The Crème del la crème of Qld eats
When my partner and I finally escaped Victoria and hightailed it to Queensland, the 20 something hour car journey certainly afforded us with a bit of spare time. Yes, we podcast listened, snacked on unnecessary foods, but BEST of all, I trawled the depths of the internet, researching and then overwhelming my partner with far too many restaurant reservations for our upcoming FOODCATION!
If you’re here reading this then you probably know that I am OBSESSED with food. I’m that chick that takes a photo of every single plate as it arrives, sorry not sorry, I remember what I’ve done and where I’ve been by what I ate, I LOVE to cook and recreate my favourite restaurants’ meals at home and when I travel to new places, I love to experience the culture, vibe and what it’s got to offer through food!
So….. with all of this in mind, if anyone even cares, I thought I’d take it upon myself to share my food and venue experiences travelling throughout the Sunshine Coast as well as the Gold Coast in Qld and what I recommend. The places that are a MUST, venues with a good vibe, what’s worth the cost of a meal and drinks, and what’s over-rated, in my opinion of course.
Noosa
Sum Yung GuysWOWOWOWOWOW, located in Sunshine Beach, about a 10 minute drive from Noosa, this stuff craps all over Chin Chin and I LOVE Chin Chin. Understated but bold flavours that are paired perfectly, trust me you’ll want to doggy bag what you can’t finish. Famous for their roti bread and prawn toast (GET THE PRAWN TOAST) this place knows how to piece together an Asian fusion menu. Regardless of what you order, be it the Hiramasa Kingfish or the Chargrilled Chicken with a sesame and ginger cream, the plates will complement one another and leave you coming back for more. Their cocktail menu is also AMAZING, where they’ve taken some of your classic spirits like gin and paired it with interesting ingredients like Yuzu and Lemon Myrtle. A MUST if you’re visiting, although book well in advance, this place is popppppular.
Theo's Social ClubA newly opened quaint little cocktail and wine bar offering nibbles and a curated cocktail menu. Channelling Melbourne wine bar vibes – simply stunning. Side note – staff are also a great time and super accommodating so make sure to secure a bar seat and get chatting!
Paradise ArcadeMexican fusion lit up by neon lights and pastel pinks, serving freshly made margaritas from Chilli to Watermelon to ceviche and tacos with the crème del la crème of tortillas (corn of course). Honestly is there anything else that you want from a Mexican restaurant, than to stick to the basics and get it right? Nope. A must if you’re in Noosa Junction!
Light YearsAlso located in Byron Bay and Burleigh. Your classic Asian fusion restaurant. The kind of place that you’re guaranteed to have a good meal, because what they do, they do well. If you love sour cocktails, get the Geisha Sour – made with an ink gin producing its signature purple colour – you won’t be disappointed! In terms of food, I recommend ordering multiple share plates – a few from each section of the menu and you’ll be guaranteed a great insight into what they offer! In terms of food I recommend, the firecracker chicken was a hit (if you like spice), cumin spiced fried cauliflower (for all those vegos), the Vietnamese slaw and ANY of the bao buns – YUM! However, I will say, while it was delicious food, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary compared to the range of Asian fusion restaurants in Melbs like Chin Chin, Hanoi Hannah, Saigon Sally etc.
Eddie Cheeba'sAfter dinner drinks – because who is ready to go home! Think coconut chilli margaritas, Yuzu sours and blood orange spritz… they’ve got something for everyone and the dark, moody and intimate space to go with it! Noosa Junction is coming up and here to stay – so trot on up the hill from Hastings Street and get yourself to Eddie Cheeba’s!
Sunshine Beach SLSCViews and vibes! About a 15-minute drive from Noosa is coastal corner Sunshine Beach! Not to be forgotten about (especially because Sum Yung Guys is located here) the Surf Life Saving club has been renovated and refurbished, sporting a venue that is as good as the views! Offering a range of beers on tap from lagers to local craft beers, an extensive wine list and ALL your classic cocktails, you’ll want to get here early to grab a table outside and settle in for an afternoon overlooking the beautiful stretch of beach. Should you get peckish as we do when we have a few, their menu has something for everyone! From grilled calamari, poke bowls to parmas, the experience will speak for itself and it won’t disappoint!
Café Le MondeOne of Noosa’s long-standing venues, we booked a seat here for New Year’s Eve. Known for hosting seasonal events, they partnered up with Tequila Patron, offering hours of margaritas and accompanying Mexican share plates. Wasn’t bad, wasn’t great. Would recommend going back here on an ordinary evening, because their menu actually looks great! Alternatively, you could head upstairs to El Capitano and grab a wood-fired pizza or five! (Has previously been voted best woodfired Pizza on the Sunshine Coast).
RickysVibe vibe vibe. Situated right on the edge of glistening Noosa River, this place pulls the crème del la crème crowd, so… be ready to spend a small fortune. A few things to note, the plates are quite small, so if you like big portion sizes like me lol expect to order a lot. Also, consider your booking date, we were rippppped with a public holiday rate that was something like 17-18%. However, I will still say that a visit is worth it, because the food we had and the accompanying service was just divine. You MUST order the Tanglewood organic sourdough served with butter and smoked salt, the roasted Mooloolaba prawns with coriander, chilli and nori butter and the Spanner crab spaghettini with garlic, chilli, shallot and lemon. The refined flavours are paired and executed perfectly. TAKE ME BACK!
Land and Sea Brewing CoA MUST if you’re in Noosa. Craft Beers ACE. It’s also a gin distillery offering cool cocktails. Parma AMAZING – just get it, especially if you’re a chick or a guy like me who loves the bouje but also your basic pub feed.
Somedays PizzaWOW – say no more. Offering so much to those who eat meat but also veg and vegans. A very Totti’s in Bondi vibe. Think puffed bread. Also – add Burrata to your pizza, it is a non-negotiable.
Bistro CA day one, never lets you down. The kind of place that’s been going for THAT long in such an iconic location along Hastings Street Beach, that it could have become kind of outdated and not up to scratch (because they know people will continue to come… location location location ). BUT, never fear, the food, cocktails and service is just as good now as when I first went with my family many moons ago. Hot tip – a MUST – get the sticky miso glazed pork belly with spring onion rice noodle omelette, nori wombok slaw, picked papaya and sesame furikake – WOWWWWW.
Noosa Surf ClubBeers on the beach – get down early on a Sunday for a prime spot, or if you’re like me and are never settling for a crappy table, keep your eye out, be on the PROWL and be ready to pounce on that waterfront spot.
Rick’s Artisan Pies & SourdoughWell you certainly wouldn’t spot this place unless you knew it were there. Located next to the Shell servo heading towards Noosa’s industrial estate – bit random I know, BUT probably not the worst thing because they still had baked goods when we arrived after 10am. Coming from Melbs – the heart of the coffee and croissant snob, this place is AMAZING. From fresh garlic and rosemary bread to Blat baguettes and cinnamon cruffins, if you’re chasing a cheeky Sunday treat, make the effort to find this place.
250Grammi Food & Wine BarLocated in Noosaville, along the beautiful stretch of river. However, my verdict is that it’s overrated and expensive. Authentic vibes with an Italian staff. I was craving a seafood pasta, with all the snapper crab etc. Much to my disappointment, the serve was about the size of my palm. So, expect to order a few pizzas or some more small plates and then drop about $200 as a consequence. Not bad but not the best.
Rainbow Beach
Rainbow Beach Surf Life Saving ClubChefs kiss to the cheap schooners and pub classics done superbly. A beautiful view overlooking the everlasting stretch of beach.
Agnes Waters
Off The Hook Amazing! Fresh oysters, old style thick hand cut chips and every variety of fish you could ask for, grilled, crumbed or beer battered. Sometimes the most unexpected places deliver the best and the freshest.
Moffat Beach
Ours. Cafe & GoodsAmazinnnnng health food café, selling fresh produce with a beautifully curated menu. Think acai bowls with all the fresh fruits, avocado toast with a side of mushrooms and big bowls of salad - Asian inspired to buddha bowls. They’ve recently started opening later on the weekends offering Cheese platters and selling local wine in the store – can pick up a blanket alongside your cheese and wine and walk about 50m to the beautiful parklands by the beach. Simple and executed perfectly. Highly recommend!
The Pocket Espresso BarI’m sorry but the idea of any venue that does breakfast, lunch and dinner puts me off straight away. I can count on one hand the number of places that I’ve been to that have actually done all of the mealtimes and it having been any good. BUT, this was one. Situated in the main strip of shops in coastal corner Moffat Beach, this gem is well worth a visit! From crispy cauliflower bites, bao buns to burgers, this place has got something on its menu to suit every taste! An excellent cocktail menu too (dried flowers served on top – need I say more?) GO!
Mermaid Beach
Split UpstairsExpect to wait ages if you don’t have a reservation. Also selective with who they let in when it’s busy (if you know the guy on the door you’re good, otherwise see a drink in an hour). A super cool vibe once you’re up there and your stamp acts as a pass out which is a bonus. Good cocktails and all the works, fun music and areas to dance below the disco ball. Booooyah.
Nobby Beach
MexiCaliIf you love Mexican as much as I do, you’re going to seek one out wherever you go! We’d been to a few great spots by this point, so for me to regard a meal as highly as I regard this one, it has to be pretty good! Their nachos, WOW, get their nachos. Not drowned in toppings, but not leaving you with corn chips and nothing to scoop, theirs is a menu that you’re going to want to try one of everything! The venue is also intimate, with high tables and an outdoor balcony, that gives off a casual and authentic feel – much like if you were in Mehico eating tacos out of a basket, in a bustling venue with an icy cold Pacifico in hand – chefs kiss!
Miami
Miami MarkettaThis place makes me feel like I’m at Timeout Market in Lisbon (if you know you know – if you don’t, sorry, probably going to be ages until you can go – thanks Corona). That aside, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, this place comes alive with food stalls offering everything from vegan eats, Italian street food to Greek mezze plates and Yiros! With a built-in bar and the funkiest murals I’ve ever seen, (think Madonna and 90s Kylie Minogue plastered all over the walls), this place is a must visit!! They also host live music and other events (we saw Boo Seeka here) and boy is it worth checking out their website for what’s on before you go. You simply cannot miss a full experience at this hidden gem nestled amongst groovy Gold Coast suburb Miami!
Burleigh Heads
Jimmy Wah's My FAVOURITE meal of the trip, SOOO closely followed by Sum Yung Guys but Vietnamese cuisine for me… it just hits different. So fresh and light without ripping you of the taste! We went here for a late lunch and honestly couldn’t recommend this sitting time more for the style of food and the accompanying cocktail menu. It’s the kind of menu where you feel like you could order one of everything so we opted to put ourselves in the staff’s very capable hands and go for the ‘Feed Me’ menu - we were NOT disappointed. From Tempura oysters with soy and sesame to wok tossed squid with choy, chilli and lime – the flavour pairings were next level. Honestly, everything is good but a NON-NEGOTITABLE for me is the crispy Vietnamese pancake served with pork & prawn, pickled cucumber, iceberg lettuce and herbs (can be made vego upon request) & WOWOWOWO - 10/10.
Burleigh PavillionExpect to wait at least 45 minutes to get in on a Friday or Saturday night if you’re going after 7:30pm. BUT.. persevere my friends because once you enter, you will be propelled into the world of Burleigh locals and beyond. Offering a menu with a twist! Think jazzed up pub classics, fresh oysters, woodfired pizzas and elegant salads to accompany your mains. Once you fill your belly, you’ll be ready drink one too many cocktails as the sun sets beyond the ocean. It would be a disservice not to have a boogie, because you can guarantee the likes of Little Fritter, Shimmy Disco and more will be on decks. #VIBE
The TropicThe minute you walk in here you feel like you’re in Palm Springs, except it’s better because you get to stare at the ocean too !! With a cocktail menu to match, I recommend coming here if you’re ready to open your wallet, because you’ll want the full experience! With a perfectly curated menu that’s designed to share, you MUST NOT come here without ordering the puffed bread alongside the burrata. A place with something for everyone, whether it be BBQ king prawns, grilled and seared peppers or Moroccan cous cous with fresh herbs, a night here drinking cocktails whilst the sun sets is an absolute non-negotiable!
Rick ShoresNow this is an interesting one. I had VERY high expectations before going, given what I’ve seen on Instagram #lucyandnikki sorry not sorry, and also how far in advance we had to book to get a good seat at a good time (sunset). Now I’m not saying it wasn’t good. Location is obviously 10/10 and the style and décor of the restaurant is absolutely beautiful. Most of the food was pretty tasty, the Moreton bay bug roll was SO good, as was the Xiao long bao. However, the rest of the meal, while it was yum and I enjoyed it at the time, wasn’t particularly special in COMPARISON to some of the other meals we had. Considering during the busy season you’re required to eat off the $89 set menu and it was also our most expensive meal of the trip, I probably wouldn’t go back unless I was going on a whim, chasing a walk in table outside, where you can order off the a la carte menu and have a few cheeky cockys. Obviously, it’s iconic so I’m not saying not to go, but just be prepared to pay A LOT and maybe think yeah this is good, but not like to die for. GET ME? Next.
Helen’s Heavenly Whole Foods CafeTHE BEST ACAI BOWL I’VE HAD! Get the large, you won’t regret lol. Nestled amongst the beautiful clothing shops of Burleigh Heads’ James Street, Helen’s Whole food Café must not be overlooked. A menu that incorporates every health food variation from hemp seeds to maca powder, the fresh juices and Acai bowls are worth every penny!
Justin LaneThe place to be. PERIOD! While it was a little quieter the few nights we went, you can tell this is a place where the people go. SO.. expect a line, but it will be worth it! Pizza and cocktails beneath their signature neon sign ‘Booze, food & good vibes’, need I say more? Pizzas were YUMMMM, get the seafood one. Also, I feel like my recommendation might be slightly biased because it was after a fair few beers and if you know you know, food ALWAYS tastes better, however, I digress. JUST GO!
Pink MonkeyRight next door to Justin Lane, I was at first a little confused if this venue and Justin Lane were one because they’re the same layout with the same kind of food, but NOPE they’re not. I get the feeling this place has become more of a come here on a Friday and Saturday night for many drinks. Their cocktails were ace (serving all the classics) & it’s quite a vibe in terms of the type of music etc. but we did also eat here. The food was neither here nor there. We had the spanner crab spaghetti and the charcoal chicken with papaya salad and chilli. Quite yummy but also around $35 for a main that wasn’t that big or overly special. So, I reckon skip the meal and come for a beer and a boogie instead.
Tarte Bakery & CafeRun by the original owners of Paddock Bakery, this place makes you feel like you’re a Parisian lybl on a Paris street corner, waiting for your creamy coffee and fluffy croissant. We came here when we were extremely hungover and boy was it a good choice. Not only did we share a croissant, raspberry and white chocolate turnover muffin AND a pumpkin spiced crème brulee but we got the salmon & cream cheese bagel and a bacon and egg milk bun roll. OOOOOPS hehe. Safe to say we spent $60 just like that and weren’t hungry for the rest of the day but BOY was it worth it. OH, also their loaves of bread (baked fresh daily) are THAT good, even if they are $10. Carbs tho.
Maman Bar & KitchenNot bad, not the best, especially for the price. If you’re seated in the private dining room, of no fault of the staff, the sheer curtains make it kind of easy to be forgotten about. The food is actually pretty tasty but the portion size for what you pay is quite small, so if you’re going in a big group, order more than you would think you would need. Cocktails I can’t fault and the wine was delicious. They have a bottle of Sangiovese that comes served chilled & I can safely say I’m now a chilled red lover!
Paddock BakeryAMAZING. Breakfast outstanding, so many options to choose from that actually all look like they’re done well. From eggs and avocado, nourish bowls to smoothies and everything in between. The amount of food you get for what you pay is also super generous, so go for brunch and you’ll absolutely be satisfied until dinner! Also… you simply CAN’T leave without picking up a lil treatie from their cabinet. We got a Nutella stuffed choc chip cookie and a cinnamon cruffin & BOY they were simply delightful.
Red Hot CodMarket themselves as premium fish and chips and yep they’re right. It’s going to set you back about $60 for two and that wasn’t even including drinks, BUT it was actually done well! Not the largest serving size, their medium chips I could’ve inhaled in about two bites, BUT after consuming a piece of beautifully seasoned grilled snapper and an Asian style slaw, I was actually content with the amount. They also randomly offer other Asian style dishes like a Nasi Goreng (which looks amazing), poke bowls and satay skewers, so give it a go if you’re feeling fwannncy.
California TacosAverage, crap margaritas on tap, taste like cordial. The idea of the taco plate is great, serving x2 tacos with a serve of corn chips and fresh salsa, but the execution of the tacos wasn’t the best, too loaded and they subsequently fell apart.
Currumbin
Pasture & CoStumbled across this place during our visit out to the Currumbin Rockpools. A cute little eco café, with an accompanying fresh grocer out the back, this place has everything from carrot cake to nourish bowls. We were desperate to go back to try one of their ACE looking bagels but ran out of time. 100% recommend making the trip if you have a car!
Balter Brewing CompanyThe XPA will be on tap in every pub you go to and YUMMMM. Get a tasting paddle and ask for whatever they recommend. I LOVED and went back for the session and they also had a gin spritz on tap combining fruity flavours, their pale ale with gin and it was so refreshing! On Thursday nights, Mexican food truck Zicatela is set up, offering everything from fresh Nachos, tacos, burritos and Chimichanga’s** (Glowed up burrito with melted cheese on top, you won’t be disappointed) and honestly what a vibe!
Rainbow Bay
Rainbow Bay SLSCLocated right down the bottom of Gold Coast just by the border with NSW, this beautiful spot has an amazing view overlooking the beach. After spending a day swimming, it would be a disservice not to head up to the balcony and have a couple of schooners ($11 for two might I add – unheard of) and a cheeky Parma or pub fish and chips!
