8 Feb 2023
While Darwin might be known for crocodiles and waterholes, the Top End has also developed one of Australia’s most interesting food and drink scenes.
From laneway joints to waterfront eateries, Darwin has plenty of fantastic bars and restaurants. No matter how long you stay in Darwin, here are the best bars and restaurants worth checking out.
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Table of Contents
Six Tanks Shenannigans Monsoons Restaurant & Party Bar The Precinct Tavern Stone House Wine Bar & Kitchen Hanuman Snapper Rocks Hot Tamale Charlie’s of Darwin Smith Street Social Willing Distillery
Darwin’s Best Bars and Restaurants
Six Tanks
4/69 Mitchell St.
Named after the six tanks onsite, Six Tanks is a brew pub, micro-brewery, bar and kitchen serving up hand-crafted beers from tank to tap.
Selling their own brews and pouring craft beer from breweries around the country, Six Tanks is also home to some of the best chefs in Darwin, with each dish complementing the real star of the show - the beer!
Shenannigans
1/69 Mitchell St.
Located two doors down from Six Tanks is Shenannigans, one of the best bars and restaurants in Darwin.
Known by the locals as ‘Shags’, this piece of Ireland in the Northern Territory has been operating for over 21 years. As a family-friendly bar and restaurant, it’s the perfect place to get a drink and a meal after a day of exploring the Top End.
Monsoons Restaurant & Party Bar
46 Mitchell St.
If you’re looking for one of the best bars and restaurants in Darwin, welcome to Monsoons Restaurant & Party Bar.
Housed in Darwin’s original cinema building, Monsoon's is the ultimate mix of party atmosphere and traditional pub vibes. With great beer, fresh food, and an outdoor beer garden, Monsoon's stays true to the Northern Territory lifestyle.
The Precinct Tavern
7 Kitchener Dr.
Home to an award-winning beer garden, The Precinct Tavern is one of the best bars and restaurants in Darwin.
Open for ten years, The Precinct has quickly become a local favourite for its waterfront views. Add delicious kid-friendly food options that make The Precinct a great family spot to have dinner in Darwin.
Stone House Wine Bar & Kitchen
33 Cavenagh St.
No matter how long you plan on staying in the city, one of the best things to do in Darwin is visit Stone House Wine Bar & Kitchen.
Not only does it boast a wine list 300 deep, it’s also full of history, having survived an unexploded bomb during WWII!
Hanuman
93 Mitchell St.
One of the best things to do in Darwin is to visit a local favourite, Hanuman.
This award-winning South East Asia-inspired restaurant has delicious Asian meals that are bound to tickle your tastebuds. Open for lunch and dinner; Hanuman is a must while in the Top End.
Snapper Rocks
B2/7 Kitchener Dr.
One of the best things to do in Darwin is eat seafood on the water!
As the name suggests, the main attraction at Snapper Rocks is the fish. And, being in the Northern Territory, there are plenty of other options to choose from on the menu.
From whole local snapper to the salt and pepper crocodile bites, there is something for everyone at Snapper Rocks.
Hot Tamale
F2/19 Kitchener Dr.
If you love Mexican food and spectacular oceanfront views, you have to dine at Hot Tamale, one of the best restaurants in Darwin.
Situated on the waterfront, Hot Tamale boasts delicious tacos, tasty guac and spicy margaritas. Full of flavour in every bite, Hot Tamale is one of those restaurants you can’t miss in Darwin.
If you’re up for it, Hot Tamale also has a 300-strong agave-based spirit list that’s the longest in the Southern Hemisphere.
Charlie’s of Darwin
Austin Lane
Hidden down Austin Laneway, behind a roller door and up an elevator, Charlie’s of Darwin is a multi-storey bar definitely worth seeking out.
Made up of a vintage-inspired cocktail lounge, an outdoor lantern terrace and an on-site gin distillery, visiting Charlie’s is an experience to remember.
Smith Street Social
22 Smith St.
Darwin has epic sunsets - one of the benefits of being a city on the water. So, where’s the best place to watch the sunset? On the rooftop of Smith Street Social!
With live entertainment, classic pub food and a lengthy cocktail menu, Smith Street Social is a great place to spend any evening in the Top End.
Willing Distillery
31 Benison Rd.
If you’re a lover of spirits, you can’t visit Darwin without making it to the Willing Distillery.
This industrial-style space is responsible for crafting uniquely Australian spirits flavoured with local native ingredients.
Whether you want to try their range of gins or vodkas or really push your tastebuds with foods like munted emu, Wiling Distillery definitely needs to be on your list of places to visit in Darwin.
