Travel

Port Douglas and Surrounds - 12 of The Best Places The Locals Love To Eat

Anita McLachlan - 6th June 2013

Fabulous food, vino and a view makes for a great holiday. Add people you love and a light as air kaftan and you've pretty much got it made. Sometimes though, things can be a bit hit and miss. If you want to eat the best at a good price, then simply go where the locals do. Here's 12 of the best from much loved locals and our fabulous Facebook fans.

Port Douglas and its surrounds are known the world over for their beauty and a great place to take a summer break.

Spoiled for choice there are casual places to take the kids, relaxed chic spots if you want to take it up a notch, all the way up to a stunning romantic night out under the stars. In fact, there's so much on offer, it's hard to know where to start and what to do.

So we asked a few locals and our Facebook fans, for their Top Dining Spots in and around Port Douglas; where they like to go and what they'd recommend from breakfast through to dinner. Let's go!

Best Breakfast:
What better way to start the day than a scrumptious breakfast beachside.

Port Douglas - Hi Tide Beach Cafe has been serving up fab breakfasts on the waterfront for years now. The poached eggs are hard to beat as are the freshly squeezed juices and local tropical fruits. Part of the Port Douglas Peninsula Boutique Hotel you'll find it at 9-13 The Esplanade Port Douglas | p: (07) 4099 9100
Port Douglas - Their breakfasts with a Spanish twist has the town a buzz. Well-established and as popular as ever, The Little Larder for something different and delicious. 2/40 Macrossan st, Port Douglas | p: (07) 4099 6450
Cairns - Head to Caffienda little gem hidden off the graffitied laneway, where you'll find the staff are friendly, the coffee amazing and the food sublime. Shop 5, 78 Grafton Street (down the graffiti alley), Cairns | p: (07) 4051 5522

Best Coffee:
We Aussies have a very special love affair with coffee. Here's where to enjoy yours.

Port Douglas - Consistently the best brew in town Whileaway is both a cafe and bookshop. What a wonderful combo. Just the ticket for a great relax, particularly if the weather turns a bit sour. You'll find them in the main street at 2/43 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas | (07) 4099 4066

Best Lunch:
A long lunch? Why not. You're on holidays!

Port Douglas - Hands down, On The Inlet. On the water's edge, sitting back, watching the boats roll in, lush hinterland beyond, glistening waves as far as the eye can see. Then there's the food! Seafood is their specialty. A local institution. Dinner is pretty specie as well. 3 Inlet Street, Port Douglas | p: (07) 4099 5255
Mossman - A taste of the tropics and a real FNQ experience, High Falls Farm. You'll need a car for this one, but a wonderful day out with the kids and a fabulous spot for lunch. A 25 minute drive north of Port Douglas, Andrew and Lynn's High Falls Farm is a beautiful property (rare tropical fruits their specialty) with a gorgeous creek and rainforest surrounds. High Falls opens from about June for around 6 months. Old Forestry Road Miallo Via Mossman | p: (07) 4098 8231
Port Douglas – Who doesn't love Italian? Owner Tony grew up on the Adriatic Coast and brings the familiar flavours of the Italian seaside to Sassi Cucina e Bar, offering mouthwatering seafood dishes of mussels, oysters and prawns as well as the regular favourites. A great place to enjoy a leisurely lunch (they do dinner too), accompanied by an extensive list of wines and cocktails. Corner Wharf and Macrossan St, Port Douglas, QLD| p: (07) 4099 6744

Best Cocktails
Tropical holidays and cocktails are a much loved match. Here's where to grab yours.

Port Douglas - Zinc do fabulous cocktails in casual chic surrounds - The Lounge Bar. There's usually a cocktail of the day and blackboard drink specials so check it often. The Lounge Bar has its own menu too if you'd like a nibble with your highball. 53-61 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas QLD 4877| p: (07) 4099 6260
Palm Cove - A facebook fan and local fave. Vivo serves up delicious drinks (and more) if you're out for the night in beautiful Palm Cove. And what a view! Watermelon and Mint Martini anyone? 49 Williams Esplanade Palm Cove 4879 | p: (07) 4059 0944

Best Dinner
This one is hard to narrow down with so many great restaurants on offer. But we've sifted through the local and facebook faves to nominate these pearls.

Cairns – Local produce reigns supreme at Ochre, offering innovative cuisine based on uniquely Australian ingredients, think emu, crocodile, kakadu plum, along with the familiar staples of lamb, chicken and fish. Keep in mind they are moving to the waterfront at Habour Lights in July 2016. 43 Shields Street, Cairns, QLD | p: (07) 4051 0100
Port Douglas - Salsa Bar & Grill has been a crowd pleaser for over 17 years in Port. Tropical Qlder inspired setting and a fabulous menu that offers a variety of stunning dishes if you'd like to explore beyond seafood. Check out the menu before you go. It's on the website. 26 Wharf Street, Port Douglas | p: (07) 4099 4922
Port Douglas - if you're wanting a really special, romantic experience and price isn't an issue, then you must do a night under the stars at Nautilus. For 58 years the team at Nautilus have been amazing their guest with a night never to forget. Bookings are absolutely essential. Enter along a hidden pathway from Macrossan Street or the 17 Murphy Street entrance | p: (07) 4099 5330

We hope this helps and gives you a head start for your amazing Port Douglas and beyond dining experience.

If you have any others you'd like to add, share them on our online oasis. Just mention them below. We'd all love to know! A huge thanks to our Facebook fans and locals who passed on their recommendations. We love you for it! xx

Anita & The Girls @
Sequins and Sand.

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Written By: Anita McLachlan, founder of Sequins and Sand. Connect with Sequins and Sand on Google+.