Airlie Beach
The smell of strong coffee beckons you inside this deservedly busy corner cafe. Perch at the limited indoor and outdoor tables and dig into the fresh…
Must-see restaurants in Queensland
Sunshine Coast
On the banks of the Maroochy River, the Boat Shed is an evocative choice for sunset drinks beneath the sprawling cotton tree. When your belly starts…
Brisbane & Around
The Woolshed is home to a daytime cafe with beautiful pastoral views and hearty, bistro-style food showcasing regional produce and wines. The museum is…
Sunshine Coast
Just up the street from Moffat Beach, this breezy hangout peddles great coffee blends, craft ales and ciders, as well as decent cafe nosh. Local…
Rainbow Beach
Not actually on the beach (although not far from it) this welcoming, open-fronted Italian restaurant is set back from Rainbow Beach's main drag, behind…
Cairns
If you're not familiar with the term, a jaffle is a filled and sealed toasted sandwich made in a jaffle iron and that's just what Jafflehead makes…
Fraser Island & the Fraser Coast
Treading a line somewhere between Japanese, Korean and Western, this glass-sided corner restaurant serves some of Bundaberg's most interesting food. Never…
Sunshine Coast
There are many ye olde lolly shops in this neck of the woods, but Sweets on Maple licks them all. The old-fashioned sweets parlour lures in passers-by…
Capricorn Coast & the Southern Reef Islands
Facing west towards the sea through a curtain of green, this indoor-outdoor pub-bistro has the best outlook for a sundowner in 1770. Part of the salty,…
Capricorn Coast & the Southern Reef Islands
Basic groceries, fuel and local information are just the fundamentals at this laidback little bush grocer's, which doubles as a welcoming, licensed cafe…
Sunshine Coast
Bohemian down to its tasselled lampshades and Liberace tomes, Piano Bar peddles generously sized, pan-Mediterranean tapas (order one or two at a time)…
Gold Coast
The Fire Cure crew brings a little bit of BBQ to the beach, though this is no snags-and-thongs affair but more of a Latin American twist. Share-style…
Sunshine Coast
Tuck into brekkie or lunch at this bright, easy chain. The focus is on healthy, nutritious grub, from a 'super muesli' bowl laden with seeds, goji berries…
Cairns
If you're chasing good old-fashioned tucker without any fancy-schmancy accoutrements (or a hefty price tag), head to the bistro at the local RSL club…
Brisbane
When it all gets too much, find solace in a steaming bowl of pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) at this cheap, humble bolt-hole. AJ's broth is fragrant and…
Capricorn Coast & the Southern Reef Islands
The real draw at this pavement-side fish-and-chip joint is local catch so fresh it may as well have just jumped out of the waves in front of you. Red…
Port Douglas
It's quite a splurge on an authentic Italian feast at this legendary local eatery but it remains a favourite in Port Douglas. The brainchild of owner-chef…
Airlie Beach
Set back from the main drag in central Airlie, this handsomely timbered, open-sided cafe is known for its all-day breakfasts (the rösti with smoked salmon…
Sunshine Coast
Opposite the boardwalk and with ocean views between the pine trees, My Place channels a beach-shack vibe. It's a go-to for sunset cocktails, shared 'tapas…
Airlie Beach
You're surrounded by trippy, Pop Art-y faces of Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and other Vegas luminaries as you bite into a beef patty piled high with blue cheese…
Whitsunday Coast
This little hole-in-the-shopping-centre-wall restaurant is a dead cert for authentic Malaysian and Cantonese food. Staples such as seafood laksa and char…
Whitsunday Coast
Grab some carnivorously inclined friends, head for this US-style 'meatery' and craft-beer bar and go straight for the Pit Master's Plate – a platter…
Brisbane & Around
Spice up your Toowoomba tenure with a visit to Royal Indian, one of the city's most underrated restaurants. From the curries to the tandoor, dishes burst…
Brisbane
Wrapped up in London-themed wallpaper and hessian coffee bags, this industrious Woollongabba bakery turns out freshly baked cakes and tarts, as well as…
Capricorn Coast & the Southern Reef Islands
Not a lot of thought went into the name, but the food is deservedly popular at this beachfront Thai restaurant. No need to takeaway of course – you can…
Rainbow Beach
The prime corner location – a deck open to the ocean breeze in the heart of town – is the obvious draw here, but the food's not bad either. Check to see…
Cairns & Far North Queensland
This wonderful, welcoming, original-timber country pub is one of the most evocative in the state, let alone on the Tablelands. It often hosts live jams…
Fraser Island & the Fraser Coast
Housed within a faux windmill, this charming little cafe offers lots of space for the kids to play on the grass while their parents spread out and…
Fraser Island & the Fraser Coast
Bundaberg's most popular hotel-restaurant is busy all day. The pub food is a step above the competition with tapas, share plates, pizzas, steaks and…
Rockhampton
This laid-back place bills itself as a tapas bar, but there's not much Spanish about it, and in reality everyone's here for the steak (and the drinks)…
Capricorn Coast & the Southern Reef Islands
Flour does a great line in home baking, alongside set-you-up-for-the-day breakfasts such as golden smashed potatoes with bacon, poached eggs, rocket, feta…
Noosa
One of the cheaper options on Hastings St, super-casual Hard Coffee lurks inside a nondescript food court. The food is simple but tasty, with options like…
Gold Coast
Five kitchens here serve one rambling indoor-outdoor communal dining space, strung with fairy lights, flush with pot plants and packed with happy eaters…
Whitsunday Coast
Serving typical Australian pub fare of seafood, steak and pasta, the old Eimeo is more than the meals on its menu. The property has watched the sun set…
Gulf Savannah
The original 140-year-old pub burnt down in 2012 and was completely rebuilt and reopened in 2013. What it lost in old-time character it gained in shiny…
Whitsunday Coast
Poffertjes (little sugar-dusted Dutch pancakes) are a standout breakfast item at this popular corner cafe, where the menu encompasses such crowd-pleasers…
Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms
Townsville & Mission Beach
A 30-minute drive west of Townsville, the tradition of scones and high tea is alive and well in the tropics. Set in a 19th-century heritage building, the…
Cairns
The white walls and blue-accented windows do a great job evoking Santorini, but it's the classic Greek dishes that are the star of the show here. The…
Airlie Beach
Everything about this family-run cafe says 'wholesome': the menu, full of vegetarian and vegan dishes (vegan muffin with avocado and chutney, homemade…
Cairns & Far North Queensland
Frogs has been on the Kuranda eat-scene since 1980: even the local water dragons hang out here. It's extremely popular but retains a casual Kuranda vibe…
