Ellis Beach Bar & Grill

Ellis Beach Bar & Grill sits on the Captain Cook Highway at Ellis Beach, one of the lovely beaches on the scenic coastal drive between Cairns and Port Douglas in tropical north Queensland. A beloved beachfront bar and grill, it makes the most of its gorgeous absolute-beachfront location — combining casual, crowd-pleasing food and good drinks with a relaxed, tropical atmosphere right by the palm-fringed beach.

The appeal is that combination of casual, satisfying food, a good drinks offering and a stunning beachfront setting on one of the most beautiful stretches of the tropical coast, ideal for a relaxed lunch, drinks by the beach or a casual meal with the sea right there. Its gorgeous, laid-back location makes it a genuine highlight of the coastal drive, and it's clearly won over a big, loyal crowd.

With a 4.4 rating from more than 2,000 reviews, it's clearly a firm favourite. Menus, drinks lists, opening hours and pricing change with the seasons, and a popular beachfront spot gets busy over weekends and the tourist season, so it's worth checking current details before you go — though for a casual feed and a drink by a beautiful beach, it's a wonderful stop on the drive to Ellis Beach.