The essential guide to Port Douglas restaurants

Heading to Port Douglas? Nestled between the rainforest and the reef an hour north of Cairns, this coastal village offers luxury with sand between your toes. And if you’re a foodie, you might have as many dining spots on your agenda as activities and tours.

It’s little wonder Port Douglas has become a gourmet destination, given it’s surrounded by farmland, coffee plantations, fruit orchards and plentiful seafood plucked from the waters daily.

Here, the Coral Sea isn’t just your playground by day, but your backdrop as you settle into for a meal too. For a town of its small size, Port Douglas packs a heavyweight punch with its vibrant restaurant scene, where you could dine somewhere new every night of your holiday and still barely make a dent in the offering that spans fine dining, waterfront bistros, gastro pubs and more.

These are the best Port Douglas restaurants to put on your radar.

Nautilus

You’ll know you’ve found something special from your first step inside the tropical oasis that is Nautilus. One of the oldest and most acclaimed Port Douglas restaurants, the open-air dining room is nestled among palm trees and blanketed by the starry night sky – and while the destination itself is impressive, it’s still outshone by the flavours and finesse of what’s served on your plate.

The signature five course degustation menu with option to match wines is the best way to experience Nautilus. The selection changes monthly but always promises local ingredients and new flavours, whether you’re devouring whole coral trout with Mareeba pineapple or passionfruit semifreddo with native myrtle and gingerbread.

Watergate

Tucked into Macrossan St, this is one Port Douglas restaurant without a water view – but you probably won’t be able to take your eyes off your plate anyhow. Fairy-lit Watergate feels romantic and secluded, perhaps exactly what you need after a long day in the sunshine.

Executive chef team Dale Burrows and Ian O’Mahony source much of their seafood straight of the local fishing vessels, produce from nearby Atherton Tablelands, and locally-grown herbs to offer a menu that feels like an essential part of the Queensland experience. Case in point? Tuck into beetroot arancini, twice-cooked pork belly, sesame spice-crusted yellowfin tuna, and coconut panna cotta with macadamia crumble.

Harrisons

No list of Port Douglas restaurants would be complete without Harrisons, where the kitchen is helmed by local Michelin-starred chef Spencer Patrick. An excuse to switch the beach sandals for something a little dressier, Harrisons is Port Douglas’ most nationally awarded restaurant and complemented by an award-winning wine list too. You’ll find it nestled in the sanctuary of Sheraton Grand Mirage.

Patrick and his talented team use the best seasonal Aussie produce to create a modern British menu, with current favourites including North Queensland painted crayfish with garlic butter, spiced slow roasted lamb shoulder, or local squid spaghetti. There’s a tasting menu for those ready to feast through the menu highlights, along with a vegetarian option.

Melaleuca

One of the newer Port Douglas restaurants, Melaleuca has been awarded an Australian Good Food Guide Chef’s Hat each year since opening in April 2020. Run by husband and wife team, chef Adam Ion and wife Namhee embrace her Korean heritage in the flavours that grace this contemporary Australian menu, where Asian spices reinvent the way we taste local dishes. Expect the likes of Moreton Bay bugs roasted in Thai coconut curry broth, flame grilled beef tataki with nahm jim and lime and ponzu cured salmon carpaccio.

Tin Shed 

A local haunt you need to know about, Tin Shed is as casual as it gets – yet is probably the best Port Douglas restaurant to watch the sunset. Head out onto the deck, grab a glass of wine, a bucket of prawns, some oysters on the half shell and take in the daily show over Dickson Inlet.

Salsa Bar & Grill

Serving locals and travellers for over 25 years, Salsa is perched on Wharf Street with views out to the Coral Sea – and is a local favourite for a long lunch in the open-air Queenslander.

Vibrant and welcoming, Salsa embodies Queensland’s true spirit to a tee. Pair a tropical cocktail with a selection from the creative food menu which includes line caught fish, creole jambalaya, Thai chicken spring rolls and more.

Sassi La Cucina

If you’re the type of person who craves a big bowl of pasta after a long day on the Great Barrier Reef, La Cucina is for you. An authentic Italian restaurant, the menu here is a result of timeless Italian food made with the region’s freshest tropical ingredients. For that reason, the seafood dishes are stand-out.

Seabean Tapas Bar Restaurant

When you’re not sure what you want to eat, but want to try a little bit of everything, head to Seabean. This buzzy bar dishes up Mediterranean-inspired tapas that heroes local ingredients, such as seafood croquet, beef cheek empanadas, mushroom truffle pate and paella. Grab a jug of sangria and settle in.

Zinc

Close to Four Mile Beach, you could soak up the last rays of the day before taking a seat at Zinc.

Self-described as Modern Australian cuisine with European flair, Zinc draws inspiration from around the globe with dishes like sake-marinated black tiger prawns with wasabi mayo, Daintree barramundi with a Malaysian curry emulsion, and Australian meats cooked over a custom built open woodfire and charcoal grill, using native hardwoods of course.

If you feel like kicking on, popular Port Douglas cocktail bar Jimmy Rums Mixing Lounge is just a few steps further up Macrossan St, where libations come with a tropical, tiki flair.

Wrasse & Roe

As the name suggests, Wrasse & Roe is all about food plucked from the ocean. And it’s arguably the best seafood restaurant in Port Douglas, complete with vibrant blue décor and art-adorned walls.  

Daily catch comes with flair here, as Chef Andy Gray and team present course after course that look almost too good to eat. Highlights include coconut reef fish ceviche, seared tuna with palm heart and Asian slaw, Daintree barramundi and Asian veggies or FNQ chilli mud crab. It’s well worth saving room for a dessert cocktail too.

Epicurean

Newer on the scene, Epicurean is a gourmet’s wonderland being part shop, part 20-seater restaurant. A passion project of couple Marlene & Rohan who are your chefs and hosts, sit down for a late-lunch of French Provincial share plates alongside one of the most well-curated wine lists in town, then allow yourself to be tempted by the pantry selection of cheese and small goods – perfect for a picnic.  

Flames of the Forest

A dining experience you can’t have anywhere else on earth, Flames of the Forest transports diners into the middle of the ancient Wet Tropics rainforest for an evening of Indigenous storytelling, musical performances and locally-inspired feast for all the senses.

Your ticket includes bus transfer from your Port Douglas accommodation to the unique location. This magical, candle-lit banquet experience on the land of the Kuku Yalanji will leave you with a full stomach and a full heart.

IronBar

Meat is the drawcard of IronBar, Port Douglas’ iconic steakhouse dishing up chargrilled and smoked delights from dry aged lamb cutlets to woodfired chicken and smoked pork ribs – along with an eye watering premium steak menu. The signature? A whopping 1.3kg John Dee Black bistecca, dry aged for 100 days. And there’s a worthy Australian wine list to match.

This Port Douglas restaurant doesn’t rest on the laurels of its food menu though: it’s outback-inspired styling features a bar panelled with rainforest timbers and corrugated iron, and there’s regular live music to enjoy too.

Worth knowing: IronBar offers $2 oyster happy hour from 12pm-1pm and 5pm-6pm, while prawn buckets, cheese and charcuterie are available between 12pm-430pm.

Hemingways Brewery 

Sister-venue to the long-established brewpub in Cairns, Hemingway’s Brewery Port Douglas outpost offers local craft beer and pub-style food right on the marina’s waterfront. A perfectly casual spot to come with a group, tuck into burgers, pizzas, seafood and more – and enjoy the view.

Court House Hotel

Head to the oldest pub in Port Douglas, the Court House Hotel, for an affordable meal with great options for kids too. Housed in a quintessential heritage Queenslander, you can drink in a little history while you raise a glass to a day well spent. The diverse menu offers vegan bowls and fish tacos alongside the usual pub suspects, like chicken parmigiana, burgers and steaks. Stick around for live music in the beer garden five nights a week.

A note for travellers: many of these Port Douglas restaurants require reservations in peak season – so book ahead if your heart is set on some favourites. During low-season (February and March), some restaurants may reduce their hours or close for a seasonal break.

Looking for more Port Douglas restaurants and cafes? This guide covers everything from bakeries to food tours.

Heading to Cairns next? Here’s how to feast your way through the city – and where to go for a sundowner.