Where to get the best seafood in Cairns and surrounds

Located at the Cairns Marina, Dundee’s Restaurant on the Waterfront has been serving up fresh seafood and stunning water views to guests for over 30 years.

Diners flow in and out of Dundee’s like the tide. Those in the know opt for one of the prime seats practically in the water, and browse through the extensive menu. The seafood menu is where this restaurant shines, with everything from wild barramundi and garlic yabbies to decadent seafood towers overflowing with mud crab, bug tails, oysters and more. 

For a taste of outback Australia in a dish. try kangaroo loin or crocodile skewers too.

Osprey’s Restaurant, Port Douglas

Tucked away north of Cairns is Thala Beach Nature Reserve and its signature Osprey’s Restaurant, where you can dine among the treetops. Named after the large fish-eating bird of prey, this restaurant is a must-visit for panoramic views of two World Heritage areas - and local flavours.

Produce is ethically sourced each day from local suppliers and markets, with some of the ingredients deriving from the Atherton Tablelands and the Coral Sea. Dive headfirst into the extensive seafood offering by way of the tempura soft shell crab bao bun before moving onto the crab and banana prawn fettuccine with garlic and chilli.

Nu Nu, Palm Cove

If you feel like dipping your toes in the sand, not just the water, head over to Nu Nu in Palm Cove for a tropical meal by the beachside. Head chef Nick Holloway (you may recognise him from his stint as guest chef on Masterchef) creates sophisticated seafood dishes with only the best produce that the region has to offer. So whether you’re after the freshest barramundi, the juiciest tiger prawns or sweet local surf clams, Nu Nu has you covered.

Scoring a table on the expansive deck at Holloway’s lauded Palm Cove restaurant is prime real estate as it overlooks the Coral Sea, Double Island and a line of postcard-perfect palm trees that bend beautifully in the wind.

Dundees at Cairns Aquarium

Dining with the fishes takes on a whole new meaning at Cairns Aquarium, where local restaurant Dundee's has set up a second location in the most mesmirising of places. If you’re looking for a more immersive experience that will transport you to the depths of the ocean, this is it. Dundee’s at the Cairns Aquarium is home to the largest tank in an Australian restaurant, giving visitors a unique experience of dining with coastal aquatic life.

Salsa Bar & Grill, Port Douglas

The food at Salsa Bar & Grill in Port Douglas sails beyond the beachside classic of battered fish with a pile of chips on the side. This airy, relaxed setting has been a popular hub for good food and good company for over two decades.

Chef Goran Zonai has an international Masters in Cookery and his skill, along with that of his talented team, results in beautiful seafood dishes worth travelling for. The produce is sourced locally and the accompanying wine list features predominantly Australian and New Zealand wines.

Everything’s good here, but we can’t go past the Old-Bay-spiced school prawns doused in chilli and charred lime aioli, salt and pepper calamari, and linguine pepperincino with a choice of local tiger prawns or Tableland red claw crayfish.

The Beach Shack, Kewarra Beach

The Beach Shack, located right on the sand at Kewarra Beach Resort and Spa, is a seasonal eatery worth visiting. Set over 30 acres of lush landscaped rainforest gardens, this private beachfront property provides an authentic tropical Queensland holiday experience, and The Beach Shack is the perfect spot to relax and enjoy a meal.

Follow the footprints in the sand and watch the palm trees sway as you dine on perfectly cooked seafood, caught just around the corner. Order the twice-cooked octopus tentacle with citrus or the ever-changing catch of the day, wash it down with a cold beer or a tropical cocktail, and you’re pretty much in heaven.

In season, Beach Shack Bar is open Friday (5pm-9pm) and Sunday (4pm-8pm) for food, drink and live music. 

Prawn Star, Cairns

The best thing about eating the abundance of seafood Cairns is lucky enough to have on its doorstep is that you can choose to scrimp or splurge. The Esplanade is a top spot to enjoy a casual seafood dinner and Prawn Star on the harbour-facing side of the city – Marlin Marina – is perfect for those who like to keep it casual.

Hop onboard the rustic eat-in trawler and enjoy a share platter of prawns fresh from the local waters. Take in the tranquil views of the Cairns Marina while sipping on a beer and toast to the fresh seafood Cairns offers and how far the food scene has come in this beautiful part of Queensland.

Where to buy takeaway or fresh seafood in Cairns

Prefer to find your own spot to dine? Cairns is home to plenty of fish and chip shops or seafood markets where you can choose your own fresh catch, or simply grab some cooked seafood to go. 

• Ocean World Seafood Market: This locally-owned business has been operating for 15 years. The local go-to for fresh seafood, as well as for a number of leading restaurants who come here to source their ingredients, this is the place to find top-notch Cairns seafood. Order the local wild-caught barramundi and a few crumbed prawn cutlets and see for yourself.
  
• AquaVerde Redclaw: Visit this family-run hatchery and farm on the Atherton Tablelands to purchase native freshwater crayfish.
  
• Preston Fresh Seafood: If head chef of Palm Cove’s Nu Nu, Nick Holloway, gets his seafood from this 25-year running family owned-and-operated business, then you know you’re onto something good. Live mud crabs are available in store along with fresh Tableland Red Claws, but you can get fresh seafood retail and wholesale, along with takeaway fish and chips.