Port Douglas is a funny little town. You’ve got a main street that takes about ten minutes to walk end to end, a marina full of boats that cost more than most houses, and a food scene that punches well above what the postcode suggests. Rainforest on one side, reef on the other, and in between, a pile of restaurants all fighting for your Saturday night.
The trouble is choosing. Google throws up dozens of options and plenty of them look the same in photos. So we sat down with the latest Google ratings, the price ranges, the addresses and the things reviewers keep banging on about, and sorted them into something you can actually use. Twenty places, grouped by where they sit, with a straight opinion on each.
If you’re still sorting out the rest of the trip, the town itself has a handy overview on Wikipedia’s Port Douglas page. Otherwise, keep reading and get hungry.
Quick Picks If You’re Short on Time
- Best all-rounder: Salsa Bar and Grill, 4.8 on Google with nearly three thousand reviews behind it.
- Best for a special dinner: Nautilus Restaurant.
- Best on a tight budget: Babal and Choo Choos at the Marina, both listed at $20 to $40.
- Best for a long lunch: Epicurean, the highest rated spot on the list at 4.9.
- Best view: Osprey’s Restaurant.
Port Douglas Restaurants at a Glance
Here’s the full list in one place. Ratings are Google scores with the number of reviews in brackets, and prices are the per person ranges Google shows. Where Google doesn’t show a price, we’ve said so rather than guess.
| Name | Style | Address | Google rating | Price per person |
| Melaleuca | Australian | 22 Wharf St | 4.7 (1K) | $60 to $160 |
| Salsa Bar and Grill | Restaurant | 26 Wharf St | 4.8 (2.8K) | $60 to $160 |
| Nautilus Restaurant | Fine dining | 17 Murphy St | 4.6 (1.5K) | Not listed |
| Watergate | Australian | Shop 5/31 Macrossan St | 4.4 (1.2K) | $60 to $160 |
| ISLA | Restaurant | Shop 17/53-61 Macrossan St | 4.8 (148) | $80 to $140 |
| Epicurean | Lunch | Shop 8 Portico 53, 61 Macrossan St | 4.9 (174) | Not listed |
| Lagoon House Restaurant | Restaurant | Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas Rd | 4.6 (114) | $40 to $120 |
| Wrasse & Roe | Seafood | Coconut Grove Complex, 9-11/56-64 Macrossan St | 4.5 (1K) | $60 to $160 |
| Osprey’s Restaurant | Australian | Oak Beach QLD | 4.5 (406) | $40 to $100 |
| Bam Pow | Asian | 6/79 Davidson St | 4.8 (648) | $40 to $60 |
| Zinc Restaurant | Fine dining | Portico 3, 53-61 Macrossan St | 4.4 (1.3K) | $60 to $140 |
| Jungle Fowl | Asian | Shop 2/28 Wharf St | 4.5 (492) | $40 to $120 |
| Seabean Tapas Bar | Tapas | Shop 3/28 Wharf St | 4.6 (908) | $40 to $60 |
| Lichi Restaurant & Cocktail Bar | Asian fusion | 18-20 Wharf St | 4.5 (317) | $40 to $120 |
| Babal | Cafe | 41 Macrossan St | 4.7 (97) | $20 to $40 |
| Barbados | Wedding venue | Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, 44 Wharf St | 4.4 (617) | Not listed |
| IronBar | Restaurant | 5 Macrossan St | 4.2 (1.8K) | $40 to $120 |
| The Tin Shed | Restaurant | 7 Ashford Ave | 4.3 (2.7K) | Not listed |
| The Mexican | Mexican | 43 Macrossan St | 4.5 (1.5K) | $40 to $60 |
| Choo Choos at the Marina | Modern Australian | 46 Wharf St | 4.5 (897) | $20 to $40 |
How the Ratings Stack Up
Numbers help, so here’s the same list as a graph. Notice how tightly packed things are. Almost everything sits between 4.2 and 4.9, which tells you something good about the town: there really aren’t many duds. A 4.2 at a busy bar with nearly two thousand reviews is a different animal from a 4.9 at a small lunch spot with 174, so read the review count alongside the score.
How We Picked These Restaurants
No free meals, no sponsors, no secret handshakes. We looked at Google ratings and review volume first, then at price range, location and what kind of night each place suits. We also paid attention to what reviewers repeat. When hundreds of strangers say the service is warm, or the steak is cooked properly, that’s worth more than a glossy brochure.
One honest caveat: restaurants change. Chefs move on, menus turn over with the seasons and a place that was flying last wet season can have a quiet patch. Treat this as a very good starting point, then check the venue’s own page before you book.
Wharf Street: The Waterfront Strip
Wharf Street is where most visitors end up, and for good reason. It runs down toward the inlet, it’s lined with open-air restaurants, and the breeze in the evening does half the work for the kitchen.
1. Melaleuca
Address: 22 Wharf St. Google rating: 4.7 from around 1K reviews. Price: $60 to $160. Style: Australian.
Melaleuca is the sort of place you book on the first night and then try to wangle a second visit. One reviewer called it a must do restaurant in Port Douglas, and the food and wine pairing is what they were on about. It suits couples, small groups and anyone who likes a proper wine list. Book ahead for dinner, as the good tables go early.
2. Salsa Bar and Grill
Address: 26 Wharf St. Google rating: 4.8 from about 2.8K reviews. Price: $60 to $160.
Salsa sits in an open-sided Queenslander and has built a loyal crowd. That rating, held across thousands of reviews, is the strongest on the strip. Diners keep praising the service as much as the food, which is rarer than it should be. If you only get one dinner in town and you hate gambling, this is the safe, happy answer.
3. Jungle Fowl
Address: Shop 2/28 Wharf St. Google rating: 4.5 from 492 reviews. Price: $40 to $120. Style: Asian.
South-East Asian flavours with a tropical backdrop. Jungle Fowl is good when the group can’t agree, because sharing plates solves most arguments. One guest said the food, service and location felt unlike anywhere else in town. It opens late afternoon, so it’s a dinner stop rather than a lunch one.
4. Seabean Tapas Bar Restaurant
Address: Shop 3/28 Wharf St. Google rating: 4.6 from 908 reviews. Price: $40 to $60.
Tapas and a sunset drink is a hard combination to beat, and Seabean knows it. At $40 to $60 a head it’s also one of the more affordable waterfront options. Go early, grab a table facing the water and order a few plates at a time. It’s casual without being sloppy.
5. Lichi Restaurant & Cocktail Bar
Address: 18-20 Wharf St. Google rating: 4.5 from 317 reviews. Price: $40 to $120. Style: Asian fusion.
Lichi leans into cocktails as much as dinner. A reviewer called it their new favourite in Port Douglas, citing the staff, the drinks and the pace of service. Good pick for a night that starts with a spritz and has no fixed end.
6. Choo Choos at the Marina
Address: 46 Wharf St. Google rating: 4.5 from 897 reviews. Price: $20 to $40. Style: Modern Australian.
Right on the marina, and opening from 7 am, so it works for brekkie as well as lunch. At $20 to $40 it’s the sort of meal that lets you spend the saved cash on a reef trip. One couple described a lovely lunch watching the boats, which is about the right sales pitch.
7. Barbados Port Douglas
Address: Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, 44 Wharf St. Google rating: 4.4 from 617 reviews.
Google tags Barbados as a wedding venue, and the setting backs that up. One reviewer recommends it purely for the experience, so go in expecting atmosphere first and bargain second. Price isn’t listed, so check before you commit a group booking.
Macrossan Street: The Main Drag
Macrossan Street is the town’s spine. Walk it slowly and you’ll pass half this list. It’s also where the bigger names cluster, so it’s the easiest place to wander without a booking and still get fed.
8. Watergate Port Douglas
Address: Shop 5/31 Macrossan St. Google rating: 4.4 from 1.2K reviews. Price: $60 to $160. Style: Australian.
Watergate has a reputation for contemporary Australian cooking with a local twist, and has been known to put native meats on the menu. A returning guest said they were hanging for their next trip just to eat there again. Menus move around, so look at the current one before you set your heart on a dish.
9. ISLA
Address: Shop 17/53-61 Macrossan St. Google rating: 4.8 from 148 reviews. Price: $80 to $140.
A newer name with a very high score. The review count is smaller, so the rating is less battle tested, but the feedback is consistent: attentive service, lovely food, a good dinner spot. Worth trying if you’re after something a bit fresher than the old favourites.
10. Epicurean Port Douglas
Address: Shop 8 Portico 53, 61 Macrossan St. Google rating: 4.9 from 174 reviews. Style: Lunch.
The top score on this list, and it’s a lunch spot. Reviewers call it a must for lunch if you’re in town. Because it’s built around the middle of the day, it slots neatly in between a morning reef cruise and an arvo swim. Price isn’t shown on Google, so ask when you book.
11. Zinc Restaurant Port Douglas
Address: Portico 3, 53-61 Macrossan St. Google rating: 4.4 from 1.3K reviews. Price: $60 to $140. Style: Fine dining.
Zinc suits a dressed-up night without being stuffy. One reviewer said it was the best dinner in town for the value, the experience and the food, which is a neat summary of why it keeps filling up. It opens in the afternoon, so plan for a late lunch or an early dinner.
12. Wrasse & Roe
Address: Coconut Grove Complex, 9-11/56-64 Macrossan St. Google rating: 4.5 from 1K reviews. Price: $60 to $160. Style: Seafood.
If you’ve come up north for seafood, this is the obvious stop. Guests rave about the fine wines as well as the cooking. It’s one of the pricier options, so it earns its place on a celebration night or a last-evening splurge.
13. Babal Port Douglas
Address: 41 Macrossan St. Google rating: 4.7 from 97 reviews. Price: $20 to $40. Style: Cafe.
A cafe with a tiny review count and a big rating. Opening at 7:30 am, it’s your coffee and breakfast pit stop, and a reviewer noted the food is excellent and reasonably priced. If you like your mornings simple, start here. Coffee fans can also have a read of our guide to the best coffee roasters in Melbourne, just to see how the big city does it.
14. The Mexican
Address: 43 Macrossan St. Google rating: 4.5 from 1.5K reviews. Price: $40 to $60.
Loud, colourful, affordable and consistently busy. One diner went as far as saying it was the best dinner they’d ever had, in capital letters. We’d call it a great-value night out, particularly with kids or a bigger crew.
15. IronBar
Address: 5 Macrossan St. Google rating: 4.2 from 1.8K reviews. Price: $40 to $120.
The lowest score on the list, but with nearly two thousand reviews and a reputation for steak, it’s not one to write off. A reviewer called it the best steak in Port Douglas and praised the warm welcome. Expect a lively room rather than a hushed one.
Beyond the Main Strip: Views, Resorts and Local Hangouts
16. Nautilus Restaurant
Address: 17 Murphy St. Google rating: 4.6 from 1.5K reviews. Style: Fine dining.
Nautilus is the romantic one. It’s tucked a block off the main street and the tables sit out under the trees, so it feels like dinner in someone’s very good garden. A guest said it was hands down the best food and service in town. It opens at 5 pm. Price isn’t listed, but it’s fine dining, so budget accordingly. Planning a big night out down south as well? Our fine dining in Melbourne guide has a few ideas.
17. Bam Pow
Address: 6/79 Davidson St. Google rating: 4.8 from 648 reviews. Price: $40 to $60. Style: Asian.
The bargain of the bunch. A reviewer called it delicious, cheap and their favourite place to eat in town, and the rating backs them up. It’s a few minutes off the main strip, which keeps it a bit more local. Opens at 5 pm.
18. Lagoon House Restaurant
Address: Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas Rd. Google rating: 4.6 from 114 reviews. Price: $40 to $120.
Resort dining with a relaxed, tropical feel. It opens from 7 am, so it’s handy for breakfast if you’re staying nearby. Guests mention delicious food and friendly service, and the atmosphere gets a tick too.
19. Osprey’s Restaurant Port Douglas
Address: Oak Beach QLD. Google rating: 4.5 from 406 reviews. Price: $40 to $100. Style: Australian.
Osprey’s is the view pick. It sits out at Oak Beach, a drive from the centre of Port Douglas, so factor in travel. Reviewers talk about outstanding views and friendly staff, and it opens early at 6:30 am, so it can double as a breakfast outing.
20. The Tin Shed
Address: 7 Ashford Ave, Douglas Community & Sports Club. Google rating: 4.3 from 2.7K reviews.
A club-style venue with a big following. One reviewer called it a must-do for lunch or dinner. It’s the casual, no-fuss option, and the 2.7K reviews show plenty of locals and visitors use it. Pricing isn’t listed on Google.
Which Restaurant Suits Which Occasion?
- Date night: Nautilus, Melaleuca or Zinc.
- Family dinner: The Mexican, Bam Pow or Salsa Bar and Grill.
- Seafood fix: Wrasse & Roe.
- Steak night: IronBar.
- Cheap eats: Babal, Choo Choos.
- Cocktails: Lichi.
Tips for Eating Well in Port Douglas
Book dinner ahead in the dry season, roughly May to October, when the town is packed. Wet season is quieter, though some places adjust their hours. Port Douglas also sits between the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree, which you can read about on Wikipedia’s Daintree National Park page, so plan meals around tours. Reef boats often leave early and come back hungry.
Wine lovers who like to turn a meal into a day out might enjoy the way New Zealand does it, as in our post on what to do on Waiheke Island. And if you’re building a wider food-and-adventure trip across the ditch, our Rotorua travel guide is a good place to start.
Final Word
Port Douglas rewards people who plan one or two meals and leave the rest to wandering. Lock in a big dinner, pick a lunch with a view, keep a cheap and cheerful backup in your pocket, and you’ll eat very well. Safe travels, and save room for dessert.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best restaurant in Port Douglas?
It depends on the night, but Salsa Bar and Grill is hard to argue with at 4.8 from almost 2.8K reviews. For a lunch, Epicurean holds the top score at 4.9.
Where should I eat for a romantic dinner?
Try Nautilus, Melaleuca or Zinc. All three have a settled, special-occasion feel.
What are the cheapest good restaurants in Port Douglas?
Babal and Choo Choos at the Marina are listed at $20 to $40. Bam Pow, Seabean and The Mexican sit at $40 to $60.
Where can I get good seafood?
Wrasse & Roe is the dedicated seafood restaurant on the list, rated 4.5 from around 1K reviews.
Do I need to book?
For dinner, yes, especially at Salsa, Melaleuca and Nautilus in the busy season. Lunch spots are usually easier.
Which restaurants have the best views?
Osprey’s at Oak Beach is known for outstanding views, while Choo Choos and Barbados sit on the marina.
Where can I get breakfast?
Babal opens at 7:30 am, Choo Choos and Lagoon House at 7 am, and Osprey’s at 6:30 am, per Google listings.
Is Port Douglas expensive for dinner?
It can be. Many mid-to-upper restaurants list $60 to $160 a head, though $40 to $60 options exist. For background on the area, see Wikipedia.
Disclaimer
Ratings, review counts, prices, addresses and opening times in this article come from Google listings at the time of writing and change often. Reviewer comments are paraphrased from public reviews. Menus, hours and bookings should be confirmed directly with each venue. This article is independent and is not sponsored by any restaurant mentioned.
