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Typically, restaurants on Barrier Reef islands are part of each island's main resort, so many resorts' rates include some or all meals. Some larger resorts have a range of restaurants, with formal dining rooms, outdoor barbecues, and seafood buffets; some have premium dining options for which you pay extra. Dress is generally "island casual." Some upscale restaurants—such as those on Hayman Island—require men to wear jackets for dinner and frown on flip-flop sandals. On the mainland you'll find plenty of casual, open-air restaurants, serving mainly Modern Australian–style meals that showcase seafood and regional produce. With a few notable exceptions, Cairns, Palm Cove, and Port Douglas are your best bets for upscale dining.
With a pool accessible to customers with spectacular views over Airlie Beach, this is the place to be on a balmy day in the tropics. Snack on share plates such as chicken wings and minitacos between dips, or go for the Anchor Can't Decide Seafood Platter.
Head to the ritzy Hamilton Island Yacht Club for a truly special dining experience at this upmarket noshery, which has sensational views over the Whitsundays through its floor-to-ceiling windows. Try a bit of everything with its degustation menu, available on weekend nights, or choose from the three-course sample menu from Wednesday to Friday.
This cozy, friendly café makes a point of supporting local farmers, with a locavore breakfast menu featuring the best of Whitsunday produce. There are plenty of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, plus high-quality coffee. And beanbags to sit on.
Dine on a deck surrounded by rain forest at this enchanting outdoor restaurant, which opened in 1954 and is still going strong. The regularly changing degustation menu has a focus on Modern Australian cuisine, with Asian and European influences, and matching wines. When it rains, a nifty retractable canopy keeps diners from ducking for cover.
Local seafood and native and seasonal ingredients take top billing at this upscale yet relaxed Cairns institution that specializes in native ingredients and local produce. Expect to find the likes of kangaroo, crocodile, seafood, and high-quality beef, with fine antipodean wines to match.
Get immersed in north Queensland coffee culture at Bang and Grind, a lively café in the CBD. The venue is known for its house-blended coffee, which goes perfectly with classic Australian breakfast fare such as avocado toast, eggs Benedict, and pancakes.
This casual but classy restaurant at Ferntree Rainforest Lodge is housed in a Balinese-style building with stone and timber walls and a large deck that makes you feel at one with the environment. It prides itself on its use of fresh, local, and seasonal produce, with offerings such as crocodile spring rolls, Thai beef salad, and authentic curries. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
