Where to find the Best Restaurants in Darwin

Darwin might not have any Michelin star rated establishments to boast about yet, but don’t let that cloud your judgement. The multi-cultural city is blessed with a wide selection of outstanding restaurants, which cover pretty much every genre of food you can imagine. Here is our recommendation of some the best restaurants in Darwin that we reckon are definitely worth a visit:

Pee Wee’s at the Point

A multiple winner of ‘NT Restaurant of the Year’ from the Australian Hotel’s Association Gold Plate Awards, Pee Wee’s at the Point is a bit of an institution in Darwin.

Located in the East Point Nature Reserve, this establishment offers a spectacular alfresco dining setting, with tables facing the bright lights of the city from the water’s edge.

Proudly showcasing the best of local and Australian produce, dishes like as kangaroo carpaccio, coconut-crusted crocodile tail and nut-crusted wild-caught barramundi are served up with brilliant execution and precision.

The food here is simply magnificent, and if you are able to procure a table at sunset, you will be in for a truly unforgettable experience.

Char Restaurant

If you love steak then Char Restaurant is the place for you.

Located very close to the Vibe Hotel, on the corner of Knuckey Street and the Esplanade, this fabulous glass-fronted steakhouse strives to produce dishes that sit on the finer side of dining.

Its setting in the beautifully renovated heritage-listed Admiralty House certainly does its part, but it is the food that really shines.

Owned by John Kilroy who also runs the acclaimed Cha Cha Char Wine Bar & Grill in Brisbane, the Darwin joint offers an amazing gastronomic steak cuisine experience.

Whether it be an eye-fillet, rib fillet, tomahawk or sirloin, you’ll be smacking your lips with delight come the end of the meal.

Hanuman Darwin

Offering a taste of south-east Asia in the heart of the Darwin CBD, Hanuman Restaurant presents delicious Thai and Indian food in a relaxed, spacious dining room with high ceilings and ornate Asian wood carvings.

Run by successful restaurateur Jimmy Shu, the menu is a seamless offering of Thai and Indian dishes. Their oysters with zingy chilli sauce and chicken chettinad sits hand in hand with lamb korma and South Indian goat curry to provide a selection that should appeal to all.

Bursting with spice and flavour this place is always busy, though with lots of seating both indoor, and outside on it timber deck, you can usually find somewhere to plonk yourself.

Wharf One Food & Wine

Enjoying a prime position overlooking the lagoon of the Darwin waterfront, Wharf One Food & Wine has a lot going for it even before you tuck in to your meal.

As each table offers sensational water views the atmosphere here is relaxed and congenial. Which sets you off on the right track to indulge in its popular wood-fired tapas menu.

Dishes like wood-fired prawns, with radish salad and chilli jam, and gin-cured Atlantic salmon are exquisitely plated. While the wood-fired NT barramundi with miso and pickled daikon is one of many fabulous mains that are available.

For a banquet fit for a king why not try the Boston Bay roast suckling Berkshire pig feast? You’ll need to be joined by 9 other people, and will have to order 24 hours in advance, but the food experience you will have is nothing short of incredible.

Cove

Another place meat eaters will love is Cove.

Part of Mindil Beach Casino Resort, this recently refurbished eatery caters primarily to carnivores.

Overlooking a stunning swimming lagoon, the menu offers prime cuts of beef from all over Australia.

Championing itself as Darwin’s Hottest New Steakhouse, their Black Angus eye fillet from Byron Bay is one of their most popular dishes.

The wine list here is also impressive. While the beer and cocktail menu should cater to even the most discerning of tastes.