The 15 best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast

Noosa’s gorgeous hinterland is full of hidden gems, and The Doonan is one of its best-kept secrets. Set across two hectares, this boutique pub and plant-lovers paradise has something for everyone. By day, enjoy fire-roasted bread, grilled seafood and cocktail jugs in the sun-soaked beer garden, adorned with hanging plants, vines and olive trees. Let the kids run wild in the outdoor playground and treat them with a sweet scoop from the ice creamery. This paddock-to-plate hub books out well in advance, but for a more spontaneous outing, swing by for a takeaway pizza paired with a few cold tinnies from the bespoke bottle shop. 

Say g’day to the Sunshine Coast sibling of Australia’s most remote brewery, which has been proudly family-owned and operated since 1997. Quench your thirst with one of Matso’s tropical ginger beers, including their original tinnie – the first alcoholic ginger beer in Australia – and their subtly sweet mango beer, both brewed fresh on-site. Order a seasonal tasting paddle to sample both, or kick back with a tropical cocktail and chicken schnitzel burger in the laid-back outdoor beer garden. 

If you’re down for “dope Asian street food”, Rice Boi is your guy. Hidden behind two red barn-style doors, this neon red-hued restaurant at The Wharf Mooloolaba is a go-to for flavour-packed bao buns, spring rolls, rice bowls, ramen, dumplings, wings – you name it. Pick on Rice Boi's legendary katsu curry fries in the tranquil beer garden, or venture upstairs to the secret Japanese dive bar, boasting stunning waterfront views of the Mooloolah River. 

The prawns here are shrimply the best, so much so that we’re unapologetic about the pun. Moored at The Wharf Mooloolaba, this restored fishing trawler-turned-restaurant serves up the freshest seafood caught right here in our pristine waters. Go all out with Prawn Star’s jumbo platter, featuring crayfish, bugs, oysters and, of course, prawns, or opt for takeaway on the beach. It doesn’t get more Aussie than this. 

Let the good times flow at this charming French crêperie by day and modern French bistro by night. Owner and crêpe connoisseur Flo Guillemard has 20-plus years of experience adapting French classics for the Aussie palate, both on the sweet and savoury front. In addition to all your classic fillings, you’ll find flambées (crêpes on fire), salad and seafood galettes (like pizza but with a lighter base), and a world tour series of galettes featuring toppings inspired by the flavours of the Mediterranean, Asia, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Can’t decide? Just go with the flow and treat yourself to one for dinner and another for dessert.

$39 for an eight-course yum cha banquet is almost too good to be true, but that’s exactly what’s on offer at Honeysuckle, a cosy East Asian restaurant in Buderim. This stellar lunchtime special extends to a $65 yum cha banquet at dinner, where duck spring rolls and tom yum fish dumplings are followed by beef cheek massman curry and market fish in tomato jaew (Thai dried chilli sauce). À la carte and takeaway menus are also available, with dedicated vegetarian options too. 

You have every season and every reason to visit this iconic waterfront restaurant. With the lively buzz of Hastings Street on one side and the gentle waves of Laguna Bay on the other, this all-day eatery offers a laid-back setting for long lunches that effortlessly turn into dinner and drinks. You can breathe in the salty ocean air while feasting on freshly shucked oysters, kingfish sashimi, goat cheese soufflé, or a seasonal salad of Noosa red tomatoes tossed with basil, bocconcini and aged balsamic. For mains, spin your fork into spanner crab pasta, slice into a showstopping chargrilled eye fillet, or share the signature lamb shoulder with a crisp porcini crust. 

Tucked away in lush tropical gardens on a gorgeous property in Yandina, Spirit House is proudly one of Australia’s most awarded Asian-inspired restaurants and cooking schools. You’ll be whisked away to Indonesia, India or Thailand, if only for a few hours, with their three-course menu that features both classic and contemporary Asian dishes. Whether it’s the sweet vinegar braised pork belly entrée, the roasted cured duck breast main, or the mango sticky rice ‘eton mess’ dessert, each dish packs a punch of flavours. The best seats in the house overlook the tranquil pond, where you can unwind to the soothing sounds of tinkling wind chimes.

Sitting pretty on a corner in Noosa Junction, the modern Asian eatery has become a fast favourite for its playful approach to hospitality. Think shamelessly indulgent share plates served under sexy low lighting with a disco-heavy soundtrack. You could start with bao buns, loaded with spicy Korean fried chicken, caramelised pork belly, panko crumbed fish or eggplant katsu. For something more refreshing, the delicately poached kingfish ceviche is an absolute hit, doused in smooth coconut and kefir lime sauce. If you’re struggling to decide between the crispy pork belly, miso eggplant and Wagyu beef rendang, consider surrendering control to the chefs: they’ll ply you with a series of excellently balanced dishes for a reasonable $69 per person ($89 per person if you want to upgrade to the 'primo selection'). 

After conquering the Coastal Walk from Hastings Street to Sunshine Beach, reward yourself with a refreshing Aperol Spritz or Passionfruit Nojito at the newly refurbished Sunshine Beach Surf Club. Try to grab a shaded table on the expansive balcony where you can enjoy panoramic views of the shimmering seas and perhaps even spot a pod of whales passing by. The SBSC menu features all the classics: parmys, pizzas and pot pies, along with coastal classics, including spiced snapper tacos, chilli garlic king prawns and a Darling Downs rump steak with peppercorn mushroom sauce. Top tip: save yourself the sweat and ride the free courtesy bus straight back to Noosa. 

“Fancy without the fuss” is how we’d describe this European-style bistro and wine store in Maroochydore. Open daily from 11am until late, their talented chefs serve up all the classic Euro dishes you crave, beginning with baguettes, charcuterie and raw seafood. Market Bistro’s house-made pasta is a highlight, as is the bistro's half-roasted duck and short rib beef bourguignon. Top tip: grab a bottle at retail prices from the wine store next door, then drink it in the Bistro for a small corkage fee. 

Follow the bright orange umbrellas to Bocca Italian, the latest venue for the team behind Maroochydore’s Market Bistro and Mooloolaba’s Rice Boi, among others. The puffer fish-shaped bread is worth the trip alone, delivered hot to your table from their Moretti Forni oven. Tear off a slice and load it up with whipped ricotta, buffalo mozzarella, cold cuts and marinated veggies. You’ll find pasta in all shapes and sizes, generously coated in carbonara, bolognese, ragu and marinara sauces. Save some table room for a pizza or two, including a classic potato round topped with fior di latte, caramelised onion and goat’s cheese.

It doesn’t get more intimate than Humble on Duke. There’s room for only 14 guests to dine at once in this tiny Sunshine Beach dining room. Chef Stacey Conner embraces the Middle Eastern approach to eating, drawing inspiration from her most memorable travels through the region. Humble on Duke’s ever-changing sharing menu could see you snacking on beef doughnuts with house-made mustard and crispy zucchini flowers drizzled with honey. Dunk Lebanese fried lamb dumplings into herb yoghurt, dip fresh Turkish bread into baba ganoush, and drizzle gravy over an epic peppercorn-crusted Wagyu T-bone steak. Wine pairings are available, with a strong focus on South Australian vineyards. 

Bask in the sun at one of the Sunshine Coast’s most beloved paddock-to-plate restaurants, positioned in Peregian Beach’s leafy town square. Recently relocated from Eumundi, Bask seamlessly combines old-school hospitality with a contemporary Australian menu. Long, leisurely lunches are the name of the game, with sardines on toast and carbonara croquettes to tempt you before seasonal meat and seafood mains fill the table. Linger late into the afternoon with a slice of basque cheesecake, a scoop of lemon and prosecco sorbet, or a charming cheese board for two. 

A menu that utilises locally sourced ingredients can be a beautiful thing. Combine this ethos with head chef Enrique Mancilla’s artistic flair for flavour and presentation, and you’ve got something very special indeed. How about this for a tempting start: fried three-cheese-stuffed olives, juicy Moreton Bay bug rolls, and roasted Mooloolaba prawns cooked in harissa butter? Rickys' dining room is a palette of white with louvred windows channelling wisps of breeze from the picturesque Noosa River. Arrive for sunset and dine into the night to experience Rickys at its beautiful best.