Where to eat dinner in Cairns

Where to eat dinner in Cairns

Written by: Cameron Ward

Published: 11/15/2019

Reading time: 3 mins

After a fabulous day of coastal adventures, enjoy your evening at the best restaurants Cairns has to offer.

Cairns is working hard to make sure it has the best of everything. Best views. Top experiences. Perfect weather. And now they’re on a mission to have the best food. With plenty of delightful fine dining options to choose from, dine in style next time you’re in town.

  • The Raw Prawn

    For over a decade now the Raw Prawn has been serving perfectly cooked seafood to Cairns locals and visitors. You can choose to sit inside under the air conditioner or enjoy the warm air with alfresco dining. Husband and wife duo, Carlton and Tiina, strive to provide diners with the freshest seafood, perfectly matched wines, and fine dining experience. Select your dinner from their live fish tank or indulge with one of their famous seafood platters. The Raw Prawn prides itself on serving only fresh and sustainable seafood, so you can ensure that your meal has been ethically sourced. After eating at Raw Prawn you’ll wish every restaurant had seafood as good!

  • C’est Bon

    A taste of France in tropical Australia! Search for the Eiffel Tower and you’ll have found your dinner for the night. Priding themselves on affordable, authentic French cuisine, step away from seafood for a night and enjoy a meal at C’est Bon. Open for dinner every night of the week, their rotating menu means there is always something new to enjoy. Join owners Nicholas and Debbie for the evening and transport yourself to France. Focusing on local produce and authentic French specialities, the C’est Bon kitchen is truly a marriage of Cairns and Paris. Spoil your tastebuds at their iconic Truffle and Wine nights or pop by for a weeknight treat.

  • Tamarind Restaurant

    One of the most awarded restaurants in Cairns, Tamarind is tucked away in The Reef Hotel Casino. Inspired by South-East Asian cuisine, Tamarind’s tasting menu is the perfect way to indulge in local seafood with a twist. With flavours from around the world, Tamarind is a delicious educational experience. Waitstaff are more than happy to explain foreign tastes and cooking techniques to help you choose from the tropical menu. Enjoy local lobster with honey and miso, or desserts made with locally grown edible flowers and cocoa beans. Tamarind is a wonderful dining experience for those looking for fresh, local produce with an Asian flare.

  • Ochre Restaurant

    Seaside dining with an outback feel, that’s the mantra that fuels Ochre. Sit alongside the Cairns harbour as the sun sets, surrounded by natural timber furnishings and local Indigenous artworks. Ochre features a unique spin on contemporary Australian cuisine. With emu, kangaroo, green ant, and crocodile regularly featuring on the menu, Ochre brings bush food to fine dining. Seasonal menu changes bring you the best Native Australian food on offer. Their in-house ‘Tropic Spirit’ brand ensures only the freshest, tastiest sauces, chutneys and pesto are served. Take a trip around Australia’s northern coast with their tasting menu, paired perfectly with wines from New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. Dinner at Ochre will open your eyes to Australian food and provide the final piece to the perfect Australian experience, food!

Cairns is home to fantastic dining options taking inspiration from around the world, book your table ahead and head to some of Queensland’s best restaurants on your visit!

Related article: Dundees Waterfront Restaurant in Cairns

Cameron Ward
Cameron Ward
Managing Director at Sightseeing Tours Australia

Cameron Ward turned his travel passion into a thriving Australian tourism business. Before he co-founded his own business, Sightseeing Tours Australia, he was enjoying being a Melbourne tour guide. Even now, Cameron delights in helping visitors from all around the world get the most out of their incredible Australian trip. You’ll see Cameron leading tours or writing about his favourite Australian places where he shares his local insights.