Palm Cove Has Hip New Hangouts

Palm Cove Has Hip New Hangouts

On a recent trip back to our beloved Palm Cove we were pleasantly surprised to see some new food and beverage venues and some fresh new faces in the restaurant vendors along the beachfront esplanade. Even the type of clientele seemed to be a bit younger and the vibe around the village a bit more buzzy!

Restaurants and bars across the world in trendy beachside tourist destinations seem to be becoming a bit more casual now and doing away with the white table cloths and going for the more social style of eating where guests can share tables, enjoy small tapas and try out the locally brewed craft beers, wines and liqueurs whilst listening to good music and Palm Cove seems to have now followed suit and become a bit more lively.

Palm Cove in the past was always marketed as a total relaxation destination and live music and lively activities were not looked upon very warmly by the locals but this wall now seems to have been broken down and the cove is now on trend with great new styles of restaurants and bars thus attracting new holiday makers to the cove.

New Bars & Restaurants in Palm Cove

Newcomers we sampled were Jack & Shanan’s open from breakfast till cocktails ánd dinner offering seafood platters, gourmet and vego burgers, vegetarian salads, gluten free options, rib eye steaks, gelatos and a few Mexican items. They also brag about making the best coffees in Palm Cove but as we are not coffee drinkers we could not back up that claim to fame.

Cocktails from Jack & Shanan's - Photo credit: Facebook Jack & Shanan's

C Vue is another newcomer on the northern end of the Palm Cove Esplanade and they offer some creative dishes like tempura crocodile Asian style which is a menu item that you don’t see every day! They seem to have great prices and a bit of a following also.  

A welcome find was the new Kushi Yakitori Bar and Japanese Restaurant upstairs above Pete place. We all love Japanese food and as soon as we heard they were in the cove we booked. Food was enjoyable and the service came with a big smile.

Kushi Yakitori Bar and Japanese Restaurant upstairs above Pete place - Photo credit: Facebook Kushi-Yakitori Bar & Restaurant

And as Mexican food seems to be on the revival again good to see the Cactus Mexican Restaurant and Bar has arrived to satisfy the trendsetters here in Tropical North Queensland for their thirst for Marguerites and chillies.

Mexican Food in Palm Cove - Photo credit: Facebook Cactus Mexican Restaurant and Bar

For the rice and noodle lovers Jasmine Rice Restaurant is one we have not come across before offering Thai food. This is the second Thai restaurant to open in Palm Cove.  

Wok On Noodle Bar for a real casual meal on a BYO basis makes eating out affordable.

Williams On the Nard is getting great reviews for not only their breakfasts but also the friendly staff and the menu prices.

Right on the Esplande views fantastic views - Photo credit: Facebook Williams on the Nard

Espresso & Co Café Bar is an all-round winner in the coffee grinding stakes and the visitors to Palm Cove are heading here early in the mornings to get their fix of caffeine shots and returning again in the afternoon for another pick me uppa shot

Live Music Entertainment in Palm Cove

Live music is no longer banned or shunned by the locals in Palm Cove, it is now fully embraced by all and has taken off in a big way

Beach Almond on the northern end of the beach is a personal favourite for the passion that Brian and Helen have in their restaurant and the ridiculously delicious chilli mud crab and now the Sunday arvo live music sessions which get’s the cove grooven!

Beach Almond now has live music on Sunday afternoons... and Chilli mud crab - Photo credit: Facebook Beach Almond Palm Cove

The ever popular Chill Café who we could probably say was the first café to dip its toe into the so called trendy café vibe by introducing craft beers, live music and an ever changing menu certainly keeps the tourists and locals happy with their live music and good food.

Apre Beach Bar & Grill have always had live music and are still pushing out the beats and great pub food.

Pub Food and great live music... what else is there to say! - Photo credit: Facebook Apres Beach Bar & Grill

During the year there are several annual events in Palm Cove like Reef Feast which is 3 days of non-stop mix of food tasting and entertainment and Jazz on The Green normally held on a Sunday with a BYO chair requirement.

Christmas and New Year’s Eve is always party time in Palm Cove and guests need to ensure they have pre-booked their holiday accommodation early to celebrate the holiday season up here in the tropics with the family.

Palm Cove is still the chill pill place for a relaxing spa destination type holiday but now you can also enjoy some lively entertainment thanks to some of these newcomers to the cove.

 

Cairns Holiday Specialists 

ph 1300 761 612 or 07 4059 5959

Or international +61 7 4059 5959

 

Author: Christina James - Destination Specialist

Header Photo Courtesy of Tourism Tropical North Queensland

Posted on December 18, 2017 at 8:53am by Sophie Tabouel

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