I actually really like the festoon lights! Fairy lights remind me too much of Christmas to have as an all year round feature.

Pendant light choice would usually be for a specific purpose so if you will move things around I would have a rethink. It may be possible to have a pendant with a long lead & hooks for the cord that would allow you to move it within a reasonable distance of the connection point. Maybe some general lighting might work better e.g. or two or three directional spotlights along edges or the ridge line & on dimmers if possible. Subtle strip lighting at the top of the grey wall & the addition of a feature decorative wall hanging & potted plants would look nice too.

I share you concerns with the look of the light. I lived in Cairns for a while and many restaurants etc had high ceilings with lights and fans with a more traditional look. Maybe you could do some internet stalking of hotel websites etc. I'd start with Palm Cove. Good luck.

It might be worth while to consider the rest of the space also. Your breakfast bar/kitchen is located quiet closely to your dining table so depending on your kitchen space (apologies, I can't see too much of your kitchen from the photo) you might want to think about the overall style you want to achieve for you entire open plan space, and select pendants that would work for both your kitchen and dining. This is a project I worked on recently that shows how two different types of pendants can work harmoniously in the one space that is most similar to your kitchen and dining set up. Keep us posted on what you decide!