The Sunshine Coast/Gubbi Gubbi country has seen a recent explosion of restaurant growth, particularly in the coveted hinterland areas of Maleny and Montville, where life takes a slower pace and the culinary focus is on quality dishes championing local, sustainable produce.
Here at Urban List, we’ve done the hard yards for you and eaten our way around the best Maleny and Montville restaurants in 2024. And we’ve included a few extra restaurants in the surroundings, just for good measure.
The Long Apron
38-68 Balmoral Rd, Montville QLD 4560
Image Credit: The Long Apron | Instagram
Offering an authentic taste of France in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, The Long Apron dishes up beautifully presented dishes with the majority of the ingredients sourced from a one-hour radius of the restaurant, ensuring maximum freshness and quality. Think: Murray cod in a rich bouillabaisse, and Peachester Fresh lamb with Falls Farm vegetables and Little White Goat cheese.
Indulge in your choice of degustation—one of which is completely vegetarian—with matched wines for the perfect special occasion treat. The Long Apron also hosts regular long lunches in the beautiful outdoor gardens and if you’re not completely convinced, The Long Apron won Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice ‘Best of the Best Restaurants Award’, placing it in the top 1% of restaurants worldwide.
The Tamarind
88 Obi Lane South, Maleny QLD 4552
Image Credit: The Tamarind | Instagram
The Tamarind, belonging to the world-renowned Spicers Retreats in the hinterland, offers up punchy pan-Asian flavours within a lush rainforest setting. Read: it’s easily one of the Sunshine Coast’s best restaurants.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Executive Chef Daniel Jarrett and team display their clear talent through unique dishes such as cured Ora King salmon in buttermilk dashi, octopus char siu with Szechaun dressing and the unbeatable koji panna cotta with miso butterscotch and black sesame ice cream. We recommend the banquet option and elevating your experience with paired wines.
Spirit House
20 Ninderry Rd, Yandina QLD 4561
Image Credit: The Spirit House | Instagram
No list of hinterland restaurants, nay Sunshine Coast restaurants, would be complete without this inclusion. Ambience is the name of the game at Spirit House. The highly-awarded restaurant and cooking school is one of the most picturesque dining experiences you’re likely to have, with an eye-popping menu to match.
Set in lush tropical gardens nestled around a tranquil pond, bubbling waterfalls, tinkling wind chimes, and the sounds of nature, the Spirit House will whisk you off to Asia for a few hours. Enjoy the ‘prix fixe’ menu of $110 per person and choose from such delectable offerings as crab toast, curry of salted tuna, palm sugar charred squid and the epic 7 Textures of Chocolate to top things off.
Secrets On The Lake
207 Narrows Rd, Montville QLD 4560
For dining with a view, it’s hard to go past charming retreat Secrets on the Lake and their award-winning Dining on the Deck experience.
Situated in the rainforest on the shores of Lake Baroon with panoramic views of the water, mountains and rainforest, Secrets On the Lake guests can savour a menu featuring a blend of locally sourced ingredients and innovative flavours, right in the heart of nature’s embrace. It’s hearty, rustic fare, done well.
The Terrace Seafood Restaurant
Landsborough-Maleny Road & Mountain View Road, Maleny QLD 4552
This long-standing Sunshine Coast institution is a family owned and run business that has built up a stellar reputation over the years through its simple menu of lovingly prepared seafood dishes (there are meat and vegetarian options too, never fear).
There’s not a whole lot of fuss on offer at The Terrace—just quality produce and warm, genuine service. You’d be hard pressed to find anything more impressive than the stacked seafood platters or whole crispy fish, but if you’re really in the mood for a treat, the lobster mornay is arguably the best in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
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Frank Food & Wine
48 Maple Street, Maleny QLD 4552
Image Credit: Frank Food & Wine | Instagram
Open for both brunch and dinner, Frank Food & Wine has become something of a go to for the locals while in Maleny. The cafe bistro by day, wine bar by night features a fusion menu with flavours of Asia, classic French dishes, the Middle East and contemporary Australian cuisine.
Pork and pistachio terrine sits on the menu alongside crispy tofu with sticky chilli, chicken Maryland a l’orange and caramelised eggplant with labneh and pine nuts. With an extensive cocktail menu to choose from as well, it’s a true gastronomic experience at Frank Food & Wine.
King Ludwig’s German Restaurant
401 Mountain View Rd, Maleny QLD 4552
In a definite case of getting just what you expect, King Ludwig’s is a classic German restaurant and Bavarian bier bar in the heart of Maleny, slinging all the hearty, meaty goodness and frothy joy that one can handle.
The Kartoffelsuppe—Bavarian potato cream soup with vegetables, frankfurter sausages and speck—is the house's signature dish and is the perfect way to kick off an unforgettable meal. And don’t forget the famous four-hour slow cooked pork knuckle, that really needs to be ordered ahead of time, so you don’t miss out. Wash it all down with a huge selection of incredible German beers and wines.
Brouhaha Brewery
39 Coral St, Maleny QLD 4552
Image Credit: Brouhaha Brewery | Supplied
In 2016, the craft beer haven that is Brouhaha Maleny venue sprang to life and immediately started producing premium quality beer and serving amazing, local food that draws from the Sunshine Coast hinterland’s bountiful resources.
Upon hitting capacity the team has since opened two more venues, but the OG in Maleny remains as popular as ever with locals who line up for its gastropub-style menu, washed down with the freshest and tastiest of the in-house brews.
Cappriccio’s Italian Restaurant
Shop 7 Riverside Centre, Maple St, Maleny QLD 4552
Take a trip to Naples via the Sunshine Coast at Cappriccio’s Italian Restaurant. Authenticity rules here, with a seriously impressive woodfired pizza and traditional pasta menu to drool over.
Like all of the best Italian food, it’s a handful of quality ingredients put together with love and a deep understanding of flavour. No skimpy, side-dish-sized pizzas here.
The Barrel
787 Landsborough Maleny Rd, Maleny QLD 4552
Image Credit: The Barrel | Instagram
The Barrel is part of the hugely popular Clouds Vineyard empire, and remains the organisation’s flagship dining experience. Shaped like a giant wine barrel (yes, hence the name) nestled in the spacious Maleny vineyard grounds, it’s worth visiting this iconic spot for the visuals alone.
Fortunately, they’ve got culinary offerings to back up their rep, with a creative bistro menu showcasing local produce alongside a mouth-watering selection of Granite Belt wines and locally brewed beers and ciders.
Sukhothai
Cnr Landsborough Maleny Rd & Mountain View Rd, Maleny QLD 4552
No frills Thai restaurant Sukhothai in Maleny packs all the flavour punch you expect in Thailand, without the travel costs.
For eight years, Kay and her team of skilled chefs have been serving up the most authentic, traditional Thai dishes to locals in the know, and their longevity in an ever-changing culinary landscape is testament to their consistency, quality and warm hospitality.
Cubbyhouse on Maple
3/10 Maple St, Maleny QLD 4552
We just had to include this super cute café in the heart of Maleny. Cubbyhouse is your ultimate brunch fantasy come to life.
You’ll be back every day of the week to try out one of their original sourdough tartines, with toppings such as strawberry ricotta, dill-infused labneh and egg with garlic and chilli to choose from. A fancy smoothie or acai bowl is a perfect cool and healthy summer treat, and the coffee is seriously, seriously good. We also love that pooches are welcome, so no one has to miss out.
Kondalilla Restaurant
Kondalilla Eco Resort, 61 Kondalilla Falls Road, Flaxton QLD 4560
Enjoy an al fresco dining experience with panoramic rainforest views at the elevated Kondalilla restaurant at the Kondalilla Eco Resort in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
With a menu featuring fresh and creative seafood and vegetarian options galore, and a reputation for top shelf service, you’re guaranteed a pleasant, leisurely evening of dining amongst the trees.
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Main image credit: The Tamarind | Instagram
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