Where to eat and drink in Port Douglas

If you’ve spent any time in Port Douglas you know there are two ways to start your day: at a bustling café, or with your toes in the sand on Four Mile Beach. The only decision is which you do first, and which café to stop in at.

Tucked into Warner Street, Origin Espresso is a small batch roaster that brews some of the best coffee in town, while nearby Sparrow Coffee is a solid option for grab and go. Over on the Esplanade, Hi Tide serves up breakfast classics from zucchini fritters to smashed avo, and has a dedicated kids menu.  

A little out of town, St Crispins Café is a local favourite breakfast spot overlooking the golf course. Grab a table on the veranda and see if you can spot a saltie in the water while you wait.

Craving baked goods? Grant Street Kitchen is where an artisan bakery meets casual café, with an all-day breakfast, pastries and pies made in-house daily. Mocka’s Pies & Bakehouse is the place for a classic Aussie pie, especially if you want some real Aussie flavours like crocodile or kangaroo. 

Local spots to eat in Port Douglas

Want to dine where the locals do? We’ve got you covered.

For some of the best places to eat in Port Douglas, head to Seabean Tapas where you can linger over Mediterranean small plates and sangria. Gold Coast sensation Maman has opened a breezy, Middle Eastern inspired eatery here in town: stop by for craft cocktails, dips, and sensational plates like beef tagine and filo pie.

Part shop, part restaurant, Epicurean is the place to buy quality French cheese and small goods like pâté and chutney. Shop to build your own picnic spread, or take a seat to taste your way through wines by the glass and share plates.

Round out your holiday with Italian bites and cocktails at Sassi La Cucina + Bar, or ever-popular Salsa Bar & Grill – this refreshing, smart-casual spot draws influence from the coastal culture around the world, from the French Riviera to Cancun. Order the line-caught fish of the day and some spiced prawns with chilli and charred lime aioli, then take a walk down to the marina to finish.

Splurge and savour

Any serious foodie on their way to Port Douglas should set a course for Nautilus, considered one of the best dining experiences in our tropical north with 62 years of good impressions under its belt. This restaurant takes full advantage of its location in Island Point Hill, seating diners on an outdoor terrace surrounded by palm trees. Head chef Aron Michielli has designed an ever-changing degustation menu to reflect the tropical surrounds, showcasing the best Queensland produce.

The Modern-Australian menu at Melaleuca has scored Chef’s Hats in 2020, 2021 and 2022 – and the husband-and-wife team of Head Chef Adam Ion and Namhee will make you feel part of the family as you dine on local ingredients with Asian flair, from flame-grilled beef tataki to spiced whole baby barramundi. Pair it with the expert wine suggestions and settle in for a meal to remember.

Don’t be tempted to overlook Watergate Restaurant on Macrossan Street in favour of a spot by the water. This cosy restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining, and Executive Chef Lee Neate sources his menu from seafood pulled off the local trawlers and produce pulled from the Atherton Tablelands, just down the road. Reservations are highly recommended, as is the blue swimmer crab lasagna and pan-seared local reef fish.

Drive further afield to get an exquisite taste of Queensland on your plate at Palm Cove’s Nu Nu, Osprey’s at Thala Beach Nature Reserve, and Treehouse Restaurant within recently re-glamourised Silky Oaks Lodge – a veritable north Queensland institution for luxury.

Knock back a coldie

Raising a glass at the end of the day is all part of your Port Douglas experience. If you’re already keen for a beer by lunchtime, make your way to Hemingway’s Brewery at Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina to sample a tasting paddle of limited release beers by the water.

Jimmy Rum’s Mixing Lounge is known among locals as the best bar in town for expertly crafted cocktails, while Barbados offers tiki and tropical rum libations for those sinking in to holiday mode.

Of course, you can’t beat a classic. The Court House Hotel has been feeding and watering patrons for over a century from its heritage Queenslander estate – and to this day remains a solid spot to knock back a beer and bucket of prawns while you watch games live and loud in the sports bar. 

Embark on a food tour

Not just a way to fuel your day, you can make your day all about food in Port Douglas too thanks to the many food trails to discover.

Breaking tradition with winery tours, Brett’s Outback Tasting Adventures will take you on a multi-sensory exploration of the produce hiding in the Atherton Tablelands. This region is known for the diversity of its landscape, from lush rainforest to savannah plains, and the fertility of the volcanic soil that helps cultivate an extraordinary range of produce. Bananas, coffee, sugar, avocados, and mangoes are just some of the crops that thrive here. The tour then roams between Mt Uncle Distillery, Jacques Coffee Plantation, Gallo Dairyland, The Humpy, and the Golden Drop Winery before culminating in a sundowner at Platypus Hut on the edge of Hunter’s Creek.