One of a kind

Salt House

The minute you walk into Salt House at the Cairns Marina you can’t help but immediately notice that it is so refreshingly different from all the other restaurants and bars in Cairns.

What strikes you first is how the indoor and outdoor areas seamlessly merge together on the timber deck through the clever use of water gardens, fire features, daybeds, fountains and large, comfy chairs.

The vibe is trendy yet relaxed, glamorous yet somehow down to earth. Here, you can just chill out with friends for a drink and nibbles in a lounge-like setting or sit down and enjoy a delicious meal from the dining room that overlooks the open kitchen. The kitchen is centred around a custom-built Argentinian wood-fired grill set under an enormous antique gold oval ventilation hood.

A six-metre-high wine cellar, rough sawn timber exterior, candle-lit bar and a pizzeria at the front are all other dynamic facets of this modern and chic venue.

Another of its highlights is the sensational view of the waterfront and Marina Point. Salt House faces east-west, giving guests 180-degree views of Trinity Inlet and the breathtaking mountains beyond.

Fintan Rafferty and Lui Garozzo, both with years of experience in the food and hospitality industries, opened the venue in 2009 after years of research that included visiting similar tropical-style venues in different countries. They worked alongside designer Michael McCann, who won the 2009 IDEA Australian Designer of the Year award for Salt House.

“Planning started in 2007, when we set out to try and create a special waterfront venue designed specifically to accommodate and enjoy our tropical lifestyle,” says Fintan, who has been the owner of La Pizza Trattoria in Cairns for more than 30 years. “And thanks to strong support from the Cairns community, 14 years later we are still going strong.”

Lui has formidable knowledge of all things food after being in the industry all his life.

“The creation of Salt House was the brainchild of Fintan,” he says. “However, coming together on this project, with both our passion for food and hospitality, made this precious signature location just perfect for our vision. Starting with an absolute blank canvas gave us the unique opportunity to create a timeless and signature landmark in Cairns.”

The one thing that is vital to both men is the quality of the food.

“Sourcing local produce is the ideal way to ensure fresh, perfect produce,” Lui says. “It's a key aspect to building relationships with local suppliers, guaranteeing the best possible price and a menu that allows tourists to truly experience what Cairns is all about. It’s also a fantastic way to show off our creativity with unknown and unique ingredients.”

Whether it’s tapas, entrees, mains or desserts, Salt House’s modern Australian menu is full of options for everyone - from vegetarians to meat and seafood lovers.

It’s actually quite difficult to decide what you want when you read the menu because there are so many choices. Seafood is in abundance with calamari, prawns, oysters, barramundi, salmon, sole and reef fish among the options.

Meat eaters can’t get enough of Salt House’s Kilcoy Black Angus 350g scotch fillet, its roast pork belly, hot chicken wings and its spicy beef burgers. Vegetarians especially love the roast pineapple and coconut curry. And pizza lovers get to choose from a large range of traditional Italian fare baked in Salt House’s brick pizza oven.

“We are continually supporting and seeking out local growers and producers to star on our menu,” Fintan says. “We love highlighting the incredible produce that Cairns and the region have to offer.”