Outback Queensland
The pub's restaurant serves good meals: steaks, burgers and chicken parma, as well as wraps, sandwiches and kids meals. Grab one of the outdoor tables to…
Must-see restaurants in Queensland
Cairns
This spotless little takeaway delivers ludicrously moreish homemade dumplings and exceptional rice and noodle dishes, sushi and sashimi. Lunch specials…
Port Douglas
Salsa is a stayer on Port's fickle scene. The menu ranges from Creole jambalaya (rice with prawns, squid, crocodile and smoked chicken) to drunken chicken…
Gold Coast
A no-nonsense fish market and fish-and-chip shop selling fresh and cooked seafood, which can be eaten on a few tables out the front by the river. The…
Townsville & Mission Beach
Fresh-as-it-gets fish to throw on the BBQ and organic cooked prawns by the bagful ($18 to $20 per kg). Chippy Tuesday (fish and chips for $7 on Tuesdays)…
Outback Queensland
At the Gidgee Inn, this is the fanciest restaurant in Cloncurry, serving an array of steaks, dukkah barramundi and bourbon pork ribs.
Gold Coast
Get lickin' on gelato and sorbet flavours such as salted coconut and mango salsa; dulce de leche; pistachio made with Sicilian pistachios; and classics…
Port Douglas
Fresq is always busy at breakfast with tables spilling out onto the footpath. Good coffee, gourmet breakfasts, pancakes and lunch items such as soft-shell…
Outback Queensland
Light meals, decent breakfasts, snacks such as quiche and sandwiches and even a seafood basket – this cafe is a welcome break from the attractions on the…
Townsville & Mission Beach
Arguably Mission Beach's best coffee, matched by a better-than-average range of breakfast choices and light lunches (artful pitta wraps), make this a…
Cairns
This romantic old-school neighbourhood Italian joint serves up pizzas, pastas and home-style dishes including calamari and veal every which way. Takeaway…
Cairns & Far North Queensland
Malanda's best breakfast and lunch cafe features generous meals from burgers and omelettes to steaks and open grilled sandwiches, along with good coffee…
Cairns & Far North Queensland
Fish and chips the way it should be – fresh and smack on the waterside wharf. Choose from Spanish mackerel, barramundi and coral trout. Also sells fresh…
Brisbane
One of Brisbane's best Japanese restaurants – hushed, muted and polite – is hidden unexpectedly at Portside Wharf, a few ferry stops downriver from the…
Cairns
Kool Spot is a retro little cafe with a plant-filled corner outdoor dining area and the best $7 breakfast special around, as well as lunch and dinner…
Cairns & Far North Queensland
The best of Herberton's few cafes and the only one open in the evening. Hearty meals, great coffee and country-style service make the Jacaranda a worthy…
Townsville
On the tourist strip, this versatile Greek restaurant serves filling takeaways include juicy gyros, meze galore, burgers and homemade honey puffs.
Outback Queensland
Big steaks, bangers and mash, barra and a pie – these classic Aussie staples dominate the menu. There are a couple of dining rooms and it's always busy.
Outback Queensland
A welcome find out here, the bakery crafts superb pies, including steak, kangaroo, rabbit and the famous curried camel. Also cakes, coffee and breakfasts.
Townsville
An excellent Thai restaurant with a prime downtown location, Summerie's uses Coral Sea produce in dishes such as Panang prawn avocado or Volcanic seafood.
Gold Coast
Grab a seat in the shade of the beautiful tree here for a lazy breakfast or lunch with well-made coffee. The menu has gluten-free and vegan options, too.
Gulf Savannah
You know the fish is fresh here as the owners catch it themselves. Buy local seafood to take away, or dine in on some of the best fish and chips around.
Cairns & Far North Queensland
The main attraction here is local seafood and fish and chips (eat in or takeaway) and Cooktown's best pizzas (it was formerly the Italian Restaurant).
Cairns
Disregard the empty-mall atmosphere at Orchid Plaza and head upstairs to dig into authentic sizzling, spicy Korean fare at this very popular hangout.
Thursday Island & Horn Island
This waterfront cafe-bakery brews easily the best coffee on TI, along with fresh juices, cakes and sandwiches. Locals queue up here in the mornings.
Hamilton Island
Popeye's serves massive boxes of fish and chips that can comfortably feed two people. It also sells burgers, chicken and even frozen fishing bait.
Cairns & Far North Queensland
Enjoy excellent pizzas and pasta dishes at an outside table, or join the hungry hordes that dial-in for delivery every night (minimum order $20).
Outback Queensland
This retro cafe is quite a find in outback Queensland, with '50s Americana decor, Holden and Elvis memorabilia and tip-top burgers and shakes.
Port Douglas
Locals rate open-fronted Euro-chic Ziva for good coffee and breakfasts such as eggs Benedict. Lunch is mostly burgers and toasted sandwiches.
Port Douglas
At Wildlife Habitat, includes a tropical buffet breakfast and a guided bird interactive experience.
Cairns & Far North Queensland
Good coffee, all-day breakfast, great homemade pies and Alice in Wonderland quirkiness make Mad Hatterz a very Yungaburra-type cafe.
Whitsunday Coast
Next to the information centre, this appealing cafe serves good coffee, cakes and a few Aussie standards, like shepherd's pie.
Cairns & Far North Queensland
Though it's a takeaway kitchen within a petrol station, this place does some of the best and biggest burgers in the region.
Cairns
This cool, cosy cafe has superb barista coffee, all-day breakfast, gourmet lunches, art and the occasional live gig.
Port Douglas
Local institution serving classic Aussie pies with exotic fillings such as crocodile laksa and bush kangaroo.
Cairns & Far North Queensland
Steaks, pizzas and generous servings distinguish the RSL kitchen. Pokies and occasional live entertainment.
The Daintree
Try one of the 26-plus tropical, biodynamic ice-cream flavours at Floravilla's lovely little shop and cafe.
Cairns & Far North Queensland
Drop in for superb homemade ice cream as well as fudge and, for the savoury lovers, biltong (dried beef).
Cairns & Far North Queensland
Try an award-winning Devonshire tea with homemade scones at the popular teahouse overlooking the lake.
Brisbane
Beach-shack style and a predictable Mex repertoire of tacos, burritos, quesadillas and margaritas.
