The Outback Restaurants

Restaurants and cafés in the Northern Territory are largely reflective of their location: in the Red Centre you'll find "bush tucker" menus with crocodile, kangaroo, camel, and native fruits, berries, and plants; in Darwin and Broome locally caught seafood is prepared with flavor influences from Asia. Many restaurants and cafés offer alfresco dining. Tips aren't expected, but an extra 10% for exceptional service is welcome.

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  • 1. Hanuman

    $$ | City Center

    Hailed as one of the best eateries in Darwin, Hanuman offers an Indian-fusion menu with a firm focus on seafood. Indoor seating is air-conditioned, with low lighting and a sophisticated feel once the sun sets. The alfresco seating is a great choice for lunch. This is the sister restaurant to the Hanuman in Alice Springs but the menu isn't the same.

    93 Mitchell St., Darwin, Northern Territory, 0800, Australia
    08-8941–3500

    Known For

    • Great atmosphere on the weekend
    • Incredible prawns
    • Excellent service

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Reservations essential
  • 2. Hanuman

    $$$

    Beginning his journey in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and becoming one of Australia’s most respected experts in Asian flavors, chef Jimmy Shu has assembled teams of traditionally trained chefs who combine their cooking secrets with his contemporary take on Asian cuisine. Hanuman has been a favorite with locals and visitors for three decades.

    82 Barrett Dr., Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870, Australia
    08-8953–7188

    Known For

    • Trumpet mushrooms topped with prawn and pork mince
    • Barramundi poached in coconut sauce
    • Desserts like black-rice brûlée

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No lunch weekends, Reservations essential
  • 3. Matso's Broome Brewery

    $$

    One of the most popular spots to eat and drink in Broome, this microbrewery in an old bank building overlooking Roebuck Bay serves bar snacks, burgers, steaks, and fish-and-chips. The fan-cooled bar is full of pearling memorabilia and historic photographs, although most people choose to sit on the breezy veranda or shady beer garden.

    60 Hammersley St., Broome, Western Australia, Australia
    08-9193–5811

    Known For

    • A very refreshing alcoholic ginger beer
    • One-hour brewery tours on Wednesday and Friday at 11 am (A$35)
    • Authentic Indian curry dinners
  • 4. Pumphouse Restaurant

    $$

    Located on an old fishing dock jutting out into Lake Kununurra, this local favorite is the place to have dinner while watching the sunset, with live music most nights, great food and cocktails, and the chance to view local wildlife (yes, we mean birds and freshwater crocodiles) doing their thing. The fare is contemporary Australian, so you can expect to see steaks, pan-seared salmon, and risotto on the menu, while Sunday night is dedicated strictly to wood-fire pizza and tapas specials.

    Lakeview Dr., Kununurra, Western Australia, 6743, Australia
    08-9169–3222

    Known For

    • Wood-fire pizza and tapas night with a special menu on Sunday
    • Eight-hour, slow-roasted lamb shoulder
    • Ord Valley crème brûlée dessert

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
  • 5. Sounds of Silence

    $$$

    Australian wines and Northern Territory specialty dishes like bush salads and Australian game are served at a lookout here before you dine on your buffet meal in the middle of the desert and enjoy an astronomer-led stargazing tour of the southern sky. A more intimate and pricier small-group table d'hôte four-course dinner called Tali Wiru is also available for a maximum of 20 diners at a different vantage point.

    171 Yulara Dr., Yulara, Northern Territory, 0872, Australia
    02-8296–8010

    Known For

    • Complimentary transfers and open bar are included in the price
    • Bush tucker–inspired buffet items
    • Canapés made with locally sourced Indigenous ingredients

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
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  • 6. Barra on Todd

    $

    Barramundi is the name of the game at this venerable and popular restaurant on the banks of the dry Todd River, part of the Mercure Alice Springs Resort. The beer-battered "barra" is a drawcard here, but there's also a wide range of authentic curries to try. Inside is air conditioned but most want to grab a waterfront outdoor table for the views.

    34 Stott Terr., Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia
    08-8951--4545

    Known For

    • Thai-style barramundi spring rolls
    • Curries
    • Waterfront views
  • 7. Bean Tree Cafe

    $

    This inviting café is set within the grounds of the 16-hectare haven, Olive Pink Botanic Garden. The menu is filled with plenty of vegan options, with vegan breakfast, veggie bowls, and a vegan burger. Enjoy breakfast or lunch in the outdoor garden seating, surrounded by beautiful flora. You could get lucky and spot a passing wallaby.

    27 Tuncks Rd., Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870, Australia
    04-4727--0949

    Known For

    • Extensive vegan menu
    • Beautiful views of gardens
    • Hidden gem

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.--Wed.
  • 8. Bojangles Saloon and Restaurant

    $$

    Cowhide seats, tables made from old Ghan railway benches, and a life-size replica of bushranger Ned Kelly give this lively restaurant true Outback flavor. It's a touristy watering hole but well worth dropping by for a drink or two and taking a few snaps of the Aussie decor.

    80 Todd St.
    - 04 - 6975–0550

    Known For

    • <PRO>classic Northern Territory tucker</PRO>
    • <PRO>great beer</PRO>
    • <PRO>a lively, kitschy atmosphere</PRO>

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
  • 9. Broome Courthouse Markets

    $

    Open weekends from 8 am to 1 pm, this market is packed with rows of food stalls. There are plenty of casual spots for breakfast offering fresh fruit, doughnuts, and even Filipino-style empanadas. Most people eat as they walk through the market, checking out the many art stalls.

    8 Hamersley St., Broome, Western Australia, 6725, Australia
    04-2280--2885

    Known For

    • Freshly made empanadas
    • Lively atmosphere
    • Plenty of variety
  • 10. Casa Nostra Pizza and Spaghetti House

    $$

    Red-and-white checkered tablecloths, Chianti bottles, and plastic grapes festoon this family-run Alice Springs classic spot that continues to draw in locals with traditional Italian meat dishes, pizza, and pasta. Take a tip from the regulars and preorder a serving of vanilla slice for dessert, or you might miss out on this scrumptious cake of layered papery pastry and custard cream.

    1 Undoolya Rd., Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870, Australia
    08-8952–6749

    Known For

    • Al’s Special
    • Cream-and-black-pepper sauce that the chef took 15 years to perfect
    • BYO beer and wine
  • 11. Cichetti Club

    $$$$

    Handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and incredible views, Cichetti Club is situated within Cable Beach Club Resort, but it's a popular choice for those who aren't staying at the resort. Many of the dishes are Italian focused, with a set menu of two courses (A$78) or three courses (A$95), which are matched with wines from around the globe.

    1 Cable Beach Rd., Broome, Western Australia, 6725, Australia
    08-9192--0400

    Known For

    • Fresh handmade pasta
    • Set within a five-star resort
    • International wines

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • 12. Cornerside Cafe

    $

    This hole-in-the-wall café is found right in the heart of the Kununurra township, offering takeout coffee, freshly baked muffins, and pastries and even pre-portioned takeaway evening meals that vary from coconut curry to cheesy lasagne.

    20 Messmate Way, Kununurra, Western Australia, 6743, Australia
    08-9169--1111

    Known For

    • Quick service
    • Delicious coffee
    • Freshly baked pastries

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closes at 1:45 pm every day
  • 13. Crustaceans on the Wharf

    $$ | Wharf Precinct

    Located at the end of Stokes Hill Wharf, and in a great spot to catch the sunset, this casual restaurant specializes in all things seafood, with dishes like local wild-caught barramundi, lobster mornay, and crumbed calamari on the menu. Kids ages 10 and under eat free for every adult main meal purchased.

    Darwin Wharf Precinct, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0800, Australia
    08-8981–8658

    Known For

    • Incredible views
    • Superfresh seafood
    • Family-friendly
  • 14. Epilogue Lounge

    $$

    Transforming from a casual eatery as the sun goes town, this laneway eatery offers tapas-style meals, live music, and a lengthy wine and cocktail list. The ambience is relaxed and welcoming.

    58 Todd St., Alice Springs, Northern Territory, 0870, Australia
    0429-003--874

    Known For

    • Tasty tapas
    • Buzzy atmosphere
    • Intimate and romantic

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
  • 15. Eva's Botanic Gardens Cafe

    $ | City Center

    Found within Darwin's picturesque Botanic Gardens is Eva's Cafe, inside the Heritage-listed Wesleyan Church. Here you'll find excellent coffee, healthy smoothies, and freshly made juices. The menu is packed with healthy eats that are suitable for breakfast or lunch. But it's perhaps the interiors that stand this café apart. It's a retro treasure chest.

    Gardens Rd., Darwin, Northern Territory, 0820, Australia
    04-4747--4776

    Known For

    • Retro furnishing
    • Menu packed with seasonal dishes
    • Incredible surrounds

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner
  • 16. Gecko's Cafe

    $$

    In the center of the Yulara town center, this casual eatery has reasonably priced options, including affordable appetizers, salads, burgers, pastas, pizzas, and sweet treats. Open every day for lunch and dinner, it’s one of the most budget-friendly spots in Ayers Rock Resort.

    1/127 Yulara Dr., Yulara, Northern Territory, 0872, Australia
    02-8296–8010

    Known For

    • Beer-battered barramundi served with desert lime aioli
    • Crocodile ribs marinated in lemon myrtle
    • Kangaroo and Wagyu beef burgers
  • 17. il lido BARpizza

    $$ | Darwin Harbour

    This polished pizzeria and bar in Darwin’s vibrant Waterfront Precinct provides reflective views as you drink and dine in the open air. With toppings like truffled mushrooms and roast pork belly with smoked bacon, toffee apple jam, and crackling, this isn’t your average pizzeria.

    3/19 Kitchener Dr., Darwin, Northern Territory, 0800, Australia
    08-8941–0900

    Known For

    • European-style pizza, with tarte flambée, crème fraîche, bacon, and onion
    • Burgers, braised lamb shank, and barbecue beef short ribs
    • Outrageous cocktails
  • 18. Ilkari Restaurant

    $$$$

    Situated inside the Sails in the Desert hotel, Ilkari Restaurant serves specialties like lamb cutlets and kangaroo skewers at live cooking stations, giving you a sort of dinner-and-a-show experience compared to that of the usual hotel buffet. The buffet items change nightly and the decor reflects local legends with a Kuniya Dreaming mural covering the rear wall.

    1/163 Yulara Dr., Yulara, Northern Territory, 0872, Australia
    02-8296–8010

    Known For

    • The perennially popular chocolate fountain
    • South Australian oysters and king prawns
    • Cooked-to-order dishes made with flair

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 19. Ivanhoe Cafe

    $

    The menu changes every day at this pretty café situated just outside of the Kununurra township. One day it could be freshly made pasta for lunch or perhaps an herby omelet for breakfast. It's down to what's in season and what the chef fancies cooking that day. But what's certain is that each dish is created with care and is delicious, especially when enjoyed in the shade of the mango trees that line the outdoor garden. A must try is the mango sorbet, which is made on-site.

    Ivanhoe Rd., Kununurra, Western Australia, 6743, Australia
    04-2769--2775

    Known For

    • Ever-changing fresh menu
    • Pretty alfresco dining under mango trees
    • Mango sorbet

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sept.--Mar.
  • 20. Kopi Stop

    $

    It might not look much from the outside, just a simple hole-in-the-wall. But there's a reason why there's always a queue snaking down the street. Kopi Stop is often seen as one of the most superior coffee spots in Darwin. There's a limited takeout menu that changes every day, but there's always something sweet and freshly baked. But the reason people come here is because of the bean.

    1/2 Harriet Pl., Darwin, Northern Territory, 0800, Australia
    04-6770--8255

    Known For

    • Incredible coffee
    • Friendly staff
    • Quick service

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