One thing you can count on in Noosa (apart from glorious sunshine) is an ever-evolving food scene. While the township and surrounding villages on Kabi Kabi land are popular for boutique shopping or exploring nearby national parks, in the past 12 months, a slew of fresh eating and drinking options has sprung up in this part of the Sunshine Coast, to the delight of locals and visitors about to stream along Hastings Parade for the school holidays.

For brunch

When brothers Alessio and Dario Zichichi opened Zibros, they brought an irresistible taste of Italy to Noosa Heads. The Sicilian-inspired cafe, restaurant and bar feels welcoming and familiar (perhaps due to the black and white murals of industry heavyweights such as Anthony Bourdain, Rick Stein, Julia Child and Marco Pierre White, with the brothers’ own likenesses soon to join them).

If you can stifle your urge to start the day by diving into the flaky cannoli with a decadently creamy ricotta filling, order a sharing board to choose your breakfast adventure. With three boards to choose between, you can dine on eggs, salmon, avocado, halloumi, seaweed salad and crunchy potato fingers.

Shop 1, 29 Sunshine Beach Road, Noosa Heads, zibros.com.au

For alfresco dining

After relocating from Eumundi in the Sunshine Coast hinterland to Peregian Beach, just south of Noosa, Bask is the kind of place where you can’t help but settle in for a very long lunch. Just off the high street, the restaurant embodies coastal sophistication, from the blonde timber and billowing white tablecloths to the expansive deck fringed by lush greenery.

The seasonal menu highlights hyper-fresh, locally caught and grown produce that is beautifully presented. Recent hits include succulent Mooloolaba prawns spiked with a sweet-sour escabeche sauce accompanied by golden carrots and roasted kumquat. Dishes such as the salted zucchini and ricotta cannelloni with roasted grapes and truffle salsa ensure vegetarians are looked after as well as omnivores.

Shop 3-4, 218 David Low Way, Peregian Beach, baskrestaurant.com

For seafood

The second-generation reimagining of the iconic Sydney restaurant Lucio’s overlooks a quiet bend of the glimmering Noosa River, and here, seafood rules. This is Italian coastal dining with a contemporary Australian twist. The fritto misto embraces the traditional Ligurian method of dusting petite morsels in semolina before flash-frying, and the small local school prawns and baby calamari are simply perfect swiped through the house-made mayo.

The restaurant is run by Lucio Galletto’s son, Matteo, and his wife, Dieuwke Alberstma. The pair support a local marine regeneration project by donating the restaurant’s empty oyster shells to create new oyster reefs in the riverbeds for threatened migratory shorebirds.

2 Parkyn Court, Tewantin, luciosmarina.com

For Cantonese flavours

Dining at Chinadina raises two questions. Number one – are you hungry enough to try everything on the menu, and number two – if not, how will you possibly decide what to order? Luckily, you can’t go wrong at this Hong Kong-inspired restaurant, where punchy flavours dominate and funky disco music is on high rotation.

Start with the steamed prawn har gau dumplings, plump in their translucent skins, before moving onto the pillowy bao, the buns packed with cracking pork belly and pickled vegetables. Must-try dishes include glossy caramel-hued Peking duck with hoisin sauce wrapped in delicate pancakes, while vegetarians shouldn’t miss the thick batons of sweet, crispy eggplant or the silken salt-and-pepper tofu puffs under a glorious rubble of fried shallots.

27 Mary Street, Noosaville, chinadina.com.au

For Mexican

In the surfside village of Peregian Beach is Mariella Mexicantina, a “south of the border” taqueria and bar. The cosy but beautiful interior draws on the calming hues of blush pink and dusky terracotta, while the menu focuses on dishing up authentic regional Mexican street food antojitos (little cravings). The flavour game is strong here, especially the blackened ribs of smoky corn with pimento butter and the tuna tostada, a fresh tumble of ceviche, avocado crema and pickled onion as delicious as it is tricky to eat. The drinks and margaritas are excellent, especially because they feature rare Mexican agave spirits. The spirits are fair trade.

42 Kingfisher Drive, Peregian Beach, mariellamexicantina.com.au

For an intimate dinner

While Humble on Duke isn’t the newest kid on the block, the tiny, colourful 14-seat restaurant continues to delight anyone who discovers it. At the helm is Stacey Conner who skilfully (and singlehandedly) curates a Middle Eastern-inspired menu drawing on her extensive travels, from Persian spiced duck breast and fesenjan sauce, to Turkish scotch eggs made with lamb and served atop a heady dollop of kasoundi. Leave room for dessert, especially if the caramelised banana with coconut “nice-cream” and date caramel is on offer.

48 Duke Street, Sunshine Beach, humbleonduke.com.au

For holiday house supplies

When you’ve indulged in the good life a little too long and a little too often, sometimes you need to hit reset. Enter Immune House, a hole-in-the-wall cafe that prioritises healthy and flavourful gluten-free food. The menu changes regularly, but expect from-scratch delicacies such as turmeric and lemongrass beef curry, freshly prepared salads, a rainbow of pressed juices and gourmet toasted sandwiches. The best part is that the fridge is full of grab-and-go meals and tasty grazing boxes, allowing you to get out into the great outdoors that Noosa is known for.

Shop 1, 48-54 Duke Street, Sunshine Beach, immunehouse.com

For Peruvian cuisine

Peruvian cuisine may be unfamiliar, but once you dine at Coya Noosa, you’ll wonder what’s taken you so long to explore the rich, satisfying flavours of Latin America. Some of the dishes hit immediate home runs, such as chicharrones de pollo (super crispy chicken bites) and the thin slices of hiramasa kingfish with coconut, green apple and spicy aji limo. Under the fairy lights of Noosa Junction’s bustling Arcadia Walk precinct, you’ll find an accessible, modern taste of Peru without needing to leave the country.

Shop 1, 14 Sunshine Beach Road, Noosa Heads, coyanoosa.com.au

Firm favourites

They may not be new, but don’t miss these classic venues when you’re in town.

Locale

A contemporary and sophisticated restaurant elevating Italian food with impeccable produce and handmade pasta. 62 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads localenoosa.com.au

Bang Bang

Get ready for a big bang of flavour with sticky pork belly, spicy curries and impossibly crispy Korean popcorn chicken. Shop 6, 32 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads, bangbangnoosa.com

Ricky’s River Bar and Restaurant

A long lunch or sunset drinks, there’s no place better than this spectacular waterfront restaurant. 2 Quamby Place, Noosa Heads, rickys.com.au

Bistro C

A firm favourite with both locals and visitors, Bistro C is a perfectly positioned venue overlooking Noosa’s main beach. 49 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads, bistroc.com.au

Sum Yung Guys

Asian fusion has never tasted so good, so book early to secure a spot at this buzzy institution. Shop 1, 205 Weyba Road, Noosaville, sumyungguys.com.au

Sails

An elegant beachside restaurant with an enormous wine collection. 75 Hastings Street, Noosa Heads, sailsnoosa.com.au

Lindy Alexander was a guest of Visit Noosa.