Best Seafood Restaurants in Airlie Beach
Not only is Airlie Beach a great base for those looking to explore the Whitsundays, but the seaside town has made a name for itself as an excellent fishing town. From coral trout and calamari to cod and cuttlefish, the list of fresh seafood available from Airlie goes on and on!
It would be a shame to pass through town and not take advantage of the locally-caught, oh so succulent seafood. Whether you prefer a classic order of fish and chips served in a brown paper bag or an elaborate shellfish platter, there are plenty of spots in Airlie Beach where you can enjoy local marine delicacies. Here are some of our favourites...
Fish D’vine
Fish D’vine is arguably the most popular spot for seafood in Airlie Beach. Specialising in locally-caught fish, the restaurant is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. There are a few specialty dishes that Fish D’vine is famous for, including their beloved seafood platter for two, which is a guaranteed feast. The eatery is also known for a mean mud crab, which can be served four different ways. Other top-rated dishes include the succulent seafood pasta and the crispy golden fried calamari. You’ll be spoiled for choice at this spot!
Sandbar
Upstairs from Airlie Esplanade, you’ll find Sandbar - a gorgeous Mediterranean-inspired restaurant with stunning ocean views. Within their menu, you’ll find a number of delicious seafood delicacies, from marinated baby octopus to szechuan calamari to coral trout tacos. The locally-sourced dishes go down a treat with their range of sumptuous sides and exquisite cocktails.
Whitsunday Seafood Bar
Looking for something a little bit more casual? Whitsunday Seafood Bar boasts some of the best fish and chips in town.
Choose from mackerel, barramundi, or reef fish, either battered or crumbled, with your chips and tartare sauce. Or, if you’re in the mood for something a little bit different, opt for the calamari, the fish cakes, or the oysters. Order your catch of choice to take away or to dine outside and watch the world go by.
The Rocks at Coral Sea Resort
Dine out on fresh seafood in style at Coral Sea Resort’s poolside restaurant, The Rocks. The flashy eatery serves barramundi and chips, kingfish sashimi, and scallop ceviche, but the prized menu item has got to be their seafood platter for two. On the platter you’ll find marine marvels like barramundi, calamari, prawns, moreton bay bugs, octopus, crab legs, oysters, and scallops. Graze on the seafood specialty while taking in the sights of Coral Sea Marina or looking out onto the resort’s inviting pool.
20 Degrees South at Whitsunday Sailing Club
It’s only right that the local sailing club would have some of the best seafood dishes on offer in Airlie Beach. Inside the Whitsunday Sailing Club, you’ll find 20 Degrees South, a restaurant with an extensive lunch and dinner menu including all sorts of marine cuisine. Enjoy local favourites like salt and pepper calamari, seafood fettuccine, and prawn cutlets while watching sailboats glide across the sea.
Sorrento
You’ll get your fill of great local seafood down at Coral Sea Marina, with gorgeous food spots like Sorrento to treat your tastebuds. Looking out onto the marina as the boats come and go, Sorrento is a popular evening spot thanks to its 2-for-1 pizza and happy hour deals. If you’re in the mood for seafood, Sorrento has you covered, from their freshly shucked oysters to their seafood platter to their prawn and spanner crab spaghetti. Sorrento also offers up a daily fish special, based on the freshest catches of the day.
Garden Bar
Just down the marina from Sorrento, you’ll find Garden Bar, an ambient outdoor bar and restaurant right on the waterfront. A popular spot for sunset cocktails and seaside date nights, Garden Bar is all about atmosphere - and seriously good food. From their exquisitely crafted menu, you’ll find a range of dreamy seafood dishes like reef fish tacos, beer-battered fish and chips, and a delectable seafood platter consisting of scallops, mackerel, calamari, prawns, and oysters.
The Deck
Right in the middle of Airlie Beach, you’ll find the popular breakfast, lunch and dinner spot, The Deck. Catering for a wide range of customers, The Deck is not a restaurant to be overlooked. Their excellent team of chefs can cook up a storm, and when it comes to seafood, they’ve got some mouth-watering options. The tempura fried fish and chips, seafood linguine, and deck fish cakes are all wonderfully fresh and flavoursome.
Paradiso
Just behind the main street of Airlie Beach, looking out onto the waterfront, you’ll come across Paradiso - an eatery known for its romantic views and exceptional menu. Whether you’re dropping in for breakfast, lunch or dinner, you’re in for a treat if you’ve managed to snag a table at Paradiso. Treat your tastebuds to unique seafood dishes like pescatore risotto, wild local barramundi and gnocchi, and spanish seafood paella.
