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.