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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.
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.
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.
This Modern Australian eatery fits the bill: location (riverfront), service (impeccable), ambience (relaxed), food (exciting and flavorful), and wine (top-flight). The menu is a carefully curated collection of local meat, seafood, and vegetable creations, with something to suit every palate, including a comprehensive "plant-based" section to the menu.
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.
This low-key eatery's simple beach-shack setting on Palm Cove's seafront underplays the freshness and flavor of its modern Asian food. The small but satisfying menu is full of fresh spins on favorite dishes from around Southeast Asia, and seafood is the specialty here.
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.
Offering hawker-style street food dining, coca chu appeals to all with its relaxed vibe, Catseye Beach views, and a varied dinner menu that showcases regional produce and Southeast Asian flavors. The crispy half duck with sour plum sauce and Sichuan pepper and lemon is its signature dish.
This fine-dining restaurant sources terrific organic and tropical produce for its Modern Australian menus, which change seasonally, but always feature fresh seafood and premium Australian meats in artful, beautifully balanced dishes, with fine antipodean wines to complement them. For special occasions, there's a luxurious, chandelier-lighted private dining room.
Those craving traditional Italian cuisine utilizing fresh North Queensland ingredients should make themselves a booking at Sassi, a lively, friendly eatery with plenty of outdoor dining space on the main drag. The menu here has all of the hits—pan-seared scallops, spaghetti mudcrab, linguine crayfish, and the like—along with a solid wine list featuring plenty of Italian varietals.
This could be the island's best all-round dining establishment. It's great for breezy alfresco lunches, sunset drinks on the deck, and relaxed dinners. Dine right by the marina on salads and pasta, enjoy a curry, or try one of the daily specials. There's plenty on Manta Ray's menu to suit all tastes, even the kids.
Overlooking a tranquil bay just outside of Airlie Beach, with a large outdoor area and a boat-shape bar, Northerlies has become a local favorite. Its Beach Kitchen and Brasserie menus offer pub classics such as burgers, pizzas, and steak through to seafood platters.
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.
The full-frontal marina views from the broad balconies of this two-level waterfront eatery make it a favorite for family celebrations and romantic dining. The menu is loaded with traditional Italian fare like housemade gnocchi as well as more inventive dishes, such as tagliatelle with prawns.
Rub shoulders with local foodies and enjoy intimate dining after sunset on the large wooden deck of this lively waterside institution that serves tropical Modern Australian fare. The dinner menu offers something for everyone, from ocean trout sashimi and char-grilled local prawns to a mouthwatering Black Angus eye fillet.
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.
At this busy waterfront eatery, you can gaze at the bustling marina while chowing down on a locally sourced, char-grilled steak, which comes in all cuts and sizes, with thick fries on the side. There's also a nice selection of barbecued ribs, burgers, seafood, and lighter lunch fare, such as salt-and-pepper squid and salads.
Atmospheric indoor-outdoor dining, attentive service, and a well-stocked bar are nice, but the primary draw at this relaxed restaurant is the food, which highlights the freshest local ingredients. Enjoy braised kangaroo bao buns or pan-fried fish or tiger prawns straight off Port Douglas's fishing boats, and seasonal fruit, vegetables, and herbs from the Atherton Tablelands.
