Along with rainforests, cane fields and a world-famous reef, Tropical North Queensland has an abundant crop of cafés, restaurants, bars and distilleries serving the true taste of the tropics. Whether it’s fine dining and wining, a pub-style lunch or a snack in between adventures, Silky Oaks’ local list has you covered. Here’s some of the team’s top recommendations.
Please note: Days and hours of business may vary between wet and dry seasons.
Sprawling along the superyacht marina, Hemingway's Brewery distils water from Mossman Gorge, topnotch hops and locally sourced malts into its acclaimed range of craft beers. Grab an al fresco table and graze across an easy-going menu of burgers, pizza and salads while watching the boats sail by.
Along with award-winning gins and grazing boards, Devils Thumb serves up a quintessentially north Queensland vista of cane fields against a backdrop of the hinterland and its namesake peak from an unfussy cellar-door bar. Mix it up with a craft beer or cocktail based on the Australian Cane Spirit, an earthy ode to Rhum Agricole.
Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery is a cellar door experience unique to the Far North, set among the rainforest under an exotic jade vine. Passionate owners Tony and Trudie guide a tasting of single fruit wines harvested from organically grown Mossman produce, bursting with tropical flavours.
How to book
Reservations are recommended in advance, please contact the venue directly to book. The Silky Oaks Lodge team is available to assist with queries and plans. Please call +61 7 4098 1666 from 9am-5pm (AEST) daily or email info@silkyoaks.com.au
Location
Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, 44 Wharf Street, Port Douglas Business hours
Open daily 12-9pm; lunch from 12-2.30pm
Telephone
+61 481 173 337
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Hemingway's Brewery
Location 1-3 Owen Street, Craiglie, Port Douglas
Business hours
Thursday to Sunday 12-5pm
Telephone
+61 403 594 853
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Devils Thumb Distillery
Location
417 Shannonvale Road, Shannonvale
Business hours
Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4.30pm
Telephone
+61 7 4098 4000
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Shannonvale Tropical Fruit Winery
Local favourite The Little Larder is worthy of a pitstop for its wholesome all-day menu, matcha iced tea and organic coffee. Refuel with a Korean-inspired chicken burger, Cape Grim beef Rueben sambo or a Vietnamese omelette loaded with local gulf tiger prawns. They’re licensed too, making a mimosa or craft beer very tempting.
Umbrella-shaded streetside tables are in hot demand at artisan bakery-café Grant Street Kitchen, thanks to buttery Parisian-style croissants while credit also goes to flaky pastry pies that pay tribute to local ingredients. Sushi bowls and bircher muesli pots cater for the wellness warriors but few can resist the vibrant display of baked sweet treats.
Epicurean Port Douglas brings together the best elements of a provedore, cellar door, café and restaurant. Rohan and Marlene ensure you eat well and if artisan terrines, pâtés, rillettes, cured meats, French cheeses and house-baked sourdough sound appealing you won’t go hungry. Dine in for lunch or arrange a picnic hamper to go.
The family-run Beechwoods gets busy. The coffee is reliably good and the fare is tasty. There’s an all-day menu of breakfast favourites, sandwiches, proper, old-fashioned burgers, homemade cakes, fresh juices and smoothies. Time a visit with the Mossman Markets held each Saturday beneath the giant rain trees from 7am-1pm.
Location 53-61 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas
Business hours
Sunday to Wednesday 7.30am-2pm
Thursday to Saturday 730am-6pm
Telephone +61 7 4099 6450
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The Little Larder
Location Corner Grant and Macrossan Streets, Port Douglas
Business hours
Open daily from 6am-3pm
Telephone
+61 478 679 987
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Grant Street Kitchen
Location
Shop 8 Portico 53, 61 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas
Business hours
Tuesday to Saturday 12-4pm
Telephone
+61 7 4099 6291
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Epicurean Port Douglas
Location 13 Front Street, Mossman
Business hours
Monday to Saturday 6.30am-4.30pm
Telephone
+61 417 948 781
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Beechwoods Milk Bar
Sporting a heritage Queenslander façade and occupying a plum spot overlooking the park and harbour the Court House Hotel might be Port Douglas’ oldest pub, but the bistro menu is modern offering vegan bowls and fish tacos, towering burgers and classic fish and chips, using local barramundi, of course.
Run by award-winning chef Adam Ion and his wife Namhee, Melaleuca offers a menu of contemporary Australian dishes with a hint of Korean flavour that speaks to Namhee’s heritage. Try Moreton Bay bug roasted in Thai coconut curry and crispy whole Daintree barramundi with Asian spices, served up with cool cocktails and ocean glimpses.
The pasta is great at La Cucina, but it offers more than an excellent seafood linguine. Expect a local twist on traditional Italian flavours featuring North Queensland venison and yellowfin tuna or take the occasion up a notch by pre-ordering local mud crab. For something simpler, the bar menu offers delicious share plates and pizza.
Established for over 25 years, Salsa is vibrant and welcoming with a beachy blue and white décor, embodying Queensland’s carefree spirit to a tee. Pair a tropical cocktail with a selection from the creative food menu which takes a something-foreveryone approach from fresh line-caught fish and creole jambalaya to local red claw and chilli.
Tucked away down a lane, find some of the best modern Australian cuisine in town courtesy of executive chef Lee Neate. His innovative menus take inspiration from local produce and seafood sourced straight from the tropical waters. Dine for lunch in the open-air restaurant or call-in for a glass of wine and a bite from the bar menu.
Location
Corner Wharf and Macrossan Streets, Port Douglas
Business hours
Open daily 10am-12am
Telephone
+61 7 4099 5181
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The Court House Hotel
Location
22 Wharf Street, Port Douglas
Business hours
Daily from 12–2pm
Telephone
+61 7 4099 5167
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Melaleuca
Location 4 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas
Business hours
Daily from 12.30-10pm
Telephone
+61 7 4099 6744
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La Cucina + Bar
Location
26 Wharf Street, Port Douglas
Business hours
Thursday to Monday 12-11pm
Telephone
+61 7 4099 4922
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Salsa
Location
Shop 5/31 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas
Business hours
Daily from 12-9pm
Telephone
+61 7 4099 5544
More information
Watergate