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The best cafes in Cairns for coffee, brunch and lunch

Credit: Social Impact

Jemma Fletcher Jemma Fletcher
These Cairns cafes are worth setting your alarm for.

Searching for the best cafes in Cairns? Cairns punches above its weight for great food and coffee. Whether you’re chasing your morning caffeine hit, hunting down a bottomless brunch or settling in for a long, laid-back lunch with a view, these Cairns cafes deliver.

In short

If you only visit one cafe in Cairns, make it Caffiend. With exceptional coffee, inventive brunch dishes and the best seasonal produce from Tropical North Queensland, don’t be surprised if you find yourself back here the next morning.

Best brunch: The Chambers
Best coffee: Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters
Best pastries: Woodward Street Bakery + Kitchen
Best family-friendly cafe: Muddy’s Cafe
Hidden gem: Ozmosis

Best breakfast and brunch cafes

Whether you’re after smashed avo, fluffy pancakes or a leisurely brunch with friends, these Cairns cafes know how to start the day right.

Caffiend

coffee at Caffiend, Cairns
Try the house-made coconut and caramel-infused latte.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

With its colourful mural watching over Grafton Street, Caffiend has become one of Cairns’ most-loved brunch spots. The menu champions seasonal Tropical North Queensland produce with creative twists on breakfast favourites, while the coffee is just as memorable. First-timers can’t go wrong with the signature chilli eggs paired with the house-made coconut and caramel-infused latte.

  • Good to know: Arrive early on weekends as breakfast tables fill quickly.
  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 72 Grafton Street, Cairns City

The Chambers

the breakfast menu at The Chambers, Cairns
Come for the heritage charm, stay for modern brunch. (Credit: Social Impact)

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Brunch inside a beautifully restored former 1920s bank? Only in Cairns. The Chambers pairs heritage charm with one of the city’s most stylish cafe spaces, serving everything from colourful smoothie bowls and flaky pastries to its ever-popular bottomless brunch. Be sure to browse the pastry cabinet, where the in-house pastry chef creates fresh sweet and savoury treats daily.

  • Good to know: Bottomless brunch is available in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic packages.
  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 21 Spence Street, Cairns City

Arte Café

coffee with pastry at Arte Café, Cairns
Pair your coffee with flaky pastries. (Credit: Arte Café)

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Nestled inside Crystalbrook Bailey, Arte Café is proof that hotel cafes aren’t just for hotel guests. Expect excellent coffee, flaky pastries and a seasonal all-day menu celebrating fresh Tropical North Queensland produce, all served in a light-filled space that’s equally suited to a quick caffeine stop or a leisurely brunch.

  • Insider tip: Grab a table by the windows if you’re planning to linger over coffee and breakfast.
  • Average price: $$
  • Address: Crystalbrook Bailey, 163 Abbott Street, Cairns City

Pete & Paulz

Cuisine: Australian

When all you want is a generous breakfast without the fuss, Pete & Paulz delivers. This long-running local favourite is known for hearty home-style cooking, friendly service and portions that won’t leave you hungry. From the Benedict special with locally made black pudding or breakfast burrito to the brioche French toast with maple syrup, you’ll receive a hearty feed here. No bookings are required.

  • Good to know: Expect a wait during busy breakfast periods (worth it!)
  • Average price: $$
  • Address: 35 Sheridan Street, Cairns City

The Lillipad Cafe

a mixed kebab platter at The Lillipad Cafe, Cairns
Indulge in a kebab platter at The Lillipad Cafe.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
No one gets left out at The Lillipad Cafe, whether you’re vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free or none of the above. In fact, they have a ‘no fuss approach’ where any food item is flexible and can be customised. Classic cafe favourites get a fresh twist here, with standouts including the Mediterranean crêpes, breakfast burrito and Atlantic salmon salad.

  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 29/31 Spence Street, Cairns City

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Hopscotch Kitchen + Bar

Cuisine: Modern Australian

A favourite with Earlville locals, Hopscotch is the sort of place where breakfast easily turns into lunch. From smashed avo and fluffy pancakes to wood-fired pizzas and house-made desserts, the all-day menu caters to every craving, while the relaxed atmosphere makes it easy to linger a little longer.

  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 532 Mulgrave Road, Earlville

Mi Piace Espresso Bar

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Tucked away just outside the CBD, Mi Piace Espresso Bar has earned a loyal local following for consistently excellent coffee, warm hospitality and beautifully presented breakfasts. The menu keeps things fresh with everything from eggs your way and smashed avo to seasonal specials, while the cabinet is stocked with house-made cakes and pastries that pair perfectly with your morning brew. Locals have been returning for years, and it’s easy to see why.

  • Insider tip: Grab an outdoor table on a sunny morning and don’t leave without trying one of the house-made cakes.
  • Average price: $$
  • Address: 119 Sheridan Street, Cairns North

Best coffee and bakeries

From expertly brewed specialty coffee to flaky pastries fresh from the oven, these are the spots worth seeking out when only caffeine and carbs will do.

Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters

Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters, Cairns
Step into Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters for expertly brewed coffee.

Cuisine: Specialty coffee

If your holiday doesn’t properly begin until you’ve had an exceptional coffee, make a beeline for Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters. Roasting its own beans and serving expertly brewed coffee alongside fresh pastries, toasties and breakfast favourites, it’s the kind of neighbourhood cafe locals happily detour for. Even non-coffee drinkers are looked after, thanks to its much-loved signature hot chocolates.

  • Insider tip: Swap your usual coffee for one of the signature hot chocolates if you’re in the mood for something different.
  • Average price: $
  • Address: 29 Johnston Street, Stratford; 223 Hartley Street, Portsmouth

Annee’s Caphê Sua Da

Vietnamese coffee at Annee's Caphê Sua Da
Sip on authentic Vietnamese coffee. (Credit: Annee’s Caphê Sua Da)

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Forget your usual flat white. Annee’s Caphê Sua Da is a tiny drinks bar dedicated to authentic Vietnamese coffee and refreshing specialty beverages rather than full meals. Every cup is made to your preferred strength and sweetness, making it easy to see why this tiny cafe has become something of a local obsession.

  • Good to know: This is a drinks stop rather than a brunch cafe.
  • Average price: $
  • Address: 57/89 Grafton Street, Cairns City

Bang & Grind Spence Street

belgian waffles at Bang & Grind Spence Street, Cairns
The Belgian waffles at Bang & Grind Spence Street are a must try.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Proof that you don’t need anything fancy to serve a great breakfast, Bang & Grind Spence Street has earned a loyal following with quality coffee, generous portions and genuinely friendly service. Whether you’re after fried eggs on Turkish toast, a homemade cake or something sweet to start the day, it’s the sort of cafe you’ll wish was your local.

  • Insider tip: If there’s a slice of homemade orange almond cake in the cabinet, don’t think twice.
  • Average price: $$
  • Address: 8/14 Spence Street, Cairns City

Woodward Street Bakery + Kitchen

ham, cheese & tomato croissant from Woodward St Bakery
Freshly made croissant from Woodward St Bakery.

Cuisine: Bakery

Whether you choose to take away or dine in, you’ll soon find out that pastries from Woodward Street Bakery are some of Cairns’ finest. Pick up a loaf of freshly baked sourdough, and treat yourself to a coffee and a sweet treat. Local favourites include the almond croissant, rhubarb Danish and its go-to vanilla slice.

  • Insider tip: Arrive early for the best selection of pastries as they’re known to sell out.
  • Average price: $
  • Address: 216 Woodfard Street, Whitfield

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Blackbird Laneway

coffee at Blackbird Laneway, Cairns
Grab your morning coffee at Blackbird Laneway.

Cuisine: Specialty coffee

Tucked away in Oceana Walk Arcade, Blackbird Laneway proves that some of Cairns’ best coffee comes from its smallest spaces. Expect expertly brewed espresso, creamy milk coffees and a rotating selection of pastries, all served with laid-back laneway charm. If you’re serious about your morning coffee, this is one stop you won’t want to miss.

  • Insider tip: Grab your coffee to go and wander the nearby laneways before the city wakes up.
  • Average price: $
  • Address: 62-64 Grafton Street, Oceana Walk Shop 13, Cairns City 

Best cafes with a view

Pair your morning coffee or long lunch with waterfront vistas, tropical gardens or Esplanade views at these scenic Cairns cafes.

Muddy’s Cafe

tacos at Muddy’s Cafe, Cairns
Enjoy afternoon tacos at Muddy’s Cafe.

Cuisine: Australian

There’s no better place to refuel after a morning on the Esplanade than Muddy’s Cafe. Sitting beside Cairns’ much-loved playground, this is the ultimate kid-friendly and pet-friendly venue for a family meal, fresh juice, or coffee. Take your pick of takeaway or breakfast options, as well as burgers, fish and chips, and ice cream.

  • Good to know: The playground next door makes this one of the easiest breakfast stops with young kids.
  • Average price: $
  • Address: 174 Esplanade, Cairns City

Wharf One Cafe

coffee at Wharf One Cafe, Cairns
Linger over coffee by the marina.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Perched on Trinity Wharf, Wharf One Cafe pairs waterfront views with relaxed breakfasts, long lunches and sunset drinks. Set beside the marina, it’s a lovely spot to linger over coffee or tuck into fresh seafood while watching boats come and go across Trinity Inlet.

  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: Wharf Street, Trinity Wharf, Cairns City

Local favourites worth the drive

Venture beyond the city centre and you’ll discover neighbourhood cafes loved by locals for their friendly service, quality coffee and consistently good food.

Smith Street Cafe

drinks at Smith Street Cafe, Cairns
Refreshing drinks to match with your brunch at Smith Street Cafe. (Credit: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

Cuisine: Australian

Quietly earning a reputation for consistently good coffee along with generous breakfast and friendly service, Smith Street Cafe has built a loyal local following. Our pick is the chicken, brie and bacon burger, best followed by a macadamia and white chocolate muffin with coffee.

  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 4/321 Sheridan Street, Cairns North (corner of Smith Street)

Ozmosis

avo on toast at Ozmosis, Cairns
The avo on toast is a standout.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Tucked away in leafy Edge Hill, Ozmosis is the kind of place you’ll find yourself lingering in long after breakfast is over. Surrounded by tropical greenery, the produce-driven menu celebrates fresh local ingredients with colourful salads, hearty brunch favourites and vibrant smoothies.

  • Insider tip: Pair your visit with a wander through the nearby Cairns Botanic Gardens.
  • Average price: $$$
  • Address: 1/116 Collins Avenue, Edge Hill

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Jemma Fletcher
Based in sun-kissed Brisbane, Jemma Fletcher is an accomplished writer, editor and content manager. Armed with a Bachelor of Journalism from The University of Queensland, as well as over a decade of tourism marketing experience, Jemma now specialises in freelance travel writing and has a soft spot for the beauty of Queensland. Her expertise has been honed through her previous roles as Chief Editor of Queensland.com and WeekendNotes.com and she is the passionate creator of High Cup of Tea, an online directory celebrating Australia's finest high tea experiences. After growing up in the UK (hence her love for tea and scones) and a delightful chapter in Sydney, Jemma loves to explore quaint towns with a rich history. Also high on her weekend list is tasting the local cafe scene, enjoying charming farm stays with her young family and deciding where her next travel adventure will be (half of the fun is in the planning!)
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Can’t handle the cold? Hamilton Island serves a slice of summer in winter

(Image: Hamilton Island)

    Eleanor Edström Eleanor Edström
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    When the winter chill settles in, an escape to Hamilton Island’s year-round tropical shores is the only acceptable coping mechanism.

    As a heliophile with the cold tolerance of a Mediterranean house cat, the arrival of winter tends to spark a particular panic. How will I survive? Must I really start layering? What do you mean, Aperol season is over? But there are far better ways to spend the cooler months than sulking in the depths of your doona.

    Enter, Hamilton Island. With its year-round sunshine and permanent on-holiday atmosphere, this Whitsundays favourite promises a veritable slice of summer in winter.

    Think salt-stiff hair and the smug pleasure of devouring seafood beside the water while friends back home are defogging their windscreens. Here’s why Hamilton Island should figure into your winter plans.

    1. Year-round summer weather

    A woman hiking along the Passage Peak trail on Hamilton Island.
    Hike under sunny winter skies on Hamilton Island. (Image: Andrew Caitens)

    In the crisper months, Hamilton Island offers perfectly mild, sunny weather (17-24°C) that lends itself to morning swims and afternoon spritzes. Better still, you can enjoy the island’s outdoor adventures – from hiking to mountain biking – without the humidity or rain you’ll often find in summertime. With direct flights from most major Australian cities offering ease of access, Hamilton Island is the ideal place to flee the cold.

    2. Getting active without the humidity

    A buggy parked overlooking Hamilton Island’s golf course, with sweeping views of the sea at Whitsundays in winter.
    Zip around Hamilton Island by buggy. (Image: Hamilton Island)

    Whether you’re hiking up to Passage Peak or exploring the island by buggy, tropical Queensland humidity is nobody’s friend. The one way to guarantee you will avoid the inevitable stickiness and fluffy hair? Visit during winter. There’s plenty to be enjoyed, from sunrise yoga at The Sundays (exclusive to guests of The Sundays) to playing golf on Dent Island.

    3. Hamilton Island Race Week

    Yachts racing across the sparkling Whitsundays during Hamilton Island Race Week.
    Feel the thrill of Hamilton Island Race Week. (Image: Salty Dingo)

    Taking place in August, Hamilton Island Race Week is a destination in its own right that attracts spectators and racers from around the globe. Boating enthusiasts and thrill-seeking holidaymakers flock to the island, which is palpably energetic as the first yachts set off for Dent Passage from Hamilton Island Yacht Club. The annual action-packed week, taking place from 15 to 22 August in 2026, offers an exciting calendar of on- and off-water events – spanning everything from celebrity chef dinners to golfing comps and wine tastings.

    4. Best time for snorkelling

    A woman snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef.
    Explore Hamilton Island’s winter waters. (Image: Andrew Caitens)

    While the crowds on Hamilton Island may disperse with the cooler weather, the marine life certainly doesn’t. Winter is widely considered one of the best times to snorkel and dive in the Whitsundays.

    It’s down to a number of reasons: excellent water visibility, higher chances of seeing whales as they migrate north and – best of all – no nasty stingers. This means no need to wear those notoriously unflattering full-body wetsuits visitors have to wear in warmer months. On top of all this, you’ll find calm seas ideal for sailing and Great Barrier Reef tours.

    5. Fewer crowds

    People kayaking.
    Experience a quieter Hamilton Island on a kayaking adventure. (Image: Hamilton Island)

    Winter is often the quietest time to visit Hamilton Island, with the peak season crowds thinned to a relaxed trickle. You can snorkel or dive straight off the reef-laced waters of Catseye Beach, then swap fins for a buggy and zip between One Tree Hill, the marina and sunset cocktails without the usual summer queues. Active days stretch from kayaking, sailing and jet skiing to hopping over to famous Whitehaven Beach to witness those breathtaking white swirls of silica sand. You won’t have to elbow your way to the front of the crowd to get a good snap.

    6. Delicious dining

    The interiors of Bommie Restaurant, featuring modern coastal design with warm lighting and elegant detailing.
    Treat yourself to Bommie Restaurant’s fine dining featuring fresh, seasonal Aussie produce. (Image: Nikki To)

    The food on Hamilton Island tastes just as good any time of year, and winter is still perfect weather for sundowners. Start with an iced tea Negroni at harbourside Bommie Deck, before transitioning to Bommie Restaurant for a fine-dining feast centering on seasonal Aussie ingredients. Or perhaps enjoy a more casual poolside evening at Sails Restaurant, where plates of chermoula chicken skewers, baked cauliflower steak and crispy sumac squid come served with ocean views. From family-friendly pub meals to elevated wine tastings, there’s something for everyone.

    5. Clear skies for idyllic views

    The golden hour across the Whitsundays in winter.
    End your day with golden Hamilton Island sunsets over the water. (Image: Hamilton Island)

    Never let a cloud rain on the parade of Hamilton Island’s spectacular scenery. Winter brings clearer skies and more stable weather to the Whitsundays, meaning your picture-perfect sunset at One Tree Hill is likely to remain that way. And after putting in the legwork to hike to a scenic lookout, the last thing you want is a vista hidden behind low cloud and haze.

    To learn more about travelling to the Whitsundays in winter, visit hamitlonisland.com.au.