Author: Kerry Heaney, originally published at Eat Drink and be Kerry
Flying under the radar for most, you’ll find plenty of top Sunshine Beach restaurants and cafes around Duke Street. This spot on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast will keep you eating from breakfast to dinner and in between, with a range of delicious food options different at price points.
Unless you are in the know, there’s not much reason to divert off the David Low Way towards the beach, but then you would miss out on the fabulous food. It is located south of Noosa (but part of the Noosa Shire) and you can walk from Sunshine Beach through the Noosa National Park towards Noosa, but it is quite a hike. This area to the south is Sunrise Beach.
Sunshine Beach is, in real estate talk, a tightly held enclave. It’s a mix of mega-rich beach front mansions, palatial housing and apartment complexes. I’m talking houses like the $17 million house that has been owned by the likes of ex-prime minister Kevin Rudd, Betty’s Burgers founder David Hales, and originally, Pat Rafter. Your neighbour across the road with a beachfront property might drive a Maserati or a Lamborghini.
Located just a few kilometres south of Noosa Heads, Sunshine Beach is the start of a long stretch of open coastline dotted with other beach villages towards the south. Most of the year the locals, and there are quite a few, have it to themselves, but in peak periods it gets quite busy.
What makes this area special is the cosy community feel of Duke Street at Sunshine Beach which has been colonised by top-end coffee shops, eateries, restaurants and providores. There’s a large communal area under the fig trees where children play while their parents dine at restaurants overlooking the space.
It’s a popular spot for dog lovers too and you’ll see plenty of pampered pooches enjoying a stroll with their owners. The dog beach just under the headland is another asset to the suburb.
Each time I visit Duke Street in Sunshine Beach there seems to be something new to discover, but these are my favourites.
As befits the name there is a lot of their house-made XO sauce on the menu at Embassy XO. (XO sauce is an Asian condiment that is a combination of dried seafood, aged ham, and other seasonings). Expect plenty of local flavours including delicious Noosa Red tomatoes and Tin Can Bay scallops, all with an Asian theme. Embassy XO is highly regarded.
Underneath XO has been a series of pop up restaurants, although the current one, Cinque Terre has been there for a while. It serves authentic Italian food and pizzas. Next door is XO Cellars, an independent bottle shop where you can pick up good quality and unusual wines.
Humble on Duke is all about good, honest food and service, and the evolution of creativity in their menu that fuses Modern Australian with flavours and spices from the Mediterranean and Middle East.
The restaurants main focus is on handmade, approachable and highlighting fantastic local produce. The menu is everchanging, highlights seasonal produce and is designed to be shared.
This little hole-in-the-wall spot in Sunshine Beach is homely and welcoming, and you'll feel the love for genuine hospitality, fantastic food and delicious wine from some favourite regions in Australia and New Zealand.
Perched overlooking the vibrant Duke Street village, the newly reimagined Forty-Six fills the beautiful space recently vacated by O'Ren Brewhouse. Forty-Six promises to bring a unique blend of restaurant, bar, gelato parlor, wood-fired oven haven, and art gallery to the buzzing community of Sunshine Beach, where you can immerse yourself in laid-back coastal vibes at this dining escapade featuring delightful cuisine, refreshing drinks, and vibrant atmosphere.
It’s always been a good place to top up your pantry and fridge, but new owners have pushed The G Store to the next level. The range of local produce, easy-to-prepare meals, and gourmet treats is extensive. You can still get a magazine, a Magnum, and a can of pet food, but it’s definitely worth a browse for unexpected delights like the locally produced Wasabi and Lemon dressing that I couldn’t resist.
A Sunshine Beach institution, Marble Bar is a covered, but an open-air venue which offers drinks, snacks and light meals to a devoted crowd of regulars.
Formerly Entity Coffee, this spot has been transformed by new owners into the colourful local hotspot, Sunshine Social. They have widened the food offering and still roast on-premise. There is increased seating in the on-trend interior space, and an expanded range of food, mainly consisting of sweet treats to accompany your coffee.
The Deck is a long-time local cafe that opens for breakfast and lunch. Through the day, the café serves up its fare to umbrella-shaded tables on the deck. In the evening, the neighbouring Humble on Duke takes over and serves up dinner on the deck.
A recent renovation here has transformed a once typical surf club into something much sleeker and more architectural. Venture inside and you’ll still find some of the old club Sunshine Beach Surf Club remains, along with the stunning beach views from the deck dining space. Now the food matches the views.
If you are lucky enough to be here on a full moon, it’s fun to take photos of the water reflections from the dining deck. This is also a great place for a sunset drink.
I can recommend the Nasi Goreng as tasty and authentic (do have the prawns on top) and I was quite stunned by the Grilled Prawns on a Preserved Lemon Risotto Cake. On our last visit, we enjoyed a tender medium-rare eye fillet steak with bearnaise sauce and chippies and soft calamari on a bed of Asian slaw with just a hint of ginger, all topped with crisp shards of sweet potato.
Expect elevated flavours here and you won’t be disappointed.
Tip: Book well ahead. The word is out and this place is wildly popular.
