It’s the juxtaposition that makes a good burger: the juicy patty sandwiched between a toasted bun, the gooey American cheese paired with the tangy crunch of a pickle.
If your mouth is watering just thinking about it and you happen to be in Darwin, you’re in luck. For starters, you’re in Darwin, lucky you! For seconds, you’ve stumbled upon the very best guide to the very best burgers in the city. We’ve selflessly tried, tested and rounded them up for you – all in the name of service journalism.
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You know you’re in for a hit of spice when your burger is served with a watermelon chaser. Game on. The spicy marinated chicken in Laneway Café’s signature burger packs a punch with some help from the siracha mayo. Add golden halloumi and purple slaw on a toasted milk bun, and you’ve got one hot combination. Embrace the heat at Laneway Café in Parap, which also does a mean juice of the day that pairs excellently with a burger. How fitting.
What to order: Grilled chicken burger
It was either Theodore Roosevelt or an inspirational quote on Facebook that said: “It is always better to be an original than an imitation”. In either case, the saying is true for the OG burger at Patty Shack Burger Bar in Nightcliff. The 100 per cent Aussie beef smashed patty is topped with all the classics: cheese, onions, pickles, lettuce, tomato and the secret Shack sauce. It’s simple, but it works. The chefs at Patty Shack know what they’re doing; you don’t mess with a good thing. But you can make a mess with it. Fair warning: you’ll need napkins for this one.
What to order: the OG
On the burger spectrum – from servo takeaway to five-star restaurant – this burger by the chefs at De La Plage café lands at the top end of town. With Eva Valley beef, camembert cheese, pear, walnut, caramelised onion and vegan mayo on a coconut charcoal milk bun, the flavours harmonise like a critically acclaimed symphony. The beef burger is served with a side of chips and an ocean view overlooking Casuarina Beach. Bliss!
What to order: Beef burger
When in the Top End, having a good barra burger is a rite of passage. Tick it off your bucket list at the Frying Nemo Fish and Chippery, overlooking the marina at Tipperary Waters. This casual al fresco eatery is famous for its fish and chips, and the barra burger is just as renowned. Made with local NT wild-caught barramundi, the fish is beer-battered and best paired with the homemade tartare sauce. Add a schooner of Great Northern to your order and you’ll be an honorary local.
What to order: Barra burger
Ah, the age-old debate: does a slider count as a burger? For the sake of this article’s title, let’s argue that they do indeed. The wagyu cheese sliders on the menu at Charlie’s of Darwin are a stand-out, which is impressive when you consider the menu also includes NT crocodile dumplings and kangaroo tataki (thinly sliced and seared meat). Some people may hesitate to order a burger at a fine dining establishment such as Charlie’s – don’t be one of those people. Order the burger, lick your fingers and drown your chips in sauce.
What to order: Wagyu cheese sliders
The NT is buffalo country. You can spot wild ones roaming free in the bush, a pair hanging out in the lake at the Corroboree Park Tavern, and a taxidermied beast standing proudly on the bar of the Adelaide River Hotel. All that to say, you could be forgiven for thinking a buffalo burger in the NT included buffalo meat. This is not the case at Besser Brew Bar, where the crispy fried buttermilk chicken is seasoned with buffalo sauce. Hence, the name. The cayenne pepper kick is tempered with sour cream, pickles and cos lettuce. A feast fit for a buffalo! There’s a reason Besser won Best Burger gold at the NT Hospitality Awards in 2024.
What to order: Buffalo chicken burger
In the backstreets of Rapid Creek is a local favourite, Café Central, with a relaxed energy and ripper menu. The star of the show? The pulled pork burger features slow-cooked meat, crispy bacon, avocado, slaw and, most importantly, chipotle mayo. Trust us, you’ll want to order extra chipotle mayo to go with your side of chips. Come for the burger, and stay for the great service and dog patting opportunities at this charming café.
What to order: Pulled pork burger
It can be risky ordering a vego burger, but you needn’t fear with the halloumi burger at Bustard Town in Darwin CBD. The halloumi is layered with pickled chilli and relish, dressed with greens, and sandwiched between toasted brioche. It’s proof that a good burger doesn’t require meat. The team at Bustard Town have a way with flavour. The venue is a brunch café by day and a tropical garden bar by night, so you can enjoy a burger in the heat of the day and return for an after-hours beverage later on. Cheers to that.
What to order: Halloumi burger
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