Directory

Salty breezes, a sprawling deck, live music and some of the best eats on the Sunshine Coast, Peregian Beach Hotel is the laidback restaurant and bar you’ll want to make your local. A short stroll from the beach, sandy bodies are welcome around here and it’s this casual atmosphere that keeps us coming back for more. And then, there’s the food. Cue all of the heart-eye emojis we can muster. 

Getting h-angry on a Friday night ‘cause you don’t know what you want to eat? We’ve all been there! Save the whining and get to the tiny seaside town of Marcoola, where a vacant block in the middle of town turns into a relaxed, fairy-light covered food fiesta. Once a week, you can enjoy Mexican, Thai, Bavarian, Japanese—all in one place. Wrap your taste buds around that, and you’ll see why Marcoola Market is rated one of the best markets on the Sunshine Coast.

Screw diamonds. Flowers are a girl’s best friend. And although we have a few fave florists on the Sunshine Coast, right now, it’s all about Flax Flower Collective.

If you’re enchanted by the picturesque European-chic of Provence but only have a weekend to spare (and frankly, can’t afford the international flight), luxury property Spicers Clovelly Estate has all the charm of an escape to the south of France. And it’s on the Sunshine Coast!

Trust us, you’ll feel good just reading the menu at Evolution Fuel, it’s that healthy. Taking the bar up a notch, their dishes are packed with the good-for-you stuff, can be eaten in or taken away, and, the best bit, they’re pretty cheap. Introducing the Sunshine Coast to poke bowls, these guys have wellness and your stomachs on their mind 24/7.

The kings of Asian-style cheap eats on the Sunshine Coast, we have a mild obsession with ANYTHNG from Junk.

Just when you thought you’d tried all the breweries on the Sunshine Coast, another one pops up in a place you’d least expect—and trust us, it’s ahhhhmazing! *swoon*

One of the OGs of the pizza world on the Sunshine Coast, Zachary’s is a bit of an institution in Noosa. With casual restaurants on Hastings Street and Gympie Terrace (Noosaville), we can’t think of two better locations to smash a pizza on a balmy afternoon. 

Kind of like Santa’s naughty or nice list, Decisions Cafe splits its menu between #Superfood and #Superjunk. Designed to satisfy most people, and their healthy or not-so-healthy habits, there’s everything on offer from bircher muesli and smoothies, to indulgent B’Fast Burritos, Loaded Fries (with beef brisket and American 3 Cheeses) and injectable muffins totally worth a #foodporn tag.

On the hunt for the best coffee in Maroochydore? We hear ya! There’s a few spots to choose from but one of our faves has gotta be Project Espresso.

Rarely are resort restaurants worth raving about, The Long Apron however, completely defies that logic. Set amongst the lush hilltop gardens as part of Montville’s Spicers Clovelly Estate, this European-inspired, two-hatted restaurant has an inviting charm that welcomes you right on in. 

Monica’s Cafe has been a Maleny resident for over 13 years, which is a huge feat in itself. And when you feast on their fresh, seasonal menu that manages to accommodate pretty much everyone and anyone (dairy-free, gluten-free, vegans, vegos), you’ll understand why this place is packed. Every day of the week. The food, well, where do we start? 

This is fine-dining that oozes vibe. The design, the decor, the menu, the lighting, the tableware, the music. It helps that almost every table has fantastic ocean views, but even without them, Spice Bar is all about atmosphere. Well, that and the food, because their Asian-inspired menu is certainly something worth raving about, too. 

If you’re in need of some hearty breakfast fare, make sure you pay a visit to Beau’s at Kings Beach. Here you’ll find a cool, urban fit-out teamed with relaxed service and food that will really start your day off well. 

Vegans of the Sunshine Coast, rejoice; you can now tuck in to some seriously good, totally vegan burgers thanks to the legends at new burger joint MooFree Burgers. 

Margarita on tap, authentic grilled fish tacos and giant Frida Kahlo murals are always a good idea, which is why we’re crushing on Noosa’s newest Mexican restaurant, Paradise Arcade.

We will never tire of burgers. And we will never understand the people that do. Especially when they’re as good as those coming out of the kitchen at DownTown in Nambour. 

Beyond the fact this is Sunrise’s only cafe, Chalet & Co.’s winning ticket is obvs the sprawling patio where you can lounge in the sun, while sipping a strong brew and mentally preparing yourself for a tough day at the beach (ha!). 

Although it might be secreted away in a little laneway in the middle of Caloundra, Lamkin Lane Espresso Bar rakes in a lot of attention. And rightly so.

If you prefer to stick to meals made from organic ingredients, make a beeline for Greenhouse Cafe in Caloundra.

Elixiba is where you take your mates, if you’re trying to convince them there’s more to a vegetarian diet than eating lettuce. Seriously!

Despite being around for a few years, we’d totally forgive you if you haven’t munched on the deliciously delish fare being served up at Elliotts Bistro. In fact, we kind of feel sorry you. 

Where do we even begin? Basically, if you want to shop the best homewares on the Sunshine Coast get yo’ tush to Peregian Beach.

Rated by the health tribe as one of the best cafes on the Sunshine Coast, CK Coffee Bar & Wholefoods is focussed on wellness and bringing healthy alternatives to the Sunshine Coast masses. Part café, part smoothie and cold-pressed juice bar, part health food store, this really is a one-stop shop for all your healthy-living needs. 

Dreamt up by creative couple Alita and Matt, Tome is the place to go for Insta-worthy sweets and super smooth coffee in Maroochydore. Just picture this: A minimalist setting of polished concrete floors, industrial furniture, a white-tiled workstation topped with a sleek black coffee machine, and then cakes.

Hastings Street can get a bit, okay A LOT, wild when it’s holiday season, so do as the locals to and beeline to the river for waterside dining and the ability to find a park (whoop!).

Little May is possibly our pick of the bunch among the best cafés in Montville. Run by the ever-lovely Hannah and Rich (who also happens to be the ex-sous chef of Spicers Clovelly Estate—yep this guy can cook), they serve light breakfasts—do not pass the organic sourdough with avocado and pancetta—and lunch dishes, with the pulled mojo pork roll a surefire winner piled high with pickled slaw, and a lime and pepper mayo.

The new restaurant of MasterChef’s 2016 runner-up Matt Sinclair and three of his mates, Sum Yung Guys serves up incredible pan-Asian fare in Noosaville. Dishing up share-style plates, you’ll find a mix of Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean flavours across the menu. 

We’ll be the first to admit the location of this container café (it’s literally a café in a container), tripped us out a little. We normally skip from town to town and forget about the new developments popping up across the Coast, but Izba has definitely put Birtinya on the coffee shop map.

Come one, come all—Good Bar is the casual, old-school hip hop-vibing joint where you gather all your mates for some boozing and noshing good times.

Found where you’d least expect it, The Nines sits in the Sunshine Homemaker Centre in Maroochydore. Shaking up the Sunshine Coast café scene since its opening, this joint is renowned for their OTT loaded shakes and drool-worthy eats.

Tucked on the waterfront at Quamby Place, Wood Fire Grill is kinda in between all the happenings along Hastings Street and in Noosaville. Which makes it like the pot of gold between the ends of a rainbow, or something.

Coffee is aplenty in Peregian Beach, but if you like yours served with a dose of Vitamin D, a stack of hotcakes or a deliciously healthy acai bowl, then make Skal Coffee your next port of call.

Spirit House is like a legend around the Sunshine Coast. It’s the restaurant that pops into mind when planning a super special occasion or for those times you need to impress the hell out of visitors. 

World-class dining on Hastings Street is up for the taking at Noosa Beach House by Peter Kuruvita!

Pros at demolishing hunger pains, Backstreet Cafe offers a mean brekkie and lunch menu. Find a posi down Lemon Tree Lane, order a Kai coffee — and then choose your medicine AKA “the dish that’ll make evvvvverything better”.

Homegrown in Palmwoods are masters of food — dreaming of it, creating it, then plating it, all for us to eat. Without sounding corny, everything that comes out of this place is made with love, from the ravioli, winter warmer soups and even their own Tin Shed Coffee. We’ll meet ya there, m’kay? 

Maleny Food Co. is heaven on Earth. It’s a fact, our tastebuds say so! Sitting pretty on the main street of this hinterland town, Maleny Food Co. is the old Colin James Fine Foods with a smashing new name. Serving up some of the best tasting gelato on the Sunshine Coast, we’d highly recommend making the drive up the mountain just for a creamy scoop of white choc and raspberry.

This might just be the MECCA of all deli-goers. Not just a corner store, but an organic haven open six days a week, Belmondos Organic Market has earned its reputation as one of THE baddest (that means good) boys in town where a fine feed is concerned.

Set in a converted garage and decked out with retro furniture (hello, comfy couches) and knick knacks, this home-style eatery is as far away from bland and sterile as you can get. Even better, it’s tucked away from Mooloolaba’s main drag, so you won’t come by Velo Project unless you hunt it down, which we highly recommend doing.

Casually cool. If you’re floating around Noosaville, this laid-back eatery is easily spotted on the corner of Thomas Corner and Gympie Terrace.

When you need to escape the crowds, for another crowd, trudge up the hill from Hastings Street to the junction and down a coldy and a taco with the cool cats at Village Bicycle.

The Post Office hits all the marks for a great night out: relaxed, cosmopolitan, vintage, cool!

Aptly named The Basement, this no-frills Nambour bar was once just that—a hotel storage basement held together by panelling and walls that hadn’t been touched in about 50 years.

Hinterland heaven does exist at Spicers Tamarind Retreat’s Spa Anise.

The granddaddy of Ocean Street night life, Sol Bar is at the centre of all great Maroochydore nights out. Sol Bar is the perfect culmination of music, arts and culture—a place where after-work drinks and dreadlocks come together. 

Top-notch dining in a beachfront setting. And yes, it really is as luxe as it sounds!

Oozing old-fashioned grocer quaintness with a hippy edge, Renae’s Pantry is what a supermarket looked like before processed-living took over the world.

This all-in-one American diner is still one of our fave spots on the Sunshine Coast. Whether you’ve actively hunted the place down or struck gold when you stumbled on it whilst driving through Palmwoods, chances are you’ve told everyone you know, too.

Super plush with all the trimmings, Rickys is a sleek waterfront restaurant that will become the prime reason you and your stomach make the regular pilgrimage to Noosa (if you don’t already live here, that is).

Like your furniture with a bit of history? Sunshine Coast homewares store, Raw’s Maroochydore-made products are created mainly out of materials from old Queenslanders.

In the bustling activity of a night on Ocean Street, Peak Wine Bar sits pretty like a piece of art you can’t help but be intrigued by.

Looking suave from a recent makeover, this Ocean Street lounge bar is where you can burn those cocktail-calories on the d-floor with a whole heap of disco, techno and house-lovers into the wee hours on a Friday and Saturday night.

Noosa Waterfront Restaurant & Bar’s riverside location, away from the buzz of Hastings Street, will leave you feeling like you stumbled across someplace pretty special.

Tucked upstairs along Gympie Terrace, Noosa Flow’s louvered windows and sliding doors look out over Noosa River.

Located just off Noosa River, Noosa Brow Co. is an interior addict’s heaven.

Got a weakness for seafood? Beeline to the banks of Noosa River where you’ll find the Noosa Boathouse Bistro and Bar.

Retro fans will go orange for this mid-century boutique in Peregian Beach. Laid out to perfection, midmodoz gives modernist furniture and homewares a sexy space to shine.

You can’t get much better than Little Boat Espresso in Marcoola.

So this place may remind some peeps of Mexico, and you wouldn’t be wrong.