Where to Eat in Cairns: The Local Food Guide

Cairns is the gateway to Far North Queensland, and its dining scene stretches well beyond the city centre to the beachside suburbs and up the coast to Port Douglas. From the waterfront in Cairns City to the palm-fringed pockets of Palm Cove and Trinity Beach, you'll find a spread of restaurants and cafes covering everything from casual burgers to more polished sit-down dining. This guide gathers a selection of places to eat across the region so you can plan where to head, whether you're staying in town or basing yourself further along the northern beaches.

Why Cairns delivers

The appeal of eating out around Cairns is the mix of settings within easy reach of one another. You can keep things local in Cairns City with waterfront restaurants and inner-city cafes, or make a short trip north to dining spots clustered in Palm Cove, Trinity Beach, Holloways Beach, Edge Hill and Port Douglas. That spread means you can match your meal to your day, from a relaxed coffee stop to a longer dinner out.

Highlights

• Cairns City waterfront and central dining: Dundees on the Waterfront, Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse, Bellocale Italian Seafood Restaurant and KOI Bar & Restaurant are all in the city centre.
• Palm Cove dining: Nu Nu Restaurant, Miguel's and IGNIS Palm Cove are clustered in this northern beach suburb.
• Coffee and cafe stops: Blackbird Laneway and Guyala Cafe in Cairns City, plus Origin Espresso for coffee in Port Douglas.
• Casual eats: Hello Harry (The Burger Joint) in Cairns City for a more relaxed feed.
• Northern beaches and beyond: Code Cairns at Holloways Beach, NOA Restaurant at Edge Hill, Il Chiosco at Trinity Beach and Salsa Bar and Grill up in Port Douglas.

Our top picks

Hand-picked from our highest-scoring listings:

• Salsa Bar and Grill — Port Douglas
• Code Cairns — Holloways Beach
• Hello Harry (The Burger Joint) Cairns — Cairns City
• NOA Restaurant Cairns — Edge Hill
• Nu Nu Restaurant — Palm Cove
• Miguel's — Palm Cove
• Origin Espresso Port Douglas Coffee — Port Douglas
• IGNIS Palm Cove — Palm Cove
• Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse — Cairns City
• Dundees on the Waterfront — Cairns City

Explore more

Browse all restaurants, fine dining, waterfront dining, cafes, cheap eats in Cairns.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I eat on the Cairns waterfront?

Dundees on the Waterfront is a waterfront restaurant in Cairns City. Other central options include Waterbar & Grill Steakhouse, Bellocale Italian Seafood Restaurant and KOI Bar & Restaurant.

Are there good places to eat in Palm Cove?

Yes. Palm Cove has several restaurants including Nu Nu Restaurant, Miguel's and IGNIS Palm Cove.

Where can I get a coffee around Cairns?

For cafes, try Blackbird Laneway or Guyala Cafe in Cairns City. If you're up in Port Douglas, Origin Espresso is a coffee spot there.

Are there dining options outside the Cairns city centre?

Yes. Beyond Cairns City you'll find Code Cairns at Holloways Beach, NOA Restaurant at Edge Hill, Il Chiosco at Trinity Beach, the Palm Cove restaurants, and Salsa Bar and Grill in Port Douglas.