Best Restaurants in Cairns 2026, Where to Eat in Far North Queensland

Best Restaurants in Cairns 2026

Cairns' restaurant scene is shaped by its position as the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and Daintree Rainforest, drawing international visitors and offering a fusion of tropical Queensland cuisine, fresh seafood from the Coral Sea and Asian-influenced cooking from the city's multicultural heritage. The Cairns Esplanade is the social and culinary hub. cairnsandgreatbarrierreef.com.au

Cairns' Top Dining Precincts

• The Esplanade, the beachfront walking strip holds restaurants, cafes and the famous Cairns Night Markets. Strong for casual dining with ocean views.
• Shields Street and Spence Street CBD, the CBD's main restaurant blocks hold a mix of modern Australian, Japanese, Thai and seafood restaurants.
• Rusty's Markets Precinct, the weekend market area on Grafton Street is surrounded by excellent cafes and Asian restaurants drawing on the region's tropical produce. rustysmarkets.com.au
• Port Douglas, 70km north of Cairns, Port Douglas holds upmarket dining along Macrossan Street with a sophisticated tropical dining scene. visitportdouglasdaintree.com.au

Cairns Restaurant Awards

Queensland Restaurant and Catering Awards recognise Far North Queensland's best dining. rca.asn.au

Booking a Restaurant in Cairns

Cairns restaurants accept bookings via direct websites and phone. The Esplanade casual dining is generally walk-in. Port Douglas restaurants book ahead on weekends. opentable.com.au

This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.