Where to dine out on your holidays this year

From beachside cafes to coastal restaurants, we reveal the best spots to eat out at in your favourite vacation destinations.

Restaurant Labart and Paloma

8 West St, Burleigh

While a $125 set menu is essential for dinner, lunch can be either set or a la carte, with barbecue prawns, tomato risotto with scallops or whole roasted chicken among the options. With sibling venue Paloma Wine Bar just opened in Burleigh’s
James St, the fun is now spread across
two venues.

restaurantlabart.com

Restaurant Labart, Burleigh Heads. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

Bistro C

49 Hastings St, Noosa Heads

Smack bang in the centre of Main Beach, right on the boardwalk above the sand, is this long-time favourite that runs from breakfast to dinner – with beach views. From 5pm, dishes might include tandoori prawns, squid-ink linguine with surf clams or caramelised pork belly with turmeric fried rice.

bistroc.com.au

The Bistro C in Noosa.

Oaks Beach Kitchen and Garden

Nancy Cl, Oak Beach

Not far from Port Douglas, in an outdoor cooking area beside a garden filled with lime and mango trees, ex-Melbourne chef Ben Wallace and Rachael Boon offer Thai cooking classes and a $110pp chef’s table experience Thursday-Saturday.

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A dish from Oaks Kitchen and Garden in Oak Beach.

Market Bistro

Market Ln, Maroochydore

Open seven days a week, this bustling French-style bistro in what will be the new Maroochydore town centre offers a broad menu such as wood-fired calamari, tortellini with confit duck leg or maybe a roast pork chop with mustard fruit dressing.

marketbistro.com.au

Market Bistro at Maroochydore.

Sum Yung Guys

205 Weyba Rd, Noosaville

After shutting shop at Sunshine Beach last year, the uber-popular Sum Yung Guys is in larger digs in Noosaville. It’s noisy, busy and the food is up to the challenge from crying tiger short ribs, to salmon curry, chargrilled chicken, and mussels wok- tossed with Thai chilli jam and lemongrass.

sumyungguys.com.au

Harrisons Port Douglas

Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas

Right by the lagoon pool at this beachfront resort, the up-market menu could include grilled tiger prawns, burrata with scorched figs, painted crayfish with truffle hollandaise or diamond shell clam linguine.

harrisonsrestaurant.com.au

North Room

Harrisons at Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Port Douglas. Picture: Marc McCormack

1/2527 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

This intimate 28-seater is the work of husband and wife Tim and Shannon Stewart. Tim is in the kitchen turning out elegant multi-course menus inspired by the best local produce interpreted in modern and creative ways; while Shannon is front of house, delivering charming, knowledgeable service, ensuring guests feel at home. Their signature degustations may include anything from lobster with anise myrtle to quail with blackberries.

thenorthroom.com.au

The North Room, Mermaid Beach. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

Kyomi

The Star Gold Coast, 1 Casino Dr, Broadbeach

Led by acclaimed executive chef Chase Kojima, this contemporary Japanese restaurant is revered across the coast for its standout sushi and sashimi using only the best quality fish. Try the impeccable seared scampi nigiri or the spicy tuna roll, or consider dishes from the robata grill, including 7+ wagyu, with maybe tempura vegetables on the side. With a premium wine list and innovative cocktail offering to match, this is a place to spoil yourself.

star.com.au/goldcoast/restaurants/kiyomi

Kyomi at The Star, Broadbeach.

Citrique

JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa,
158 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, this sleek, resort restaurant offers an ocean and paddock to plate dining experience, with as much produce sourced from the nearby Tamborine Mountains and surrounds as possible; and there’s an on-site herb garden and apiary. During the week diners will experience a share-style menu of big and small plates such as plump Moreton Bay bug dumplings, roasted lamb rack or lavender honey-glazed duck. On weekends it’s all about their famous seafood buffet.

Citrique seafood tower at Surfers Paradise JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa..

citriquerestaurant.com

Elk Espresso

Shop G044 Oasis Shopping Centre,
Surf Pde, Broadbeach

This Gold Coast institution delivers some of Queensland’s best cafe fare. Continually adapting and improving its menus, as well as changing ingredients with each season, the food here is innovative, fresh and delightfully out of the box. Expect classics and everything from ham hock croquettes with poached eggs, to coconut and Vietnamese mint panna cotta with granola.

elkespresso.net

A breakfast spread at holiday hotspot Elk Espresso in Broadbeach. Picture: Brooke Darling