Think of Townsville, and you’ll most likely picture diverse ocean wildlife, rugged nature hikes and colourful coastal islands.
Perched on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef, this popular city is known as the laidback capital of North Queensland for a reason. But look a little closer, and you’ll also discover an abundance of restaurants serving classic pub grub, elevated fine dining dishes and everything in between.
To help you get started, we’ve put together this comprehensive list of the best places to dine in Townsville.
Grandma’s
Bringing together recipes passed down by grandparents from all over the world, Grandma’s serves home-style meals and treats made from simple, fresh ingredients. The menu is a blend of traditional flavours inspired by four people; Grandma Haya who brings Mediterranean dishes including borekas pastry and shakshuka, Grandma Mazal who shares the tastes of North Africa with dips, stuffed vegetables and meats, Grandma Fredra who inspires Greek meals and salads, and Grandpa Vince with his Italian pastas and rich sauces.
Stop by for breakfast or lunch to enjoy hearty dishes including caramel ricotta pancakes, beef and spinach blintzes, lasagne and more. You will also find a range of desserts on display, from baked cheesecakes to handmade cookies and fruit pastries.
Most of the menu is made from scratch with reduced salt and no added preservatives, meaning it’s good for your body and your soul.
Rockpool Pavilion
Rockpool Pavilion is a casual and family-friendly eatery with views across Townsville’s waterfront to Cleveland Bay and Magnetic Island. The simple menu celebrates fresh produce from Far North Queensland, including farm-grown beef and locally caught seafood.
Tuck into garlic prawns with grilled lemon, a double patty smash burger, or crispy fish tacos with cabbage slaw and tomato salsa. Each Thursday, Rockpool transforms into the Parmi Pavilion, where a new flavour is added to a traditional parmi and unlimited fries are served to your table. Recent creative offerings include the Mexican parmi topped with cheese, sour cream, guacamole and tortillas, as well as the mushroom and bechamel sauce special. There’s also a dedicated kids menu for those dining with little ones.
For older patrons, Rockpool Pavilion is home to Tan Lines Distilling, a premium gin and vodka distillery imbuing flavours of the tropics into every bottle. Elevate your sunset cocktail with a shot of pink gin (inspired by Townsville-grown Rosella flowers), or a splash of tropical vodka. Then, return the next day for a tour of the distillery with founder and distiller Aaron, who will share the history of spirit-making while you sample flagship products.
Shorehouse Townsville
Located on the waterfront, Shorehouse Townsville is a relaxed outdoor deck with casual dining and artisan cocktails. It was created from a love of shared dining, offering a modern menu that blends traditional Asian flavours with local Townsville produce.
Choose from small bites including sashimi, prawn spring rolls and chicken larb, or tuck into bigger dishes such as glazed beef short rib, steamed barramundi and beef cheek curry. Whether you’re craving dumplings, bao buns, fried rice or papaya salad, Shorehouse whips up all your favourite Asian dishes with flair.
If you can’t decide where to start, select the ‘Just Feed Me’ set menu, which includes three small plates, three large plates, two sides and a dessert for just $66 per person. Seafood lovers can upgrade to an ocean-only special for an extra $10.
With an extensive drinks list of tropical cocktails, craft beers and international wines served from a beach house bar, it’s easy to lose a whole evening relaxing over a drink or four with friends.
Marmor
Winner of the Australian Good Food Guide Reader’s Choice Award for modern Australian dining, Marmor is a must-visit for fine dining in Townsville.
At the front of the menu, you can read about each and every supplier contributing to Marmor’s dishes. Prime beef is sourced from a small island in the Bass Strait and aged for maximum tenderness, spanner crabs are caught on Fraser Island, and king prawns are bought fresh from Mooloolaba.
Start your night with steak tartare or duck ravioli, before selecting a wood-fired steak from an extensive list of cuts that can be paired with black truffle butter or red wine jus, then finish off with tiramisu or apple tarte tatin.
Set menus, starting at $140 per person, take you on a culinary journey through the regions of Australia, from rugged island beef to salty ocean cod. There is also a 15-page drinks menu, featuring signature cocktails, local and international wines, and spirits.
The venue itself boasts large glass windows overlooking the ocean, soft lighting from an elevated ceiling, and black furnishings.
The Beach Hotel
For simple, delicious food paired with incredible views, head to The Beach Hotel. This laid-back eatery is open seven days a week, serving coffee at the beach kiosk for early-morning swimmers, as well as lunch and dinner overlooking the foreshore.
The menu offers everything you could want from a classic pub, including burgers, pizza and schnitties, as well as elevated Asian snacks such as bao buns, chicken gyoza, dim sims and spring rolls.
Weekly specials mean there’s always a reason to celebrate, whether it’s a half-price steak on Tuesday or $15 burger and chips on Wednesday. On the weekend, the hotel comes alive with live music. Sway to soft acoustic sounds as you sip on a refreshing beer on Fridays, or enjoy the warm weather on the rooftop bar with a special margarita menu on Sundays.
For late night fun on Fridays and Saturdays, the kitchen stays open until 11pm to pump out fresh pizza and pasta. It doesn’t get better than that!
Levanti
Fine dining gets even finer at Levanti, where the laid-back charm of North Queensland meets the sun-kissed elegance of the Mediterranean. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Levanti serves vibrant dishes inspired by Mediterranean flavours but reinterpreted with Australian ingredients.
For breakfast, dine on strawberry matcha French toast, bacon & egg waffles, and smoked salmon avocado toast. For lunch, you’re spoilt for choice with chicken yeeros wraps, beetroot risotto, lamb carpaccio and chilli mango salad. Finally, return for dinner to enjoy an eight or 12 course degustation menu including rosemary stracciatella, sumac calamari, haloumi potato croquets and seared chicken couscous.
Complimenting the incredible food is an extensive drinks list complete with local wine, signature cocktails and craft beer.
Osk Cocktail Bar
Describing itself as ‘your friendly neighborhood cocktail bar’, Osk is a warm and intimate space where guests are welcome to stop by for perfectly balanced drinks and friendly service. Each cocktail is inspired by retro drinks, given new life with a North Queensland twist. Think nostalgic flavours of appletinis, white Russians and blue lagoons, but elevated with local ingredients and dramatic presentation.
The small food menu of cheeseboards, cured meats, olives and nuts will compliment any drink, and there’s always wine, beer and spirits by the glass for those after something more traditional.
Osk also runs cocktail masterclasses, where you can get hands-on to learn all about the art of cocktail making and create a few drinks of your own led by the expert bar team. Over two hours, you will make three delicious drinks, enjoy light nibbles, and leave with a cocktail masterclass handbook full of recipes, tips and tricks.
The TapHouse
Since opening its doors in 2015, The TapHouse has featured over 700 beers from independent breweries on its ten bar taps. Visit this local favourite, and you will discover a casual and relaxed venue with good music, charming staff, and an extensive range of bottled and tinned craft beer, cider and wine.
There’s also a delicious tapas-style menu of share plates, including arancini balls, tacos, skewers, pizza and ribs, which you can devour for a discount of 20 percent on Tuesday nights. If you’re visiting around lunch, make sure to try the beef brisket jaffle with cheddar and mustard pickles, or tuck into a light black rice salad to compliment your draught.
The TapHouse hosts regular takeovers, where a local brewery will showcase its top brews, and beer degustations where you can try a whole range of beers as part of a flight. It is only a short walk from the Queensland Country Bank Stadium, making it the ideal place for pre- or post-event drinks with mates.
To discover the top historic things to see and do in Townsville, click here.
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