Airlie Beach doesn’t need much of an introduction. Wedged between rainforest and reef in Queensland’s Whitsundays, it has the kind of scenery that makes people pause mid-sentence. But what often gets overlooked, right until you sit down and taste it, is the seafood.
For a coastal town this close to the Coral Sea, the connection between water and plate isn’t just expected. It’s personal. The best restaurants here don’t overcomplicate things. They let freshness lead the way, pairing local catch with just enough flair to make you sit back and notice.
If you’re in Airlie Beach and you care about what ends up on your plate, these are the places that are getting it right.
Fish D’vine
Fish D’vine is one of those places that has grown with the town. It’s not trying to win you over with fireworks. What it does instead is offer deeply satisfying food with confidence. The chefs know their fish. They also know exactly how to cook it.
Their jerk-spiced barramundi is a standout, not because it’s wild or trendy, but because it hits that balance between boldness and respect for the main ingredient. There’s heat, but not chaos. Flavor, but no disguise.
Tides at Coral Sea Resort
Some places are all about the food. Others are about the view. Tides manages to do both.
Set on the edge of the Coral Sea Resort, Tides gives you the kind of ocean backdrop that doesn’t need describing. But the kitchen holds its own. This isn’t the kind of fine dining that forgets people are here to eat. It’s precise and elegant, yes. And grounded too.
Expect things like scallops that are seared just long enough or Moreton Bay bugs with the kind of sauce you’ll remember long after you’ve left. Service is calm, steady, and lets the food do the talking.
If you’re marking a milestone or just want dinner to feel like something more, this is where you come.
Hemingway’s
Hemingway’s looks casual, and it is, but don’t let that fool you into thinking the food is secondary. It’s not.
This is the kind of place where people come for a relaxed beer and end up staying for dinner because something smells too good to ignore. The menu reads like it knows its audience: familiar seafood favorites, but done with care. Crispy-skin snapper, fresh prawn tacos, lobster if you catch them on the right day.
There’s real attention here, both in the kitchen and on the floor. And while the atmosphere stays casual, there’s an underlying professionalism that keeps things running smoothly.
It’s the spot you recommend when someone says, “I just want a great meal by the water.” And it consistently delivers.
Fishi
At the Port of Airlie Marina, Fishi feels like a place made by people who actually eat what they cook. The space is easygoing, no white tablecloths, no curated playlists, but what you get is honest, unfussy seafood with all the detail in the execution.
This is where you go for Queensland prawns that taste like they came straight off the boat. Oysters that don’t need dressing up. Grilled reef fish that holds its own without being drowned in sauce.
The bonus? You can shop for fresh seafood to take home, which makes sense because everything on the plate tastes like it just came out of the water. The team here doesn’t do theatrics. They do freshness. They do quality. And they know that’s enough.
Waterline
Waterline Restaurant sits at the Abell Point Marina, which gives you an immediate clue about its priorities. Boats come and go, but the seafood stays fresh. That’s the point.
The menu is built around local sourcing. Nothing over-promised. No tourist-baiting dishes. Just well-executed seafood, often paired with produce from around Queensland. The chefs here lean into simplicity, which works when your ingredients are this good.
It’s a place that doesn’t shout. It just feeds you well.
The Bigger Picture
There are plenty of places that serve seafood in Airlie Beach. But these five stand out because they do more than check boxes. They care.
None of them are chasing trends. They’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. What they do is take what the ocean gives, treat it with respect, and serve it without unnecessary noise.
Whether you’re here for one night or several, it’s worth sitting down at one of these places and letting the local flavors speak for themselves. You’ll taste the salt. You’ll taste the sun. And if the timing is right, you’ll understand why so many people leave this town with a memory that starts at the table.
