We've rounded up some of the best places for a night out to remember.
Market Bistro
Dining at Market Bistro, Maroochydore
Owned and operated by hospitality veterans Tony Kelly, Luke Stringer and Peter Marchant, Market Bistro is a refined European-style bistro without any stuffiness. Delight in dishes like duck frites for mains, feel nourished by the lovingly crafted home-made pasta or marvel at the flavour from a sirloin prepared on the wood-fired grill. Whatever your poison, here you can be assured that the chef master’s will take you on a journey of care and concern for ingredients that shine brightly on the plate.
Tip: Grab a bottle of wine from their wine store at retail prices and bring it upstairs with a small corkage fee. Beauty!
Honeysuckle Restaurant
Honeysuckle in Buderim
Mashing up flavours of East Asia with Modern Australia, the menu at Honeysuckle Restaurant has been designed to be shared banquet style with several small dishes and accompaniments. With a carefully curated sides list to enhance a new style of Yumcha experience, here you’ll find yourself on a sensory adventure with dishes like pork & kimchi dumpling, smoked fish larp and a side of green papaya, fennel, snake bean and cashews. Kapow!
Giddy Geisha
Giddy Geisha, Maroochydore
Right in the heart of the new Maroochydore CBD, Giddy Geisha is packing out night after night for its modern twist on Asian street food, breaking tradition without burying it completely. With a grungy industrial style fit-out and dishes like the 10-hour Braised Lamb Rendang hitting the spot with punters, along with Crying Tyger Beef and Red Duck Curry, go here for nibbles or dinner and brace yourself for a flavour explosion!
Harry’s on Buderim
Harrys on Buderim
Tucked away from it all in the lush rainforest setting of Buderim Forest Park, Harry’s on Buderim offers modern, French-inspired Australian cuisine from the charming backdrop of a 141-year-old homestead. Here, you’ll notice the ultimate attention to detail and skilled preparation with dishes like beetroot risotto and marinated Brisbane Valley quail taking you on a feast for the senses.
With award-winning chef Stuart Bell at the helm, Harry’s hosts popular monthly degustation events that sell out quickly. Book in and enjoy a night out on the historic back veranda soaking up the rainforest night noises and a beautiful array of seasonal dishes. Bon appetite!
The Boat Shed Cotton Tree
Cotton Tree
An old fave on the Sunshine Coast, The Boat Shed Cotton Tree is one of those places that you'll remember long after visiting. Located right on the Cotton Tree waterfront, take in the setting sun over the calm, turquoise waters looking toward Mount Coolum and the northern coastline, while enjoying a sundowner or two with your mates. Locals will agree this is one of the ultimate places to enjoy a moreish seafood feast (after all, who could refuse menu items like calamari with lemon mayonnaise?).
Orléans
Have you ever tried genuine cornbread? It’s next-level scrumptious. For a taste of the deep south, make your way to Orléans for some classic, well-loved fare. Drawing inspiration from classic New Orleans cuisine with a Modern French Orléans twist, Orléans brings the spice, the killer sides (green beans with a bacon dressing, anyone?) and a trendy atmosphere. Get your night going with flavoursome favourites like Chipotle Bourboun Glazed Pork Belly and Seafood Gumbo, or dial it up with a four-course tasting menu. Let the festival of flavours begin!
Elixiba
Ocean Street, Maroochydore
Get ready for a sensory joy ride at Elixiba, a plant-based dining experience that goes beyond the plate with its intricate, forest-themed wood carvings and hanging plants, creating an otherworldly vibe. Here, the menu is made from scratch with wholefood ingredients and a solid dose of flavour. Let the Humble Burger rock you with its plant-based patty or lose yourself in the spiced flavour haven of their Noble Nachos.
With cocktails infused with rare botanicals and elixirs like the Indonesian Jamu, infused with vibrant spices, Elixiba has struck the perfect match between good health and fun times. Make sure you try the best hand-cut chips (with garlic aioli) in the hood. Seriously, they’re the bomb.
The Nautical
Serving Sunday seafood platters until sold out or freshly shucked live oysters with beer, the crew at The Nautical have nailed the art of beers, cheers and refined, modern seafood from their Ocean Street bar-restaurant. Whether it’s local sand crab Singapore style, Hervey Bay Scallops with pork belly or sea-farmed barra, drift in here for succulent seafood prepared with deep respect for the flavours and the textures of the ingredients.
