A Foodie's Guide to Noosa

Situated on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, a two-hour drive north of Brisbane, is the always-buzzing resort town of Noosa. The balmy sunshine and blues skies; the calm, relaxing beaches and rolling waves; the waterways and lush national parks; Noosa is an ideal spot to hit the refresh button, as it’s practically impossible not to feel immediately relaxed here.

But beyond its natural beauty and friendly locals, Noosa is also home to some of the best restaurants and bars in Australia, thanks to being spoilt with amazing local produce and incredible chefs falling head over heels for the region. A leisurely stroll down Noosa’s famed main drag, Hastings Street will quickly make that apparent, as among the growing number of big-name boutiques you’ll soon discover gorgeous beachfront fine-dining restaurants, relaxed cafes, and ultra-stylish bars.

For accommodation in Noosa read about my stay at the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort and Tingirana Noosa

SAILS restaurant

Dining absolute beachfront at Sails Restaurant is a quintessential Noosa experience not to be missed. Set slightly back from Noosa’s busy beachfront thoroughfare, Sails Restaurant provides diners a little more privacy than its neighbours, yet still offers the same unbeatable views of Laguna Bay. Keeping a strong focus on fresh, seasonal produce, the menu at Sails Restaurant is a creative fusion of modern Australian cuisine.

View Sails’ menu.

75 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days Midday - Midnight

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

SANDCRAB LASGANE with raw tomato sauce, herb salad and pecorino.

PRAWN LINGUINE Eastern king prawns, Noosa Reds cherry tomatoes, garlic, chilli, manzanilla sherry, pecorino.

CHOCOLATE PUDDING Soft centred, Callebaut chocolate, vanilla bean ice cream, honeycomb shard.

CHOCOLATE PAVLOVA Belgin chocolate and hazelnut pavlova, espresso cream, hazelnut praline.

SUNLOVER House infused Blueberry Sunshine Bros local Vodka shaken with Creme de Framboise, Cointreau, cloudy apple and lemon juice.

RICKY’S RIVER BAR & RESTAURANT

A short drive from bustling Hastings Street you’ll find Ricky’s River Bar & Restaurant, perched directly on the picturesque Noosa River. Encapsulating the coastal and chic Noosa lifestyle, Ricky’s is a stylish, light filled space where all tables enjoy stunning waterfront views. The menu has a strong focus on showcasing the best of the local produce available on the Sunshine Coast and as such changes seasonally, though their signature Spanner Crab Spaghettini and indulgent Passionfruit Soufflé have remained on the menu for decades.

View Rickys’ menu.

2 Quamby Pl, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 5 Days Wednesday - Sunday Midday - 111.00pm

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

‘TANGLEWOOD’ ORGANIC SOURDOUGH with butter and smoked salt.

SPANNER CRAB SPAGHETTINI with garlic, chilli, shallot, lemon

MILK CHOCOLATE CREMEUX with hazelnut parfait, caramel, blackberries.

WINTER SUNSHINE Ketel One vodka, vanilla + cacao liquor, passionfruit, lime, raspberry.

bang bang

A popular spot in Byron Bay, Bang Bang recently opened in Noosa at the beginning of 2021. Sporting an almost identical pan-Asian-inspired, share-style menu to its original outpost in Byron, as well as a similarly eye-catching interior, makes Bang Bang Noosa a must-visit when in Noosa too.

View Bang Bang’s menu.

32 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days 5.00pm - Midnight (Sunday open till 11.00pm) 

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

ROTI CHANAI Warm and flaky paratha roti with satay dipper.

MORETON BAY BUG BUN Coconut poached bug tail with creamy Kewpie mayonnaise on a toasted milk bun.

STICKY PORK BELLY Succulent crispy pork belly with master stock caramel, herb salad and charred pineapple.

NOOSA BEACH HOUSE BAR

On busy Hastings Street, Noosa Beach House Bar at the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort is a prime spot to people watch whilst enjoying a selection of great value share plates or a more substantial meal between friends. A casual, relaxed and lively spot ideal for all-day dining, the bar is often buzzing with conversation and features live music on the weekend.

For overnight accommodation read about my stay at the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort

View Noosa Beach House Bar’s menu.

16 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days 11.00am - 9.00pm (Friday - Sunday open till 11.00pm)

1/2KG STEAMED TASMANIAN MUSSELS Classic white wine, garlic, hinterland cream and fresh sourdough.

GRILLED CHILLI PRAWNS with garlic, scallion, sesame.

ALOHA'S KISS Beefeater gin, Licor 43, pineapple, orange, lime.

STRAWBERRY CRUSH Cranberry, apple, strawberry, lime.

BISTRO C

Positioned absolute beachfront overlooking Noosa’s Laguna Bay, Bistro C is a Noosa institution perfect for anytime of the day, whether it’s a leisurely breakfast, long lunch, afternoon cocktail or moonlit dinner. A relaxed, light-filled space expect a menu inspired by and which celebrates the world-class local produce the Noosa region has to offer - think succulent steak, locally caught fish, oysters, and signature dishes such as caramelised pork belly, coconut chicken salad, and melt-in-the-mouth calamari.

View Bistro C’s menus.

49 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days 7.30am - 11.30pm

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

FREE RANGE EGGS ON SOURDOUGH Poached free range eggs on sourdough toast, charred capsicum relish.

EGGS BENEDICT Poached eggs, toast, bacon, roast tomato, hollandaise sauce.

VITALITY SHAKE Mango, raspberry, watermelon and apple.

CALAMARI Sweet chilli, lemon, coriander.

BEER BATTERED FISH with chips, apple cider aioli, gribiche salad.

STRAWBERRY DAIQUIRI

season restaurant & bar

Yet another restaurant and bar literally a stones throw from Noosa Main Beach, where you can hear the crashing waves and almost feel the sand between your toes as you dine, is Season Restaurant & Bar. Offering casual laidback dining, Season is ideal for relaxed all day dining or for a cocktail or two in the bar.

View Season’s menus.

25 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days 7.30am - 8.45pm

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

BUTTERMILK BANANA PANCAKES with berry compote, double cream, maple syrup.

BETTY’S BURGERS & CONCRETE CO.

Not every dining experience in Noosa has to feature three courses with matched wines, as thankfully other options do exist when you’re seeking a quicker and more affordable bite to eat - Betty’s Burgers & Concrete Co. is a perfect example. Offering the freshest, juiciest burgers, Betty’s Burgers Hastings Street store is where it all began, opening in 2014. Today the Sunshine Coast-born burger chain operates over 27 stores Australia-wide, with plenty more stores planned to open in the near future.

View Betty’s Burgers’ menu.

50 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days 10.00am - 8.30pm (open till 9pm Friday & Saturday) 

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

BETTY’S CLASSIC Angus beef, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, Betty’s special sauce.

FRENCH FRIES with sea salt seasoning.

CARAMEL THICKSHAKE

rococo bistro & bar

A multi-award-winning restaurant, Rococo Bistro & Bar on Noosa’s Hastings Street was made for people watching and a good time. Dine alfresco, beneath a canopy of shady trees and enjoy contemporary Italian cuisine using some of the region’s great produce whilst listening to the magical sounds of classic standards, lounge, jazz, show-tunes and cabaret.

View Rococo’s menus.

42 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days 7.00am - 11.00pm (Tuesday open from 5.00pm and Wednesday 3.00pm)

PINK GIN FIZZ Beefeater pink strawberry gin, lemon, sugar, strawberry puree, prosecco.

MITCH MARTINI Wyborowa Vodka, peach liqueur, lemon juice, passionfruit, cloudy apple juice.

NOOSA BEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT

A fine dining experience located in the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort, the Noosa Beach House Restaurant is a beautiful setting to treat yourself to a multi-course dinner, with its modern European, French-inspired menu utilising local and seasonal ingredients.

For overnight accommodation read about my stay at the Sofitel Noosa Pacific Resort

View Noosa Beach House Restaurant’s menu.

16 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days 5.00pm - 10.00pm

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

SOURDOUGH BREAD served with coconut butter, Australian olive oil.

BLACK PEPPER KING PRAWNS with grated coconut, black pepper curry leaf sauce, whipped paneer.

SRI LANKAN SNAPPER CURRY with aloo chop, basmati rice, condiments.

PAPPADUMS with red coconut chutney.

BOWL OF LOCAL GREENS Steamed seasonal vegetables, cultured butter.

EAST ASIAN ELIXIR Absolute Citron Vodka, lychee liqueur, lime, lychee.

MISS MONEYPENNY’S

First discovering Miss Moneypenny’s when it opened at the Gold Coast, we were keen to see where it all started. Offering a diverse range of cocktails, including its famed, must-try Pina Colada, Miss Moneypenny’s is the perfect spot for pre-dinner drinks - it’s not difficult to see why its been voted Best Regional Bar in Australia numerous times. But as a stylish setting, with a relaxed atmosphere and an array of tempting Mediterranean-inspired, share-style plates on its menu you’ll no doubt want to linger.

View Miss Moneypenny’s menus.

6 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days Midday - 11.30pm

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

SOLERO Absolut Vodka, Joseph Catron, passionfruit liqueur shaken with fresh lemon juice, mango purée and orange juice, topped with white chocolate foam.

HAPPY POPS

There’s nothing quite like a a gelato on or by the beach and with Happy Pops’ prime location metres from Noosa’s Main Beach, there’s no better spot to head. Served on stick, Happy Pops offers all-natural handcrafted artisanal gelato and sorbet pops made in Noosa. Using only the finest locally sourced ingredients, you can take your pick from the wide range of already-created pops available or let your imagination run free and create your very own!

View Happy Pops’ range.

49 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days 10.00am - 9.00pm (open till 9.30pm Friday & Saturday)

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

FRUIT PAVLOVA Pavlova, passionfruit, raspberries, white chocolate.

HAZELNUT & CHOCOLATE

NOOSA BOATHOUSE

Swap the ocean views for river views by taking a short drive to Noosaville. Literally perched above Noosa River, the three-level Noosa Boathouse offers absolute waterfront dining and drinking no matter the time of day. Drop by in the morning for coffee and pastries, enjoy takeaway fish and chips, dine-in for lunch and dinner at the restaurant and in the afternoon make your way to the venue’s top deck for the best sunset views in town and to sip on their famous Noosa River Sling.

View Noosa Boathouse’s menus.

194 Gympie Terrace, Noosaville QLD 4566

Open 7 Days 6.00am - 9.00pm (open till 9.30pm Friday & Saturday)

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

NOOSA RIVER SLING Bombay London Gin, blackberry liqueur, pineapple, cranberry, lime, soda.

el captaino pizzeria & bar

Old world pizzas and cocktails for new age sailors is what you’ll find if you make your way upstairs to El Captaino Pizzeria & Bar. Enjoy a wide selection of pizzas, all with a sourdough base made with fresh milled Australian certified organic flour and which has been fermented for 72-hours and hand stretched to order - the result is a beautiful old-world style pizza base with just the right amount of chew, crust and crumb. Beyond the base, pizzas are topped with the freshest, locally sourced vegetables, meat and seafood. So whether it’s a takeaway pizza on the beach or one over a few cocktails in the quirky, nautical-themed bar, a pizza from El Captaino is a must.

View El Captaino’s menu.

52 Hastings St Upstairs, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days 5.00pm - Late

WHAT WAS ORDERED:

SPICY PEPPERONI Pinos messinesse, provolone, red onion and basil.

massimo’s gelateria

There’s no shortage of places to get your gelato fix in Noosa, but the only way to truly end a day spent in the sun on Noosa Main Beach is with a few scoops of gelato from Massimo’s Gelateria, at the very southern end of Hastings Street.

75 Hastings St, Noosa Heads QLD 4567

Open 7 Days 9.30am - 10.00pm