Posted by A sleepy port town till the 1980’s when it was discovered by property developers, there are still a few architectural eyesores lingering from the building boom that ensued in those heady days. But fortunately the natural beauty of this region, from Four Mile Beach to nearby Mossman Gorge and the Daintree Rainforest, means there is so much more to Port Douglas than sitting poolside in a big resort.
The town centre is along Macrossan St, where you will find a multitude of eating options and a few classic Queensland pubs, whilst sitting at the marina and watching the boats sail into the Inlet as they return from their day trips to the reef is a favourite afternoon pastime.
Port Douglas has two distinct seasons, the Australian winter is when the weather is best and the town is humming, whilst it is quieter, but some would say more alluring, in the tropical Summer months, when it’s often wet and steamy. February is the absolute low season, when many restaurants and cafes close for their annual break.
This Guide to Port Douglas was updated in August 2022.
Just Coffee…
Sparrow Coffee Co | 39 Macrossan St
Possibly the best coffee in town, this funky coffee nook serves Allpress Espresso and they serve it very well indeed.
Origin Espresso | 21-23 Warner St
They take their coffee very seriously at Origin. The rustic interior is devoted to coffee making, but there’s seating to linger over your coffee on the shaded front patio. They keep the food offering simple, but the locally handmade Duke’s Donuts are seriously tempting.
Captain and Co Espresso | 54 Macrossan St
This ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ hole-in-the-wall coffee joint is situated towards the beach end of Macrossan St, using Vittoria beans they brew a very good coffee, plus there’s cookies and other small treats on offer too.
Breakfast & Brunch…
Café Fresq | 27 Macrossan St
This simple café with all alfresco seating might not look like much, but the food is more impressive than you’d expect. Starting with a range of refreshing juices, the diverse menu offers all the expected breakfast favourites, plus a few more adventurous surprises. Capturing the quintessential casual local vibe, it’s enduringly popular.
Choo Choos @ The Marina | 46 Wharf St
Located waterside at the Marina in a cute cottage, relax whilst enjoying your bunch on an airy deck or in a wonderfully restored open-air train carriage. The menu offers up light and traditional breakfast favourites, whilst also providing the option of more serious brunch dishes, including some flavoursome Asian inspired fare. There’s also cocktails available from 10am if you really must get into holiday mode! Choo Choos @ The Marina
Grant Street Kitchen | Shop 4/5, Corner Grant and Macrossan Sts
A smart bakery and food store with outdoor seating or a ‘grab-it-and-go’ menu selection, this is your place for uncomplicated but always yummy food. Brunch staples include smashed avo or a very decadent bacon & egg roll, and their hearty, flaky homemade pies are hard to go past. Grant Street Kitchen
Beechwoods Milk Bar | 13 Front St, Mossman
A surprising gem in laidback Mossman, make a pit-stop at this cute café on your way north to explore Mossman Gorge or the Daintree. They dish up simple but super tasty food – a mix of old-school milk bar fare (like yummy toasties and chicken sangers) plus some more modern café fare. They even have a retro pre-loved selection of clothing and knick-knacks for sale. So hip!
Lunch & Dinner…
Jungle Fowl | 2/28 Wharf St
The team from Oaks Kitchen and Garden (now sadly closed) have brought their special take on modern Thai fare to town, setting up shop in a heartwarming space that’s been decorated by co-owner Rachael in her own imitable fashion, with her custom paintings taking center stage. Much of the produce still comes from their organic garden in Oak Beach, if you are dining in the restaurant the only option is the set banquet, but it’s a perfectly curated menu that will surprise and delight with every turn. The bar offers a more casual snacks menu, and the drinks list is as captivating as the food. Jungle Fowl
La Cucina + Bar | 4 Macrossan St
A longtime Port favourite (formerly known as Sassi’s), the La Cucina team are serving up consistently lovely, fresh modern Italian food, with seafood a focus, and great cocktails too. The service is classic Italian and a notch above many other local restaurants. Always bustling in high season, but it can be a quieter affair when the holidaymakers aren’t around. La Cucina + Bar
The Mexican | 43 Macrossan St
Rather compact, with pavement seating doubling its capacity, they keep things simple here – starting with the name, extending to the décor and the traditional Mexican menu. But simple means very good food, with some of the friendliest service in town. The Mexican hands down beats some of the more expensive and over-rated restaurants on Macrossan St. The Mexican
Melaleuca | 22 Wharf St
The languid open-air setting, with mango trees sheltering the garden dining area, lends an air of romance to dining at Melaleuca, whilst the warm and friendly service is a reflection of the talented husband and wife duo who own and operate what has become one of Port’s better dining experiences. The delectable food is modern Australian with tropical Asian leanings, the servings are very generous and whilst seafood options make up roughly half of the menu, carnivores won’t be disappointed either. Melaleuca
Zinc | Portico 3, 53-61 Macrossan St
An expansive indoor-outdoor venue offering quite lovely contemporary Australian fare, with seafood being a real highlight. Zinc offers one of the more refined dining experiences in PD, though it retains a casual tropical ambience. This is your go-to spot for a special lunch or dinner. Zinc
Salsa | 26 Wharf St
A popular PD dining venue for many years, the light and airy restored Queenslander home and its expansive deck offering a lovely ambience. The modern Australian menu makes good use of local tropical produce, with dishes spanning Asian and European influences. The quality of the food can sometimes miss the mark just a little though. Salsa
Chilly’s Pizza & Trattoria | 2 Mowbray St
Chilly’s offers a supremely relaxed taste of the tropical north, dining outside under palm trees on a balmy night with a chilled XXXX in hand seems like a quintessential TNQ experience, even more so if you’re there for the early evening the cane toad races! The menu is broad, with more than enough pizza varieties to satisfy, plus a selection of Italian inspired main meals. The pizza’s are really very good, though it’s also a very pleasant setting for just a few drinks if that’s all you need. Chilly’s Pizza & Trattoria
Drinks…
Courthouse Hotel | 18-20 Wharf St
A Queensland classic pub with a prime position, The ‘Courty’ has had a thoughtful upgrade, retaining its character but with a fresh look. A popular spot for a drink, this is generally one of the liveliest spots in town and they often have live music. With plenty of seating outside on the footpath and deck, plus a wide verandah upstairs, it perfect for the tropical climate. The food menu is pretty broad, taking advantage of the TNQ location and produce available – it offers some of the better pub food in town. Courthouse Hotel
Hemingway’s Brewery | Reef Marina, 44 Wharf St
An expansive indoor/outdoor space that houses a craft brewery and stylish yet very relaxed bar, with good food to boot. The tasting paddles of five of their most popular house brews is a great way to begin your adventure, and the open air deck is quite the spot for a relaxing beer whilst watching the reef vessels come into port after their daily excursions. Hemingway’s Brewery
Jimmy Rum’s Mixing Lounge | 13/53-61 Macrossan St
Port Douglas’ version of a swish city cocktail bar is a pleasant alternative to the collection of pubs that dominate the PD drinking scene. The large room is furnished with dark, vintage style décor, leather sofas and walls lined with retro travel posters, and the ever helpful bar staff are smartly attired. Cocktails and spirits are the high point, the whisky menu alone is a whole book. Beer drinkers are catered to with a handful of bottled and canned brews, whilst the wine options are limited to just four or so choices. Jimmy Rum’s Mixing Lounge
BARBADOS Port Douglas | Reef Marina, 44 Wharf St
With a stylish beach club vibe, including day beds and marina views, BARBADOS fills a much needed niche in Port Douglas for an upmarket, alfresco bar where one can truly chill out after a long day in the sun. Cocktails are the order of the day here, with their signature cocktail range including bespoke rum and Tiki concoctions, whilst the interesting snack fare highlights seafood and mezze boards. BARBADOS Port Douglas
Devils Thumb Distillery | 1-3 Owen St, Craiglie
Tucked away in the Craiglie industrial estate just outside of Port, this modern distillery provides a relaxed alternative to the busy drinking spots in town. The spacious and airy warehouse is simply decorated but has plenty of seating and lounging space. Their gin tasting paddles feature four distinct styles, utilising the regions tropical herbs to great effect – local provenance with traditional methods are two of their pillars, including seasonal gins (two of their 2022 collaborations have been with Oaks Kitchen & Garden). Choose your tasting neat or with matched garnishes, and add a splash of tonic if you so wish. They also offer craft brews, wine and a grazing board if you want to make an afternoon of it. Open 10am – 4pm daily. Devils Thumb Distillery
Where to Stay…
Port Douglas has abundant accommodation options, from sprawling large-scale resorts to self-contained apartment hotels and backpacker hostels. If you plan to dine out regularly, then look for something within walking distance to Macrossan St, as some of the options further out mean you’ll be driving back and forth. For good value apartment style hotels, the Mantra Group has five centrally located properties to choose from, though don’t expect too much in the style stakes.
Mandalay Luxury Apartments | Corner Garrick & Beryl Sts
Less than a ten minute walk from the heart of town and just across the road from Four Mile Beach (though the dense beach foliage blocks any water views), this serviced apartment complex is ideal for families or groups of friends. The apartments are modern, light-filled and extremely spacious, with oversized balconies to make the most of the tropical climate. There’s an inviting pool, tennis court and BBQ area, so it’s a great spot to base yourself if you’re visiting Port to truly relax. Mandalay Luxury Apartments
Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort | Port Douglas Rd
If you are looking for the classic resort experience, the Mirage is your place, with almost 300 rooms, expansive swimming pools and multiple restaurants and bars. Built in the 1980’s, whilst it’s had a significant upgrade a few years ago, there are still visible elements of its age. Situated right on Four Mile Beach, though very few rooms have views of the beach. Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort
Mantra Aqueous Port Douglas | 3 Davidson St
Just a few steps from Macrossan St and a five-minute walk to the beach, this apartment hotel is ideal for families and groups of friends. The one and two bedroom apartments have a breezy decor and are quite spacious, with many offering hot tubs on their balconies. Four lagoon style pools are positioned on either side of the long building, perfectly positioned to catch the sun throughout the day. Mantra Aqueous Port Douglas
Silky Oaks Lodge | Finlayvale Rd, Mossman
After emerging from a top to toe makeover in December 2021, Silky Oaks Lodge is the ultimate place to rest your weary head in TNQ. Just 20 minutes drive from Port Douglas, but seemingly a world away, this luxury lodge has 40 stand-alone treehouse style suites and is immersed in the Daintree Rainforest, on the banks of the gently flowing Mossman River. The dramatic open air restaurant literally blends into the treetops, the Jungle Perch cantilevering over the river is the perfect sundowner location, plus there’s a billabong style swimming pool and the Healing Waters Spa to offer an extra level of indulgence. Silky Oaks Lodge
Things To Do…
Port Douglas Markets | Market Park, Wharf St
If you’re in town on a Sunday Morning (between 8am and 1.30pm), make a beeline for these laidback markets with a very tropical vibe. There are a wide range of vendors, from clothing to locals art and crafts, plus a small but growing selection of local food producers and snack vendors. Veering between a little touristy and authentically local, there’s something good for everyone here. Port Douglas Markets
Four Mile Beach Cliff Walk | Wharf St
Starting in Rex Smeal Park on Wharf Street, this rather short but vigorous walk provides spectacular coastal views as it winds around the cliff face below Flagstaff Hill. The elevation and path changes regularly, so the constant hills and steps are good for getting the heart rate up, but there were ample opportunities to catch your breath at the regular lookouts along the trail. The walk ends at the northern end of Four Mile Beach, so you can cool down with a dip in the ocean.
Mossman Gorge Dreamtime Walk | 212r Mossman Gorge Rd, Mossman
A wander along any of the trails adjoining the Mossman River is always a treat, but with a local Indigenous guide sharing the history and culture of the local Kuku Yalanji people, often with their own personal family stories interwoven into the commentary, it’s an even more distinctive experience. Starting with a smoking ceremony, this 1.5 hour walk delves into the lush rainforest, revealing aspects of art, nature and the powerful river, before finishing with a pleasing treat of damper and tea. Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre
Must Do…
Walkabout Adventures
Juan Walker operates half and full days Indigenous tours around Mossman Gorge, Cooya Beach and the Daintree River – with the full day tours also including a Cape Tribulation visit. As a local Kuku Yalanji man, Juan offers a compelling insight into the local customs and culture, plus intricate knowledge of regional flora and fauna, as well as sharing stories passed down from his grandparents and parents. The fact that he’s so affable and funny makes a day spent with him a day well spent! Walkabout Adventures
Featured Photo: ‘Tide’s Out’ – Sugar Wharf, Port Douglas
Travis. 
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