Darwin is a travel destination that’s just full of surprises – and nowhere is that more the case than when it comes to chowing down. Far from being a remote outpost where pub grub reigns, Darwin’s food scene sizzles with innovation and creativity, and you may find that tucker turns out to be the highlight of your visit! Here are nine Darwin restaurants and culinary experiences in and around the city that all offer something deliciously different…
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Go wild in style with Pee Wee's
Nowhere serves up the wild tastes of the Top End in finer style than Pee Wee’s at the Point. The menu here includes local wild caught saltwater Barramundi, kangaroo, buffalo cheese, crocodile and the list goes on. Don’t worry, there are plenty of less adventurous options. The al fresco setting overlooking Fannie Bay is truly sublime.
Enjoy Francophile fare with flare at The Pearl
Take a French-inspired flight of culinary fancy at one of Darwin’s most whimsical dining options – The Pearl. With its striking Parisian salon-style interior, superb cocktail list and prix fixe menu, this is a chance to dine a la mode in the heart of the NT capital.
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Get a laneway dining buzz at Little Miss Korea
With a buzzing décor that wouldn’t look out of place on the trendiest Melbourne laneway, Little Miss Korea is one of Darwin’s top spots for Asian fare. Housed in what was once a supermarket loading dock, this slick eatery offers a choice of Korean BBQ or a superb a la carte menu. Enter off graffiti-emblazoned Austin Lane.
Go on a global gastronomical journey
Darwin may be closer to Bali than it is to Brissy, but it isn’t just Asian-style cuisine that’s well represented here. The city offers a mind-blowing array of international culinary styles. Highlights include multi award-winning Hanuman for Indian and Thai, Moorish Café for Spanish, Yots Greek Taverna for, well, Greek, and Hot Tamale for mouth-watering Mexican. With its stunning location on the Darwin Waterfront, you can’t go past Wharf One Food & Wine for top Modern Oz. The wood-fired king prawns are out of this world.
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Take a parliamentary power lunch
With its high ceilings and swathes of sunlight-diffusing glass, the NT’s postmodern parliamentary building is often held up as the model of tropical architecture. Want to take a closer look? Don’t be shy – visitors are welcome. The Speaker’s Green on the western side of the building offers fabulous water views. Here you can enjoy a glass of wine and some award-wining bites from the excellent Speaker’s Corner Café.
Try a bushfood-inspired brunch
Indigenous Australians have of course been dining out on the Aussie landscape for thousands of years. Now the rest of us are starting to catch on. Get a taste of the bush at Aboriginal Bush Traders in historic Lyons Cottage on the Esplanade. Run by the Ironbark Aboriginal Corporation, the centre has a fabulous café which serves up dishes utilising local native ingredients, including Kakadu plums, saltbush, bush tomatoes and lemon myrtle. The saltbush dukkha, avocado and feta smash is super popular.
More delightful oddities from the Top End: 10 Unexpected Travel Experiences in Darwin
Get out of town: True Wilderness in Australia's Northern Territory
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Tap into local café culture
Café culture is alive and well in Darwin. In fact, it’s thriving. Peep into any nook or cranny and you’re likely to bump noses with a barista hard at it. Some of the best options include city hipster hangout The Rabbithole and Laneway Specialty Coffee with its industrial chic vibe in Parap. Eva's Botanical Gardens Café offers cool respite from the heat and a very fine brownie.
Walk the walk
Sadly, eating and exercising rarely go hand in hand – unless you happen to be on a guided food tour! art-walk-eat provides walking tours of the Darwin CBD with a local guide. You’ll experience the city’s emerging street art scene and try some tasty street-eats along the way. You’ll also pick up plenty of restaurant recommendations to return to during your stay.
Track down fine food van fodder
Once the preserve of late night clubbers and once-a-year agricultural show-goers, food vans are now a much-loved part of the general Aussie culinary landscape. Darwin is no slouch when it comes to casual dining on two wheels. Head for official council-sanctioned food van hubs at various points on the Darwin foreshore to enjoy delicious delights from The Salty Plum and Yummy Yianni's Greek Cuisine to name a few.
More delightful oddities from the Top End: 10 Unexpected Travel Experiences in Darwin
Get out of the city: True Wilderness in Australia's Northern Territory
