Since 1994, Sidewalk Café restaurant has been crafting culinary experiences that capture the essence of coastal dining in Airlie Beach.
As we guide you through our menu’s highlights, you’ll
discover how our commitment to quality ingredients, innovative cooking techniques, and warm hospitality has made us a cornerstone of the Airlie Beach café scene.
The Breakfast Experience at Sidewalk Café Airlie Beach
The morning light streaming through our windows at 2 Airlie Esplanade sets the perfect stage for
our signature breakfast offerings.
At the heart of our morning menu lies the celebrated Big Brekky, a dish that exemplifies the generous spirit of our Airlie Beach café.
This carefully orchestrated plate features eggs any style, accompanied by lightly smoked bacon, roasted
tomato, garlic and rosemary roasted field mushrooms, Cumberland pork sausage, hash browns, and fresh spinach, all served on toasted sourdough.
Understanding our community’s diverse dietary preferences, we’ve crafted the Farmers Harvest
as a plant-based masterpiece.
This thoughtfully composed dish features a grilled cauliflower steak, Spanish beans, garlic and rosemary roasted field mushrooms, roasted tomato, sliced avocado, and our house-made dill and kale sauerkraut, creating a satisfying plant-based dining
experience.
Innovative Dining at Café Airlie Beach
At Sidewalk Café restaurant, we believe in pushing culinary boundaries while honouring classic
techniques.
Our Miso Glazed Chicken Waffles exemplify this philosophy, featuring a caramelised Belgian waffle topped with chilli scrambled eggs and miso-glazed popcorn chicken bites, finished with fresh coriander.
This fusion of flavours has become one of our most distinctive breakfast offerings.
As known interchangeably as Sidewalk Café and Sideway Café by our regular patrons, we take pride in our ability to transition seamlessly from breakfast to dinner service.
Our tapas menu introduces shared dining experiences that encourage conversation and connection.
The KFC (Korean Fried Chicken or Cauliflower) demonstrates our commitment to inclusive dining,
offering both fried chicken or fried cauliflower florets with Korean spices, served with our housemade kimchi and kewpie mayonnaise.
Seasonal Menu Evolution at Airlie Beach Café
Our spring menu captures the vibrant energy of the season, featuring lighter dishes that
celebrate fresh, seasonal produce.
The menu transitions seamlessly from sunrise to sunset, adapting to the changing rhythms of coastal life.
Our chefs work closely with local suppliers to
incorporate seasonal ingredients that reflect the region’s abundant offerings.
This commitment to seasonality ensures that each visit to Café Airlie offers something new to discover while
maintaining our signature dishes that regulars have come to love.
In the warmer months, our menu emphasises fresh, bright flavours with dishes like our Halloumi
& Pesto Bruschetta, featuring toasted sourdough, house basil pesto, grilled cherry tomatoes, Kenilworth Dairy grilled halloumi, poached egg, rocket, and fig balsamic.
As the seasons shift, our specials board showcases the best local produce available, allowing our chefs to experiment with new flavour combinations while maintaining our commitment to quality and innovation.
The Philosophy Behind Our Seasonal Changes
Every season tells its own unique story through food. In the tropical paradise of Airlie Beach, our seasonal shifts bring subtle yet significant changes that influence not just our ingredients, but the entire dining experience.
The warmth of summer calls for refreshing, light dishes that complement the coastal lifestyle, while the cooler months inspire heartier creations that provide comfort and warmth.
These seasonal transitions reflect our deep connection to Queensland’s natural rhythm.
By aligning our menu with nature’s calendar, we ensure each ingredient shines at its peak, creating dishes that truly capture the essence of time and place.
This approach not only guarantees the best possible flavour but also supports sustainable dining practices and our local agricultural
community.
The Transformative Power of a Culinary Journey
Food has an extraordinary ability to transform moments into memories. At Café Airlie, we believe that dining is more than just sustenance ‒ it’s an exploration of flavours, cultures, and connections.
Whether it’s a first date sharing our Thai Mussels, a family celebration over the Big Brekky, or friends gathering for tapas at sunset, these shared experiences create lasting impressions that shape our relationship with food and each other.
Through our seasonal menus and carefully crafted dishes, we aim to create these transformative
moments daily.
Each plate that leaves our kitchen carries the potential to spark joy, inspire conversation, or create a new food memory.
It’s these experiences that make a culinary journey
truly meaningful, expanding our palates while deepening our appreciation for the art of dining.
Dietary Considerations and Inclusive Dining
At Sidewalk Café restaurant, we understand that modern dining requires flexibility and
inclusivity.
Our menu features clear labelling for dietary requirements, with extensive options for
gluten-free (GF), dairy-free (DF), vegetarian (V), and vegan (VG) diners.
Many of our dishes can be modified to accommodate different dietary needs, marked with ‘O’ for optional modifications (GFO, DFO, VGO).
Our commitment to inclusive dining extends throughout our menu. The Oh My Goodness Salad exemplifies this approach, featuring grilled cauliflower, cultured guacamole, house ferments, spiced quinoa, cherry tomatoes, and labneh.
This thoughtfully crafted dish celebrates plantbased ingredients while offering the option to add protein sources like popcorn chicken, grilled chicken, or smoked salmon to suit different dietary preferences.
The Art of House-Made Condiments
What sets Café Airlie apart is our dedication to crafting our own condiments and special
preparations.
Our house-made condiment selection includes unique creations that elevate every dish they accompany.
The beetroot ketchup adds a sophisticated twist to our premium wagyu burgers, while our house-made bacon jam brings a sweet-savoury complexity to several
menu items.
Our hollandaise sauce, prepared fresh daily, features in both traditional breakfast dishes and makes a surprising appearance in our signature cocktail, “Breakfast at Alexandra’s.”
The housemade kimchi and dill and kale sauerkraut not only add probiotic benefits but bring depth and
complexity to dishes across our menu.
The basil pesto, another house specialty, features prominently in dishes like our Bruschetta, where it’s paired with tomatoes, pickled Spanish onion, whipped feta, basil, and fig balsamic on
sourdough.
These house-made elements allow us to control quality while creating unique flavour profiles that set our dishes apart.
A Partnership with Local Producers at Airlie Beach Café
The success of our menu at Café Airlie relies heavily on our relationships with local suppliers.
Our Three Cheese platter showcases this perfectly, featuring baked camembert, Kenilworth Dairy vintage cheddar, and whipped fetta, served with house bacon jam and sourdough.
The Thai Mussels highlight premium Kinkawooka mussels served in a fragrant Thai coconut broth
with sourdough pieces, reflecting our dedication to sourcing the finest seafood available.
Our signature Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger combines a premium 150g wagyu beef patty with house bacon jam, whipped fetta, and lightly smoked bacon rasher, topped with tomato and rocket, all served on a lightly toasted brioche bun.
This careful attention to quality ingredients
and thoughtful combinations creates a burger experience that elevates casual dining.
Family Dining at Sidewalk Café Restaurant
Our Little Explorers menu demonstrates that children’s dining can be both fun and nutritious.
We’ve created engaging dishes like the Hashy Smashy, featuring three hash browns served with tomato ketchup, and our Junior Wagyu Beef Burger, which comes with a wagyu beef patty, American cheddar, and tomato ketchup on a toasted brioche bun, served with chips.
Sweet Conclusions at Café Airlie
The dessert menu at our Airlie Beach café showcases our creative approach to classic favourites.
Our French Bread Pudding features house-made French bread pudding served with seasonal berries, berry compote, miso maple sauce, and coconut yoghurt, creating a perfect balance of traditional comfort and modern innovation.
Beverage Excellence at Sidewalk Café
Our beverage program features premium Grinders Coffee and a selection of 100% organic Mayde Tea varieties, including English breakfast, earl grey, chai, serenity, green sencha, jasmine & rose, and digest.
The cocktail menu features creative concoctions like our signature “Breakfast at Alexandra’s,” which uniquely combines Fireball cinnamon whiskey, Black Cockatoo spiced rum, crème de cacao, house hollandaise, pickle juice, and salt.
Looking Forward
Whether you’re joining us for a leisurely breakfast, a casual lunch, or a relaxing dinner, every dish that leaves our kitchen tells a story of passion and precision.
We invite you to experience the best of coastal dining at Café Airlie, where every meal is an opportunity to create lasting memories in our stunning waterfront location at 2 Airlie Esplanade.
A Culinary Journey: Exploring the Best of Sidewalk Café’s Menu
A Legacy of Coastal Dining Since 1994, Sidewalk Café restaurant has been a cornerstone of culinary excellence in Airlie Beach.
Located at 2 Airlie Esplanade, our café offers not only exceptional food but also stunning views that enhance every dining experience.
Known interchangeably as Sidewalk Café and Sideway Café by locals, we’ve become a place where traditional flavours meet innovative cooking, all while maintaining a warm, family-owned atmosphere.
Breakfast Brilliance
Our menu is thoughtfully curated to transition seamlessly from sunrise to sunset.
At Café Airlie, the day begins with our signature breakfast offerings, where the Big Brekky stands as a
testament to generous Australian hospitality.
This hearty platter features perfectly cooked eggs
any style, lightly smoked bacon, roasted tomato, garlic and rosemary roasted field mushrooms,
Cumberland pork sausage, hash browns, and fresh spinach, all served on toasted sourdough.
For those seeking a plant-based alternative, our Farmers Harvest offers a satisfying experience
with a grilled cauliflower steak, Spanish beans, and our house-made dill and kale sauerkraut.
Innovative Dining
At Sidewalk Café restaurant, we push culinary boundaries while honouring classic techniques.
Our Miso Glazed Chicken Waffles exemplify this philosophy, featuring caramelised Belgian
waffles topped with chilli scrambled eggs and miso-glazed popcorn chicken bites, finished with
fresh coriander.
This fusion of flavours is one of our most distinctive breakfast offerings.
Shared Dining & Local Partnerships
As the day progresses, our tapas menu invites shared dining experiences.
The KFC (Korean Fried Chicken or Cauliflower) demonstrates our commitment to inclusive dining, offering both fried chicken or fried cauliflower florets with Korean spices, served with our house-made kimchi and kewpie mayonnaise.
The Thai Mussels feature Kinkawooka mussels in a fragrant coconut broth, showcasing our dedication to sourcing premium seafood.
Crafted With Care
Our relationships with local suppliers form the backbone of our menu. Kenilworth Dairy’s exceptional cheeses feature prominently in several dishes, from our Three Cheese platter to the acclaimed Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger.
The latter combines a premium wagyu beef patty with
house-made bacon jam and whipped feta, creating a burger experience that elevates casual
dining.
Customisation & Dietary Considerations
Modern diners seek flexibility and customisation in their meals. Our “Make Your Own Wrap” option and extensive range of house-made condiments ‒ including beetroot ketchup, bacon jam, and basil pesto ‒ allow guests to personalise their dining experience.
This attention to detail extends to our dietary considerations, with clear labelling and numerous gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options throughout the menu.
Beverage Excellence
Our beverage program is equally considered. We offer premium Grinders Coffee and a selection
of 100% organic Mayde Tea.
The cocktail menu features creative concoctions like our signature “Breakfast at Alexandra’s,” which combines Fireball cinnamon whisky and Black Cockatoo
spiced rum.
Family-Friendly Dining
Families are especially welcome at Sidewalk Café, with our Little Explorers menu offering more than just scaled-down versions of adult meals.
From the playfully named Hashy Smashy to our
Junior Wagyu Beef Burger, each dish is crafted to appeal to young palates while maintaining our
commitment to quality ingredients.
Sweet Endings
Our dessert menu provides a sweet conclusion to any meal. The house-made French Bread Pudding, served with seasonal berries, berry compote, and miso maple sauce, exemplifies our ability to reimagine classics with contemporary twists.
The addition of coconut yoghurt makes this indulgent dessert accessible to dairy-free diners without compromising on taste or texture.
Our Ongoing Story
As we continue to evolve with seasonal menu changes, our core values remain steadfast.
Every dish that leaves our kitchen reflects our commitment to quality, creativity, and community.
Whether you’re starting your day with our house-made banana bread, meeting friends for our Oh My Goodness Salad at lunch, or ending your evening with Thai Mussels and a glass of Motley Cru Prosecco, Café Airlie offers more than just a meal ‒ it provides a genuine taste of Airlie Beach’s culinary culture.
We invite you to join us at our sunlit space overlooking the foreshore, where every visit promises not just exceptional food and drinks, but a chance to be part of our continuing story.
From our family to yours, we look forward to sharing our passion for great food and warm hospitality, just as we have been doing for nearly three decades
