Taste of the tropics
Diversity and abundance make Tropical North Queensland unique as a food-producing region. Some of it is familiar but flag flyers for the tropics include mangoes, bananas and sweet, sun-ripened pineapples, reef fish and wild-caught prawns. Less well-known are the rainforest nuts, fruits and native spices that Aboriginal people gathered from this land for millennia, and today appear in local markets and on restaurant menus.
In the highlands of the Atherton Tablelands, you’ll find coffee and tea plantations and cattle farms, biodynamic dairies producing milk, cheese and yoghurt, aquaculture farms and distilleries. Grab a map and DIY a bespoke food trail, or join an organised food tour to talk and taste bush food with an Indigenous expert.
A wander around the markets at Yungaburra or Rusty’s Market in Cairns also offers the opportunity to see, smell and taste the tropical north. If you prefer your produce plated up rather than hunted and gathered, a melting pot of cultures and the region’s proximity to Asia ensure that Tropical North Queensland’s dining scene is a vibrant, multicultural smorgasbord – from Italian cafes to Balinese diners.
Other restaurants proudly showcase their local roots, with native Australian produce like kangaroo, emu and crocodile on the menu and some of the best seafood in the country, caught locally. With a profusion of experiences and produce, whatever your interests and appetite, you’re unlikely to ever go hungry up here.

Enjoy breakfast on the balcony at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino
Enjoy breakfast on the balcony at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino

5-star dining at Osprey's Restaurant at Thala Beach Nature Reserve
5-star dining at Osprey's Restaurant at Thala Beach Nature Reserve

Marron at the only restaurant in Cairns to be awarded a Chef Hat in the Australian Good Food Guide, Tamarind Restaurant
Marron at the only restaurant in Cairns to be awarded a Chef Hat in the Australian Good Food Guide, Tamarind Restaurant

Breakfast overlooking the pool at the M Gallery by Reef House Palm Cove
Breakfast overlooking the pool at the M Gallery by Reef House Palm Cove
Bring your appetite
Food trails, bush tucker and eating out in Tropical North Queensland.

Mudcrab to mangoes: your guide to eating local in Cairns
From earthy bush tucker and exotic fruits to ocean-caught seafood and a biodynamic dairy farm, Tropical North Queensland offers up a menu with a unique ingredients list.

Eat your way through these Palm Cove Restaurants
Taste the flavours of the north in the seaside village of Palm Cove, where restaurants take pride in local produce, fresh flavours and providing a warm tropical welcome served with an icy-cold drink.

Your guide to vegetarian & vegan friendly restaurants in Cairns
You’ll find most cafes and restaurants around Cairns include quality meat-free dishes. The following eateries however, hero plant-based food. Here’s where to eat vegan and vegetarian food in Cairns.

Mango is on the menu in Cairns this summer
With tropical fruit in peak season, summer is the ideal time to indulge in local produce including the summer favourite, mango. Here’s where you can get a mango fix in Cairns.

Turning the tide: hunting with Traditional Owner guides near Port Douglas
Under the tutelage of Kuku Yalanji guides, a barefoot and nervous city dweller discovers her hunter’s instincts. Here’s what to expect on a Kuku Yalanji Cultural Habitat Tour.

13 Food trail highlights on the Atherton Tablelands
Foodies take a deep breath and prepare your tastebuds for tantalisation. Here’s fourteen fun ways to get your foodie fix on the Atherton Tablelands.

10 cafes in Cairns for great coffee
With such a vibrant foodie culture, finding the best cafes in Cairns can be overwhelming. Fuel your caffeine addiction with these local favourites for a guaranteed quality cup of coffee.

Best waterfront bars in Tropical North Queensland
Beaches and bars are a match made in heaven – especially in the tropics, where any excuse to down a cool beverage is welcomed. Here are some of the coolest waterfront and beach bars Tropical North Queensland has to offer.

It’s a locavore life
Flanked by the coral sea, the Gulf of Carpentaria and tropical rainforest, boasting vast differences in climate and altitude, Tropical North Queensland has arguably the greatest variety of fresh produce in Australia.

Flavour on the menu
From exotic fruits to craft beers, homegrown chocolate to spectacular seafood, Tropical North Queensland is a food lover’s paradise. Kerry Heaney takes a culinary tour.

Seafood lovers’ guide to Cairns
As the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is teeming with an abundance of restaurants offering fresh, local catches and exceptional seafood. Find the stand-out seafood dishes in Cairns below.

Where to find the best small bars in Cairns
If big pubs aren’t your favourite venue, there are plenty of cosier options for a quiet drink in Tropical North Queensland.

Market Day
Celebrated Palm Cove chef Nick Holloway adores iconic Rusty’s Markets in Cairns. Kerry Heaney joined him for a tour of the stalls.

Top 3 spots to picnic around Cairns and the Atherton Tablelands
Eating outdoors is one of life’s great pleasures in a tropical climate. Here’s our top picks for rolling out the picnic blanket and enjoying a long, lazy lunch.

Follow the palm trees to paradise: Thala Beach Nature Reserve
Discover a tropical paradise along the Great Barrier Reef Drive between Cairns & Port Douglas at the idyllic coastal eco-retreat, Thala Beach Nature Reserve.
Explore, Eat & Drink
-
cairns northern beaches
Paper Crane
View product -
cairns northern beaches
Greenfields
View product -
cairns northern beaches
Rocco
View product -
camping holiday parks
Mena Creek Hotel
View product -
cairns northern beaches
Spirit of Cairns
View product -
cairns northern beaches
Ochre Restaurant and Catering
View product -
cairns northern beaches
Hemingway’s Brewing Company
View product -
eat drink
Flames Of The Forest
View product -
atherton tablelands
Skybury Cafe and Roastery
View product -
beaches
Sailaway Port Douglas
View product -
daintree cape tribulation
Daintree Food Trail
View product -
cairns northern beaches
Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventures from Cairns and Northern Beaches
View product -
eat drink
Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventures from Port Douglas
View product -
atherton tablelands
Coffee Works
View product -
cairns northern beaches
Dundee’s Restaurant On The Waterfront
View product -
cairns northern beaches
Vivaldis Restaurant
View product -
daintree cape tribulation
Sweet Farm Tours
View product -
atherton tablelands
Jaques Coffee Plantation
View product -
eat drink
Frogs Kuranda Licensed Restaurant
View product -
eat drink
Brett’s Kuranda Half Day Tour
View product -
eat drink
Osprey’s Restaurant, Thala Beach Nature Reserve, Port Douglas
View product -
eat drink
Seabean Tapas Bar and Restaurant
View product -
atherton tablelands
Mungalli Creek Biodynamic Dairy and Farmhouse Cafe
View product -
eat drink
The Pirate Den Bar and Grill
View product -
eat drink
Salsa Bar and Grill
View product -
daintree cape tribulation
Daintree Ice Cream Company
View product -
eat drink
Murdering Point Winery
View product