Thirsty? Hungry? Places to eat and drink in Airlie Beach

Thirsty? Hungry? get the low down on places to eat and drink in Airlie

Bars, clubs & restaurants.

You are going to find plenty of places to drink in Airlie Beach - at Christmas many of the bars will put on decent bands or DJs to get the party started. You can grab a few beers to celebrate Christmas before jumping onto a boat to go sailing trips you will find that the pubs are filling quickly.

Bars

Beaches on the main street is always lively - a pub atmosphere and live music help, as do cheap jug prices on domestic beers. The food menu is simple, based on burgers, steak sangers and pasta and many dishes are priced under $10. An early close at midnight gives guests in the hostel behind the bar a chance to sleep off their evening or an encouragement to move on.

Magnums Website [opens in new browser window]

Magnums offers a similar formula with pizza as an addition to the usual pub food on the menu. Big TV screens show football and pool tables and poker machines are available. M@ss nightclub (inside) offers traditional backpacker entertainments - wet T, jelly wresting and pole dancing competitions as well as the "Ibiza foam party" which has plenty of foam. Just don't expect too much Ibiza. Morocco's doesn't have the same numbers but adds karaoke to the mix.

Paddy Shenanigans is the lively Irish theme pub that collects most of the town's late drinking crowd. The live acts are generally better but still deliver the same covers and classics that keep the dance floor full. Pints and "tea pots" of cocktails keep things moving and the no-smoking interior is well air-conditioned. Paddy's stays open till 3am

Armada offers a more sophisticated option. Grown up cocktails, a decent wine list and boutique beers are on offer along with chilled out tunes and an adventurous menu. Prices are necessarily higher but still offer decent value.

Capers on the beach has a good set up. Tables on the pavement directly opposite the beach, good cocktail and wine list and varied menu as well as large screen TV showing live sports and pool tables.

A number of other places on the main street offer a change from the main pub-crawl. Chatz, Hog's Breath and K.C's have decent bars and food available and are proper bars rather than restaurants with drinks.

Eating out

Dominoes, KFC and MacDonald's on the mains street cater to the take away crowd along with a good kebab shop. Take away fish and chips are available at a number of places with Neptune's on the Esplanade being a favourite.

Hog's Breath specialises in steaks. A good location and roomy interior keep this old Airlie favourite going but air conditioning would help. Newly opened, Jamaica Joe's offer a diner style restaurant with daily blue-plate specials and a comfortable interior. Nando's is also new, many will recognise the piri-piri chicken formula from Europe and South Africa.

Mangrove Jack's have good pizzas and a full bar alongside a TAB. Prices are reasonable and the menu has plenty of other options.

Cactus Jack's is a brand new restaurant with cheap "All you can eat" chilli on Tuesday nights and a lively Happy Hour.

Airlie Thai offers a change for lovers of Asian food and is located up stairs in the Beach Plaza building that houses Airlie Waterfront Backpackers.

Whitsunday Sailing Club Website [opens in new browser window]

In the same spot you will also find Italian dishes at Boltz café and fresh fish and seafood dishes at Fish D'vine.

Both have excellent, beachfront, pavement locations on the Esplanade and well-stocked bars with prices at Fish D'vine a pleasant surprise. Happy hour prices make this a popular spot to watch the sunset.

Other option include:

The Anchorage (Shingley Beach), Banjo's (Cannonvale) Whitsunday sailing club, Deja Vu, Golden Temple Chinese (Cannonvale) Sushi Hi

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