Calling all culinary connoisseurs, we’ve got the ultimate foodie destination for your next sun-soaked getaway—and it’s going to make everyone you know jealous. Fringed by postcard-perfect beaches and lush, greenery-cloaked mountains, Noosa is punching well above its weight when it comes to gastronomic delights.
From eateries nestled on buzzing Hastings Street to restaurants perched on the water's edge, the vibes here are immaculate and the dishes are bucket list-worthy. Just a few hours’ flight from Melbourne and Sydney, or a short roadie up the M1 from Brisbane, there’s never been a better excuse for a Noosa escape.
Already drooling? Pack your bags, arrive hungry and work your way through this tasty round-up of the best restaurants and bars in Noosa.
OUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS AND BARS IN NOOSA AT A GLANCE
- Lucio’s Marina
- Humble On Duke
- Bistro C
- Noosa Beach House At Sofitel
- Noosa Cruiser
- Bang Bang
- Lanai Noosa
Lucio’s Marina
Transport your taste buds to Northern Italy with a soul-nourishing meal at Lucios. Nestled on the edge of the Noosa River (which affords the eatery goosebump-inducing sunsets), the 60-seat, hatted trattoria blends decades-old family recipes with fresh-from-the-trawler local produce.
Snag a set on the deck and soak up the beauty of Noosa while tucking into bug bon bons (fried bug tails with honey mustard) and our personal fave, tagliolini 1983—fine green pasta loaded with K’gari spanner crab and tomato passata. Pro tip: this is best mopped up with a hunk of their housemade rosemary focaccia.
Humble On Duke
With just 14 seats available at this intimate Sunshine Beach eatery, a meal at Humble on Duke is all about savouring top-notch produce, lovingly prepared by the restaurant's solo chef, Stacey.
The space may be small but it’s bright and colourful, the service is joyful and the food—which leans towards Middle Eastern—tastes like a warm hug. Opt for the ‘feed me’ menu and prepare for a feast or let the chef decide what lands on your table. With a focus on Australian and New Zealand produce, previous drool-worthy dishes include peppercorn-crusted Westholme Wagyu T-Bone, Lebanese fried dumplings with spiced lamb and pistachio semifreddo with figs and roasted white chocolate.
Bistro C
When you picture what it’s like to dine in absolute paradise, Bistro C is it. Perched just steps from the powder-white sand of Main Beach, you’ll smell the salt of the ocean as you sip an expertly shaken espresso martini.
Fitted out like a chic, Hamptons-esque beach house, the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner with stellar views aplenty. On the menu, you’ll find big hitters like miso glazed Atlantic salmon, confit duck leg and caramelised pork belly. To finish, make sure you check out their dessert cocktails. The salted caramel colada (Malibu, spiced rum, coconut ice cream and salted caramel) seriously slaps.
Noosa Beach House At Sofitel
Located at the luxury Sofitel Hotel, Noosa Beach House is the ultimate spot for a decadent dinner. The hatted eatery has a strong focus on farm-to-table produce, with much of the menu using ingredients sourced from local Sunshine Coast producers and small-scale Queensland farmers.
Devour grilled Mooloolaba swordfish with flamed mussels and smoked mussel butter or Moreton Bay Bug bisque with clams, fennel and garlic crouton. Don’t sleep on their dessert menu either, the fig tarte tatin with vanilla bean ice cream is a game-changer. For something more casual, swing by for a long lunch at the Noosa Beach House eatery during the day.
>Noosa Cruiser
If you’re looking for something a little different for your next culinary adventure, then book yourself a spot on the Noosa Cruiser. Departing from Noosa Marina, climb aboard your floating restaurant and cruise along the pristine Noosa River, taking in the stellar views and wildlife while you dine.
Choose between the two-hour lunch or two-and-a-half-hour dinner and you’ll feast on a delicious three-course meal with dishes like 16-hour slow-cooked lamb shank or slow-cooked grass-fed ribeye tomahawk steak, with tiramisu to finish.
Bang Bang
Flavour bomb upon flavour bomb is what you’ll find at Bang Bang. Nestled in the middle of vibrant Hastings Street, you’ll likely smell this delicious pan Asian eatery before you see it.
With an open kitchen slinging dishes like kingfish sashimi, crispy duck and kao soi (a slow-cooked chicken coconut curry with mustard greens), dine in their lush urban jungle, get cosy at the bar, or recline outside, sipping an artfully created cocktail while soaking up the sun.
Lanai Noosa
Sitting pretty on the banks of the Noosa River, Lanai is the perfect spot for everything from a long lunch to a romantic dinner. This is the kind of eatery you’ll want to linger in, with beautiful views, an achingly cool interior and a menu brimming with locally sourced seafood and incredible cocktails.
Need help ordering? Start with oysters laced with zingy finger lime and Davidson Plum vinegar, before tucking into the Mooloolaba prawn sanga with myrtle mayo, followed by the Huli Huli chicken (charred with pineapple and miso ranch) and the Coral Coast barramundi with saltbush, caper and finger lime. Drooling? Us too.
Ready to start living the sweet life in Noosa? Just a short flight from Sydney and Melbourne or a road trip away from Brisbane, let the gastronomic adventure begin. Head here to start planning the ultimate foodie vacay.
Editor’s note: This article is sponsored by Tourism Noosa and proudly endorsed by The Urban List. To find out more about who we work with and why read our editorial policy here.
Image credit: Supplied.