
Ochre Restaurant and Catering
Ochre Restaurant in Cairns offers an adventurous culinary journey with a focus on native Australian ingredients and sustainable regional cuisine.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

Ochre Restaurant and Catering

Highlights
Must-see attractions
Ochre Restaurant in Cairns offers an adventurous culinary journey with a focus on native Australian ingredients and sustainable regional cuisine.
Book for a View
Reserve a table in advance, especially for a window seat, to enjoy the stunning waterfront vistas.
Embrace Native Flavors
Be adventurous and try dishes featuring native Australian ingredients like kangaroo and crocodile.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Modern Australian
Price
$$$
Phone
+61 7 4051 0100
Address
Harbour Lights Boardwalk, 1 Marlin Parade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Website
ochrerestaurant.com.au/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Unique Australian Flavors
Experience native ingredients like kangaroo, crocodile, and emu transformed into adventurous, award-winning dishes.

Stunning Waterfront Views
Dine with picturesque views of the marina and mountains, creating a perfect backdrop for a memorable meal.

Six-Course Tasting Menu
Embark on a culinary journey featuring a symphony of sustainable regional cuisine and unique Australian ingredients.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book for a View
Reserve a table in advance, especially for a window seat, to enjoy the stunning waterfront vistas.
Embrace Native Flavors
Be adventurous and try dishes featuring native Australian ingredients like kangaroo and crocodile.
Consider the Tasting Menu
Opt for the six-course tasting menu for a comprehensive and impressive culinary experience.
Inform Staff of Needs
Communicate dietary restrictions; staff are helpful with gluten-free options.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book for a View
Reserve a table in advance, especially for a window seat, to enjoy the stunning waterfront vistas.
Embrace Native Flavors
Be adventurous and try dishes featuring native Australian ingredients like kangaroo and crocodile.
Consider the Tasting Menu
Opt for the six-course tasting menu for a comprehensive and impressive culinary experience.
Inform Staff of Needs
Communicate dietary restrictions; staff are helpful with gluten-free options.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Ochre Restaurant is highly acclaimed for its exceptional modern Australian cuisine, particularly its innovative use of native ingredients. Diners consistently praise the attentive service, beautiful waterfront setting, and the overall memorable dining experience, especially the tasting menus and desserts. While most reviews are overwhelmingly positive, a few minor service inconsistencies have been noted.
"First dined at Ochre in 2001 and it just keeps impressing every time. Fantastic service, great “new” (7 years) location and food and wine combinations that are absolutely divine. We had the degustation and could not fault it. The entire experience was awesome from start to finish. Could not recommend highly enough. Favourite place in Cairns by a country mile."
danielheyburn
"We came for dinner and Kelly our server was fantastic! She was very nice and knowledgeable about every dish, and attentive making sure we always had drinks and checking in about the dishes. The restaurant had an impressive menu comprised of native ingredients which we were excited to try and the menu and our server had lots of great information about each dish. We chose 3 course menu option which allowed us to try a bit of everything. The desserts were excellent and our favorite part of the meal! If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try some unique items like kangaroo, crocodile, and various native plants in a more upscale format I recommend."
Marisa Singh
"Since we weren't together for our birthdays, we wanted to eat at a more luxurious restaurant to celebrate together. Ochre is the perfect restaurant for this! We went for the six-course dinner including wine and enjoyed every dish with its matching wines. For dessert, we both received a little extra to celebrate our birthdays. Definitely a must-visit if you're in Cairns!"
Joelle Leenders
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Ochre is renowned for its innovative use of native Australian ingredients, including game, herbs, and seafood, offering a truly unique culinary adventure.
Yes, Ochre offers a six-course tasting menu that showcases the best of its sustainable regional cuisine.
Yes, it is highly recommended to make reservations in advance, especially to secure a table with a view.
Yes, Ochre is helpful in accommodating dietary needs, such as providing gluten-free options for dishes.
The restaurant offers a contemporary and inviting atmosphere with beautiful waterfront views, making it ideal for special occasions.
Yes, Ochre provides a unique breakfast experience featuring innovative dishes with native Australian ingredients.
Mentioned in
Featured in these publications
The Best Restaurants In Cairns, Australia
Considered by many in Cairns as the quintessential Australian dining experience, this restaurant is a the best place to go for authentic fare. Ochre excels by delivering astoundingly good Australian food and presenting and crafting an unforgettable bush cuisine experience. Even those already familiar with the finer Australian dishes will feel that they are experiencing something outstanding.
Places to Eat in Cairns and Port Douglas for any Occasion
Strong on sustainable regional cuisine, Ochre stands at the top of Cairns' dining tree. The six-course tasting menu is a culinary tour de force, from the entrée of Gulf bugs and Hervey Bay scallops in a hoisin butter sauce to the Davidson Plum mousse with macadamia pacoca and lemon myrtle and coconut ice cream for dessert. Asian influences are abundant – and there is a Japanese menu – but this is Modern Australian territory, with national emblems featuring in dishes like chargrilled kangaroo sirloin, wallaby topside and emu carpaccio.
Top Seafood Restaurants in Cairns
What Makes it Ideal for Breakfast: Ochre Restaurant offers a unique breakfast experience with a focus on native Australian ingredients, including fresh seafood sourced from local waters. Breakfast Menu: Features innovative breakfast dishes such as smoked barramundi hash, grilled prawn breakfast salad, and seafood breakfast bruschetta, highlighting the flavors of the region. Ambiance: Modern and inviting atmosphere with indigenous artwork and earthy tones, creating a warm and welcoming ambiance for a memorable breakfast.
15 of the best foodie experiences in Cairns
For a truly modern Australian dining experience it’s got to be a table at Ochre. This riverside eatery on the ground floor of The Sebel Harbour Lights is headed up by chef Craig Squire, whose kitchen is renowned for award-winning dishes that celebrate native ingredients. Start with the salt and native pepper leaf crocodile and prawns or salt and pepper quail, before moving on to the Daintree tea smoked duck breast or the braised beef cheek with bush tomato and coconut red curry sauce.
Cairns Waterfront Dining | Cairns waterfront dining
After a day touring around or a hard day at work, book into Ochre for dinner, located right on the boardwalk overlooking the marina and mountains beyond. Ochre combines the best local produce with native Australian flavors, fantastically fresh fish, seafood and aged beef cuts from the Tablelands. We have created a unique Australian cuisine matched with an eclectic wine and drinks list, recently commended as the Best Overall Wine List featuring Queensland wines in Australia.
Sustainable dining in Cairns & Port Douglas
One of the most innovative modern restaurants in Australia, Ochre prides itself on leading the way for socially responsible and sustainable dining. Ochre lowers their carbon footprint and supports the community through many initiatives, such as utilising wild-harvested meat and native bush foods from local suppliers. They also replace plastic with innovative reusables, lead the way in the ‘straw no more campaign’ and separate their recyclables for a local charity.
The Top Restaurants in Cairns
The chefs at Ochre go above and beyond to incorporate bush tucker (native proteins, fruits, and vegetables) into the menu. The Australian antipasto, comprised of emu, green ants, crocodile, scallops, and Kakadu plums, is complemented by a wide-ranging Australian wine list. Located at the recent Harbourside Lights development, the interior features a large artwork by local Indigenous artist Shane Woodinda Wallace and is inspired by the Aussie outback.
28 of the best Cairns restaurants to dine at now
In the hub of Cairns on the edge of the waterfront, dining out at the award-winning Ochre is a no-brainer. Renowned for showcasing the best of Australia’s produce to the world, diners from far and wide come to sample an inventive array of dishes such as Salt and Native Pepper Leaf Crocodile and Prawns, Kangaroo Satays, or an Australian Antipasto Platter that comprises emu wonton and salmon green ant gravlax. Cuisine: Australian native foods
The best restaurants in Cairns
Utterly unique, Ochre thrusts distinctively Aussie ingredients into the limelight and transforms them into works of art. Championing stunning local ingredients like wild limes, Kakadu plums and warrigal greens, diners can look forward to the likes of wattle seed damper and salt and pepper leaf crocodile, followed by Davidson Plum mousse to finish on a sweet note. One for the bucket list, Ochre is more of an experience than a mere feed.
The Best Restaurants in Cairns To Taste The Tropics
Utterly unique, Ochre thrusts distinctively Aussie ingredients into the limelight and transforms them into works of art. Championing stunning local ingredients like wild limes, Kakadu plums and warrigal greens, diners can look forward to the likes of wattle seed damper and salt and pepper leaf crocodile, followed by Davidson Plum mousse to finish on a sweet note. One for the bucket list, Ochre is more of an experience than a mere feed.
The best restaurants in Cairns, Australia
Another long-established Cairns restaurant is Ochre , which serves up innovative Australian cuisine in a relaxed waterfront setting. Showcasing the best of the region’s produce, it’s a perennial favourite among those seeking Aussie flavours and ingredients with a bushfood twist. Try kangaroo satays braised in macadamia sauce, octopus accompanied by lemon myrtle chimichurri, or Gulf of Carpentaria bugs dipped in papaya coconut salsa.
7 of Cairn’s Most Popular Wedding Venues
Ochre Restaurant and Catering in Cairns offers a blend of professional service and extensive experience in wedding planning and catering. Known for their attention to detail and friendly approach, they cater to around 40 weddings annually, ranging from small, casual gatherings to large, formal events. Their flexible services include diverse menu and beverage options, as well as event coordination to ensure a seamless celebration.
Holiday Eats – Cairns – Sweet and Sour Fork
Ochre Restaurant is apparently the place to get your fancy on in Cairns (other than the only hatted restaurant in the area, Tamarind), but this actually ended up being the least memorable meal of the trip. The food and ambience were nice enough, but it literally was neither good enough nor bad enough to make any sort of impression whatsoever. Despite the ample use of native ingredients, it really wasn’t anything special at all.
6 Best Restaurants for Valentine’s Day in FNQ!
The Ochre Restaurant crafts Native ingredients into exciting modern cuisine offering a range of exquisite dishes and this Valentine's Day is no exception!. At $85/PP you and your partner can indulge in an exclusive Valentine's 4-course meal while sipping on a complimentary welcome champagne or beer. With their award winning dishes and an award worthy waterfront view, Ochre Restaurant will take care of you this Valentine's Day!
Romantic Water-View Restaurants in Cairns
Located right next to Dundee’s on the boardwalk, Ochre enjoys the same beautiful water views and inviting sunsets. Chefs Craig and Luis have taken fresh Australian produce and the modern Australian cuisine and spun it on its head. Ochre’s menu takes inspiration from Australia’s multi-cultural background and offers delicious dishes such as kangaroo satays to scallops in prosciutto.
Ten Quintessential Places to Eat and Drink Like a Local in Tropical North Queensland
Native ingredients take centre stage at Ochre, a Cairns institution that has been impressing diners with its creative cuisine for almost 30 years. It's a feast for the eyes, too, as its waterfront location on the Harbour Lights boardwalk offers picturesque views of the adjacent inlet and lush mountains beyond, serving as a reminder of the region's rich and abundant food sources.
Explore Top Caravan Parks in Cairns for a Perfect Outdoor Vacation
For a more upscale dining experience, Ochre Restaurant is renowned for its innovative Australian cuisine, utilizing the freshest local produce and native ingredients. This restaurant offers a unique dining experience with views overlooking the beautiful Cairns waterfront. It’s an ideal place for those looking to taste the best of Australian cuisine in a sophisticated setting.
Savour the Best Seafood Cairns Has to Offer
For those looking for an upscale seafood experience, Ochre Restaurant stands out with its elegant dining setting and sophisticated seafood dishes. Showcasing innovative Australian cuisine, Ochre serves up fresh seafood with a gourmet twist. The Australian antipasto, featuring locally sourced smoked and cured seafood, is a standout dish that marries tradition with creativity.
Top Ten Romantic Restaurants In Cairns For Couples
Situated on the waterfront, Ochre restaurant is your spot for Australian culinary delights with a dedication to using local produce and native foods. This is a contemporary-style restaurant decorated with natural timber wood and Indigenous artwork. Choose to sit inside with views of the kitchen at work or outside and enjoy a cool sea breeze.
Cairns Family Friendly Restaurants @ Cairns Dining
6/1 Marlin Parade, Cairns (07) 4051 0100email/info)(ochrerestaurant.com.auhttp://www.ochrerestaurant.com.au/. Neoteric Australian cuisine is the focus of Ochre Restaurant's sensational menu, incorporating Australian bush foods in innovative, exciting dishes. Menu changes seasonally, as different fresh produce become available.
13 of the best restaurants in Cairns
Located along the Harbour Lights Boardwalk, Ochre is responsible for award winning Australian cuisine. Owner Craig Squire relocated 2016 to the Boardwalk location, with a covered terrace and the most beautiful view of the harbor, mountains and beyond. The fresh and healthy dishes are cooked with local and seasonal ingredients.
7 Best Restaurants in Cairns
Located on the waterfront and serving up incredible native dishes, Ochre is quintessentially Australian. This award-winning restaurant is known for showcasing the best of Australia’s produce. It’s because of this that people travel not only from around Australia but also across the world to get a taste of the flavors.
10 Best Restaurants in Cairns
Outdoor dining with the seabreeze and Aussie inspired menu, at Ochre Restaurant © Ochre. Waterfront dining fuses with a touch of the outback, at contemporary Australian restaurant, Ochre. The natural timber interior features works by Indigenous artist, Shane Wallace, to really capture the spirit of the country.
17 Of The Best Restaurants In Cairns
Known as the most highly awarded restaurant and catering company in Cairns, The dishes served up at Ochre are things of pure beauty. While definitely worth a feature on your Insta, they also pack tonnes of flavour, making daring culinary choices with sustainably sourced and grown Australian regional produce.
The Best Places to Eat in Cairns: 2019 Edition
For innovative modern Australian dishes, visit Ochre restaurant. They creatively use a lot of native ingredients such as crocodile, native peppers, and wattleseed to name a few. Beyond the delicious “bush food”, you should come for sweeping views of the inlet, mountains beyond and bustle of the reef fleet.
Food and Drinks Guide – Best Restaurants, Cafés & Bars
Pull up a chair at Salt House for sunset cocktails, enjoy a native Australian menu at Ochre, or head to The Pier Bar for casual vibes and live music. Don’t miss Prawn Star — a floating seafood boat at the marina that serves up prawns, oysters, and reef fish straight from the ocean.
Cairns Restaurant Guide | Hot Air Balloon Australia
It is like a virtual tour through the culinary delights of Australia in a amazing location right on the inlet. With a dedication to local produce and experience like no other in crafting Native ingredients into modern exciting cuisine, Ochre Restaurant offers a range of…
The Best Places to Eat in Cairns
Ochre has a unique menu, utilising native Australian bush tucker, they create explosive flavours that complemented every dish perfectly. Although it is a little on the pricey side. With the atmosphere and unique dishes, this was a worthwhile experience.
Located on the waterfront, this contemporary fine dining restaurant serves inventive dishes that include a wide range of native Australian bush foods, such as acacia seeds, crocodile, wallaby and emu. Check out the lunch specials.
Tropic Now's guide to the best gluten-free food around Cairns and the Far North
Known for its unique take on native ingredients, this popular marina-side venue also has a huge range of gluten-free food. TRY: Salt and pepper quail, fresh chilli, compressed watermelon, finger lime. GO THERE: 6/1 Marlin Parade
The Sebel Cairns Restaurants | Self-Catering Accommodation Cairns
Ochre Restaurant is the most highly awarded restaurant and catering company in Cairns. Dining at Ochre Restaurant is like embarking on a tour through the culinary delights of Australia.
Ochre Restaurant and Catering | Cairns Restaurants
Ochre Catering delivers quality functions throughout North Queensland for conferences, corporate events, weddings and special occasions around Cairns, Port Douglas and Palm Cove.
The Best Restaurants In Cairns
Located along the Marina waterfront dining precinct, Ochre Restaurant offers a modern Australian menu with seafood and steak options, along with international flavours.
Cairns Dining, Cairns restaurants, Dinner Cruises
The Cairns Ochre Restaurant has also been recognized internationally as one of the most modern Australian restaurants in Cairns. A must to dine while visiting Cairns.
Some of the Most Popular
Serving up exquisite five-star dishes, the chef is inspired by Australian bush ingredients and local produce including a wide selection of seafood.
20 Best Restaurants in Cairns, AUSTRALIA
There is an adventure menu featuring real game, spices and seafood. Address : 1 Marlin Parade, Cairns City QLD 4870, Australia
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit