LOCAL foodie favourite Guyala Cafe has recently begun taking further advantage of its breezy Esplanade location, venturing beyond breakfast with a “fun tropical bistro-style” dinner menu available Wednesday-Sunday.
Known for its adventurous flavour combinations and twists on classic dishes, Guyala Cafe has quickly established itself as a trailblazer in the local brunch scene.
The venue opened in 2020 as the flagship cafe for local roasters and sister business, Tattooed Sailor Coffee Roasters.
The team has now expanded its offerings to include dinner service five days a week, along with their daily breakfast and lunch hours.
Previously reserving evening affairs for events – including its monthly Wine and Cheese Night and private functions – cafe owner Oliver James decided to launch dinners following the recent appointment of chef Luukas Trautner.
“I contemplated joining the Cairns dinner scene for many years,” James said.
“Our community will know this development has been a long time coming! Everything fell into place once Luukas came on board.
We trialled the menu over a couple of months – admittedly, this mostly involved Luukas cooking while I played ‘taste tester’, which I, unsurprisingly, enjoyed!
Guyala Cafe owner Oliver James
“I anticipate the reef fish wings with chilli jam and ginger caramel and the garlic prawns with smoked fennel will become crowd favourites.”
In keeping with their breakfast and lunch menus, Guyala’s dinner menu showcases indigenous elements and ingredients from local suppliers, including palm hearts, sous vide kangaroo loin and lemon myrtle.
A respective vegan menu is also available for guests following a plant-based diet.
Chef Luukas Trautner said he enjoyed modernising the classic bistro-style menu with all the tropical flavours of fresh, local and Indigenous ingredients that patrons have come to expect from Guyala Café.
“We focused on offering seafood to complement the backdrop of Cairns Esplanade,” he said.
“The menu works best when sharing with friends, with plenty of options for most dietary requirements – in fact, over 80% of the menu happens to be gluten-free!
“I’m excited to see the evening service grow and evolve as we settle into this new groove and gather feedback from our guests.”
Complementing the modern tropical plates, the team has curated a new Wine List exclusively for dinner guests.
As demonstrated at their Wine and Cheese Nights, Guyala opts for unique wines from small, passionate producers with aligned business values including sustainability and flavour balance.
Also available is a selection of ‘G-rated’ beverages for guests abstaining from alcohol.
Guyala Cafe recommends reserving your table via their online booking system to avoid disappointment – however, walk-ins are welcome.
Guests are advised that the venue offers an early dinner service for the amenity of their neighbours, with the last guests seated by 7:30 pm.
Keep up with the latest news in Cairns and the Far North, and check out some of our top stories this week: Fire investigation in Parramatta Park and More threats to Australian bees.
