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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.
Sexy suede lounges, intimate banquettes, and unbroken views of the Coral Sea make lingering easy at this Palm Cove noshery with the region's best and freshest produce. Select from small plates or larger share portions, which include the likes of kimchi butter-poached reef fish, paperbark-smoked duck, and Sichuan eggplant.
Dining in this spacious, central restaurant, you can enjoy some of the most delicious, innovative cuisine in North Queensland. Choose from an expansive menu that combines traditional Balinese spices and recipes with native Australian ingredients. Dishes include a crocodile satay skewer and nasi goreng (fried rice with chicken, mixed sates, fish fillet, and egg). Don't eat lunch if you're planning to order the rijstaffel at dinner—it's huge.
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.
Enjoy Coral Sea views framed by palms and melaleucas along with Mod Australian dishes at this classy beachside eatery. Diners come for the Vietnamese Crepe, battered coral trout, and nasi goreng at lunch; and crab tagliatelle or barramundi for dinner.
Ah, 27 degrees. It's pretty much the perfect temperature, isn't it? (When we're talking Celsius.) And it's also pretty much the perfect café when you're in Palm Cove and need a coffee and a decent breakfast. 27 Degrees is a classic, with friendly service, city-quality coffee, and a menu of health-conscious Aussie brunch favorites, such as acai bowls, granola, and smoothies.
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.
At this open-air restaurant in the Daintree rain forest, wallabies, bandicoots, and musky rat kangaroos might join you at the table as you tuck into a Mod Oz meal that highlights local, seasonal ingredients, including fresh seafood, and wines from the well-stocked bar. Arrive early for a dip in the creek, a rain-forest stroll, or a spa treatment.
This outdoor café and wine bar on the deck at Cairns Art Gallery serves sumptuous breakfasts as well as lunch and dinner. Lunch fare features a signature duck salad, gourmet sandwiches, and pizza, while dinner options include Italian and modern Australian dishes, such as antipasto and pasta.
Blessed with mountain and ocean views and located in prime position at the Cairns Marina, Salt House serves Modern Australian fare in casual chic environs. A carefully considered menu includes plenty of local seafood, as well as a mouthwatering selection of local cuts of meat cooked on the custom Argentinian grill.
Knowledgeable staff, an impressive wine and cocktail list, and a torchlit waterfront terrace are among the many reasons to dine at this excellent restaurant within the Pullman. You can expect generous servings of fresh Modern Australian food infused with Asian and South Pacific flavors.
