The Sunshine Coast has long been South-East Queensland’s favourite destination for the laid-back coastal break. While a relaxed atmosphere pervades most of the coast, this unpretentious approach does not mean visitors have to sacrifice quality – particularly when the sun sets and it’s time to leave the beach for something to eat. There are countless fantastic dining options on the Sunshine Coast, and here are five of the most exclusive, memorable options.
Spirit House
Restaurant, Thai, $$$
If you’ve only ever had cheap mid-week Thai, it’s time to visit Spirit House to discover just how good a curry really can be. Located among the trees in Yandina, this restaurant has been around for many years and has never stopped disappointing with its high-brow, high-quality approach to Asian. Best of all, you can get there earlier in the day and learn how to cook it yourself at their cooking school.
The beachfront and esplanade at Cotton Tree is often absolutely crawling with young families, so it’s surprising that one of the best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast is found here – hidden behind the public pool, before you hit the caravan park. The restaurant itself is showing its age a little (as is their website), but the chefs still create unforgettable, highly rated bistro-style meals.
Spicers Clovelly Estate at Montville is one of the most elegant accommodation options on the range, so it’s no surprise that the attached restaurant also oozes effortless class and charm. The views over the range are to die for, especially at sunset, and the menu includes equally memorable Eurpoean-inspired delights – like coal-grilled duck, roasted kale with dried plum, and beeswax sorbet.
On an Esplanade famous for its fine dining options, Peter Kuruvita’s suave restaurant really stands out. Peter’s one of those celebrity chefs who is more about chef than celebrity, which is obvious when you peruse his sophisticated Sri Lankan-influenced menu. We’re sure everything is fabulous, but we find it pretty hard not to fall back to the seared yellow fin tuna with ruby grapefruit – a perfect way to finish a breezy day on the coast.
There’s a decadence to Wasabi’s minimalist approach – from the expertly curated interior to the ever-evolving menu – which leaves diners with the impression that this is Japanese dining at its finest. The menu is clearly inspired by the restaurant’s partnership with Honeysuckle Hill Farm, a local farm that specialises in distinctly Japanese ingredients like land seaweed, red perilla, white radish, burdock and chrysanthemum. To totally appreciate all that’s on offer, indulge in the Omakase menu – an innovative, surprising seven- or nine-course degustation experience.
