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The best cafes in Cairns for coffee, brunch and lunch

Credit: Social Impact

Jemma Fletcher Jemma Fletcher
These Cairns cafes are worth setting your alarm for.

Searching for the best cafes in Cairns? Cairns punches above its weight for great food and coffee. Whether you’re chasing your morning caffeine hit, hunting down a bottomless brunch or settling in for a long, laid-back lunch with a view, these Cairns cafes deliver.

In short

If you only visit one cafe in Cairns, make it Caffiend. With exceptional coffee, inventive brunch dishes and the best seasonal produce from Tropical North Queensland, don’t be surprised if you find yourself back here the next morning.

Best brunch: The Chambers
Best coffee: Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters
Best pastries: Woodward Street Bakery + Kitchen
Best family-friendly cafe: Muddy’s Cafe
Hidden gem: Ozmosis

Best breakfast and brunch cafes

Whether you’re after smashed avo, fluffy pancakes or a leisurely brunch with friends, these Cairns cafes know how to start the day right.

Caffiend

coffee at Caffiend, Cairns
Try the house-made coconut and caramel-infused latte.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

With its colourful mural watching over Grafton Street, Caffiend has become one of Cairns’ most-loved brunch spots. The menu champions seasonal Tropical North Queensland produce with creative twists on breakfast favourites, while the coffee is just as memorable. First-timers can’t go wrong with the signature chilli eggs paired with the house-made coconut and caramel-infused latte.

  • Good to know: Arrive early on weekends as breakfast tables fill quickly.
  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 72 Grafton Street, Cairns City

The Chambers

the breakfast menu at The Chambers, Cairns
Come for the heritage charm, stay for modern brunch. (Credit: Social Impact)

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Brunch inside a beautifully restored former 1920s bank? Only in Cairns. The Chambers pairs heritage charm with one of the city’s most stylish cafe spaces, serving everything from colourful smoothie bowls and flaky pastries to its ever-popular bottomless brunch. Be sure to browse the pastry cabinet, where the in-house pastry chef creates fresh sweet and savoury treats daily.

  • Good to know: Bottomless brunch is available in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic packages.
  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 21 Spence Street, Cairns City

Arte Café

coffee with pastry at Arte Café, Cairns
Pair your coffee with flaky pastries. (Credit: Arte Café)

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Nestled inside Crystalbrook Bailey, Arte Café is proof that hotel cafes aren’t just for hotel guests. Expect excellent coffee, flaky pastries and a seasonal all-day menu celebrating fresh Tropical North Queensland produce, all served in a light-filled space that’s equally suited to a quick caffeine stop or a leisurely brunch.

  • Insider tip: Grab a table by the windows if you’re planning to linger over coffee and breakfast.
  • Average price: $$
  • Address: Crystalbrook Bailey, 163 Abbott Street, Cairns City

Pete & Paulz

Cuisine: Australian

When all you want is a generous breakfast without the fuss, Pete & Paulz delivers. This long-running local favourite is known for hearty home-style cooking, friendly service and portions that won’t leave you hungry. From the Benedict special with locally made black pudding or breakfast burrito to the brioche French toast with maple syrup, you’ll receive a hearty feed here. No bookings are required.

  • Good to know: Expect a wait during busy breakfast periods (worth it!)
  • Average price: $$
  • Address: 35 Sheridan Street, Cairns City

The Lillipad Cafe

a mixed kebab platter at The Lillipad Cafe, Cairns
Indulge in a kebab platter at The Lillipad Cafe.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
No one gets left out at The Lillipad Cafe, whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free or none of the above. In fact, they have a ‘no fuss approach’ where any food item is flexible and can be customised. Classic cafe favourites get a fresh twist here, with standouts including the Mediterranean crêpes, breakfast burrito and Atlantic salmon salad.

  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 29/31 Spence Street, Cairns City

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Hopscotch Kitchen + Bar

Cuisine: Modern Australian

A favourite with Earlville locals, Hopscotch is the sort of place where breakfast easily turns into lunch. From smashed avo and fluffy pancakes to wood-fired pizzas and house-made desserts, the all-day menu caters to every craving, while the relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to linger a little longer.

  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 532 Mulgrave Road, Earlville

Mi Piace Espresso Bar

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Tucked away just outside the CBD, Mi Piace Espresso Bar has earned a loyal local following for consistently excellent coffee, warm hospitality and beautifully presented breakfasts. The menu keeps things fresh with everything from eggs your way and smashed avo to seasonal specials, while the cabinet is stocked with house-made cakes and pastries that pair perfectly with your morning brew. Locals have been returning for years, and it’s easy to see why.

  • Insider tip: Grab an outdoor table on a sunny morning and don’t leave without trying one of the house-made cakes.
  • Average price: $$
  • Address: 119 Sheridan Street, Cairns North

Best coffee and bakeries

From expertly brewed specialty coffee to flaky pastries fresh from the oven, these are the spots worth seeking out when only caffeine and carbs will do.

Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters

Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters, Cairns
Step into Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters for expertly brewed coffee.

Cuisine: Specialty coffee

If your holiday doesn’t properly begin until you’ve had an exceptional coffee, make a beeline for Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters. Roasting its own beans and serving expertly brewed coffee alongside fresh pastries, toasties and breakfast favourites, it’s the kind of neighbourhood cafe locals happily detour for. Even non-coffee drinkers are looked after, thanks to its much-loved signature hot chocolates.

  • Insider tip: Swap your usual coffee for one of the signature hot chocolates if you’re in the mood for something different.
  • Average price: $
  • Address: 29 Johnston Street, Stratford; 223 Hartley Street, Portsmouth

Annee’s Caphê Sua Da

Vietnamese coffee at Annee's Caphê Sua Da
Sip on authentic Vietnamese coffee. (Credit: Annee’s Caphê Sua Da)

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Forget your usual flat white. Annee’s Caphê Sua Da is a tiny drinks bar dedicated to authentic Vietnamese coffee and refreshing specialty beverages rather than full meals. Every cup is made to your preferred strength and sweetness, making it easy to see why this tiny cafe has become something of a local obsession.

  • Good to know: This is a drinks stop rather than a brunch cafe.
  • Average price: $
  • Address: 57/89 Grafton Street, Cairns City

Bang & Grind Spence Street

belgian waffles at Bang & Grind Spence Street, Cairns
The Belgian waffles at Bang & Grind Spence Street are a must try.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Proof that you don’t need anything fancy to serve a great breakfast, Bang & Grind Spence Street has earned a loyal following with quality coffee, generous portions and genuinely friendly service. Whether you’re after fried eggs on Turkish toast, a homemade cake or something sweet to start the day, it’s the sort of cafe you’ll wish was your local.

  • Insider tip: If there’s a slice of homemade orange almond cake in the cabinet, don’t think twice.
  • Average price: $$
  • Address: 8/14 Spence Street, Cairns City

Woodward Street Bakery + Kitchen

ham, cheese & tomato croissant from Woodward St Bakery
Freshly made croissant from Woodward St Bakery.

Cuisine: Bakery

Whether you choose to take away or dine in, you’ll soon find out that pastries from Woodward Street Bakery are some of Cairns’ finest. Pick up a loaf of freshly baked sourdough, and treat yourself to a coffee and a sweet treat. Local favourites include the almond croissant, rhubarb Danish and its go-to vanilla slice.

  • Insider tip: Arrive early for the best selection of pastries as they’re known to sell out.
  • Average price: $
  • Address: 216 Woodfard Street, Whitfield

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Blackbird Laneway

coffee at Blackbird Laneway, Cairns
Grab your morning coffee at Blackbird Laneway.

Cuisine: Specialty coffee

Tucked away in Oceana Walk Arcade, Blackbird Laneway proves that some of Cairns’ best coffee comes from its smallest spaces. Expect expertly brewed espresso, creamy milk coffees and a rotating selection of pastries, all served with laid-back laneway charm. If you’re serious about your morning coffee, this is one stop you won’t want to miss.

  • Insider tip: Grab your coffee to go and wander the nearby laneways before the city wakes up.
  • Average price: $
  • Address: 62-64 Grafton Street, Oceana Walk Shop 13, Cairns City 

Best cafes with a view

Pair your morning coffee or long lunch with waterfront vistas, tropical gardens or Esplanade views at these scenic Cairns cafes.

Muddy’s Cafe

tacos at Muddy’s Cafe, Cairns
Enjoy afternoon tacos at Muddy’s Cafe.

Cuisine: Australian

There’s no better place to refuel after a morning on the Esplanade than Muddy’s Cafe. Sitting beside Cairns’ much-loved playground, this is the ultimate kid-friendly and pet-friendly venue for a family meal, fresh juice, or coffee. Take your pick of takeaway or breakfast options, as well as burgers, fish and chips, and ice cream.

  • Good to know: The playground next door makes this one of the easiest breakfast stops with young kids.
  • Average price: $
  • Address: 174 Esplanade, Cairns City

Wharf One Cafe

coffee at Wharf One Cafe, Cairns
Linger over coffee by the marina.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Perched on Trinity Wharf, Wharf One Cafe pairs waterfront views with relaxed breakfasts, long lunches and sunset drinks. Set beside the marina, it’s a lovely spot to linger over coffee or tuck into fresh seafood while watching boats come and go across Trinity Inlet.

  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: Wharf Street, Trinity Wharf, Cairns City

Local favourites worth the drive

Venture beyond the city centre and you’ll discover neighbourhood cafes loved by locals for their friendly service, quality coffee and consistently good food.

Smith Street Cafe

drinks at Smith Street Cafe, Cairns
Refreshing drinks to match with your brunch at Smith Street Cafe. (Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Cuisine: Australian

Quietly earning a reputation for consistently good coffee along with generous breakfast and friendly service, Smith Street Cafe has built a loyal local following. Our pick is the chicken, brie and bacon burger, best followed by a macadamia and white chocolate muffin with coffee.

  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 4/321 Sheridan Street, Cairns North (corner of Smith Street)

Ozmosis

avo on toast at Ozmosis, Cairns
The avo on toast is a standout.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Tucked away in leafy Edge Hill, Ozmosis is the kind of place you’ll find yourself lingering in long after breakfast is over. Surrounded by tropical greenery, the produce-driven menu celebrates fresh local ingredients with colourful salads, hearty brunch favourites and vibrant smoothies.

  • Insider tip: Pair your visit with a wander through the nearby Cairns Botanic Gardens.
  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 1/116 Collins Avenue, Edge Hill

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Jemma Fletcher
Based in sun-kissed Brisbane, Jemma Fletcher is an accomplished writer, editor and content manager. Armed with a Bachelor of Journalism from The University of Queensland, as well as over a decade of tourism marketing experience, Jemma now specialises in freelance travel writing and has a soft spot for the beauty of Queensland. Her expertise has been honed through her previous roles as Chief Editor of Queensland.com and WeekendNotes.com and she is the passionate creator of High Cup of Tea, an online directory celebrating Australia's finest high tea experiences. After growing up in the UK (hence her love for tea and scones) and a delightful chapter in Sydney, Jemma loves to explore quaint towns with a rich history. Also high on her weekend list is tasting the local cafe scene, enjoying charming farm stays with her young family and deciding where her next travel adventure will be (half of the fun is in the planning!)
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A gourmand’s guide to eating your way around Hamilton Island

(Credit: Nikki To)

    Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
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    From poolside bites and tasting flights to seafood plates and dry-aged steaks, a foodie adventure on Hamilton Island is worth every bite.

    Hamilton Island’s sun-lacquered shores have long magnetised travellers craving an escape from reality. But what’s less expected – and more interesting – is just how assuredly this Whitsundays idyll delivers on the culinary front. Dialling up the flavour as much as the barefoot allure, the Hamilton Island food scene offers world-class dining and drinking options, spanning slick fine-dining moments to just-caught seafood served within sight of the sea. Let’s dig in.

    Catseye Pool Club

    Catseye Pool Club
    Catseye Pool Club offers stunning beach views. (Image: Kara Rosenlund)

    Framing the electric blues of Catseye Beach from The Sundays hotel, Catseye Pool Club is Hamilton Island’s latest culinary prodigy. Shown to our table, we thread through rattan chairs, Zellige tiles and tumbling greenery that opens up to Coral Sea shimmer.

    The poolside restaurant is the brainchild of Sydney-based chef duo Josh and Julie Niland, who have brought their relaxed yet elevated dining ethos north. The menu – designed to bring people together – is made for sharing, each hero ingredient orbited by a palette of sides to mix, match and layer as you please.

    My thyme cocktail – woody with scotch, lifted by lime leaf – pairs perfectly with the charcoal grilled prawns entree, which is served with tumeric and lemongrass marinade, macadamia satay sauce and a thai-leaning sour green mango salad. Each forkful lands differently, but all are a delight. Then comes the coral trout. True to Josh Niland’s ‘scale-to-tail’ philosophy, the fish is presented whole in a theatrical crescent, a tiny fork stuck into its cheek in a nod to Niland’s declared prize cut. Ribbons of zucchini resembling gauzy curtains bring brightness and snap, while kasundi lends depth and warmth. It’s tongue-tantalising, special occasion dining with humanity.

    Sails Restaurant

    Sails Restaurant hamilton island
    Settle into casual poolside dining. (Credit: Nikki To)

    A more casual poolside dining scene awaits at nearby Sails Restaurant, where Eastern Mediterranean flavours are dished up with an island twist. Chermoula chicken skewers and barramundi souvlaki lie on the more filling side of the menu, while the sumac squid and stone-bread flatbread with za’atar – arriving alongside pomegranate molasses, beetroot hummus and crushed macadamias – are perfect light bites after a dip in the pool. And don’t miss the garlic lemon scallops.

    The setting is equally part of the draw. Sunlight floods the high-ceilinged dining room, while outdoor tables look out across the glittering expanse of Catseye Beach. Holidaymakers in oversized sunglasses sip spritzes beneath umbrellas, the gentle clink of plates mixing with splashes from the adjacent pool. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to linger long after lunch.

    Bommie

    cuttlefish dish at Bommie restaurant Hamilton Island Yacht Club
    Head to the Hamilton Island Yacht Club for a taste of Bommie. (Credit: Nikki To)

    Tucked into a sleek curved wing of the Hamilton Island Yacht Club, Bommie delivers experiential fine dining with a sense of occasion. Led by award-winning Executive Chef Ryan Locke, the seasonal menu champions local and native Australian ingredients whipped up into a modern display of creative precision.

    Inside the dim-lit dining room, guests can choose between the Tasting Menu or Chef’s Signature Degustation. Sourdough with pine oil sets the tone for the six-course tasting menu, beautifully presented in a bed of pine needles alongside smoked paperbark butter. I love how the squid ink choux pastry is served with flavour-popping native finger lime, which our waiter encourages us to eat caviar-style. Standout moments continue with the wattle-seed-crusted venison elevated by red fruit and pickled beetroot swirls; the meat is perfectly pink in the middle and an homage to the island’s history as a deer farm.

    Pebble Beach

    qualia Resort Pebble Beach
    qualia Resort guests can dine at Pebble Beach. (Credit: Lean Timms)

    Exclusive to qualia Resort guests for lunch and dinner, Pebble Beach is Hamilton Island’s most serene expression of seasonal island dining. Ocean-facing chairs dot a timber deck that spills straight onto the resort’s private beach, while crystalline turquoise waters stretch to meet distant islands – a scene far prettier than any postcard could capture.

    The recently refreshed menu doubles down on seasonality and bright, layered flavours. While the more substantial T-bone steak with hazelnut honey carrots tempts, we go lighter: Coffin Bay oysters with Champagne foam and keffir lime dust kick us off splendidly, followed by Byron Bay burrata served with balsamic and caramelised figs. The fennel and orange salad topped with succulent grilled chicken is utterly delectable, but it’s the zingy, oh-so-fresh soft shell fish tacos that I can’t stop thinking about. It all goes down a treat with a glass of delicate Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Champagne.

    Beach Club Restaurant

    Beach Club Restaurant hamilton island
    Book in advance for Beach Club Restaurant. (Credit: Nikki To)

    A lunch or dinner table at Beach Club Restaurant is best booked in advance – and it’s easy to see why. Looking out over the hotel’s palm-fringed infinity pool, the restaurant spotlights elegant contemporary Australian cuisine with a stellar (also Aussie-leaning) wine list to match.

    I am completely enamoured by the grilled Queensland prawns, which are brought to life with a smoked compound, local fried curry leaves and lime. Digging into the butter-soft lamb rump served atop pea ragout and parsley Paris mash feels like a warm, nostalgic hug. And dessert – vanilla bean ice cream drizzled with hot salted honey and apple gel – ends the night on a high note.

    Expect warm and discreet service; our waiter Marco tells us that the tiny decorative starfish on our table are there to help the staff remember whether we prefer sparkling or still water, so they don’t need to bother us by asking multiple times.

    Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher

    hamilton island Talk & Taste with Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher
    Join this immersive wine experience. (Credit Eleanor Edström)

    There’s more to Hamilton Island’s foodie scene than restaurant reservations alone. For wine-curious travellers seeking something a little more immersive, Beach Club has recently introduced Talk & Taste – a tutored tasting hosted by Bommie Assistant Manager and wine enthusiast Courtenay Morgan-Fletcher. Held twice weekly for a maximum of eight guests, the experience explores Australian wine culture through four thoughtfully selected drops paired with native-inspired bites.

    We opt for the white wine and seafood option. Alongside pours from Eden Valley and Launceston, a nibbling platter arrives featuring sashimi, salmon roe, Mooloolaba prawn ceviche and palate-cleansing ginger. The seafood is pristine and pared back, allowing the wines to take centre stage.

    The real highlight, however, is discovering just how nuanced winemaking can be. Courtenay speaks of viticulture as both art and science: harvest grapes a week too late and ripeness tips into ruin; plant the same varietal on different elevations and the sun, slope and water flow will shape entirely different expressions. Pinot noir, she explains, with its delicate skin and high water content, yields lighter fruit-forward wines, while thicker-skinned shiraz delivers depth and structure. I leave feeling fascinated and inspired by Courtenay’s evident passion.

    coca chu

    table spread at CocaChu
    Get a taste of Southeast Asian flavours. (Credit: Nikki To)

    Sweet and hot. Sour and salty. Dining at ever-popular coca chu is a sensation-swirling experience that’s not to be missed if you’re a sucker for punchy Southeast Asian flavours. Located at the Main Pool end of Catseye Beach, this lively hangout is all swaying lanterns, driftwood, high beamed ceilings and giant open windows that let in the balmy ocean breeze.

    Drawing from hawker traditions, the grilled betel leaf is a neat, vibrant mouthful of chilli fried cashews and spiced beef. The tofu surprises – soft beneath a tumble of dill, mint and coriander, and glossed in moreish peanut sauce. The massaman curry is pure comfort: creamy, fragrant, fall-apart meat. It’s generous and expressive cooking that I, for one, cannot get enough of.

    Marina Cafe

    hamilton island MArina Cafe
    Take in harbour views and comfort food.

    Sometimes, all you crave on holidays is a bacon and egg roll done properly and a creamy fruit smoothie. Boasting harbour views, an easygoing atmosphere and clean modern interiors, Marina Cafe is a popular local haunt for a reason. The casual menu lures families and couples alike with its all-day brekky, seasonal salads and sandwiches – from a roasted pumpkin bowl to prosciutto and rocket on herby focaccia.

    The acai bowl, topped with toasted nuts and berries, is a refreshing start to my day. Whether you sit in or takeaway, it’s a good-vibes-guaranteed place to refuel before or after your Whitsundays adventures.

    Discover your foodie getaway now at hamiltonisland.com.au.