Restaurant mogul adds speak-easy Sneaky Mick’s and modern European delights at IGNIS to Palm Cove strip

The Far North restaurateur behind popular ‘Miguel’s’ has brought two new offerings to the picturesque Palm Cove strip, adding a speak-easy bar and modern European restaurant, to his must visit tapas bar.

A new restaurant and adjoining bar have opened in the Drift apartment building at Palm Cove, opposite Miguel's tapas restaurant. Ignis restaurant owner Michael Kohn with the vitello tonnato, the hand made butter sage pasta and the octopus carpaccio. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Far North restaurateur behind the popular Miguel’s tapas bar has brought two new offerings – a speak-easy bar and modern European restaurant – to the picturesque Palm Cove strip.

Miguel’s owner Michael Kohn has expanded his share of the Palm Cove glitter strip with his new bar Sneaky Mick’s and the IGNIS Palm Cove restaurant at 41-47 Williams Esplanade.

Mr Kohn said it was a no-brainer to expand in Palm Cove.

“It’s the crown jewel of Cairns,” he said.

A new restaurant and adjoining bar have opened in the Drift apartment building at Palm Cove, opposite Miguel's tapas restaurant. Head bartender at Sneaky Mick's Nicolas Smith pours a Tropical Temptation cocktail at the new speakeasy bar and lounge. Picture: Brendan Radke

“The spaces next door to Miguel’s had been empty for quite some time and now the whole section is alive and vibrant of an evening.”

He said Sneaky Mick’s cocktail and supper lounge offered cocktails like the tropical temptation — a fun play on a porn star martini — and simple late night dining, snacks and deserts, all under the expert hand of head mixologist Nicolas Smith.

“We wanted to bring something different to the esplanade,” Mr Kohn said.

“It’s quite a moody venue, with old school cocktails and that darker evening vibe that Palm Cove was missing.”

Led by the former head chef of Miguel’s, Andrea, and hostess Madeleine from the Reef House, IGNIS Palm Cove brings European style to the esplanade.

“We already have Miguel’s, which is your more rustic style tapas bar, whereas IGNIS will be a more elevated dining experience bringing our interpretation of modern European classics,” he said.

A new restaurant and adjoining bar have opened in the Drift apartment building at Palm Cove, opposite Miguel's tapas restaurant. Ignis restaurant's vitello tonnato, the hand made butter sage pasta and the octopus carpaccio. Picture: Brendan Radke

Offering a menu starting in the delicious flavours of Greece, before travelling through fresh Italian seafood and landing in classic French style, the new restaurant delivers a sophisticated and elevated dining experience in a small and intimate setting overlooking the pristine water of Palm Cove.

The new venues have been open for four weeks.

Mr Kohn said the set up took a little longer than expected, but he was excited to see the new life on the strip.

“Now we just need some more on board to get some other venues back open,” he said.

“The more diversity on the strip better the destination gets for everyone.”

Originally published as Restaurant mogul adds speak-easy Sneaky Mick’s and modern European delights at IGNIS to Palm Cove strip