Cairns, Australia Travel Guide - Eat

As with much of Cairns, you can divide the city into the Esplanade and the places within a block of it, and the rest of the city. The Esplanade is littered with bar and grill places supplying red meat and beer all in the one place, and with seafood restaurants. It's relatively difficult to find anything open before 11AM, since they expect the clientele to be sleeping in. The rest of the city has small cafes and milkbars catering to locals. The number of Japanese tourists here makes Japanese food a fairly reliable option, although prices can be steep.

A number of the more expensive restaurants on the Esplanade, particularly towards the north end, offer discounts of 20-30% for early birds: usually you will need to order by 6:30PM and pay and leave no later than 7:30PM to get a discounted meal.

La Pizza TrattoriaPhone: +61 7 4031-264693 The Esplanade. La Pizza Trattoria has good pizza. It lures most patrons in by letting them wander past the pizza chef kneading the dough as they smell the baking pizzas. Medium sized pizzas $17. Open 7 Days 7AM until late.

Rex's Burger Bar316 Sheridan StPhone: +61 7 4031-1756Hours: 7AM-8:30PMPrice: $6.60-11.50Good burgers

Villa Romana TrattoriaAplin Street (cnr The Esplanade)Phone: +61 7 4051-9000Fax: +61 7 4031-5557Price: Meals are $25-40Italian meals with some good seafood options and overworked wait staff. 25% discount if you order before 6:30PM.

Hide's Coffee CafeShop 7, 87 Lake StreetPhone: +61 7 4041-1899A couple of streets back from the Esplanade, this cafe is a good place for an under $10 breakfast or lunch. Order at the counter and remember to keep an eye on the collapsing umbrellas at the outside tables. They have free Wi-Fi for guests.

Sushi ExpressShop 28 Orchid Plaza, 79 Abbott StreetPhone: +61 7 4041-4388Fax: +61 7 4052-1277Price: Plates from $2.50-4.50A sushi train made up to look like the Kuranda Railway, this place is popular but not wildly busy. The tempura seems to get more attention than the sushi or sashimi.

Perrotta's At The Gallery38 Abbott StreetPhone: +61 7 4031-5899If you want to escape from several evenings touring the bar and grill places, Perotta's is just off the Esplanade and does more sophisticated Western food. Try the French toast with roast pear for breakfast. Breakfast, lunch and dinner approximately $20.

Donnini's Ciao ItaliaPier MarketplacePrice: Meals from around $20-25Indoor and outdoor dining with an ocean backdrop.

source: Wikivoyage