Darwin is a true melting pot of cultures and cuisines with a restaurant, cafe or market stall to suit every palate. Here are six of the tastiest.
Ella by Minoli
Minoli de Silva at her Darwin restaurant Ella by Minoli.
Minoli De Silva was a crowd favourite on MasterChef Australia, now it’s her own restaurant which is receiving the applause. Opened in 2022, Ella by Minoli is tucked into an unassuming laneway in the CBD. Named after a jungle town in the hill country of Sri Lanka, Ella by Minoli showcases Top End produce blended with contemporary Sri Lankan flavours. Pick from signature dishes such as curry leaf cured snapper, kiwi fruit curry or king prawns in Lankan spiced butter. Our tip? Go with a group and order every starter on the menu. See ellabyminoli.au
Aboriginal Bush Traders Cafe
Aboriginal Bush Traders, a not-for-profit organisation supporting local Indigenous communities.Credit: Tourism NT
This CBD cafe is an ideal Darwin hangout for breakfast, brunch or lunch. The best part? Aboriginal Bush Traders is a 100 per cent not-for-profit organisation committed to supporting local Indigenous communities. From humble beginnings, the social enterprise has moved to the high-profile Charles Darwin Centre where it serves bush food with a modern twist. Highlights include native fruit-infused granola with yoghurt, roasted kangaroo with bush spices and zucchini and corn bush slice with sea celery pickle. The cafe also offers breakfast and lunch tasting plates with a tour of the on-site gallery. Those with a sweet tooth will love the finger lime jam drops. See aboriginalbushtraders.com
Moorish Cafe
Moorish Cafe serves more than 30 different tapas.Credit: Tourism NT
Moorish by name, moorish by nature, this jewel-box of a cafe has been serving Spanish, Mediterranean and North African cuisine in the heart of Darwin for almost 20 years. Can’t decide between the seared scallops with pomegranate and the Berber spiced kangaroo with tomato jam (the menu has more than 30 tapas) or perhaps the tagine of the day? Or to finish with homemade Turkish Delight ice cream or saffron creme caramel? The only way to solve the dilemma of choice is to opt for the three-, four- or five-course banquet menu. A pitcher of Spanish sangria is a must. See moorishcafe.com.au
Nirvana Restaurant
Nirvana Restaurant dishes up an exotic mix of Thai, Malay and Indian cuisine.Credit: Tourism NT/Christopher Nayna
The neon sign – “You have almost reached Nirvana” – says it all. With its exotic fusion of Thai, Indian and Malay food, live music and sumptuous decor, Nirvana offers a direct path to happiness. “Light bites” include tasty snacks such as Vietnamese pork skewers and pandanus chicken parcels, while “Large dishes” include jungle curries and bug tails in Penang sauce. Housed in a nondescript, pre-Cyclone Tracy building, Nirvana is open Tuesday- Saturday 6pm to late. Exit the rabbit-warren of rooms to finish the evening next door at Smoke and Oak, a whisky-focused bar playing jazz tunes. See nirvanadarwin.com.au
Char Restaurant
Executive chef Michael Foster outside Char Restaurant in Admiralty House.Credit: Tourism NT/Helen Orr
Situated on the ground floor of the heritage-listed Admiralty House overlooking Darwin Harbour, Char was awarded a Chef’s Hat in 2022. Entrees range from green paw paw salad with crispy calamari to baked half-shell scallops, but the real stars are the steaks. Cooked to perfection, they include a hefty one-kilo black angus tomahawk, Wagyu steak tataki and a steak tasting board featuring two of Char’s greatest cuts. Under executive chef Michael Foster, a Darwin born Indigenous man, you can expect a sprinkling of locally foraged native ingredients. Dine indoors or alfresco under fairy lights, either way, don’t miss the deconstructed tiramisu. See admiraltyhouse.com.au
Mindil Beach Sunset Markets
Find more than 60 food stalls at Mindil Beach Sunset Markets.Credit: Tourism NT/Shaana McNaught
There are 500 metres of beach, 200 unique stalls and more than a dozen cuisines – nothing gives an insight into the taste and energy of Darwin like the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets. Operating during the dry season (April to October) the markets are held every Thursday and Sunday from 4pm-9pm. Choose between international flavours such as Indonesian, Turkish, Sri Lankan and Thai or local delicacies such as barramundi, kangaroo and crocodile. Order a nasi goreng, pull up a patch of sand and enjoy one of the most dazzling sunsets on Earth. For a special occasion the premium VIP package is worth the splurge. See mindil.com.au
The writer was a guest of Tourism NT. See northernterritory.com
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