19 Best Cairns Pubs And Bars For A Night Out

Quench your thirst at these tropical watering holes.

In a city as adventurous as Cairns, the key is to slow down and enjoy a refreshing drink as often as you can. Whether you’re looking for rooftop sunset drinks, you’re out and about on the esplanade and fancy a quick pick-me-up, or even a late-night boogie with your favourite tipple, Cairns plays host to a fun range of pubs and bars. Here are 19 of the best.

1. Flamingos Tiki Bar

Best for: Tropical drinks

Hidden beneath street level, Flamingos Tiki Bar is all about neon, palm trees, tropical prints, hula girls and creative drinks flourished with fruit. Not sure what to order? Ask for a signature cocktail, such as a Flamingo Sling, a Daintree Daiquiri or a Shark Bait Hoo Ha Ha, or browse the extensive spirits list for your poison of choice.

Flamingos Tiki Bar in cairns — Flamingos Tiki Bar is a fun, hidden bar. (Image: Supplied)

Address: 43 Esplanade, Cairns City

2. Cairns RSL Club

Best for: Esplanade view

Centrally located, the Cairns RSL Club offers fantastic views of the esplanade, a laid-back energy and is family-friendly. Enjoy a cold beverage from the Sports Bar or Diggers Bar and stay for lunch at the onsite bistro.

Address: 119 Esplanade, Cairns City

3. Rocco by Crystalbrook

Best for: Rooftop view

If you want to sip on Insta-worthy cocktail creations twelve floors up, head to the city’s highest rooftop bar Rocco , offering 270-degree panoramic views of Cairns and the Coral Sea. Rocco is renowned for its signature cocktails so you can expect to find an inspired drinks menu with both sweet and savoury flavours. It’s hard to choose but the Ladi Charli with Absolut vodka and lychee liqueur softly combined with coconut cream and citrus sounds delightful.

two women enjoying drinks at Rocco by Crystalbrook — Reserve a table ahead for your girls’ nightout at Rocco by Crystalbrook. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Address: Level 12, Tower, 131/141 Esplanade, Cairns City (within Crystalbrook Riley)

4. Oak and Vine Restaurant and Bar

Best for: Sunset views

Watch the sunset over the Coral Sea on the terrace at Oak and Vine as the space transforms into a lively cocktail bar. Choose from inventive signature cocktails, fine wines, craft beers, and a selection of artisan botanical gins with spicy tonics. Or see their Sippin’ on Sunset Special which includes a mixed charcuterie board and two cocktails or a house bottle of wine for only $50.

food and drinks at Oak and Vine Restaurant and Bar — Indulge in cocktails and botanical gins at Oak and Vine Restaurant and Bar. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Address: 59/63 Esplanade, Cairns City

5. Rattle n Hum Cairns

Best for: Your friendly Aussie pub

With a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere often showing sports and playing live music, Rattle n Hum is a bustling bar and grill, with friendly staff and generous-sized meals. Out at the back is an epic outback beer garden with greenery and festoon lighting throughout and a retractable all-weather roof. You can also find a Rattle n Hum in Port Douglas and Palm Cove.

Rattle n Hum in cairns — Rattle n Hum is a bustling bar and grill. (Image: Supplied)

Address: 65-67 The Esplanade, Cairns, QLD 4870

6. The Conservatory Bar

Best for: Wine tastings

The Conservatory Bar may be small in size but its chilled-out vibes, impressive wine list and Queenslander-style design have garnered it a big following. Pop in for a beverage, enjoy the live music and order one of the impressive grazing boards to share with friends.

a dimly lit corner at Conservatory Bar, Cairns — Curl up with a drink in hand at Conservatory Bar.

Address: 12/14 Lake St, Cairns City

7. Hemingway’s Brewery

Best for: Craft beers

With 20 varieties of brews and ciders on tap, including at least 10 of its own, Hemingway’s Brewery has the beer lovers among us covered. Housed in a heritage-listed building at Cairns Wharf with historical images above the bar and incredible views across Trinity Inlet, it’s a really cool space to enjoy a frothy and excellent pub grub.

people dining at Hemingway's Brewery Cairns Wharf — Take in incredible wharf views when you dine at Hemingway’s Brewery. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Address: Wharf St, Cairns City

8. Salt House

Best for: Lively atmosphere

If a lantern-lit bar with flowing ponds and fire features lights up your senses, then you’ll love Salt House . Pick an outdoor lounge area and while away the afternoon sipping into the sunset with a cocktail in hand.

a woman enjoying cocktails at Salt House, Cairns — Swing by Salt House for indulgent cocktails. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Address: Marina Point, 6/2 Pier Point Rd, Cairns City

9. Three Wolves

Best for: Cocktails

Hidden down a red brick laneway in the heart of the city is the charming Three Wolves , a boutique whiskey, wine and cocktail bar with an exciting menu.

Stop by for a chat with their friendly bar staff to discover your next favourite drink.

two girls walking by the side of Three Wolves, Cairns — Head to the chic speakeasy at Three Wolves for a guaranteed good time. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/ Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Address: 32 Abbott St, Cairns City

10. Wolf Lane Distillery

Best for: Tropical gins and liqueurs

For a splash of paradise, check out Wolf Lane Distillery for award-winning tropical gins and premium coffee liqueurs, infused with luscious North Queensland tropical fruits and rainforest botanicals that make them entirely unique. You can also find gin-tasting sessions here, as well as a cocktail-making masterclass.

empty chairs at Wolf Lane Distillery, Cairns — Pull up a chair at Wolf Lane Distillery. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/ Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Address: 28-30 Abbott St, Cairns City

11. The Pier Bar Cairns

Best for: Sunday session

Had a heavy Saturday night? Spend your Sunday afternoon recovering at The Pier Bar , with live music, DJs and food and drinks specials from 4pm. Located in an awesome spot by the water, it’s the ideal spot to catch up with friends, with an extensive wine, beer and cocktail menu featuring delicious in-house creations as well as the classics.

Address: The Pier Shopping Centre, 1 Pier Point Rd, Cairns City

12. P. J. O’Brien’s

Best for: An Irish pub

If you’re craving a good old-fashioned watering hole with Guinness on tap, classic grub and Irish music gigs, you absolutely have to go to P. J. O’Brien’s . From the Monday parma and pint to Friday pie and pint, there’s a special no matter what day you go in. Full of charm, it’s the perfect setting to eat, drink and be merry.

Address: 87 Lake St, Cairns City

13. Downunder Bar

Best for: Simple fun

Open seven nights a week until midnight, Downunder Bar offers a no-fuss, easy bar experience. Take your pick from nine pool tables (it’s free), karaoke every Thursday, a jukebox and cheap drink deals.

people playing at the pool tables in Downunder Bar, Cairns — The Downunder Bar is the biggest pool table venue in Cairns.

Address: 102 Lake St, Cairns City

14. Bar 94 Club & Beer Garden

Best for: Entertainment

Known for heavily supporting the local music scene, stop in at Bar 94 for cosy lounges, well-priced drinks, and delicious hotdogs, wings and pizza. There are events happening every week (including music shows, comedy, trivia, bingo and more) so if you’ve got an evening to spare and you’re happy to experience the unexpected, this is the place to go.

Address: 94 Lake St, Cairns City

15. The Fox Small Bar

Best for: Trendy neighbourhood spot

For something a little more low-key, enjoy a drink at The Fox Small Bar , a popular local neighbourhood small bar in the heart of Stratford with an extensive wine, gin and cocktail list. Peckish? Order the charcuterie board with cured meats, cheeses, and more.

The Fox Small Bar in Cairns — The Fox Small Bar is a low-key, trendy bar. (Image: Supplied)

Address: Shop 4/9 Kamerunga Rd, Stratford

16. The Beach Shack, Kewarra Beach Resort

Best for: Beach bar

Open seasonally, the famous Kewara Beach Shack bar sits on a beachfront just metres from the shoreline. Enjoy stunning views of the Coral Sea while sipping an ice-cold beverage with your feet in the sand and live music humming in the background. Bliss. There are often food trucks onsite too and it’s a great little spot to bring the kids.

sunset at Kewarra Beach — Come to Kewarra Beach for the sunset and stay for the cocktails. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Address: 80 Kewarra St, Kewarra Beach

17. Gilligan’s

Best for: Social fun

More than just budget accommodation, the legendary Gilligan’s has three quirky bars to explore (Main Bar, Beach Bar and Attic Bar) with a character for everyone. There’s no time to feel lost here as you’ll instantly be swept away into the theme of the night, from Fireball Fridays to Wet Pool Party Sundays.

a crowd of people enjoying a night filled with performances at Gilligan's — Join in the fun at Gilligan’s and soak up that party atmosphere.

Address: 57/89 Grafton St, Cairns City

18. The Woolshed

Best for: Party atmosphere

Popular with backpackers, The Woolshed is another bar with plenty of action and different areas to suit your motive. When you’re not on the dancefloor, sit away from the music yet close to the bar on its mezzanine floor, or head out to the balcony to look out over City Place and its lit-up fig trees.

Address: 22-24 Shields St, Cairns City

19. Elixir Music House

Best for: Quality live music

With a funky underground vibe and the home of live music to a wide range of genres, Elixir Music Bar is the go-to place to tap your foot with a beer while supporting the local arts scene. We hear this bar has some of the finest fried chicken in Cairns too.

Address: 1/92 Abbott St, Cairns City

Be prepared and plan your next-day brunch at one of these top 15 cafes in Cairns.

City buzz, gourmet trails, surf breaks and art scenes are all at your fingertips.

When it comes to planning a trip, picking a holiday destination is the easy part. The real dilemma is where to set yourself up for the night. Do you go coastal, city, or countryside? Somewhere remote and rugged, or right in the action? Luckily, the Sunshine Coast, and huge number of amazing Sunshine Coast day trips, have kindly made the choice for you.

Ditch the hotel-hopping and suitcase-lugging. Instead, base yourself at Novotel Sunshine Coast or Mantra Mooloolaba , where big-city culture, vine-covered valleys, and theme parks are all within a two-hour drive.

1. Sunshine Coast to Brisbane

Drive time: 1 hour 20 minutes (105km)

Shake off the sand from your sandals and swap the beach for the throb of the Queensland capital. Ease in gently with a bougainvillea-filled stroll through South Bank, iced latte in hand, before cooling off at Streets Beach lagoon – Brisbane’s answer to the coast (but without the waves).

Once firmly in big-city mode, hit up the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) , home to Australia’s largest collection of modern and contemporary artworks. Dive into the past at the Queensland Museum, where prehistoric fossils of Australian dinosaurs and megafauna collide with First Nations cultural collections and interactive science exhibits.

All this learning got you hungry? Howard Smith Wharves calls. Here, riverside dining delivers breweries with meat-forward menus, Japanese fine dining and overwater bars. If you’ve got room for more, Fortitude Valley’s shopping boutiques await you and your wallet.

woman walking around Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — Wander the Gallery of Modern Art. (Image: TEQ)

2. Sunshine Coast to the Scenic Rim

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (170km)

Make your way inland to the Scenic Rim for the state’s best vineyards and age-old volcanic slopes. Start your day early (like, sparrow’s breakfast early) at O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat in Lamington National Park . Here, take a treetop walk through the canopy and hand-feed the wild birds who flock here.

Next, it’s your turn to eat. Here, the food scene operates where locally sourced produce is an expectation, not an exception. Order a picnic basket crammed with regional wine and cheese to devour next to the creek at Canungra Valley Vineyards . Or perhaps a grazing platter of vegan and non-vegan cheeses at Witches Falls Winery .

Feeling bold? Tackle the Twin Falls circuit in Springbrook National Park. Or keep the gourmet life going with a Scenic Rim Brewery tasting paddle, best enjoyed while taking in the rise of the Great Dividing Range.

woman with cheese and wine at Witches Falls Winery — Enjoy a cheese platter at Witches Falls Winery. (Image: TEQ)

3. Sunshine Coast to the Gold Coast

Drive time: 2 hours (180km)

Surf, sand and sparkling skylines might be the Gold Coast’s MO, but there’s more to Surfers Paradise and beyond. Kick things off with a beachfront coffee at Burleigh Heads, then hike through Burleigh Head National Park to look over the ocean and whale sightings (dependent on the season, of course).

Cool off in the calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek before chowing down on the famously buttery Moreton Bay bug rolls at Rick Shores . Travelling with the kids? Then you can’t miss Australia’s theme park capital, with Dreamworld ’s big rides and Warner Bros. Movie World ’s Hollywood treatment at hand to keep the family entertained.

aerial view of Tallebudgera Creek — Dive into Tallebudgera Creek. (Image: TEQ)

4. Sunshine Coast to Tweed Heads

Drive time: 2 hours 15 minutes (200km)

Dare to cross enemy lines? Then welcome to New South Wales. Tweed Heads blends the laid-back attitude of the Northern Rivers with high-quality dining, experimental art, and farm-fresh indulgence – a combo worth the drive.

Start strong with a long, lazy brunch at Tweed River House , then swing by Tropical Fruit World for exotic finds like red dragon fruit, handfuls of lychees and black sapote. Next, hit M|Arts Precinct – an art deco hub of micro galleries, artist workshops and one-off boutiques.

Round off the day with sunset drinks at Husk Distillers among the glowing cane fields, and order one with their famous Ink Gin. You’ll thank us later.

exterior of Husk Distillers — Taste the famous Ink Gin at Husk Distillers. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Sunshine Coast Hinterland

Drive time: 1 hour (70km)

Strap on those hiking boots and make tracks inland, where volcanic peaks, misty rainforest and hinterland townships beckon. Ease in with the Glass House Mountains Lookout Walk, or, if you have energy to burn, tackle the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk for a 360-degree sight of the surrounding summits.

Next: Montville. This township delivers European-style architecture and old-world appeal. Nearby, settle in at Flame Hill Vineyard, where a large pour of estate-grown wine comes with encompassing views of the countryside.

Not ready to leave the hinterland villages just yet? Of course not. Meander past art galleries and indie shops at Maleny. Nab some fudge from Sweets on Maple for a sweet fix. Or go salty at Maleny Dairies with a farm tour and a chunky wedge of their deliciously creamy cheese.

End the day among the eucalypts and rainforests of Kondalilla National Park. Here, the Kondalilla Falls Circuit winds down through trees humming with life to a rock pool beneath a waterfall – as if designed for soaking tired feet before heading back to the coast.

view of Mount Ngungun on the scenic rim queensland — Take on the Mount Ngungun Summit Walk (Image: TEQ)

Start planning your Sunshine home base at all.com.

19 of the best pubs and bars in Cairns