The 2023 Australian Good Food Guide Chef Hats have been announced and 10 Noosa restaurants have been recognised for their incredible food and renowned chefs!
The Chef Hats are awarded based on six criteria (ingredients, taste, presentation, technique, value, and consistency) and focus solely on the food produced at the restaurants. Throughout the previous year, food critics dine anonymously at restaurants across Australia and took public reviews into account when nominating these Chef Hats.
So, let’s get into the top 10 restaurants in Noosa as determined by the Australian Good Food Guide!
Located on Hastings Street just a few steps back from Noosa Main Beach is the fine dining restaurant, Locale Noosa. Locale is a refined Italian restaurant and bar and has received 14 Chef Hats, in recognition of its upscale modern Italian fare. Their seasonal menu features handmade pasta, traditional Italian antipasti, and desserts as well as an extensive beverage list.
At Sum Yung Guys you can expect delicious, inventive Asian fusion-style eats, with a menu that is designed to share with friends. This incredible restaurant has been awarded 14 Chef Hats for the amazing meals served up by MasterChef’s Matt Sinclair and delicious cocktails by co-owner Dylan Campbell. If you’re looking to check this place out for yourself, make sure to book well in advance to snag a table.
As per the name, the Noosa Waterfront Restaurant is nestled peaefully on a quiet inlet of the Noosa River. The elegant yet casual Italian feel of this locals-favourite is continued from the interiors through to the incredible food. Receiving 13 Chef Hats, indulge in the seasonal Italian menu featuring locally sourced produce and ingredients and enjoy the divine location at the same time!
An inherited classic from the streets of Sydney, Lucio’s Marina is the second generation of the famed Paddington restaurant, Lucio’s. The same art-wall remains, set within the elegant interior space overlooking a bend of the Noosa River, making it the ideal spot for an afternoon aperitivo with sunset views. An equally perfect location for an early kid-friendly dinner, long lunch, or grown-up dinner, the menu transports you to the Italian seaside, while honouring some classics from the original Lucio’s menu, and the well-curated wine list temps with everything from new-world skin contact offerings to classic European vintages.
Head over the hill to the beautiful Sunshine Beach and you will find the trendy restaurant, Embassy XO. Here you will be provided with the ultimate modern Asian dining experience with delicious meals and tasty cocktails! This long-standing favourite, beloved for their inventive Asian food and cosy bar overlooking Sunshine Beach village, has been awarded a very well-deserved 12 Chef Hats.
Watch the waves roll in on Noosa Main Beach as you spoil yourself to a long lunch or dinner at this beautiful Noosa institution. Experience a thoughtfully sourced Modern Australian cuisine complimented by an extensive wine list held in their three working wine cellars, which house one of the largetst wine collections in Queensland. Naturally, Sails Beach Restaurant and Bar received 12 Chef Hats for their incredible food and wine menus.
Situated amongst the buzz of the iconic Hastings Street is the Noosa Beach House Restaurant. This sophisticated restaurant was given 12 Chef Hats for its delicious European cuisine which is inspired both by global flavours and celebrates the Noosa coastal location. Whether you’re looking for an elevated dining experience or something more relaxed, the Noosa Beach House offers a restaurant menu and a bar menu to suit all preferences.
Fine Modern European cuisine in an elegant space with expansive water views is Rickys River bar and Restaurant in a nutshell. Just a short drive from Hastings Street, perched as close to the water as you can get is this incredible restaurant, which received 12 Chef Hats for their meals. You can even jump on the Noosa Ferry and arrive by boat!
If authentic Japanese food is what you’re craving, then look no further because Sumi Open Kitchen has got you covered. Located in the bustling Noosa Junction, sit back and watch as your delicious meals are prepared in the open kitchen! Sumi Open Kitchen has received 12 Chef Hats for its incredible, authentic Japanese food.
