Holidaying with the family in Noosa should involve strolling the national park’s winding tracks, cooling dips at crystal-clear beaches and bays, and exploring the plethora of markets and local villages – not making three types of meals, scraping dishes, and soaking pans.
So, whether you’re craving cheesy pizzas, towering burgers or perfectly-golden fish and chips, skip the supermarket and hit up the best family-friendly restaurants and cafes in Noosa.
Nothing screams “I just holidayed in Noosa” more than a jaunt to Betty’s Burgers – the burger chain that originated in this neck of the woods and has since taken over the country, one burger at a time. Walk your sandy feet and wet hair from the beach to Betty’s for an easy, fuss-free meal and whatever you do, don’t leave without wrapping your lips around their signature dessert. Kids will love the chocolate or vanilla ‘concrete’ aka frozen custard ice-cream, dotted with M&Ms, Maltesers or meringue. It does get wildly busy and there is almost always a line, but one bite and you’ll taste why.
With two local surf clubs dishing up million-dollar views for a much smaller price tag, dinner at the surfy is almost a compulsory event when visiting Noosa. Both Noosa Heads Surf Club and Sunshine Beach Surf Club have nabbed stunning beachfront positions, so you’ll be chowing down on a bucket of prawns and slurping fruity cocktails while soaking up glistening ocean scenes and salty breezes. When the kids get antsy, there’s a foosball table at Sunshine with their name all over it.
Stepping off the boardwalk and into the much-loved Bistro C, you’ll see there’s no need to shelve the beachfront dining experience that’s synonymous to Noosa, just because you’ve got the tots in tow. Flavourful dishes packed with local produce, a bustling atmosphere and of course, those stunning ocean vistas, make this one of the best family-friendly restaurants in Noosa. Book a table outside and you’ll be able to watch the kids play in the sand a few metres away.
After a long day at the beach, Peregian Beach Hotel is the ultimate place to wind down with woodfired sourdough pizzas, craft beers and live music. Family-friendly with plenty of seating options, the menu also caters to vegans, vegetarians and other dietary requirements, so no-one is left out! Leave the tablet in the car and grab the colouring sheets and pencils on offer to keep the little ones distracted. If that doesn’t work, the cheesy Margherita or linguine meatballs – without a doubt one of the best kid-friendly dinners in Noosa – will silence them.
Overlooking Peregian Beach Village Square, Periwinkle is a brasserie dishing up French Mediterranean cuisine for the whole family. Let the kids run wild on the grass or dig in the sandpit, while you get busy feasting on tarte flambé loaded with smoked salmon, crème fraiche, lemon confit, chives and white onion, followed by steak frites. Also, worth noting, this restaurant is open for breakfast on the weekend and their goats cheese omelette backed up by a Nutella crepe will put you in a food coma before you can say “Merci!”
A brewery, distillery and casual eatery, Land & Sea ticks all the boxes when looking for the best family-friendly dining in Noosa. Bring the brood, including the dog, and nibble on the Grazing Board, filled with meats and local cheeses, washed down by a chilled lager. With pinball machines and a large outdoor area for the kids to burn some energy, it’s easy to see why families flock to this warehouse-style establishment on the regular.
A welcome middle ground when adults want to dine at one of the best restaurants in Noosa and have children tagging along, Noosa Waterfront Restaurant and Bar is the epitome of casual elegance. Sitting on the sandy shores of Noosa River, this classic Italian joint is renowned for its impeccable food, extensive wine list, friendly service and incredible location – bi-fold doors open the restaurant to the river on one side and a green space perfect for little tykes to run around, on the other.
Travelling with extended family? Café Le Monde is one of the best cafes in Noosa for larger groups. This Hastings Street icon has been around since the ‘80s and whipping up seasonal produce into simple but tantalising dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner is what they do best. With a substantial kids menu, an indoor/outdoor setting and a convenient location across from Noosa Main Beach, this local institution is a winner all year round.
Feast on a three-tiered seafood tower while floating on the water at Noosa Boathouse. Sprawling over three levels, the best bet for young families is grabbing a waterfront table at the bistro and delving deep into the seafood-heavy menu. Not sure the kids will sit still long enough? No worries. You’ll find a hole-in-the-wall takeaway shop out the front, where succulent pieces of freshly caught fish are battered with Heads of Noosa Beer and served on a bed of crispy but fluffy chips. Get comfy on the grass nearby and take in the sunset views; if you’re lucky, it’ll be to a soundtrack of live music that pops up on the weekends.
If you’re hunting for a casual kid-friendly restaurant in Noosa, head straight to Sushi Yah Man. Loved among locals for its super fresh Japanese fare and upbeat reggae soundtrack, this buzzing hotspot is as unpretentious as they come. Get the kids involved with the sushi train or head in for lunch to nab one of their bowl specials – the teriyaki salmon is divine.
