Cairns does a tropical drink like few places can. Its best cocktail bars line the Esplanade and the marina, with a cluster of hidden bars around Abbott Street and Shields Street in the city centre. This guide covers 19 bars: cocktail bars first, from a whisky speakeasy down a laneway to a 12th-floor rooftop over the Coral Sea, then the pubs, breweries and music bars, with our top picks, a map and walking routes.
Last checked 14 November 2026. No bar paid to be included.
If you only have one night, start here.
A whisky speakeasy down a red-brick lane.
The city centreThe highest rooftop in town.
The Esplanade and the marinaNeon tiki downstairs on the Esplanade.
The Esplanade and the marinaTropical gins made in Cairns.
The city centreA quiet nightcap on the Esplanade.
The Esplanade and the marinaPoolside cabanas and cocktails.
The Esplanade and the marinaVelvet booths and art deco.
The city centreMezcal, tacos and colour.
The city centreFire pits over the marina.
The Esplanade and the marinaStratford's hidden gem.
StratfordTap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
The Esplanade runs along the waterfront to Marlin Marina and the Pier, with rooftops, poolside bars and sunset terraces.
Swipe to see all 9 bars →
Rooftop bar
On the 12th floor above the Esplanade, billed as the highest rooftop bar in Cairns, with Coral Sea views, champagne and Mediterranean-inspired cocktails. The signature Ladi Charli mixes vodka, lychee liqueur, coconut cream and citrus.
📍 Level 12, 131-141 The Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870
Tiki bar
A hidden downstairs bar of neon, palm trees, tropical prints and hula girls, pouring fruity tiki cocktails such as the Flamingo Sling and the Daintree Daiquiri from a long spirits list. It also runs cocktail masterclasses.
📍 43 The Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870
Poolside cocktail bar
A bright poolside bar at Crystalbrook Riley with palm trees, private cabanas, tropical cocktails and share plates. Try Tomorrow's Dust, made with cumquat gin, Aperol and apricot. Book a cabana for groups.
📍 131-141 The Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870
Whisky and wine bar
A Crystalbrook bar that is quieter and more intimate than the big Esplanade venues, with premium and rare whiskies, a curated wine list and cocktails. Good for a date or a nightcap.
📍 85 The Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870
Waterfront bar
A sprawling waterfront bar over Marlin Marina with fire pits, palm trees and outdoor lounges, cocktails and premium wines, at its best at sunset.
📍 Marina Point, 6/2 Pier Point Road, Cairns City QLD 4870
Restaurant and bar
As the sun sets over the Coral Sea, the terrace turns into a lively cocktail bar, with botanical gins on the list.
📍 59-63 The Esplanade, Cairns City QLD 4870
Waterfront bar
Waterfront views, cocktails, live music and DJs. Known for its Sunday sessions.
📍 The Pier, 1 Pier Point Road, Cairns City QLD 4870
Brewery
A brewery in a heritage-listed wharf building over Trinity Inlet, brewing on site with rotating beers and ciders.
📍 Wharf Street, Cairns City
Bar and grill
A bar and grill with sport, live music and an Outback Beer Garden under a retractable roof.
📍 65-67 The Esplanade, Cairns
A block back from the water, Abbott Street, Shields Street, Lake Street and Grafton Street hide speakeasies, distillery bars and late-night venues.
Swipe to see all 9 bars →
Speakeasy and whisky bar
Hidden down a red-brick laneway, an intimate speakeasy-style bar with an impressive whisky collection and seats at the bar. Australian Traveller's pick for the best cocktails in Cairns.
📍 32 Abbott Street, Cairns City QLD 4870
Cocktail lounge
Vintage glamour with velvet booths and art deco interiors, pouring creative cocktails, champagne and Espresso Martinis, with DJs and food from local produce.
📍 24 Shields Street, Cairns City QLD 4870
Distillery bar
Award-winning tropical gins and coffee liqueurs made with North Queensland fruit and rainforest botanicals, with gin tastings and cocktail masterclasses.
📍 28-30 Abbott Street, Cairns City QLD 4870
Latin American bar
Bold colours, lively music and tequila and mezcal cocktails with tropical twists on the classics, plus tacos, ceviche and share plates. Happy hour is the best-value time to go.
📍 163 Abbott Street, Cairns City QLD 4870
Small bar
A small, relaxed bar with Queenslander-style design, a strong wine list, cocktails, grazing boards and live music.
📍 12-14 Lake Street, Cairns City QLD 4870
Party venue
One of Cairns' biggest nightlife venues, with three bars (Main Bar, Beach Bar and Attic Bar), DJs and themed nights.
📍 57-89 Grafton Street, Cairns City QLD 4870
Irish pub
An Irish pub with Guinness on tap, Irish whiskey, Irish music gigs and daily meal specials.
📍 87 Lake Street, Cairns City
Music bar
A bar and music venue with live music across genres, craft beer and fried chicken.
📍 1/92 Abbott Street, Cairns City
Pub
A decades-old Cairns institution with two bars, a tropical beer garden, big screens for sport and even a piano.
📍 6 Grove Street, Cairns North
A short drive north-west of the city, for a quieter neighbourhood drink.
Small bar
A low-key neighbourhood small bar in Stratford with a long wine, gin and cocktail list and charcuterie boards. Australian Traveller's hidden gem.
📍 Shop 4/9 Kamerunga Road, Stratford QLD 4870
Two routes in walking order, with the time between each bar. See them all on a map.
5 bars · about 31 minutes on foot in total
5 bars · about 16 minutes on foot in total
Start with Three Wolves and Rocco by Crystalbrook, then Flamingos Tiki Bar. Our top 10 above covers the rest.
The Esplanade for views and sunsets. The streets around Abbott Street for hidden bars. They are a few minutes' walk apart.
Rocco by Crystalbrook, on the 12th floor above the Esplanade, with Coral Sea views.
Yes. Three Wolves is down a laneway off Abbott Street. Flamingos Tiki Bar is downstairs on the Esplanade.
Not yet. Brisbane Cocktail Week is coming soon. Sign up on our Brisbane page to hear first.
This guide is written by the team at M.AD Agency. We run Cocktail Week, the ten-day cocktail festival held town by town across the UK and Ireland. Now we're bringing it to Australia. Since 2022 we have taken it to more than 20 towns and cities and worked with hundreds of bars. We put this guide together from our own research and trusted local guides, including Australian Traveller and Queensland.com.
No bar paid to be included and nobody can buy a place. We check the guide regularly as bars open, change and close.
Cocktail Week in Australia
Run a bar in Cairns that should be here? Get in touch at hello@cocktail-week.com and tell us about it.
We use cookies to see how people use the site and to show you relevant ads. Nothing is set unless you say yes. Cookie policy