The Best Restaurants on the Sunshine Coast

Blending creativity with some of the most nutrient-dense produce on the planet, the best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast simply dazzle.

Pristine beaches and year-round sunshine are indisputable drawcards, but my favourite part of the Sunshine Coast is the food. Home to some of Australia’s best restaurants and cafes, the Queensland region is a subtropical playground of volcanic-enriched soil, so seasonal produce is big, juicy and always sourced locally. Whether I’m craving a breakfast of farm-fresh eggs and greens, crustaceans for lunch, or choice cuts with vibrant veg for dinner, restaurants on the Sunshine Coast nail it. Here, my favourites right now.

In short

It’s a tough call, but if you can only eat at one of the best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast, make it Spirit House. The lush tropical garden setting is entirely unique (and breathtaking) and don’t even get me started on their beautiful plating.

The shortlist

Great for special occasions: Spirit House
Fine dining gem: Mapleton Public House
Best views: Rickys River Bar & Restaurant
Best coffee: Fellowship Drive Cafe
Hottest new opening: Playa Mexican

Restaurants for breakfast

The Sunshine Coast knows how to start the day right. From Caloundra to Noosa, artisinal coffee roasters, deliciously dressed plating and serene settings awaken the senses to a brand-new day.

1. Fellowship Drive Cafe

a close-up of food at Fellowship Drive Cafe, Sunshine Coast — Tuck into generously plated brunch meals at Fellowship Drive Cafe.

First, coffee. While the bean scene is strong in this corner of the world, I’m a sucker for Flying West Coffee Roasters’ blends after falling head over heels at its Eumundi Markets coffee cart some years ago. The team launched Fellowship Drive Cafe in 2024, where I now find my consistently smooth (a feat for any multi-barista operation), caffeine hit that’s always heated to perfection (no burnt tongue ever). There’s also affordable meals like the confit flat mushroom plate with cashew cheese, dukkha and pesto on charcoal sourdough, baked at nearby Ten Acres Sourdough in Ninderry. I also love a slice of the beetroot feta loaf which mixes in parmesan for maximised deliciousness.

Cuisine: Cafe

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Local

Location: 9 Fellowship Dr, Doonan

2. The Coolum Social

hearty meals at The Coolum Social, Sunshine Coast — The Coolum Social highlights the region’s seasonal produce with its vibrant and hearty meals. (Image: Ariana Gillrie)

Flowing with Instagram-friendly vibes is The Coolum Social, a Sunshine Coast cafe dishing up hearty meals and great coffee using Sydney’s Gabriel Coffee. Focused on transforming the region’s seasonal produce into edible art, the team love playing with whatever’s delicious at the time. Expect classics like chilli eggs and bacon and egg rolls alongside more exotic creations like bao buns and poke bowls. Craving a juice? I love their bashed-up brews turning tropical fruits into frappes, milkshakes and smoothies, while their just-juice options invite create-your-own creativity.

Cuisine: Cafe

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Warm and friendly

Location: 26 Birtwill St, Coolum Beach

3. Tollys

a breakfast plate at Tollys, Sunshine Coast — Indulge into a heartwarming brekkie at Tollys. (Image: Snippet Marketing Media)

Fuel an adventure through the famous Eumundi Markets with brekkie at Tollys, located in the old Bella 101 site. Situated right across the road from the weekly hot ticket (which opens twice weekly, actually), this Sunshine Coast restaurant was built inside a beautiful historical building known as The Old Bakery. Find a seat on the deck overlooking the street as dishes span seasonal fritters, French toast with addictive berry coulis, avocado smash with a poached egg and other AM classics.

Cuisine: Cafe

Average price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Chilled out

Location: 101 Memorial Dr, Eumundi

4. Moffat Beach Brewing Co.

the exterior of Moffat Beach Brewing Co. — The beloved beachside brewery is also open for breakfast. (Image: Rix Rix Photography)

While it may seem unusual to have breakfast in a brewery, Moffat Beach Brewing Co., just metres from the sand, is such a vibe. Gaze over the ocean (a bench seat by the street is my favourite spot) as breakfast classics, including a bacon and egg burger and avocado on toast, speedily roll out of the kitchen.

Cuisine: Cafe

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Breezy

Location: 12 Seaview Tce, Moffat Beach

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Restaurants for lunch

Swap out caffeine for carafes as the best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast for lunch take advantage of brilliant coastal views, locally caught delicacies (including the region’s famed seafood) and laidback wine time.

5. Mapleton Public House

the exterior of Mapleton Public House, Sunshine Coast — Mapleton Public House serves as a pub, bar and bistro in one. (Image: Stories by Ash)

Totally unassuming at first glance, Mapleton Public House oozes understated charm. I walk up a set of stairs from a carpark in the sleepy hinterland town to find, admittedly, more of that casual vibe before the scene switches gears via standout hospitable wait staff who bring warmth and joy to every interaction. My table on the wraparound deck overlooks the main road down low while breathtaking mountains paint a stunning scene out yonder. I’m blown away by the ‘Buffalo carrots’ fried in buttermilk and hot sauce, a collection of crunchy, chubby flavour hits that burst with spicy caramelised goodness. The slow-cooked short rib is similarly fabulous with garlic potato cream and house-made onion rings. It’s the dedication to detail in this place that shines, an all-round winner that technically serves as a pub (there’s a bar and bistro seating inside) but refines Sunshine Coast dining with every seating.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$-$$$

Atmosphere: Casual cool

Location: 2 Flaxton Dr, Mapleton

6. Bistro C

beachfront dining at Bistro C, Noosa Main Beach — Nab a spot by the beach overlooking Laguna Bay. (Image: Bistro C)

I’m one face in a thick daily crowd waiting for a table at Bistro C, but I’m not deterred. Offering uninterrupted Noosa Main Beach views and intoxicating holiday atmosphere, it’s a Sunshine Coast restaurant that never grows tired. Breakfast after a morning dip is the norm, but I’m here at lunch during my latest trip and I’m ready to party. Overlooking Laguna Bay, I indulge in the crispy skin barramundi which melts in the mouth. Seared local scallops are equally soft and flavoursome, before the triple cream brie fondue I eyed off when I first opened the menu finally makes its way into my belly. Delicious. My children are sorted too thanks to a kids’ menu offering the likes of ‘I Want Macca’s’ (a chicken slider with chips), ‘I Love You Mum’ (spaghetti bolognaise) and ‘I Don’t Know’ (calamari and chips). The staff here are as fun-loving and entertaining as those kids titles, making for guaranteed good times.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Vibrant

Location: 49 Hastings St, Noosa Heads

7. BASK Restaurant

the dining space inside BASK Restaurant, Sunshine Coast — BASK Restaurant’s popularity called for a bigger space in Peregian Beach.

Peregian Beach’s favourite long lunch spot is BASK Restaurant, located in the beach town’s vibrant centre. The paddock-to-plate eatery moved into the village after a successful run in Eumundi where it originally opened its doors in 2021. Once word of Chef Jack Madden’s culinary flair caught on, demand grew and so the team found a larger space elsewhere. The result is flawless; a European-inspired feast that flows to al fresco tables from a warm, stylish fit-out. The food, spanning fresh sea catches and the finest seasonal meats, such as quail with roasted chestnuts and foraged mushrooms, is reliably excellent.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Refined

Location: Shop 3-4/218 David Low Way, Peregian Beach

8. Brouhaha Maleny

inside the Brouhaha Maleny, Sunshine Coast — Grab a relaxed bite at Brouhaha Brewery. (Image: Mark Fitz/Tourism and Events Queensland)

Another great spot for a chilled-out meal is Brouhaha Brewery in Maleny. The beer is outstanding, renowned throughout the state, and the food menu is equally crafty. Think pork scratchings, sourced locally, with apple sauce, crumbed fish cakes, a Mooloolaba prawn ceviche and about half a dozen woodfired pizzas.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 6/39 Coral St, Maleny

9. Rickys River Bar & Restaurant

a couple dining at Rickys River Bar & Restaurant, Sunshine Coast — Soak up bright and airy vibes at this refined fine diner. (Image: Manuel Freudenmann/Tourism and Events Queensland)

My favourite Sunshine Coast restaurant on the water, Rickys River Bar & Restaurant is such a special spot. Located on the Noosa River and featuring its own jetty plus sparkling water views from every angle, the refined fine diner is a special occasion affair – my heels don’t feel out of place at all. Request a table by the window (no guarantees) where the water shimmers and sea birds soar to the wetlands lying beyond. I did seafood for starters (the spanner crab spaghettini with garlic and chilli) before diving into a heavier main (the 200g eye fillet with generous sides) and relished every second of it. I also toasted the end of the afternoon with extended drinks in the bar area, a moody lounge where martinis roll past sunset.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Elegant

Location: 2 Quamby Place, Noosa Heads

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10. Warrior Restaurant & Bar

a smoky cocktail at Warrior Restaurant & Bar, — Warrior Restaurant & Bar has perfected cocktails, such as The Bosco, Noosa Valley vodka infused with maple wood smoke. (Image: Supplied)

The Crocodile Hunter Lodge’s fine dining eatery is a sophisticated homage to native ingredients and locally sourced supplies. Engaging the Sunshine Coast’s finest farmers and suppliers to nail an inventive menu that’s super generously plated, Warrior Restaurant & Bar embraces its natural surroundings which flow with native flora and fauna. I notice more non-hotel guests at lunch and dinner than breakfast, which helps transform the in-house hotel restaurant into a dining destination on its own accord. Ask for a table by the window (they can be requested) to overlook the infinity swimming pool and resident kangaroos and emu, and I highly recommend the slow-braised beef rendang curry with cardamom rice as the meat is melt-in-your-mouth perfect and the sauce is thick and rich. I also really loved the warrigal greens and broccolini with toasted almonds and house-made lemon myrtle salt, too.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Tranquil

Location: 88 Irwin Rd, Beerwah

11. Mooloolaba Fish Market

Devour a seafood platter fresh from Mooloolaba Fish Market.

With the sun shining and waves crashing, lunch al fresco is always a good idea. I love the Mooloolaba Fish Market where parcels of fish and chips are collected before they’re devoured overlooking the beach town’s Spit. Crumbed, battered, grilled, it’s all good as local catches span whiting, barramundi, swordfish, snapper, yellowfin tuna, salmon and more. Meanwhile, Pluto Pups and Chicko Rolls deliver the nostalgia, while natural and Kilpatrick oysters dial up the decadence.

Cuisine: Takeaway seafood

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 201 Parkyn Pde, Mooloolaba

Restaurants for dinner

As the sun sinks and the Sunshine Coast’s glorious coastal and hinterland views melt away, all lights shine upon the region’s slick hospitality, beautiful dining spaces and more of those seasonally led delights.

12. Spirit House

two women dining in a tropical garden by the river at Spirit House, Sunshine Coast — Spirit House is set within tranquil tropical gardens. (Image: Jesse Lindemann/Tourism and Events Queensland)

You can’t talk about the best places to eat on the Sunshine Coast without mentioning Spirit House. Set within tranquil tropical gardens, this iconic restaurant, bar and cooking school is really on another level. This is fresh and bold Asian-inspired cuisine unlike anything else in the region as a set menu soars you through far-flung corners of the continent, lighting up plates with Picasso-like artistry. Signature creations include whole fishes, like a Humpty Doo barramundi, prepared with beautifully blended sauces and seasonally charged flavours, as well as the mango-braised pork belly on the entrée menu. But honestly, it’s flat-out excellent every step of the way.

Cuisine: Asian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Fancy

Location: 20 Ninderry Rd, Yandina

13. Ethos at Alsahwa Estate

a plate of oysters being served at Ethos at Alsahwa Estate — Tuck into plump oysters plucked straight from the ocean. (Image: Ethos at Alsahwa Estate)

Another new addition to the Sunshine Coast dining scene, Ethos at Alsahwa Estate opened its doors in June 2025. A light-flooded dining dream located within the growing agricultural tourism operation that spreads across 30 acres of lush hinterland, the Sunshine Coast restaurant focuses on farm-to-table plates with Mediterranean-inspired flair. Think fish carpaccio with smoked bone, mushroom cream and native lime and a chicken Maryland with pumpkin saffron cheesecake.

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Average price: $$$-$$$$

Atmosphere: Homely

Location: 20 Rifle Range Rd, Palmwoods

14. Playa Mexican

squeezing lemon into a dish at Playa Mexican, Sunshine Coast — Playa Mexican brings authentic Mexican cuisine to Bokarina Beach.

Visiting the Sunshine Coast after September 2025? Drop into Playa Mexican, a highly anticipated eatery bringing authentic Mexican cuisine to Bokarina beach. House-made tortillas and the team’s signature dish, boneless BBQ chicken with pineapple butter, pickled pineapple and scallion oil, plus yummy margaritas shaken with mezcal, will no doubt attract the cool kids in droves.

Cuisine: Mexican

Location: Corner Bokarina Blvd and Longboard Pde, Bokarina

When the winter chill settles in, an escape to Hamilton Island’s year-round tropical shores is the only acceptable coping mechanism.

As a heliophile with the cold tolerance of a Mediterranean house cat, the arrival of winter tends to spark a particular panic. How will I survive? Must I really start layering? What do you mean, Aperol season is over? But there are far better ways to spend the cooler months than sulking in the depths of your doona.

Enter, Hamilton Island. With its year-round sunshine and permanent on-holiday atmosphere, this Whitsundays favourite promises a veritable slice of summer in winter.

Think salt-stiff hair and the smug pleasure of devouring seafood beside the water while friends back home are defogging their windscreens. Here’s why Hamilton Island should figure into your winter plans.

1. Year-round summer weather

A woman hiking along the Passage Peak trail on Hamilton Island. — Hike under sunny winter skies on Hamilton Island. (Image: Andrew Caitens)

In the crisper months, Hamilton Island offers perfectly mild, sunny weather (17-24°C) that lends itself to morning swims and afternoon spritzes. Better still, you can enjoy the island’s outdoor adventures – from hiking to mountain biking – without the humidity or rain you’ll often find in summertime. With direct flights from most major Australian cities offering ease of access, Hamilton Island is the ideal place to flee the cold.

2. Getting active without the humidity

A buggy parked overlooking Hamilton Island’s golf course, with sweeping views of the sea at Whitsundays in winter. — Zip around Hamilton Island by buggy. (Image: Hamilton Island)

Whether you’re hiking up to Passage Peak or exploring the island by buggy, tropical Queensland humidity is nobody’s friend. The one way to guarantee you will avoid the inevitable stickiness and fluffy hair? Visit during winter. There’s plenty to be enjoyed, from sunrise yoga at The Sundays (exclusive to guests of The Sundays) to playing golf on Dent Island.

3. Hamilton Island Race Week

Yachts racing across the sparkling Whitsundays during Hamilton Island Race Week. — Feel the thrill of Hamilton Island Race Week. (Image: Salty Dingo)

Taking place in August, Hamilton Island Race Week is a destination in its own right that attracts spectators and racers from around the globe. Boating enthusiasts and thrill-seeking holidaymakers flock to the island, which is palpably energetic as the first yachts set off for Dent Passage from Hamilton Island Yacht Club. The annual action-packed week, taking place from 15 to 22 August in 2026, offers an exciting calendar of on- and off-water events – spanning everything from celebrity chef dinners to golfing comps and wine tastings.

4. Best time for snorkelling

A woman snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef. — Explore Hamilton Island’s winter waters. (Image: Andrew Caitens)

While the crowds on Hamilton Island may disperse with the cooler weather, the marine life certainly doesn’t. Winter is widely considered one of the best times to snorkel and dive in the Whitsundays.

It’s down to a number of reasons: excellent water visibility, higher chances of seeing whales as they migrate north and – best of all – no nasty stingers. This means no need to wear those notoriously unflattering full-body wetsuits visitors have to wear in warmer months. On top of all this, you’ll find calm seas ideal for sailing and Great Barrier Reef tours.

5. Fewer crowds

People kayaking. — Experience a quieter Hamilton Island on a kayaking adventure. (Image: Hamilton Island)

Winter is often the quietest time to visit Hamilton Island, with the peak season crowds thinned to a relaxed trickle. You can snorkel or dive straight off the reef-laced waters of Catseye Beach, then swap fins for a buggy and zip between One Tree Hill, the marina and sunset cocktails without the usual summer queues. Active days stretch from kayaking, sailing and jet skiing to hopping over to famous Whitehaven Beach to witness those breathtaking white swirls of silica sand. You won’t have to elbow your way to the front of the crowd to get a good snap.

6. Delicious dining

The interiors of Bommie Restaurant, featuring modern coastal design with warm lighting and elegant detailing. — Treat yourself to Bommie Restaurant’s fine dining featuring fresh, seasonal Aussie produce. (Image: Nikki To)

The food on Hamilton Island tastes just as good any time of year, and winter is still perfect weather for sundowners. Start with an iced tea Negroni at harbourside Bommie Deck, before transitioning to Bommie Restaurant for a fine-dining feast centering on seasonal Aussie ingredients. Or perhaps enjoy a more casual poolside evening at Sails Restaurant, where plates of chermoula chicken skewers, baked cauliflower steak and crispy sumac squid come served with ocean views. From family-friendly pub meals to elevated wine tastings, there’s something for everyone.

5. Clear skies for idyllic views

The golden hour across the Whitsundays in winter. — End your day with golden Hamilton Island sunsets over the water. (Image: Hamilton Island)

Never let a cloud rain on the parade of Hamilton Island’s spectacular scenery. Winter brings clearer skies and more stable weather to the Whitsundays, meaning your picture-perfect sunset at One Tree Hill is likely to remain that way. And after putting in the legwork to hike to a scenic lookout, the last thing you want is a vista hidden behind low cloud and haze.

To learn more about travelling to the Whitsundays in winter, visit hamitlonisland.com.au.

14 of the best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast for a long feast

Blending creativity with some of the most nutrient-dense produce on the planet, the best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast simply dazzle.

In short

The shortlist