Nightlife keeping the Cairns CBD buzzing

For quite some time, empty shop fronts were something all too familiar for people living in Cairns. The pandemic forced the closure of a number of CBD business ventures that relied on the tourist dollar, leaving large pockets of empty commercial properties dotting the streets.

But Cairns’ nightlife – specifically its restaurant and bar scene – has seen something of a resurgence since Queensland reopened to national and international tourists.

At a time of uncertainty and limited opportunity, businesses have taken the time to come up with creative alternatives that appeal to people of all ages.

There has been a mixture of new restaurants that have opened in the past year all through the city, allowing more variety for locals and tourists.

From a bar where you can slide down a laundry chute to places where you can watch sports until late at night, there’s no shortage of options.

It’s new venues like these that have changed the atmosphere and vibe among people wanting to make a night of it in the CBD.

Over the past six months, Cairns’ nightlife has regained some of its prepandemic mojo.

The streets are full of people.

Lines to get into places are longer and there’s an abundance of people dancing up a storm in the clubs.

But it’s not just the new clubs and eateries that we need to support.

We also need to back the businesses that were here pre-Covid.

Both old and new combined should make the perfect mixture of what Cairns needs to get back to normal, and it’s definitely heading in the right direction.