The Epicure Collective

Breakfast

Cheap – Head to IGA or Bob’s bakery and pick up some muesli or sweet and savoury pastries.

Mid-range – Pop into the Marina Café while you’re waiting for your ferry if you’re wanting something a bit more substantial such as a BLT or quiche to go with your barista made cappuccino.

Exxy – If breakfast isn’t included in your stay, a buffet breakfast at Reef View or Sails will set you back $35 per person. This was undoubtably worth it for the range of fresh dishes on offer. Classic choices included eggs benedict, pancakes, fresh fruit, fluffy omelette and pastries. Vegetarian options were impressive and included scrambled tofu and chia pudding, as well as my favourite: a delicious breakfast potato rosti with brocollini, roasted tomatoes and eggplant.

Lunch

Cheap – Detour to Bob’s bakery (open from 7am) for a freshly made sandwich or pie. Or, grab a loaf and pair it with an assortment of cheeses and cold-cuts from IGA.

Mid-range – Popeye’s fish and chips will hook you up with hand crumbed calamari, chunky chips and fish cocktails.

Exxy – Dine at any of the resort cafes for a wide variety of meals including the classics: burgers, steak, and salads starting from around the $20 mark.

Dinner

Cheap – A pizza to share from the Pizzeria and Gelato bar on the Marina will set you back around $25 and easily feed 2 people. You can easily place an order through their app and they deliver too!

Mid-range – Tako Mexican or the Marina Tavern are my picks for quality food, a good range of choices, and well-priced meals.

Exxy – Visit Romano’s Italian for an impressive dining experience. The atmosphere, service, and food was impeccable. Delicious Italian cuisine, an extensive wine, cocktails and spirits list, and worth every penny.

Sweets

Cheap – Grab a sweet pastry from Bob’s Bakery or a chocolate from IGA or the souvenir shops for a sweet fix.

Mid-range – The pizzeria sells gelato for $4.50 a scoop, from 5.30pm.

Exxy – The ice-cream parlour serves generic Peter’s ice-cream in uninspired flavours for $7.10 for one scoop. Add $1.50 for a waffle cone and a nostalgic, single ice-cream cone will set you back $8.60. Skip this one.

Tips

• Book ahead! In peak periods, restaurants are booked out months in advance.
• Personally, I will always opt for the buffet breakfast (and take full advantage of multiple courses) as it means I save money at lunch time.
• Check the Hamilton Island app for special events, including happy hours and special deal nights.