Start your day at these top 12 cafes in Cairns

Taste your way around the city’s greatest cafes for coffee, brunch, and lunch.

Searching for the best cafes in Cairns? Whether you’re hightailing it for your morning caffeine hit, hunting down a bottomless brunch, or fancy a slow, laid-back lunch with stunning views, we’ve got you covered with the list below.

1. Caffiend

Best for: Locally sourced seasonal ingredients

Caffiend is easy to spot, thanks to the incredibly large mural that dons its entrance. Created by local artist Caroline Mudge, the artwork depicts the profile of an Ethiopian girl who watches over the cafe’s satisfied customers.

Stop here for unique food made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Order a generous helping of chilli eggs alongside the house-made coconut and caramel-infused latte for a uniquely addictive shot of coffee.

Try the house-made coconut and caramel-infused latte.

Price: $$
Address: 72 Grafton St, Cairns City

2. Muddy’s Cafe

Best for: Family friendly

Conveniently located on Cairns Esplanade next to the playground, Muddy’s Cafe is the ultimate kid-friendly and pet-friendly venue for a family meal, fresh juice, or coffee. Take your pick of take-away or breakfast options, as well as burgers, fish and chips, and ice cream.

Find fresh smoothie bowls and all the classics at this kid-friendly and pet-friendly venue.

Price: $
Address: 174 Esplanade, Cairns City

3. The Chambers

Best for: Bottomless brunch

If Bondi and Byron Bay got together to create a light, airy hospitality baby and plonked it right in a former 1920s NAB Bank, they’d give birth to The Chambers. Located right in the heart of the bustling CBD, you’ll find the who’s who of Cairns inside this unique landmark.

The Chambers is housed within a former 1920s NAB Bank. (Image: Social Project)

Its charming cafe features a lineup of breakfast all-stars, from the banoffee French toast to smashed avocado and eggs benedict. Turn breakfast into a special occasion with bottomless brunch – there are three alcoholic and one non-alcoholic version to choose from.

The space is also home to an in-house pastry chef, who creates irresistible freshly baked sweet, and savoury treats daily. Or perhaps you take your breakfast in liquid form? The Pantry and Juice Bar serves smoothies and cold drinks ready to go.

The smashed avo on toast is a standout on the menu. (Image: Social Project)

Price: $$
Address: 21 Spence St, Cairns City

4. Wharf One Cafe

Best for: Close to the water

With gorgeous inlet views in the background, sip on a mimosa overlooking the sea and watch the boats pass by at Wharf One Cafe. Suitable for breakfast, lunch, or after-work drinks and tapas, this is the closest cafe to the water in the Cairns area.

Watch the boats pass by at Wharf One Cafe.

Price: $$
Address: Wharf Street on Trinity Wharf, Cairns City

5. Pete & Paulz Breakfast Cafe

Best for: Cheap eats

Open for breakfast and brunch, you can expect to find home-style cooking in an easy-going atmosphere at Pete & Paulz. 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 — just rock up and grab a table.

Price: $
Address: 35 Sheridan St, Cairns City

6. Annee’s Caphê Sua Da

Best for: Vietnamese iced coffee

Annee’s Caphê Sua Da is the city’s premiere Vietnamese iced coffee bar, serving up A-Piece of Happiness with every perfect cup. Vietnamese coffee is a strong coffee using a small amount of condensed milk and plenty of ice, but what makes it extra special is that each drink is personalised to its customer for taste and preference. It has become quite the phenomenon so make sure to stop by and order one of your own.

Annee’s Vietnamese iced coffees are the best. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Price: $
Address: 57/89 Grafton St, Cairns City

7. Bang & Grind Spence Street

Best for: Simple but delicious

Bang & Grind Spence Street has been a TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award Winner for three years in a row and we can see why. Stop in for a welcoming plate of fried eggs on Turkish toast or if you have a sweet tooth, go for the banana split or homemade orange almond cake.

Bang & Grind Spence Street is a local favourite. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland/Andrew Watson)

Price: $
Address: 8/14 Spence St, Cairns City

8. Smith Street Cafe

Best for: Breakfast on the go

For awesome coffee, breakfast, lunch and yummy cakes, you can’t go wrong with Smith Street Cafe. Our pick is the chicken, brie, and bacon burger, with macadamia and white chocolate muffin to follow.

You can’t go wrong with Smith Street Cafe. (Image: Tourism Tropical North Queensland)

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

9. Hopscotch Cairns

Best for: Specials menu

From the everyday smashed avo or pancakes to wood-fired pizza, pasta, and banoffee delight, Hopscotch Cairns has you covered for breakfast, lunch, and anything in between. With a relaxed atmosphere and attentive staff, it’s the kind of cafe where you know you’ll be well looked after.

Price: $$
Address: 532 Mulgrave Rd, Earlville

10. Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters

Best for: Hot chocolate

With two cafes in Stratford and Portsmith, Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters specialises in coffee, hot chocolate, and organic loose-leaf tea.

The cafe makes everything in-house featuring such items as croissants with butter and your choice of spread, ham and cheese toasties, bacon and eggs wrap with chilli pawpaw chutney and sweet delicacies. Not sure what to get? Try their specialty milk, dark, or spiced hot chocolate.

Sipping Duck Coffee Roasters specialises in all our favourite hot beverages.

Price: $
Address: 29 Johnston St, Stratford, and 223 Hartley St, Portsmith

11. Ozmosis Cafe

Best for: Laid-back tropical environment

Nestled in Edge Hill, Ozmosis Cafe offers a casual outdoor dining setting, serving up authentic Italian eats. From vibrant salads to mouthwatering smoothies, the menu is brimming with fresh and healthy food options. Wherever possible, Ozmosis supports local farmers and growers by using locally sourced fruit and veg — often buying directly from the source.

Order up a stack of fluffy pancakes at Ozmosis Cafe + Kitchen.

Price: $$
Address: 1/116 Collins Ave, Edge Hill 

12. Woodward St Bakery Cafe

Best for: Homemade pastries

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 pastry. Local favourites include the almond croissant, rhubarb Danish and its go-to vanilla slice.

Price: $

Address: 216 Woodward Street, Whitfield

If your stomach’s already rumbling for dinner options, here are 25 of the best Cairns restaurants.