Best meal of our trip, hands down. The coral trout was perfection, the black Angus scotch fillet melted in our mouths, and the smoked tallow fermented potatoes tasted like pickled sorcery. Every bite was thoughtful, bold, and insanely delicious. Still thinking about it — and plotting a return. Absolute must if you’re in Cairns!

We went for the first time and loved the place. The food was sensational and the waitress's service was excellent; she was always attentive and made sure we were comfortable. Just one thing to keep in mind: when frying the potatoes, let them drain a little before serving, as there was a lot of oil at the bottom of the plate and they tasted quite greasy. But they were delicious. We will definitely return.

Some of the best food and atmosphere in Cairns! An intimate dining experience that’s perfect for date night. We had a few small entrées (priced per portion) and a shared main with sides — everything was delicious. The service was friendly and the atmosphere very relaxing. Definitely recommend and will be going back.

Baptiste and the rest of the crew are to be commended for flawless service, while Chef Dylan’s food is outstanding- we love Rufus, it feels like an old-school Melbourne dining experience, with ambience and relaxed vibes that encourage long lazy lunches, grazing and far too many bottles of wine. Keep up the fabulousness. See you again soon.

Rufus is truly outstanding, and a league above the rest! Stumbled across this while out for the day walking around downtown Cairns, and came for dinner a couple of nights later. Had only been open a few weeks! Batiste, the Restaurant manager & Sommelier is kind, inviting, knowledgeable, and passionate. The staff and service is finely tuned and attentive. Dylan and the crew of chefs are incredible at what they do, the food is phenomenal! Every dish we had was thoughtful, well executed, pretty, and booming with flavour. Exceptional wine list, spanning some of Australia and Europe’s great makers. My partner and I are hospitality professionals from Melbourne, and for my taste and style, this is the best restaurant in Cairns, hands down!