Luxury Escapes Guide to Palm Cove

A beguiling blend of two Palm Cove favourites, Chill Café and Portofino have joined forces to become Chill at Portofino, taking the best of both to create a laid-back family-friendly beachfront restaurant. Start your day here with a hearty breakfast and city-grade caffeine made using Witham’s Coffee and crafted by the café’s talented baristas. If you fancy something more refreshing, you’ll also find exotic juices on the menu. Signature dishes remain, like Chill’s Tree Hugger – smashed avo with the lot – eight-hour pulled pork burger slow cooked over a smokey BBQ, marinara pasta and prosciutto pizza.

A Palm Cove institution with its Queenslander style veranda, sharp yet friendly service and a menu featuring modern Australian and international cuisine make Vivo a firm favourite amongst the breakfast and lunch crowd. An eclectic menu features Yamagashi happy eggs alongside Vietnamese crepes for breakfast or delights like tempura battered coral trout compete with nasi goreng or crab tagliatelline for attention all day dining.

Though you can dine-in at Pete’s Place (and its beachfront location is definitely a drawcard) its main claim to fame is serving up the kind of home-cooked take-away comfort food you’d make yourself. Tuck into tasty treats such as grilled fish rolls, Spanish mackerel and hearty burgers amid the relaxed atmosphere of Pete’s. Better still, order a take-away meal and enjoy it at one of the beachfront picnic tables across the road. You can even order dedicated picnic baskets for couples or families, including kids’ meals for the little ones.

Temple of Tastes is located within the elegant surrounds of Pullman Palm Cove, where charcoal lacquered chairs contrast with vibrantly coloured accents in an air-conditioned sanctuary that keeps tropical heat at bay. A Southeast Asian-inspired menu capitalises on Palm Cove’s proximity to the Atherton Tablelands where artisan growers produce an abundance of organic, fresh produce from the food bowl of Tropical North Queensland. Temple of Tastes is where locally sourced sashimi of Black Cobia pairs with coconut water and Vietnamese mint, while desserts feature Mareeba pineapple or the dramatic fuchsia hue of dragonfruit.

Acquired by Brigadier Hon. David Thomson in the ’70s as a guest house hangout for influential friends like Prime Ministers and celebrities, The Reef House’s glamorous reputation remains. Guests gathered here at sunset, helping themselves at the bar and settling their bill in true tradition — an officer’s honesty system. In honour of its history, Brigadier’s Bar & Lounge still operates an honesty bar where guests are encouraged to join the hotel’s general manager for rum punch and canapes at sunset. Don’t miss dinner at Reef House Restaurant, winner of the Australian Culinary Federation’s 2019 Restaurant of the Year. Delectable dishes include local scallops with pork belly and Queensland saltwater barramundi, served with coconut pilaf and braised pineapple.

Numi Ice Creamery is a tiny little shop that’s short on space but big on decadent tasty treats (vegan options are available), which are housemade by the esteemed team from multi-award winning Nu Nu restaurant. Ingredients are sourced locally from the Atherton Tablelands, AKA the food bowl of north Queensland. Think ice cream flavours like cane farmer’s liquorice, vanilla and baklava, or coffee, vanilla ash and chocolate crumb. Non-dairy eaters aren’t forgotten with mango or chocolate sorbet.

Ellis Beach rivals Palm Cove when it comes to long sweeps of beach sand kissed by sparkling ocean. Ellis Beach Bar & Grill is a great choice for road trippers cruising one of Australia’s most scenic roads – the Great Barrier Reef Drive. This beloved route cuts a swathe between the Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest on one side and the waters of the Great Barrier Reef on the other. Drop in on Sunday afternoon, when live music ramps up the tempo with $1 oysters from 1-4pm, while at other times the sounds of waves on the beach is the preferred soundtrack to a ‘burger bar’ style menu.

An open-sided pavilion style restaurant located high among the treetops at Thala Beach Nature Reserve, Osprey’s Restaurant is best enjoyed for lunch when forest-clad mountain and Coral Sea views can be enjoyed all the way to the horizon. Osprey’s is a great midway point on a day trip to Port Douglas. A modern Australian menu features popcorn crocodile on a green paw paw salad, Tiger prawn laksa or desserts like chocolate parfait with chai-spiced almonds.

Dine on the elevated deck and enjoy modern Asian-inspired cuisine with a distinct leaning towards seafood delights harvested from the Coral Sea. It’s hard to go past perennial favourites like salt and pepper squid or chilli mud crabs, but if seafood is not your thing, try chargrilled Thai chicken or the deliciously named Ceremonial Sumatran rendang beef curry. Finish your meal with kaffir lime brulee or a banana leaf parcel, where grilled bananas combine with sticky rice beneath a generous scoop of coconut ice-cream and topped with tamarind sauce.

With Palm Cove the natural departure point northwards on the 140km Great Barrier Reef Drive, we suggest you take a drive in the latest model convertible V8 Mustang or Porsche for the ultimate scenic coastal road trip. The winding road cuts a beguiling path through two World Heritage icons – Wet Tropics rainforest and the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Luxury sports cars or 4WDs can be delivered to Palm Cove, so the only thing you need worry about is how much sunscreen to apply to your nose.

Whether your interest lies in catching fish or admiring them through glass goggles while blowing bubbles, be sure to board a private boat charter for a deep-sea fishing or scuba diving expedition to the Great Barrier Reef. With an experienced skipper and deck hand to take care of all the pesky navigation and safety details, you can sit back and savour the freedom of being on the open sea in capable hands.

As the self-styled ‘spa capital’ of Australia, there truly is a spa treatment, massage, facial or beauty treatment to suit everyone. Day spas specialising in luxe body treatments include Peppers Beach Club & Spa (Exclusive Spa), Alamanda Spa, Reef House Spa and Palm Cove Retreat Day Spa. Many have private massage tables or treatment rooms set up in tranquil locations surrounded by tropical greenery and open to the sky for a clothes-optional soul-enriching treatment for body and soul.

Immerse yourself in Palm Cove with Luxury Escapes’ hand-picked Experiences. We’ve curated a selection of cultural activities, adrenaline thrills, food adventures and luxury add-ons to help you discover your destination. These Experiences are bookable when you purchase your next escape. Simply select your travel dates and number of travellers for any package, and opt to tailor your escape by selecting the available Experiences.

It’s no secret that Palm Cove is enviably close to the Great Barrier Reef, so it’s only natural to don your mask, snorkel and fins, and unearth the sunken coral cays of the world’s greatest reef. Enjoy a full-day Quicksilver cruise (with return transfers to Palm Cove) that will see you snorkelling through the crystal-clear waters of the renowned Agincourt Reef, a jewel-like reef with colourful marine live and coral gardens. You’ll also enjoy a semi-submersible coral-viewing tour with marine biologist commentary and indulge with a buffet lunch, and morning and afternoon tea.

The works by artist Ian Stephens have found acclaim in collections around the world with US Presidents, Prime Ministers and movie stars clamouring to purchase his exquisite paintings. Inspired by nature and the pristine, ancient environment of Tropical North Queensland, these original canvases and prints are the perfect reminder of your Palm Cove escapade. Popular paintings include a Palm Cove panorama and stunning depictions of Trinity Beach and Cape Tribulation.