21 April 2025
12 mins Read
Hamilton Island restaurants dish up a raft of memorable meals, where world-class culinary creations roll out amid dreamy Whitsunday views and that inimitable island atmosphere. Alternatively, after a day filled with exploring some of Hamilton Island’s action-packed activities, or perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime day trip, you might be more in the mood for an easy, breezy takeaway dinner to be enjoyed in the comfort of your superb accommodation. Whatever you’re craving, there’s a sensational eatery to suit.
Here are 15 of the best Hamilton Island restaurants.
Hottest new opening: Catseye Pool Club
Best date spot: Coca Chu
Family-friendly: Manta Ray
Casual eats: Sails
Great for special occasions: Bommie Restaurant
The mouth-watering Eastern Rock Lobster is a signature dish at Catseye Pool Club. (Image: Christopher Pearce)
Anticipated far beyond the powder-white shores of Hamilton Island, Catseye Pool Club serves as one of the country’s most anticipated restaurant openings of 2025. Found inside The Sundays, set to swing its doors open at the end of April 2025, the Hamilton Island restaurant is the latest brainchild from Josh and Julie Niland, the culinary all-stars behind Sydney’s globally acclaimed Saint Peter. While the menu awaits to be sampled, the team is promising “island-style” dining intended to be passed around and shared as the turquoise swirls of the Coral Sea provide a jaw-dropping backdrop. Dotted with locally sourced produce, a sample menu teases the likes of Eastern rock lobster rolls with tarragon mayo to start before diving into your pick of three feasts spanning roasted Sommerlad chicken from NSW, grass-fed beef rib eye and coral trout in salt pastry, all with an array of mouth-watering accompaniments. To wash it all down? A Neapolitan Sundae finished with your choice of three flavours, or a soft cream with waffle.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Location: The Sundays, 8 Palm Terrace Way, Whitsundays
Nab a picnic table at The Palms.
If you can resist the allure of the neighbouring Marina Tavern (more on that further below) you’ll stumble right into The Palms, which opened in December 2024. A chilled-out haven dotted with picnic tables, green-and-white Pagoda umbrellas and a shiny, beer-slinging Airstream, the Hamilton Island restaurant also offers hearty snacks and barbecued meats. Nibble on brisket sliders, bug rolls or pots of prawns before things get serious on the grill where pork ribs and ginger beer chicken roast off. Our tip? Go for one of the two share platters drowning in all the meat you can handle because, well, holidays. Live music and a big screen to watch the footy keep crowds around for hours.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Breezy
Location: 22 Front St, Whitsundays
The menu at Coca Chu is a celebration of Southeast Asian flavours. (Image: Rhiannon Taylor)
Dine on the freshest of fare, blending big Asian flavours with achingly fresh local produce at Coca Chu, one of the most beloved Hamilton Island restaurants. Overlooking serene Catseye Beach, the eatery is inspired by the hawker-style street food of Southeast Asia, so everything is designed to be shared. Step inside an all-too-delicious-smelling dining room, overlooking the sand just out front, to sample the ever-popular tiger prawn betel leaf with macadamia, coriander and coconut, a crispy pork belly with shaved cabbage and plum sauce, and wok-fried greens with chilli, garlic and vegan oyster sauce. To top it off, the vibe is lively and loud, so bringing the entire family will prove just as memorable as securing a waterfront table for two.
Cuisine: Southeast Asian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Electric
Location: Hamilton Island Resort Centre, Resort Drive, Whitsundays
Dine on contemporary Italian fare at Romano’s Italian Restaurant. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)
With its contemporary Italian menu coupled with an elegant atmosphere, Romano’s Italian Restaurant is one of the most romantic Hamilton Island restaurants on offer. Start your evening with a pre-dinner cocktail at the bar before taking your seat, which will ideally be at one of the tables on the deck overlooking bobbing vessels docked at the marina. Inventive standouts include bucatini granchio with Queensland spanner crab, garlic and white wine, guanciale, and capers, and Pesce Spada Allo Griglia with swordfish, salad and caramelised celeriac puree. Book well before you travel, as this place is endlessly adored and it’s tough to get in last-minute.
Cuisine: Italian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Intimate
Location: Front St, Hamilton Island
Enjoy oysters and champagne at the award-winning Bommie Restaurant. (Image: Jason Loucas)
While its name, taken from the Aboriginal word ‘bombora’, reflects the shallow, colourful patches of reef dotted around the waters of Hamilton Island, Bommie Restaurant’s innovative Australian menu reflects its more immediate surrounds. Located in the architecturally striking Hamilton Island Yacht Club, this award-winning Hamilton Island restaurant is one of the best places to indulge on the island. Relaxing in its sophisticated candlelit dining room, decorated with floor-to-ceiling sculptures by artist Glenn Murray, you’ll dine on locally sourced, seasonal produce crafted by head chef Alice James. Choose the decadent three-course set meal including the likes of Queensland tiger prawns done with house-made farfalle and gremolata, kangaroo tartare with fennel seed lavosh and a mustard emulsion, plus the market fish, pan-seared with soft shell crab and a spiced coconut emulsion.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Location: Front St, Hamilton Island
Tuck into Popeyes’ finest fish and chips. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)
No island holiday, particularly one with an epic collection of beaches and dramatic swimming pools, is complete without a post-sun helping of takeaway fish and chips.
Here, the place to be is Popeyes Takeaway. There are classic catches available daily, as well as old-school potato scallops, beer-battered onion rings and seafood sticks. Choose the Seafood Basket packed with prawn cutlets, fried squid, fish your way, a seafood stick and chips to sample Popeyes’ finest. A great family-friendly spot overlooking the water, the Hamilton Island restaurant also cooks up kid-friendly chicken chippies and fish dippers, plus pineapple fritters and four different burgers.
Cuisine: Fish and chips
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Fuss-free
Location: Front St, Whitsundays
Enjoy champagne and oysters as part of qualia’s signature Talk and Taste experience.
If you’re staying at the exclusive qualia and seeking an elevated lunch experience, a table at Pebble Beach is not to be missed. Set at the water’s edge in the dreamiest location within the luxury property, arguably the most lavish Hamilton Island accommodation pick, the restaurant offers a sweeping panorama of white sand and the neighbouring Whitsunday Islands. Designed by executive chef Joshua Hingston, the menu celebrates fresh local produce in magnificent fashion, shining a light on ingredients grown on the island itself. Prepare for a sublime sitting matched with Australian and international wines while the likes of panko crumbed taleggio with balsamic caramelised onion, baked pumpkin, lemon myrtle seeded crackers start you off spectacularly, while the southern braised wagyu beef cheek stands out as a main.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Glamorous
Location: qualia/20 Whitsunday Blvd, Whitsundays
Pick from a rotating selections of gelato favourites. (Image: Hamilton Island Enterprises Limited)
A few minutes’ stroll from Popeyes, in the heart of the Marina Village, the Pizzeria and Gelato Bar is another laid-back Hamilton Island restaurant designed for families. Serving up barista-made coffee, 20 pizza flavours and a rotating batch of gelato favourites from 4pm, the hot spot nails laid-back holiday indulgence. You’ll find all the classics on crispy-thin bases including a Margherita, Super Supreme and Hawaiian, as well as gourmet creations stacked with pancetta, bacon, mushrooms and carbonara sauce (the Carbonara), sweet chilli prawns, cherry tomato and bocconcini (the Sweet Chilli Prawn) and pulled lamb, olives and fetta (the Braised Lamb). Also available are vegetarian and gluten-free options, plus vegan cheese. Nab a curb-side table for a chilled-out island must-experience.
Cuisine: Pizza
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Rowdy
Location: Front St, Whitsundays
Dine on classic Mediterranean fare by the marina. (Image: Rhiannon Taylor)
Another eatery offering beautiful views across the marina, Manta Ray is the place for a low-key, family-friendly meal with plenty of choice. As a bonus, if you’re a guest staying at the Reef View Hotel, Palm Bungalows, or any stay booked through Hamilton Island Holiday Homes, you can take advantage of Hamilton Island’s Kids Stay & Eat Free program. Look for fish drifting off the outdoor dining deck and gaze at lolly-pink sunsets while you pick at antipasti classics like burrata and charred zucchini, as well as heartier options, including slow cooked lamb shoulder or seared chicken with caper dressing. There’s also a relaxed bar where you can enjoy aperitivo from 3pm until 5pm every weekend.
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Easy going
Location: Front St, Whitsundays
Find Bob’s Bakery in the heart of the marina village. (Image: Hamilton Island Enterprises Limited)
Sometimes, all you need is something simple on holidays. Enter the Hamilton Island bakery go-to, located in the heart of the marina village. Bob’s Bakery dishes up chunky meat pies, flaky sausage rolls, buttery croissants, humongous sandwiches and fresh sushi rolls daily. Prefer something sweet? Load up on Danish pastries and classic treats, baked to perfection right on-site. Additionally, if you’re celebrating a special occasion on the Island, Bob’s creates made-to-order cakes, so there’s no need to stress about trying to drag something over from the mainland. Doors open from 6.30am to 3pm every day.
Cuisine: Baked goods
Average price: $
Atmosphere: No frills
Location: 137 Front St, Hamilton Island
Qualia isn’t the only Hamilton Island accommodation offering ultra-deluxe dining. The stunning Beach Club, an adults-only hotel located right behind Catseye Beach, plays home to the excellent Beach Club Restaurant, a poolside feast fit for royalty. Shaking up fruity cocktails and cooking up a menu filled with the freshest of seafood, the exclusive restaurant (guests of the hotel receive preferential treatment when it comes to locking in a table) embraces quality ingredients with finesse. You can order small snacks, but we recommend settling in for the tasting menu, which covers the likes of kingfish sashimi, beef tartare and duck breast à l’orange with braised witlof, orange caramel, roasted hazelnuts, orange zest, and carrot purée.
Cuisine: International
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: High-flying
Location: Beach Club, 9 Resort Dr, Whitsundays
Feast on share plates next to the sparkling pool. (Image: Rhiannon Taylor)
It’s one street away from Catseye Beach, however, the airy Pool Terrace restaurant offers its own waterfront indulgence via hearty snacks and impeccable service. Located within the Reef View Hotel, right beside the property’s trademark Reef View Hotel Pool, this Hamilton Island restaurant is a great spot to fuel up ahead of a big afternoon, or help you wind down after a morning of swimming. Keep your sunnies on as you feast overlooking the glorious lap pool as share plates including salt and pepper squid, popcorn chicken and mushroom and mozzarella arancini put smiles on dials. If tummies are really rumbling, there’s also a chicken burger with chips, the seared tuna salad and a battered barramundi with chips.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Chilled out
Location: Reef View Hotel, 12 Resort Dr, Whitsundays
The Clubhouse Restaurant on Dent Island offers sensational views of Passage Peak and the Coral Sea. (Image: Thomas Lisson)
One of the most scenic Hamilton Island restaurants is undoubtedly the Clubhouse Restaurant, part of the Hamilton Island Golf Club and located atop Dent Island. Before you settle in, immerse yourself in dazzling views, including a glimpse of Passage Peak, one of Hamilton Island’s most picturesque walking trails.
From inside this refined eatery, which can only be reached if you set sail from Hamilton Island itself to Dent Island, humpback whales have been spotted as large glass windows let in utterly enchanting sights. But the best is yet to come. A brilliant seasonal menu that works magic with local produce includes torched salmon with sushi rice, seared scallops with pea puree, chicken breast with truffle potatoes and greens, and a lamb rump with carrot puree and minted salsa verde. The dress code is smart casual so leave singlets, denim, boardies and rubber thongs back at your accommodation.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Exclusive
Location: Dent Island, Whitsundays
Have a romantic dinner poolside at Sails. (Image: Riley Williams)
A great spot to grab a casual meal between your day’s activities, Sails restaurant is located at the centre of Hamilton Island’s most happening hub, right next to Main Pool. Offering easy meals and views over Catseye Beach plus the Instagram-friendly Dolphin Pool, the Hamilton Island restaurant offers an a la carte menu spanning karaage chicken, salt and pepper squid, a bug bun with pickled cucumber, a boneless chicken thigh curry and crisp pork belly with slaw. Wash it all down with something from the bar, the perfect coupling for dreamy poolside R&R.
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Holiday mode
Location: Resort Dr, Whitsundays
Chill out on the deck while enjoying classic pub fare at Marina Tavern.
Missing your favourite grub from back home? Make a beeline to the local Hamilton Island pub, Marina Tavern, where the vibe is low-key and drinks just keep coming. Seats are sprawled out across a large outdoor deck, offering the perfect meeting spot for large groups. In the way of food, generous pub classics are the order of every day, with four terrific Parmi options taking centre stage, plus a range of burgers and salads, a 300g grain-fed scotch steak and a dedicated kids’ menu. The selection of snacks is worth a squiz, too, as you’ll find cheesy garlic bread, onion rings, lemon pepper squid and more.
Cuisine: Pub fare
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Local
Location: 172 Front St, Whitsundays
Planning a holiday to Hamilton Island? Read more travel tips on our guide to Hamilton Island.
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