The best steaks in Darwin

If the mark of a good pub is the coldness of its beers and the freshness of its steaks, then The Cav, as locals call it, is up there with the best. The Cavenagh Hotel – fittingly located on Cavenagh Street in the city – has been serving up beers and beef since it was first licensed in 1932. Today, the bistro menu has a steak section that includes all the usual suspects – eye fillet, scotch fillet, sirloin and more – as well as rib on the bone that's grain-fed for 100+ days in Gympie, Queensland. Regardless of your cut, all the steaks at The Cav are hand-cut daily. They're all served with chips and salad and have the option to add a whole host of condiments and sides. Yep, this is next-level pub grub! 

Address: 12 Cavenagh St, Darwin City 

Price: Mid-range

On any given night, you’ll find Darwin’s most serious steak lovers at Tim’s Surf and Turf. Opened since 1994, it's got a paved courtyard, fairy lights strung between palm trees, a water fountain and an entry sign that features a buffalo, a croc, barramundi and frangipanis – it doesn’t get more tropical than this! Our hot tip? Start with the crocodile spring rolls before you move on to your choice of a Wagyu rump, porterhouse, t-bone, scotch fillet or eye fillet. And finish the night in true Territory style with a selfie next to Tim’s baby saltwater croc named Schnitzel von Crumb. 

Address: 10 Litchfield St, Darwin City

Price: Mid-range

ICYMI, Bill’s Bar and Grill has taken over the much-loved Dolly’s Bar at Hibiscus Tavern, giving the Leanyer favourite a $2 million glow-up while keeping the spirit alive. Rebranded as a tribute to the family’s dad, Bill, the venue boasts a fresh new look, a great menu, and yes, the stage is set for karaoke nights on Fridays! Steak lovers can dig into hearty mains like the 350-gram rump steak, cooked to your liking, or treat themselves to the 300-gram scotch fillet, a tender cut that never disappoints. With its welcoming vibe, upgraded space, and menu packed with pub classics, Bill’s is a top spot for locals who want good food, good company – and a singalong.

Address: 8 Leanyer Dr, Leanyer

Price: Mid-range

If you like your steak with a side of rodeo, the legendary Noonamah Tavern serves up both. The outback pub, affectionately known as 'The Noonie', is a fixture of the rodeo circuit, much-loved by cowboys across the country. Next door to the rodeo arena is the pub’s beer garden, where you can enjoy a grass-fed Eva Valley scotch fillet. This is true paddock-to-plate dining. Old Cameron Downs – the station Eva Valley Meats calls home – is just down the road from Noonamah (a quick 45-minute drive). Their herd of 300 cattle is raised ethically and stress-free, without helicopters for mustering, and butchered on-site – before being grilled to perfection at The Noonie. It’s a must-visit for beef lovers and farm aficionados. Look out for their Steak, Beer and Trivia Night. 

Address: 1801 Stuart Hwy, Noonamah 

Price: Mid-range

Down at the picturesque waterfront, the Beef and Bar restaurant is Darwin’s newest steakhouse, led by NT hospitality stalwart Jaswinder ‘Jazz’ Walia. The menu that includes small plates and mains has a steak section that almost reads like a romance novel: tender, smooth, firm and juicy. Options range from a richly marbled rib eye (500g) to a tender eye fillet (250g) and everything in between. Each steak has been carefully sourced and selected and is served with café de Paris butter and your choice of sauce. Grab a cheeky cocktail and get those steak knives ready! 

Address: 19 Kitchener Dr, Darwin City

Price: Mid-range

Dining doesn’t get more high-class in Darwin than Pee Wee's at the Point. The luxury venue overlooking the harbour at East Point is dripping in gold – as in, Gold Plate Awards, the highest honour in Territory hospitality. While they've got an informal lounge area, everything about Pee Wees is premium, including the steak: a 200-gram Pinnacle grass-fed eye fillet, served with a mushroom and parmesan crust, potato dauphinoise, salted caramel onions, charred leek soubise and red wine jus. Yep, this is a 'special occasion' steak – but who's to say that a Wednesday night can’t be a special occasion?

Address: Alec Fong Lim Dr, East Point 

Price: High-end

When you hear 'tapas restaurant', you might not immediately think of 'steak', but Moorish Café isn’t your average tapas restaurant. It’s a Spanish-inspired eatery with a heavy Territory influence. Case in point: the beef medallions are eye fillets from Gunbalunya in Arnhem Land, served with dukkah, sweet potato mash, bone marrow and red wine jus. A taste of Spain and the Top End in a single mouthful – 'salud' to that!

Address: 37 Knuckey St, Darwin City 

Price: Mid-range

Located right on Darwin’s waterfront lagoon is Wharf One Food and Wine. With a focus on wood-grilled dining and bold flavours, the menu highlights local produce with a modern twist. Steak lovers are especially spoilt – the 300-gram scotch fillet is served with parsnip purée, charred broccoli and blistered cherry tomato, while the 350-gram sirloin comes with baby spinach, caramelised onion and balsamic roasted beetroot. With chic industrial décor, a relaxed vibe and spectacular water views, Wharf One is as perfect for a date night as it is for long lunches and family gatherings.

Address: 19 Kitchener Dr, Darwin City

Price: Mid-range

Standing at Lizards Bar on a Wednesday night, I witnessed an exchange between two high-vis-wearing mates. When one picked up a laminated menu and started perusing the options, the other promptly set him straight. “Don’t bother looking at that,” he explained. “It’s steak night!” And with that, the mates joined the six-deep queue at the restaurant. It was a good call. Hump Day, Rump Day at Lizards is an age-old tradition in Darwin, celebrated by tradies, foodies and bargain-hunters alike. For $19, punters can enjoy a 300-gram Great Southern grass-fed rump cap with salad and fries. It’s a meal – and a deal – worth queuing for – just ask anyone wearing high vis on Mitchell Street. 

Address: 105 Mitchell St, Darwin City 

Price: Budget

If you’ve made it this far through the list, you might have noticed a pattern. Many of Darwin’s best steaks come from pub bistros. It makes sense; the Northern Territory capital is known for its classic pubs and classic pubs are known for their steak. A prime example of this fact is Hotel Darwin on Mitchell Street that's been around since 1940. Its steakhouse serves up the finest cuts from Malone’s Butchery ranging from an eye fillet to a South American Picanha skewer. The 600g rib eye is dry-aged for 20 days and grass-fed. Equally dreamy is the Thursday night steak special, a 300-gram sirloin with chips, salad and choice of sauce. Dig in!

Address: 39 Mitchell St, Darwin

Price: Mid-range