Salsa Bar and Grill — Restaurant in Port Douglas

10 November 2025

Salsa Bar & Grill [26 Wharf St, Port Douglas QLD 4877]

Salsa is currently boasting 30 years – it deserves to. My wife and I were residents of the Douglas Shire from 1997 until 2018 and frequented this establishment along with most of the many others in the Shire [mostly in Port Douglas]. We now live the other side of the Dividing Range just over one hour away in Mareeba Shire. Douglas Shire is still a favourite stomping ground for entertainment and our friends.

Recently my wife and I have visited Salsa twice for lunch, once this Saturday past and once five weeks prior. Both times we were in a party of about 25 comprising locals and interstate visitors for two separate birthday celebrations. All were well-seasoned diners! Groups can be difficult for eating houses but Salsa showed their 30 years’ experience handling the birthday group and other diners alike very well and seamlessly with meals from it’s a la carte menu. It is difficult to find fault as one would expect with the reputation Salsa has and quietly boasts.

Having said that my first of two recent visits left me disappointed – I am a celiac meaning my gluten free diet is for health and not fashion. The waiter of the day was far from helpful giving me virtually no choice in meals. I held back from commenting as I did not want to embarrass my host and knowing I was coming back in a few weeks! My second visit here matched my earlier prior personal experiences and understanding of Salsa’s quest to satisfy their guests’ culinary needs. I could have almost anything on the menu instead of the previous choice of one – and ate in complete confidence that my food was indeed gluten free (ingredients and without cross-contamination worries). The waiter this time went to great lengths in helping me choose offering options including choices not on the menu. On this occasion I did take aside the waiter of the day, who turned out to be the manager, to proffer my thanks and praise. My wife and I will return and continue to recommend Salsa as one of the few most excellent restaurants in town.

For those who do not know Salsa is housed in a very well maintained and appointed Queenslander style building in a great location with privileged views over Dickson Inlet at the edge of the high street – it’s perfect for both the tropical summer and winter. Staff appear to be trained to a very good standard, even with the glitch I experienced, and generally carry a positive happy demeanour.

My wife and I are really pleased that our little disappointment for me and my gluten free limited choice was just a glitch – we think everyone is entitled to a glitch now and then! Thank you, Salsa team, see you again before too long - we still give you 5 stars.

John White, Mareeba,...

Salsa Bar and Grill, Port Douglas. Right, so, we got told this place was good. Turns out, "good" is like calling the Mona Lisa "a nice painting." This place is a masterpiece.

Cocktails? Forget about it. Each one was a liquid work of art, like a tiny party in a glass. I'm pretty sure they have a cocktail wizard in the back, conjuring up magic with every shake.

And the food? Culinary masterpieces, I tell ya. Each dish was like a symphony of flavours, a culinary opera that left me speechless. I'm pretty sure I saw angels descending from heaven when I took a bite of the snapper. The staff? Absolute legends. They were like a well-oiled machine, anticipating our every need before we even knew we had one.

But here's the kicker: the Bloody Mary. Went back the next morning, a bit worse for wear, and ordered one. Folks, I'm not exaggerating when I say this: it was the best Bloody Mary I've ever had. On this planet. Seriously, if you go to Port Douglas and don't try their Bloody Mary, you're doing yourself a disservice. It's like going to Rome and not seeing the Colosseum.

Honestly, this place is a 5 out of 5, with a bonus star for the Bloody Mary alone. If you're looking for a dining experience that'll blow your mind, Salsa Bar and Grill...

Customer service is non existent. Used to be the Best place for me. Not any more the staff that work there are atrocious patronising and rude. The female waitress that was supposed to be giving customer service was asked about a meal and I was abruptly told everything is good here just eat it.This was after she made comments about our day ,she thought we were just drinking all day. We had been on a trip all day and were looking forward to coming out to my once favourite resturant. My meal was taken away while I was in the lavoratory without me being asked if I was finished. Weve eaten all through Europe Australia and UK and Japan and this is the worst service I have seen. Actually there wasn't any. My partner was so stressed he could not stomach eating. The 1 oyster I did get to eat was tasty I'm not sure about the others as they were whisked away. The main I asked for it to be taken away in a container. Thanks for not supplying a fork. We paid and left very disappointed. Paid $114.00 for bad service 1 oyster and a meal I had to reheat. If we had stayed the meal would have been 300. To 350.00 for the night. Like the night before at Malaluca next door. A much better experience for us. We won't be back.!!! Or...