns and you can even dine next to the water or head out on a yacht so you can catch the sunset before your evening meal. There are relaxed cafes offering fish'n'chips, hamburgers and a wide range of cuisines like Japanese, Thai, Italian and Indian to keep your tastebuds busy.
Cairns Dining Experiences
Cairns Aquarium by Twilight and 3 Course Dinner
As the sun sets on Tropical North Queensland's rainforests and reefs, embark on an aquarium and dining experience like no other. Embark on an Ecologist guided twilight tour of the Aquarium where you will see how the aquarium inhabitants transition from day to night as predatory sharks, rays and groupers awaken. At the completion of your 2-hour guided tour, head to Dundee’s Restaurant where they will enjoy a delicious 3 course dinner with a stunning sea life backdrop.
Cairns Brewery Tours
Immerse yourself in Cairns' thriving craft beer and spirits scene on this guided afternoon adventure. Explore local breweries, savor their creations, and gain insights into the brewing process. You'll also have the opportunity to visit a distillery and sample their spirits. Potential stops include Macalister Brewing Company, Wolf Lane Distillery, and Coral Sea Brewing Taproom.
Cairns Luxury Catamaran Harbor and Dinner Cruise
Embark on a sophisticated evening catamaran cruise through the heart of Cairns. Savor a welcome drink as you glide past the stunning Cairns waterfront and into the serene Trinity Inlet. Indulge in a delectable dinner showcasing the freshest local ingredients. Catering to diverse tastes, vegetarian and other dietary requirements are happily accommodated.
Cairns Sunset Dinner Cruise
See the best that the waterways of Cairns have to offer as the sun descends from the tropical sky with this Cairns sunset dinner cruise experience in one of the most popular destinations in north Queensland. Over the course of one and a half hours, you'll be able to admire the spectacular Cairns scenery while enjoying a complimentary glass of wine or beer and snacking on some savoury nibbles aboard the cruise.
Flames of the Forest
Flames of the Forest near Port Douglas transports you into a world beyond your imagination with a rainforest dining experience so relaxing and uplifting that you will never want to leave! Escape the ordinary with this amazing tropical dining experience like no other in Australia. While dining, guests can enjoy the soothing sounds of local indigenous musicians and storytellers, learning the ancient ways of the Aboriginal people and their fascinating culture form two local brothers. Or enjoy a quiet and intimate dinner in this magical romantic setting.
Outback Tasting Tour from Port Douglas
Tour and taste the Atherton Tablelands on this full day food and wine tour with lunch and hotel transfers from Port Douglas. Journey through Far North Queensland with seven delicious stops throughout the day and sample wine, cheese, coffee, chocolate, liqueurs, spirits, tropical fruit, vegetable and more.
Private Boutique Tasting Tour in the Cairns Tablelands
The Cairns Highlands are a culinary wonderland brimming with artisan producers. This tour immerses you in this vibrant scene, offering breathtaking views of Mt. Bartle Frere and the surrounding Tablelands. A knowledgeable local guide will lead you through a day of discovery, featuring tastings at a fruit orchard, boutique winery, coffee plantation, and brewery. The tour culminates in a delightful lunch at the renowned Mungalli Creek Dairy Farm.
Rusty's Market Foodlovers Tour
Discover Rusty's Market on a guided tour featuring at least seven vegetarian tastings. Learn about the market's history and Cairn’s vibrant food scene on this walking tour of Rusty’s Market. Meet passionate chefs and vendors, and savor flavors like fresh coconut, gourmet coffee, pastries, arancini balls, local honey, local in-season fruit, and sugar cane juice.
Cairns Dining Areas
There are obviously far more areas around Cairns than this and if you’re willing to travel a little there are some quaint spots up in the Tablelands too. These are just a few of the main areas central to Cairns. If you chat to some of the local food lovers they’ll be able to direct you to their favourites, which may be new and unknown or simply a local secret.
Cairns CBD
Dining in Cairns is such a wonderful experience thanks to the city having access to such a variety of fresh produce. Take a walk along the esplanade and even down the main mall area to discover a huge number of restaurants, cafes and pubs serving some amazing food.
Trinity Beach
Head out to the Trinity beach area and go for a stroll along Vasey Esplanade and on to Trinity Beach rd. Around here you’ll find some lovely holiday restaurants ranging from Italian, Thai, takeaway and everything in between, all of which make the most of the delicious local seafood.
Yorkeys Knob
There are a number of cafes and restaurants around here with beautiful views of the beach and beyond. The more popular dining venue around here though is simply the beach. There are a number of takeaway stores where you can get yourself a great fisherman’s basket to take down and sit on the shore while you munch away.
Smithfield
While there are dining options around this area most are centred in or near the Smithfield Shopping Centre. The centre has your typical food court of takeaway chains, but it is also home to a number of cafes and even a few Japanese Sushi restaurants.
More Cairns Restaurants
If you need somewhere nearby to grab lunch or would like to go out and enjoy the nightlife of Cairns after a delicious seafood dinner or traditional pub meal then check out the Cairns restaurants listed here.