Queensland is Australia's second-largest state, stretching from the subtropical southeast to the tropical north, encompassing the Great Barrier Reef, ancient rainforests, and over 7,000 kilometres of coastline. Known as the Sunshine State, it offers world-class diving, golden beaches, vibrant cities, and extraordinary wildlife experiences.
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Aria Restaurant Brisbane
Brisbane's most celebrated fine dining venue on Eagle Street Pier, offering stunning Brisbane River views. Chef Matt Moran's restaurant presents refined Modern Australian cuisine using premium Queensland ingredients.
1 Eagle Street Pier, Brisbane QLD 4000
Esquire Brisbane
One of Brisbane's most acclaimed fine dining restaurants, offering a creative degustation menu that pushes boundaries with innovative techniques and exceptional Queensland produce.
145 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Ochre Restaurant Cairns
Cairns' most iconic restaurant, specialising in native Australian ingredients including crocodile, kangaroo, emu, and local tropical seafood, presented in beautifully crafted contemporary dishes.
43 Shields Street, Cairns QLD 4870
Hellenika Brisbane
Simon Gloftis' acclaimed Greek restaurant at The Calile Hotel on James Street, celebrated for exceptional seafood, wood-fired proteins, and an exceptional wine list focused on Greek varietals.
48 James Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Stokehouse Brisbane
An elegant waterfront restaurant on the banks of the Brisbane River at South Bank, offering refined Modern Australian cuisine with spectacular river views and a sophisticated bar scene.
Sidon Street, South Bank QLD 4101
Rick Shores Gold Coast
Burleigh Heads' most celebrated restaurant overlooking the surf break, combining South East Asian flavours with exceptional Queensland seafood. Consistently rated among Australia's best restaurants.
43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Wasabi Restaurant & Bar Noosa
Noosa's premier Japanese restaurant on the Noosa River, celebrated for exceptional sashimi, sushi, and contemporary Japanese dishes using the finest local Queensland seafood.
2 Quamby Place, Noosa Sound QLD 4567
Flames of the Forest
An extraordinary dining experience set deep in the Daintree rainforest, where guests are transported by torchlight to dine on gourmet Australian cuisine surrounded by the sights and sounds of the ancient rainforest.
Mossman Gorge Road, Port Douglas QLD 4877
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Modern Australian
Gauge Brisbane
A casual yet sophisticated South Bank restaurant celebrated for its exceptional wine list and shareable Modern Australian small plates, featuring Queensland produce and natural wines.
77 Grey Street, South Bank QLD 4101
Boardwalk Brasserie Cairns
A waterfront restaurant on the Cairns Esplanade boardwalk offering Modern Australian cuisine with a focus on local seafood and tropical Queensland ingredients, with outdoor dining over the water.
1 Marlin Parade, Cairns QLD 4870
Harrisons Restaurant Port Douglas
Port Douglas's premier fine dining restaurant on Macrossan Street, offering contemporary Australian cuisine using the finest local Far North Queensland ingredients in a sophisticated tropical setting.
34 Macrossan Street, Port Douglas QLD 4877
Nonda's Restaurant Noosa
A beloved Noosa institution on Hastings Street, serving relaxed upscale Modern Australian cuisine with excellent Noosa River and beach proximity, popular for alfresco dining on warm evenings.
52 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads QLD 4567
Blackbird Bar & Grill Brisbane
A sleek bar and grill on Eagle Street Pier with spectacular Brisbane River views, serving premium steaks, seafood, and wood-fired dishes in a vibrant atmosphere with an outstanding cocktail bar.
Eagle Street Pier, 71 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
The Grill by Echo Townsville
Townsville's most impressive waterfront restaurant with panoramic Coral Sea views, serving premium Queensland beef and locally caught seafood with a creative contemporary menu.
Sir Leslie Thiess Drive, Townsville QLD 4810
Social Eating House Brisbane
A smart casual restaurant in Fortitude Valley offering contemporary Modern Australian cuisine with a focus on seasonal Queensland produce and an excellent natural wine list.
345 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Rascal Bar and Kitchen Noosa
A popular all-day dining spot on Hastings Street, serving excellent breakfast, brunch, and dinner with a focus on local produce and a great wine and cocktail list in a relaxed beachside atmosphere.
23 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads QLD 4567
The Sandbar Broadbeach
A popular open-air restaurant and bar in Broadbeach serving fresh Modern Australian cuisine with an emphasis on local Queensland seafood, popular for long lunches with locals and visitors.
Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Spicers Hidden Vale Restaurant
A destination restaurant at Spicers Hidden Vale retreat in the Lockyer Valley, 80 km west of Brisbane. Set on a working cattle station with sweeping pastoral views, the restaurant serves outstanding farm-to-table Modern Australian cuisine using produce from the estate.
617 Grandchester Mount Mort Road, Grandchester QLD 4340
Cafe
Jam Corner Brisbane
A much-loved Brisbane cafe in the Woolloongabba district serving exceptional specialty coffee, creative breakfast dishes, and fresh lunch options in a warm, welcoming neighbourhood setting.
28 Logan Road, Woolloongabba QLD 4102
Little Jack Horner Sydney Street
A charming New Farm cafe beloved for its exceptional house-roasted coffee and creative all-day breakfast menu, popular with locals in this vibrant inner-city suburb.
11 Sydney Street, New Farm QLD 4005
Mount Coot-tha Lookout Kuta Cafe
The summit cafe at Mount Coot-tha Lookout, offering breakfast and lunch with panoramic views over the Brisbane skyline, Moreton Bay, and the Glasshouse Mountains on clear days.
Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Mt Coot-tha QLD 4066
Seafood
The Fish House Burleigh Heads
A popular seafood restaurant perched above Burleigh Beach, serving the freshest Queensland seafood including coral trout, barramundi, and moreton bay bugs in a relaxed beachside setting.
50 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Prawn Star Cairns
A unique dining experience on a floating prawn trawler moored at Cairns Marina, serving the freshest Gulf prawns and local seafood bought directly from trawler boats. Cash only, BYO wine.
Marlin Marina, Berth CN7, Cairns QLD 4870
Coco's Beachside Restaurant Palm Cove
A relaxed beachside restaurant at Palm Cove, 25 km north of Cairns, serving fresh Queensland seafood and tropical cocktails beneath a canopy of melaleuca trees right on the beach.
22 Veivers Road, Palm Cove QLD 4879
Italian
ZaZa Italian Bar & Grill Gold Coast
A popular Italian restaurant in Broadbeach offering house-made pasta, wood-fired pizza, and classic Italian mains in a lively atmosphere popular with locals and visitors alike.
3 Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Orientale Noosa
A beloved Noosa institution on the corner of Hastings Street, serving traditional Italian cuisine in a relaxed open-air setting. Famous for wood-fired pizza, house-made pasta, and a superb Italian wine list.
1 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads QLD 4567
Modern Pub
Paddington Tavern
A beloved Brisbane pub on Given Terrace serving excellent craft beers and elevated pub food in a relaxed heritage Queensland setting. Great for a casual dinner or Sunday session.
186 Given Terrace, Paddington QLD 4064
The Pineapple Hotel Brisbane
A beloved Brisbane institution near the Gabba cricket ground, recently renovated to become one of Brisbane's best pub dining destinations with excellent craft beer and elevated pub fare.
706 Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba QLD 4102
Thai
Longrain Brisbane
Brisbane's premier modern Thai restaurant in Fortitude Valley, offering bold, aromatic Thai-inspired dishes with premium Queensland seafood and meats. Great cocktail bar and shared dining experience.
241 Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Hanuman Indian and Thai Cuisine Cairns
Cairns' most celebrated Indian and Thai restaurant, offering an award-winning blend of Indian, Thai, and Nonya cuisines using aromatic spices and fresh Queensland tropical ingredients in a sophisticated setting.
21 Lake Street, Cairns QLD 4870
American
Hog's Breath Cafe Surfers Paradise
A Gold Coast institution and original Hog's Breath Cafe location serving hearty American-style steaks, ribs, and burgers in a fun, casual environment. A Queensland tourist rite of passage.
Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Contemporary
Urbane Brisbane
A refined restaurant in a heritage Brisbane building offering sophisticated contemporary Australian cuisine with a focus on seasonal Queensland produce and exceptional wine pairing.
181 Mary Street, Brisbane QLD 4000
Fish And Chips
Chermside Night Owls Fish & Chips
A beloved Brisbane fish and chip shop serving the classic Australian takeaway — crispy battered fish, thick-cut chips, and fresh calamari — at great value prices.
796 Gympie Road, Chermside QLD 4032
French
Montrachet Brisbane
Brisbane's finest French restaurant on Given Terrace in Paddington, offering classic French cuisine with a refined Australian touch. Known for outstanding beef and seafood preparations.
224 Given Terrace, Paddington QLD 4064
Fusion
Sum Yung Guys Burleigh Heads
A hugely popular Burleigh Heads restaurant blending South East Asian flavours in creative small plates, known for its vibrant atmosphere, excellent cocktails, and innovative use of local seafood.
1854 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Healthy
Tahitian Noni Juice Bar Airlie Beach
A casual tropical juice and smoothie bar on the Airlie Beach Esplanade, popular for fresh tropical fruit smoothies, acai bowls, and light healthy meals. The perfect refuelling spot before or after a Whitsundays sailing trip.
The Esplanade, Airlie Beach QLD 4802
International
Cafe Frescos Airlie Beach
Airlie Beach's longest-running and most popular restaurant, serving a diverse international menu with excellent local seafood in the heart of the Whitsundays gateway town.
263 Shute Harbour Road, Airlie Beach QLD 4802
Mexican
Bubba's Real Mexican Gold Coast
A hugely popular budget Mexican restaurant in the heart of Surfers Paradise, serving generous portions of tacos, burritos, and nachos in a casual, colourful setting. Excellent value for money.
3 Elkhorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Middle Eastern
Mecca Bah Fortitude Valley
A vibrant Middle Eastern restaurant on James Street offering shared mezze plates, wood-fired pita, slow-cooked lamb, and aromatic tagines in a lively atmosphere popular for groups.
100 James Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
Pub Food
Hemingway's Brewery Cairns
Cairns' most popular craft brewery and restaurant on the Esplanade, serving house-brewed ales, lagers, and seasonal brews alongside a solid pub menu in a lively waterfront setting.
1/1 Feast Street, Cairns QLD 4870
Food tours & tastings in Queensland
Eat your way through Queensland with a guide.
Browse food experiences in QueenslandWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Tipping practices vary — check local customs. Service charge is often included.
Restaurants may close between lunch and dinner. Plan meals around local dining hours.
Popular restaurants may not take reservations — arrive early or be prepared to wait.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-15/meal | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |