Low light, good drinks and somewhere to talk: the Cairns bars we would pick for a night for two.
Last checked 14 November 2026. No bar paid to be included.
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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
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
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
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
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
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
Tap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.
Start with Three Wolves, Rocco by Crystalbrook, Whiskey & Wine, The Cotton Club and The Fox Small Bar. Our full list has 6 bars.
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.
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