Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Tropical North Queensland

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Tropical North Queensland? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Bam Pow QLD

4.9

4.9 (186)

$40 and under

Contemporary Asian

Port Douglas

About the restaurant

Modern southeast Asian dishes, handcrafted cocktails, beers on tap and good tunes. Daily Happy Hour 4pm-6pm.

Top review

Tony

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

It was a great menue excellant service, if I lived in port Douglas I would come every week

Cape Gloucester Resort Restaurant & Bar

4.8

4.8 (218)

$41 to $100

Australian

Hideaway Bay

About the restaurant

Located in the Gloucester Passage overlooking the crystal blue waters of the Whitsundays, Cape Gloucester Resort is a 40-minute drive from Airlie Beach and one of the very few beachfront dining restaurant and accommodation venues on the mainland. Our Restaurant & Bar is Open from 10 am 7 days a week. Every meal is served up with panoramic views of the ocean and the dishes are created using only the freshest local ingredients. Enjoy a cocktail poolside after your meal while you relax in the tropical Whitsunday Lifestyle, or sit back Beachfront watching the Sun Set over the Coral Sea. Reservations are preferred for Lunch and Dinner Bookings. Live Music every Sunday from 1pm

Top review

Clive

Dined on Jun 24, 2025

One of our favourite places for lunch, good food, service and great location

Eastwoods Dining & Bar

4.8

4.8 (355)

$41 to $100

Southeast Asian

Airlie Beach

About the restaurant

inspired by the traditional tastes & textures of south east asia.
our menu brings you a unique blend of aromats & fresh flavours with the intention to share.
sample a collection of dishes that will excite your senses & arrive at your table as prepared.

Top review

Jodi

Dined 2 days ago

The absolute best restaurant in the Whitsundays! As always the food is incredible and the service is fabulous!

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Experience

EMMALENE EASTWOODS WINE DINNER

Ban-Na Thai Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (114)

$41 to $100

Thai

Mackay Harbour

About the restaurant

Ban Na Thai is a small family owned business since 1996. Located in corner of Victoria & MaCalister Streets.
Our Chefs have over 30 years of experiences in Thai cuisine. We are fully licensed, and have varieties of Thai dishes for you to try such as Massaman Curry, Tom Yum Soup, Thai Basil and much more.

Top review

Melody

Dined on Jun 20, 2025

Food took a while to come but when we asked the waitress she was very efficient, The fish was amazing 😻

Restaurant Oak & Vine - Cairns

4.6

4.6 (45)

$40 and under

Australian

Cairns CBD

About the restaurant

Welcome to Oak & Vine Cairns, the city's newest addition to the dining scene. Perched atop Oaks Cairns Hotel, our rooftop restaurant invites you to experience modern Australian cuisine. Indulge in small plates or hearty mains prepared with the most seasonal local produce. As the sun sets over the Coral Sea, the terrace transforms into a lively cocktail bar mixing inventive signature cocktails and pouring fine wines, craft beers and a selection of Artisan botanical gins with spicy tonics. Whether you’re local or a visitor - sit back, relax and soak in some of the best ocean views and terrace dining Cairns has to offer.

Top review

Kor

Dined on Jun 1, 2025

Great location overlooking Cairns Esplanade, A little hidden gem. Lunch deal special was a fantastic value for money. What elevated the whole experience was very engaged and friendly staff that went beyond just serving food. They made us feel welcome and enhanced our little Birthday celebration Sunday lunch. We will definitely be back! Cheers, Kornelija

Zinc Port Douglas

4.5

4.5 (1788)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Port Douglas

About the restaurant

Zinc is the perfect combination of restaurant & cocktail lounge…relaxed lunch and lounge by day, restaurant and cocktail hotspot by night.

Alfresco or indoor dining offers a sophisticated tropical dining experience, an elegant venue for a romantic dinner or casual catch up with friends. The menu presents fine, contemporary Australian cuisine with a hint of French & Italian flare, utilizing the abundance of fresh local seafood, through to locally grown tropical fruit & vegetables.

With an excellent wine list of over 100 wines, combined with a cocktail & beverage menu which includes 8 beers on tap and some outstanding new age cocktails, there’s something for everyone.

Located just a stone’s throw away from the beautiful Four Mile Beach.

Join us from 12pm daily for lunch, dinner & late night lounge.

Top review

SteveVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Get the Gnocchi! They were amazing! Prawn linguine is in a tomato sauce although it’s not really described that way on the menu. My Eye Filet was good to a perfect medium rare. Overall a very good meal with fantastic service.

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Popular dish

tasmanian salmon sashimi

Northerlies Beach Bar and Grill - Airlie Beach

4.4

4.4 (1933)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Airlie Beach

About the restaurant

Set right on the water, Northerlies is Airlie’s favourite beach bar offering a unique experience filled with island vibes, casual brasserie-style dining, spacious event areas, creative cocktails, and plenty of beach for the kids to explore. Their free courtesy bus runs 7 days a week offering private pick-ups from Airlie Beach, Cannonvale & Jubilee Pocket. Book your next event and celebrate beach-side.

The Brasserie kitchen is open 7 days. Lunch is served from 12:00pm- 2:30pm and dinner from 5:00pm-8:30pm (Fri & Sat) then 5:00pm - 8:00pm (Sun - Thu), with our 'smalll bites' options available all day. The weekend Beach Kitchen is open on for dinner on Fridays, lunch & dinner on Saturdays, plus lunch on Sundays. Unfortunately, no dogs allowed as we are located on a wildlife reserve.

Top review

Roz

Dined 3 days ago

We had a family dinner here, the food was delicious, delivered quite quickly with the amount of people there. Staff were efficient & lovely. Drinks & cocktails were yummy. We would recommend & return ourselves

Jam Restaurant

4.4

4.4 (1020)

$41 to $100

Modern Australian

Townsville CBD

About the restaurant

Welcome to JAM ,
Enjoy a warm and relaxed dining experience indulging in the tastes of North Queensland . We like to explore our region's seasonal produce and create contemporary cuisine without compromising the purity of flavour.

The JAM menu offers quick bites for a catch up through to our full a la carte selection. We also have a great special luncheon menu which is always popular.

As the sun sets over the CBD and Castle Hill sit back and relax over dinner at one of the window tables or enjoy the views of the river and CBD lights on the terrace. For a romantic dinner we recommend requesting one of the private booths. Try the Shared Experience a delicious and generous selection, great for 2 or more.

Our wine list offers a generous selection of wines ranging from small Australian producers through to stunning international champagne and wines.

Matt and the team look forward to welcoming you soon.

Top review

Adrian

Dined on Jun 17, 2025

Entree of tempura prawns was delicious. Mains was fish again another good meal. Dessert I had the macadamia caramel slice with ice cream, found the ice cream tooo sweet with the slice and should have asked for cream, would have been better. Do truly recommend.

The Andergrove Tavern

4.3

4.3 (33)

$40 and under

Australian

Mackay Harbour

About the restaurant

Located in Andergrove, Mackay. The Grove offers a complete package of great entertainment, restaurant quality food and service in a relaxed welcoming atmosphere. Whether you’re a long-time local, a first-timer or visitor to Mackay we look forward to meeting you here, at Mackay’s number one choice for ‘best local’.

Top review

Janelle

Dined on Jun 6, 2025

Trei was excellent, loved how he took us to our table, then made by chai latte just the way I like it, very versatile, helpful and friendly!

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