Meet me at the Watering Hole – Cairns’ Best Bars and Pubs

Whether you are a holiday maker, a local or here on a business trip, knowing where to go for a good meal is essential. There are endless options available but never fear here is a guide that is guaranteed to have the dining experience you are looking for.

Being a coastal city, Cairns has many seafood option showing off the bounty of the coral sea and freshwater fishing. Great stakes are also abundant in restaurants and being a multicultural population there are also the best dishes from around the world on offer. From families to fun nights out, Cairns has you covered.

Food is not the only thing these venues have going for them, great atmosphere, wonderful views and the perfect drink to go with your meal are just some examples. If you are in town for a celebration many of the restaurants on this list also cater to functions like birthday parties, hens and bucks nights and large or intimate family gatherings. Drinks after a hard day’s work and a good meal will turn even the busiest and most stressful day into a good one.

Here are several suggestions to make your night out in Cairns a great one:

Salt House
Address: Marina Point, 6/2 Pierpoint Road, Cairns City QLD 4870
Hours: Open today · 11am–2am
Phone: (07) 4041 7733
Menu: salthouse.com.au

Next to the Cairns Yacht Club facilities, Salt House is a unique dining, bar and entertainment venue. It offers panorama views of the Marina and the Cairns coastline with local and visiting bands performing 4 nights a week. Salt house boasts a wood fire grill and there are easy downloadable menus allowing you save time by knowing exactly what you want order before you arrive. There is also a cocktail bar perfect for after dinner drinks or a wonderful night out.

The venue has been designed by Sydney designer Michael McCan of Dreamtime Australia Design and is a piece of artwork in itself. Open for breakfast, Lunch and dinner, Salt House has a special $20 lunch time menu that changes every week ensuring variety with a vegetarian option along with a glass of house red or white wine. Aside from the $80 Seafood platter for 2 at dinner all meals are under $50.

The Pier Bar
Address: The Pier Shopping Centre 1 Pierpoint Road, Cairns City QLD 4870
Phone: (07) 4031 4677
Menu: thepierbar.com.au

Famous for their wood-fired pizza the Pier Bar is somewhat of an institution in Cairns. It has recently been renovated to a light and bright open plan with indoor and outdoor seating. The menu is downloadable and there are kids meals as well as takeaway options. They have great seafood meals and the Sunday Session offers a roast pig. Monday nights are Tapas and Sangria, Tuesdays are Taco Tuesdays and there is a pool comp for all the pool sharks out there. Wednesday’s host a ping-pong comp and Thursday night sees a Latin Jazz Excursion. Something for everyone is not just a saying at the Pier Bar and all meals are under $40.

Rattle ‘n’ Hum
Address: 67 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870
Phone: (07) 4031 3011
Menu: rattlenhum.com.au

With two locations, one in Port Douglas and the other in Cairns, Rattle ‘n’ Hum is a family friendly restaurant. They have a kids menu and delicious wood fire pizzas as well as a variety of meals to suit everyone. You can download the menu for ease of ordering and all meals are under $37. If there is a sporting event you wanted to watch and celebrate then Rattle ‘n’ Hum has you covered and they also cater to Christmas functions. The wonderful atmosphere is well worth the visit.

Mondo Cafe Bar and Grill
Address: 34 Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870
Phone: (07) 4052 6780
Menu: www3.hilton.com

Waterfront alfresco dining under a giant Poinciana tree makes Mondo the perfect place to relax. Overlooking Trinity Inlet at the Hilton Cairns Hotel, Mondo is famous for its variety of flavours from around the world and stunning views. They have family night every Tuesday and Live & Local every Friday showcasing the best of cairns local music talent. Mondo is open for lunch and dinner and you can download the menu any time you like. They have signature dishes such as Mondo Classic Curry Share for 2 for $53 or Hanging Mondo Barbecue and Sizzling Fajitas. There are also vegetarian options and no meal is over $35.

The Woolshed
Address: 24 Shields St, Cairns City QLD 4870
Phone: (07) 4031 6304
Menu: Address: 24 Shields St, Cairns City QLD 4870
Phone: (07) 4031 6304
Menu: thewoolshed.com.au

Right in the heart of the city, The Woolshed has been around for over 21 years and is still going strong. It was recently refurbished and the restaurant on street level has an alfresco area. It is open for lunch and dinner and famous for its great value meals. There is a kids menu and all lunch options are under $30 while nothing on the dinner menu is over $40. There are five distinctly different areas for parties and functions catering for groups of 8 to 500. The Woolshed has been awarded a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence and turns into party central 7 nights a week with a nightclub upstairs overlooking beautiful fig trees. This location has the best of both worlds so why not stop in for dinner then party into the night?