Where to Eat in Port Douglas In 2020

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A friend recently asked me where to eat in Port Douglas. I’ve written posts about eating overseas but not about home. I thought it was about time to write about this as I spent nearly 6 years living and working in Port Douglas, a beautiful tropical holiday destination, the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef.

Most weekends and nearly all holidays found me working at possibly the nicest resort in town. On rare days or evenings off, I loved nothing better than heading out with the family to sample other great Port Douglas eateries.

Over 6 years I managed to eat at nearly all of the establishments. From breakfast to brunch or lunch right through to the formal dinner or maybe just prawns and beer on the deck. Read on to hear my guide of where to eat in Port Douglas from a Port Douglas chef.

Breakfast and Coffee In Port Douglas

Possibly my favourite time of the day to head out and grab a bite to eat. Two kids may influence that decision but it works with a hangover too. The resorts in town all offer buffet-style breakfast which suits some people and if you have kids or are staying in resorts this may be perfect for you.

Hi-Tide Cafe

My personal favourite is the a la carte breakfast served up at Hi Tide, a great little restaurant located on the esplanade, overlooking Four Mile beach. The full cooked breakfast is delicious and cooked to perfection. Few things beat sitting here over breakfast and a coffee watching the world go by.

St. Crispins Cafe & Events

9 St Crispins Ave, Port Douglas 0400652906

My new favourite place for breakfast and coffee, sitting on the deck overlooking the golf course and lake hoping to spot a saltwater croc. The food is very brunch/breakfast orientated and they’re not open in the evenings. Coffee is also great here and it is very easy to spend a quiet morning here with breakfast & coffee

Grant Street Kitchen

shop 4/5 Cnr Grant St and Macrossan, 0478769987

This locally owned and run bakery has really lifted and now delivers outstanding bakery items from traditional croissants to full family size lasagnas. The coffee is great here too. Open for both takeaway and eat in from 6 am you’ll be sure to find something here you like. I highly recommend their pies or lasagna.

Origin Espresso

21-23 Warner Street, 07 4099 4586

From humble beginnings, Origin Espresso has gone from strength to strength. They roast their own beans locally and offer filter coffee and pour-overs as well as cold-drip coffee  If coffee isn’t your thing they serve fresh-squeezed cane sugar juice. A weekend wouldn’t be complete without grabbing a coffee and watching the world go by at Origin.

Breakfast with the birds

Editor Note: Due to Covid 19 restrictions there are no buffets being served at present although you can still visit and still purchase food from the cafe.

Port Douglas Rd, 07 40993235

Breakfast with the birds is also a family favourite. Located at the Habitat wildlife park, this buffet breakfast is actually held inside the bird enclosure. Don’t worry, all the food is covered, but keep an eye on your bacon, birds have been known to swoop down and steal from unattended plates. Kids absolutely love this and adults have a similarly good time. This is most popular with foreign tourists and we have taken all of our overseas visitors here. Breakfast includes the park entrance fee, meaning the kids can burn off that energy after filling their tummies. You can read more about Queensland wildlife here.

Lunch in Port Douglas

Being on holiday you may get up too late, skip breakfast and head straight out to lunch. Nothing wrong with that, isn’t that what holidays are for?

Numerous Port Douglas restaurants offer set menus for lunch at great prices. In fact, the best lunch places are also great for dinner. The clear favourite across town with most locals would have to be Salsa Bar and Grill.

Salsa Bar and Grill

26 Wharf Street, 07 4099 4922

This local institution has been around for years and even had to move to bigger premises, first on the high street then wharf street, its current location. Lunchtime sees taster plates served, they are different every day. Traditional favourites and a seasonal menu are also there in this relaxed restaurant.

N17 Burger Co

22 Macrossan St, Port Douglas 07 42234704

N17 is both a sports bar and a burger bar. Playing a huge variety of sports from ALF, NRL right across to Premier League and MMA action there is always something on. Their burgers are brilliant and have many varieties to suit everyone from meat lover to vegetarians. They also stock a wide variety of beers including some locally brewed varieties that will really hit the spot. Not just open for lunch but also dinner and late into the night, especially if sports are playing.

Menu Thai 

10 Grant St, Port Douglas, 07 4099 6880

Menu Thai on Grant Street offers quick and relaxed authentic Thai. I regularly come here if we are in town. Both of my kids love the food on offer and it’s one of the cheaper eats in Port Douglas. Worth noting it is only open at lunch and dinner and closed between 3 pm – 5 pm.

Afternoon Drinks and Nibbles

Two places come to mind for lazy afternoon beers and people watching.

Lure Restaurant

Super Yacht Marina, Port Douglas, 07 40995201

The first is Lure restaurant down at the marina. Here you can order a bucket of prawns with beers and wine and watch the reef boats come in. They also have a wide variety of tapas items so you can build your own meal or order everything and share. Beer and wine are plentiful and during happy hour well priced. Grab a seat on the deck for the best view across the marina. Currently, they are closing quite early at approximately 3pm.

Hemingway’s Brewery

Super Yacht Marina, Port Douglas, 07 40996663

Port Douglas now has it’s very own brewery located on the waterfront. With reduced opening times you can still enjoy your weekends here with great local craft beers and fresh food. They brew a number of their own beers to suit most tastes but if you want wine or spirits they have you covered too. Great views out over the marina and to the hills behind.

Tin Shed

7 Ashford Ave, 07 4099 5553

The Tin Shed, Combined Club is another, with a new deck overlooking Dickson Inlet. They serve both lunch and dinner but have a fully serviced bar where you can just order drinks and watch the boats cruise past on their way back to the marina.

Dinner in Port Douglas

This one is open to all sorts of establishments. Simply put, it depends on what you want.

Sassi La Cucina and Bar

Cnr. Wharf & Macrossan Street, 07 40996744

Authentic Italian cuisine, Sassi is run and owned by Tony and Di Sassi. Tony can still be found in the kitchens producing real Italian food with fresh tropical ingredients. Their seafood platter is a particular highlight of mine. Either indoor or outdoor seating available. Bookings recommended during the holiday season.

Rattle and Hum

38 Macrossan St, 07 40995641

At the other end of the scale, you have Rattle and Hum pub doing great pizza and steak. Casual atmosphere with an open wood-fired pizza kitchen. Pool tables and sports channels are scattered around the pub.

Court House

18-20 Wharf St, 07 4099 5181

The Court House hotel doing pub grub to a reasonable standard. On the weekends you often have live bands playing which adds to the atmosphere. Good views over to the Port Douglas Sunday Markets makes for a great people-watching location.

Zinc Restaurant

Portico, 3/53-61 Macrossan Street, 07 40996860

Zinc is a great restaurant at the Four Mile beach end of Macrossan street that offers fantastic food. Modern Australian and seafood. A family-friendly restaurant that requires booking an advance table in the busy season. A great atmosphere and the aquarium in the restrooms need to be seen to be believed.

Bel Cibo

30 Macrossan St, 07 40996330

Bel Cibo, an Italian restaurant serves great food with a view. Located on the second floor of the Saltwater building you can look down on Macrossan Street and watch the world go by.

Unfortunately due to a leak in an apartment above Bel Cibo, it is closed until further notice while they repair the restaurant. With Covid hitting hard Bel Cibo is still shuttered up and there is talk of moving to a new location.

Where to Eat in Port Douglas

That is my take on where to eat. Restaurants are always changing, staff, menus, suppliers and expectation never remain constant. I’d eaten in nearly all the restaurants in Port Douglas by the time we left. There are now a few new ones and some old ones have passed. Take what I’ve said with a grain of salt, as a chef public expectation is everything and it isn’t uncommon to get your best and worst comments on the same night. The restaurant scene in Port Douglas is vibrant, that was one of the best things about the town. Being able to eat at a different place, for each meal on a 10 day holiday isn’t normally easy in a town this size.

Have you got a favourite Port Douglas restaurant? Where would you or have you eaten in Port Douglas?

Happy Eating

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