Restaurants

The food scene along the Great Barrier Reef Drive reflects the landscape it sits in. Cairns is one of Queensland’s most culinarily diverse cities, shaped by proximity to the reef, the Atherton Tablelands, and a population drawn from across Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Its dining options span quick Vietnamese and Thai restaurants, long Esplanade dinners, the chaotic energy of the Night Markets, and dedicated seafood restaurants with views of Trinity Inlet.

Port Douglas, 70 kilometres north, has a dining reputation that outpunches its population of roughly 4,000. Macrossan Street is lined with restaurants and cafes covering almost every cuisine and price point. The town draws a mix of domestic visitors, international tourists and fly-in guests from the resort properties, which has built a food culture well above what you would expect for a town this size. Reservations at the better restaurants are genuinely needed during the dry season peak from July to September.

North of Port Douglas, options simplify but the ingredients improve. Mossman has local cafes and a bakery. Daintree Village has a pub and a well-regarded ice cream shop using locally grown Davidson plum, coconut and other tropical fruit. At Cape Tribulation, you eat at the properties: the Boardwalk Cafe at Cape Trib Beach House and the bar and bistro at PK’s Jungle Village cover most requirements, and the produce is often better than the limited menus suggest.

Seafood is the constant along this coastline. Coral trout, barramundi, red emperor, mud crab and Moreton Bay bugs all come from the surrounding waters and appear across every price bracket. The Atherton Tablelands to the west supply fruit and vegetables: avocados, pineapples, mangoes, and tropical produce that lifts the quality of cafe menus in particular. Barramundi is the fish to order at every level, from a beachside fish-and-chip shop to a white-tablecloth restaurant. Mud crab, when in season, is the showpiece.

The pages below cover dining by destination, from Cairns to Cape Tribulation. Use them to plan where to eat at each stop on the drive.

Dining in Cairns

Cairns has the highest concentration of restaurants and cafes on the entire drive. The main dining areas are the Esplanade strip, Shields Street and Grafton Street in the CBD. Several of the best seafood restaurants sit within a short walk of the marina. The Night Markets at 71 The Esplanade are open every evening and offer a broad mix of cuisines in an open-air format that works well in the tropical climate. The city also has a growing specialty coffee scene and a well-established brunch culture concentrated along the Esplanade and in the streets south of Shields Street.

Restaurants and Cafes in Cairns

Our Cairns dining guide covers the best restaurants by area, the Night Markets in detail, seafood options, cafe recommendations for breakfast and brunch, and practical notes on reservations, parking and opening hours.

Dining in Port Douglas

Macrossan Street is the main dining strip, walkable in about five minutes end to end. Restaurants here range from casual beachside venues to established fine-dining restaurants that have been operating for over a decade. Several have strong wine lists and source produce from the local region. The Port Douglas Sunday Markets at Anzac Park run every Sunday morning with local produce, artisan food and street food, and are a worthwhile stop if you are passing through on a weekend.

Restaurants and Cafes in Port Douglas

Our Port Douglas dining guide covers the best options on Macrossan Street, the Sunday Markets, fine dining recommendations, best breakfast spots, and casual venues for lunch near the beach or marina.

Dining Between Mossman and Cape Tribulation

Once you leave Port Douglas, dining options thin out but reward those who look. Mossman has a bakery and a few cafes in the town centre, good for a coffee and breakfast before visiting Mossman Gorge. Daintree Village has a pub and the famous ice cream shop that draws visitors specifically for its Davidson plum and tropical fruit flavours. At Cape Tribulation, the cafes and bistros attached to the main accommodation properties serve fresh, straightforward food. The Boardwalk Cafe and PK’s Jungle Village bistro are the reliable options.

Where to Eat at Cape Tribulation and in the Daintree

This guide covers every dining option north of the Daintree River ferry, with notes on opening times, what to order, and what to stock up on before crossing the ferry.