← All Guides

Sunshine Coast Food Guide

From Noosa's world-class restaurant strip and the legendary Spirit House in Yandina to the Eumundi pub, The Doonan and the best fish and chips on the beach — here's where to eat across every corner of the Coast.

🌿Noosa🏄Mooloolaba🌊Coolum & Peregian🦅Caloundra🌳Hinterland💡Tips

Quick Facts

Regions covered
5 regions, 20 venues
Best for
Foodies, couples, groups
Must book ahead
Spirit House, Wasabi, Locale
Local tip
Go early or book — it fills fast
🌿

Noosa

Noosa punches well above its weight as a food destination. Hastings Street alone could fill a weekend of serious eating — but the best meals are found by straying a little further, down to the river or up into the hills.

🍽️
Locale
Restaurant

One of Noosa's most celebrated restaurants — modern Italian with locally sourced produce, a seriously good wine list and a room that hums on a Friday night. Book well ahead.

🍣
Wasabi Restaurant & Bar
Fine Dining

A Noosa institution serving some of Queensland's best Japanese cuisine. The degustation menus are exceptional and the sake list is the best on the Coast. Worth every cent for a special occasion.

☀️
Miss Moneypenny's
All-day Dining

The go-to for a long, leisurely breakfast or lunch on the beach. The menu skews fresh and seasonal, the fit-out is effortlessly cool, and the eggs benedict is arguably the best in Noosa.

🌊
Ricky's River Bar & Restaurant
Restaurant & Bar

Tucked along the Noosa River, Ricky's is Noosa's most romantic dinner setting — twinkling lights on the water, shared plates of fresh seafood and a wine list to match. Perfect for a date night or farewell meal.

Thomas Corner
Café

A Noosa locals' favourite and one of the best all-day brunch spots on the Coast. Flavour-forward cooking, quality coffee and a buzzing courtyard that fills early on weekends.

🏡
The Doonan
Restaurant & Bar

A beloved neighbourhood restaurant and bar in the hinterland village of Doonan, just minutes from Noosa. The menu is modern and seasonal, the vibe is effortlessly relaxed, and the wine list is well considered. A favourite among Noosa locals in the know.

🍺
Imperial Hotel Eumundi
Heritage Pub

The Eumundi pub — a Queensland heritage-listed hotel that has been the heart of the Eumundi community for well over a century. Cold beer, cold salads, live music on weekends and a beer garden under the fig trees. Exactly what a great country pub should be.

🏄

Mooloolaba & Alexandra Headland

Mooloolaba's Esplanade has grown into a genuine food destination in its own right — seafood-forward, ocean-facing, and with enough variety to suit every mood and budget.

🦞
The Wharf
Seafood Markets & Dining

Mooloolaba's seafood hub — a waterfront precinct where you can buy fresh-off-the-boat catch at the fish market and eat at one of several restaurants overlooking the marina. The prawn rolls are legendary.

🌶️
Spice Bar
Restaurant & Bar

Modern Asian-influenced cooking in a sleek beachside setting. Shared plates, bold flavours and a great cocktail list make this one of the best evening spots on the Esplanade.

🥗
Karma Waters
Café & Restaurant

A Mooloolaba staple with an emphasis on healthy, wholesome food done really well. Great smoothies, fresh juices and a breakfast menu that covers all bases — popular with locals year-round.

🐟
Oceanus
Waterfront Dining

Elevated waterfront dining with a focus on Queensland seafood and produce. The views across the Mooloolah River are hard to beat, and the lunch specials offer excellent value.

🌊

Coolum & Peregian

The Coast's unhurried middle stretch has a food scene to match its laid-back reputation — boutique village cafés, relaxed surf-town dining and some genuinely excellent local cooking.

🍴
Pitchfork Restaurant
Restaurant

A Peregian Beach favourite serving honest, produce-driven food in a relaxed village setting. The menu changes regularly, the vibe is warm and local, and it's the kind of place you discover and immediately want to return to.

🥬
Belmondos Organic Market Café
Café & Providore

Part café, part organic grocer — Belmondos has become a Peregian institution. Outstanding breakfast and lunch options, excellent coffee and a providore stocked with local artisan products.

🌅
The Point Coolum
Pub & Restaurant

A classic Queensland pub perched at Coolum Beach with sweeping ocean views. The food is approachable and well-executed — cold beer, fresh fish and a cold drink with a surf view ticks all the boxes.

🦅

Caloundra

Caloundra's food scene centres around its beautiful Kings Beach foreshore and the café culture that's grown up around it — relaxed, quality-focused and with easy access to the ocean.

🍔
Rick's Garage
Diner

A Caloundra icon with a fun, retro-American diner vibe — burgers, milkshakes, loaded fries and late nights. It's not trying to be fine dining and that's exactly why it works. Wildly popular with locals and visitors alike.

🏖️
Kings Beach Surf Club
Club Bistro

Unbeatable position right on Kings Beach — sit on the deck with a cold beer and watch the waves. Solid bistro fare at honest prices, with some of the best ocean views from any dining table on the southern coast.

🍹
Kokomo's Beach Bar & Grill
Beach Bar & Grill

Casual beachside dining with tropical vibes, fresh seafood and generous cocktails. The breakfast menu is a local favourite and the fish tacos are some of the best on the Coast.

🌳

Hinterland

The hinterland is where the Sunshine Coast's most interesting and distinctive food experiences live — from an internationally acclaimed Thai restaurant to a beloved village pub, a revered diner and some of the best views from any lunch table in Queensland.

🌺
The Spirit House
Restaurant

Set among tropical gardens in Yandina, the Spirit House is one of Australia's most celebrated restaurants — Thai-inspired cooking of extraordinary finesse, surrounded by lotus ponds and bamboo. A bucket-list meal for any serious food lover. Book months ahead.

🌿
Upstairs at Belmondos
Restaurant

The upstairs dining room above the famous Peregian providore — a quieter, more intimate experience with a menu that leans into local and organic produce. Worth seeking out for a long, relaxed lunch.

🎉
Brouhaha Brewery & Kitchen
Brewery & Kitchen

Maleny's craft brewery doubles as one of the hinterland's best casual dining spots — elevated pub food, house-brewed beers and a festive atmosphere that suits the creative community that surrounds it. The cheese plates are exceptional.

Tips for Food Lovers

  • Book ahead for the big-name restaurants — Spirit House, Wasabi and Locale regularly fill weeks in advance, especially on weekends
  • The Eumundi Markets (Wed & Sat) are one of the best food experiences on the Coast — arrive hungry and graze your way through
  • Mooloolaba's fish market at The Wharf sells the freshest seafood on the Coast — buy and take to the beach, or eat on the spot
  • Hinterland restaurants are often quieter mid-week — combine with a drive through Maleny or Montville for a full day out
  • Ask locally for this week's food trucks — the Coast has an excellent rotating scene of street food that doesn't show up in guides
🛍️
Don't miss the Eumundi Markets

Wednesday and Saturday mornings — over 300 stalls including some of the best fresh produce, street food and artisan goods on the Sunshine Coast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Sunshine Coast food scene known for?

The Sunshine Coast has built a strong reputation for fresh, local produce and an innovative restaurant scene. The region is a major producer of ginger, macadamia nuts, tropical fruits and seafood, and its restaurants celebrate these ingredients. Noosa has the highest concentration of quality dining, but Mooloolaba's waterfront, Maleny's farm-to-table cafes and Eumundi Markets' artisan food stalls all contribute to a food culture that consistently outperforms its size.

Where are the best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast?

Noosa's Hastings Street and its side streets host the most celebrated restaurants, including long-running fine diners and popular brasseries known for local seafood and produce. Mooloolaba's Esplanade and The Wharf precinct are strong for casual waterfront dining and fresh fish and chips. For hidden gems, the hinterland towns of Maleny and Montville have excellent cafes and restaurants with valley views and farm-sourced menus.

Is there a good food market on the Sunshine Coast?

The Eumundi Markets, held every Wednesday and Saturday in the hinterland town of Eumundi, are the region's most celebrated food market — with organic produce, artisan bread, cheese, smoked meats, and international street food. The Noosa Farmers Market runs every Sunday morning at the Noosa Racecourse, offering fresh local produce direct from growers. Both are excellent for self-caterers and food lovers.

By sunshinecoast.travel team · Updated Jun 26

🏖️ Sunshine Coast

Ready to book?

Beachside hotels, hinterland retreats, and everything in between — find your perfect Sunshine Coast base.

✉️ Newsletter

Stay in the loop

New openings, events and exclusive deals — delivered straight to your inbox. No spam, ever.

Unsubscribe any time. We respect your inbox.

🗺️ Plan Your Visit

Everything you need to know

Plan your perfect Sunshine Coast trip with our guides, itineraries, and travel information.