Best of Cairns
Best Restaurants in Cairns: Where to Eat in Tropical North Queensland
Cairns punches above its size for dining, driven by a steady flow of domestic and international visitors who expect quality alongside the backdrop of a tropical gateway city. The Esplanade strip, Shields Street and the marina precinct are the main dining corridors, with seafood naturally prominent given the city's coastal location. Barramundi, coral trout, Reef fish and Mudcrab are regular menu features when in season. The Night Markets on the Esplanade offer a more casual multicultural food hall experience. Restaurants in Cairns tend to open early for dinner by urban standards, and the best spots often fill by 7pm in high season, particularly July and August, so booking ahead is advisable.
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1
Ochre Restaurant
Cairns' most acclaimed contemporary restaurant, known for its use of native Australian ingredients, quandong, kakadu plum and emu, alongside local reef seafood.
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2
Prawn Star
A floating seafood restaurant on the Marlin Marina, serving freshly caught Queensland prawns, Moreton Bay bugs and reef fish straight from the boat.
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3
Dundee's Restaurant on the Waterfront
A long-running Cairns restaurant on the Esplanade with a strong focus on Queensland seafood, crocodile and barramundi in a relaxed harbour setting.
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4
Waterbar and Grill Steakhouse
A Cairns steakhouse on the Esplanade with a broad menu of Queensland beef and local seafood, popular with visitors for its consistent quality and waterfront location.
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5
Cairns Night Market Food Court
An open-air night market food court on the Esplanade open every evening, with over 40 food stalls covering Thai, Malaysian, Japanese and Caribbean cuisines.
More Best of Cairns
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