6 Best Restaurants in Sunshine Coast, Queensland

By day, grab an outdoor table and watch the world drift by with a perfectly balanced flat white, as Moonstruck, a Hastings Street hole-in-the-wall, has excellent coffee. At night, soak up the art deco decor and mood lighting with a dirty martini (or two)—it has a 50-plus list of Australian boutique gins and great cocktails. 

Offering delicious breakfasts, tasty lunches, and some of the best fish-and-chips on the Sunshine Coast, Sandbar Cafe has something for everyone. Its breezy location, right on Bulcock Beach, makes it a great place to escape the heat while treating yourself to some smashed avo on toast, a breakfast burger, or the signature Chef's Brekky, with roasted pork belly, chili beans, goat cheese, and toasted sourdough. Breakfast is available till 2 pm, and a separate lunch menu offers Asian-inspired salads, seafood and burgers, as well as a range of wines by the glass or bottle, and craft beer on tap.

Spectacular views of the bay from the open dining area make a stunning backdrop for this fashionable restaurant's Mod Oz cuisine. The fresh, tropical menu highlights local seafood, though landlubbers can partake of several meat and vegetarian dishes (think lamb rump, caramelized pork belly, duck confit, or risotto verde). Open from 7:30 am till late, daily.

Keep your fuel up for long days of swimming and surfing with a stop at Raw Energy, where freshly made smoothies and juices, hearty burgers and wraps, and fair-trade coffee will give you just the boost you need. So successful that it sparked a chain, here you'll find light and healthy fare including protein- and superfood-packed smoothies; seasonal, locally flavored fruit, veggie, and green juices; and an array of burgers stacked sky-high with fresh ingredients.

With its prime oceanfront position, and a large all-weather open deck overlooking the beach, the Sunshine Beach Surf Club is the kind of place you could sit for hours just soaking up the view. Fortunately, the food is also excellent, with highlights including salt-and-pepper squid, fish tacos, and their signature nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice), as well as a range of classic pub fare like burgers, steak, chicken parmy, nachos, and pizza. A courtesy bus operates Friday through Sunday between Peregian and Noosaville, and there’s live music on Sunday. Also a great place for a weekend breakfast after a surf at one of the Sunshine Coast’s best beaches