Cairns cafe Candy at Grafton Street crowned the best in the city

Cairns Post readers have voted for the best cafe in Cairns, with the winner crediting its adaptability as the secret to pipping the competition.

ADAPTABILITY is the key trait of a Grafton Street eatery crowned Cairns’ best cafe.

The Cairns Post, delicious magazine and celebrity chef Matt Preston put the call-out to find the Far North’s best cafe - and the winner has been revealed as Candy Cafe.

Owner Chantelle Kenyon, who won the Cairns Post’s best eggs Benedict competition in 2019, said she was delighted to be recognised as the best.

“It’s very exciting,” she said.

“I think what sets us apart is that we’re very adaptable — you can have anything from a basic toastie to a salad, customise it, or a lot of our customers basically just make their own.

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“We have a lot on our menu and so there’s no real hot seller. Anything with avocadoes is always popular, but one day it could be the Candy brekky, the next it could be burgers.”

Ms Kenyon said she was looking to continue adapting by offering online ordering.

Ms Kenyon was raised in the food game, with her parents previously running Jax Carvery at Stockland Cairns Shopping Centre.

“I love hospitality. You become friends with your customers. I love serving good food. I love being around people. It feels like the perfect thing for me to do,” she said.

Ms Kenyon said she jumped at the chance to take over Candy after managing Coast Roast for her parents for four years.

“I’ve always loved this cafe. I love this street,” she said.

The winner of the Far North’s delicious. Local competition has been revealed as Candy Cafe.

Mr Preston said the search for the best cafe was just the start of the local push to help drive a food-led rebound from the effects of COVID.

“It’s clear from the vast number of nominations and votes we saw come in that local communities are rallying around their favourite eateries; supporting those food businesses who have done it tough over the past 12 months. That is exactly what we set out to achieve,” Mr Preston said.

“And this is just the beginning. Our local cafe winners are soon to appear in a statewide battle of the postcodes where the cream will rise to the top – as it always does.

“Don’t forget to have your say by checking out your state finalists and voting for your favourite.”

“Make sure you keep following this fantastic search and supporting your local winners – next up we’ll be on the lookout for best pizza, so get thinking.”

Originally published as Cairns cafe Candy at Grafton Street crowned the best in the city