Get a taste of the Sunshine Coast’s freshest seafood and inventive produce-driven dishes at our favourite Mooloolaba restaurants.
There’s only one non-negotiable in Mooloolaba — washing a famed Mooloolaba prawn down with its heavenly saltwater comrades. From rich Italian and Mediterranean flavours to the king-hit spices of Asia, enriching the region’s best seafood through innovative techniques is a Mooloolaba restaurant prerequisite. Here, we gather the suburb’s seafood stars along with a handful of local players doing excellent work with land-bred produce.
1. Pavilion Mooloolaba
Toast your beach holiday with killer cocktails and Instagram-friendly share plates at Pavilion Mooloolaba. Climbing the stairs to level one where ocean views abound, you’re smacked with the venue’s calming coastal fit-out, all timbers and marble and 50 shades of white, while a Mediterranean-inspired menu features small and large plates, platters and pizzas.
Mediterranean-inspired share plates are the order of the day at Pavilion Mooloolaba. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Unsurprisingly, this Mooloolaba restaurant draws a glamorous crowd especially when the party kicks into gear come nightfall. Tropical tipples are devoured over dishes including Mooloolaba prawn sliders, forest mushroom arancini, a standout crispy barramundi, grass-fed eye fillet and 48-hour fermented sourdough pizzas.
Address: 26/121 Mooloolaba Esplanade, Mooloolaba
2. Bella Venezia
Handmade pasta, local seafood and authentic Italian flavours – Bella Venezia is a must-dine Mooloolaba restaurant every time you’re in town. It flows out onto the Esplanade, so you’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a tourist trap, however perfectly balanced, generously prepared dishes including a Moreton Bay Bug Tail spaghetti and a slow-cooked beef cheek ragout pappardelle, make this place exceptional.
Bella Venezia serves up exceptional Italian fare.
The vibe is traditionally Italian – rowdy, wine-fuelled and fun – so long lunching and languishing dinners are encouraged. Additionally, the wine list collates more than 400 drops, expertly selected from the world’s finest wine regions and vintages, to help keep the good times rolling.
Address: 95 Mooloolaba Esplanade, Mooloolaba
3. Pier 33
Live the high life at Pier 33, located within the former Mooloolaba Yacht Club and smack-bang in front of Mooloolaba Marina. The waterfront restaurant is dressed in Hamptons-inspired flair (think wall-mounted oars and a solid blue-and-white colour scheme), while its contemporary menu is split into four sections to showcase the diversity of local seafood. Highlights include the Raw & Cold menu’s Mooloolaba yellowfish tuna tartare, the Smalls menu’s Mooloolaba prawn roll, the Main menu’s lasagne with seafood marinara and the Share menu’s seafood platter with a sizeable haul of just-caught delicacies.
Address: 33-45 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
4. Fish on Parkyn
There’s plenty more to experience along this well-trodden strip, which runs east along Mooloolaba Beach past The Surf Club Mooloolaba. Fish on Parkyn is another great seafood-obsessed Mooloolaba restaurant, attracting long-adoring regulars for its ‘dock to table’ food philosophy.
Seafood chowder, pan-seared scallops, a flavour-packed seafood curry and a Moreton Bay bug linguine are standouts and there’s also a separate vegetarian menu and kid’s menu to explore.
The seafood-obsessed will be well looked after at Fish on Parkyn.
Address: 25 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
5. Spice Bar
Step inside the dark and moody Spice Bar to get your fill of the knockout flavours of Asia. Choose from a five, seven or nine-course degustation, two banquet menus (one with dessert and one without) or dishes off the a la carte menu to be transported to the streets of Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam and beyond.
Settle in for a degustation or banquet experience at Spice Bar.
Despite its theatrical fit out, the atmosphere is light and breezy as standout dishes including the duck swimming in five-spice plum jus and the spatchcock done with a blend of chilli, ginger and lemongrass, fill the space with mouth-watering aromas.
Address: 123 Mooloolaba Esplanade, Mooloolaba
6. The Dock Mooloolaba
Located within The Wharf, The Dock Mooloolaba sits right on the water offering million-dollar views, however the vibe remains cool and casual.
The vibe is relaxed at this Mooloolaba favourite.
There are usually 16 different beers on tap plus a consistent selection of stellar cocktails but everyone’s here for a quality feed and it’s not hard to see why.
Starters span fried calamari, a Fijian-style ceviche mixing up local reef fish, plus delicious king oyster mushroom skewers. Mains include a spanner crab linguine, pan-fried snapper, wagyu beef burger and a pale ale-bettered red emperor with chips.
Linger over a meal at The Dock and soak up the waterfront views.
Address: Within The Wharf, 123 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
7. See Restaurant
While you’re exploring The Wharf, don’t miss See Restaurant where your table is set over the water, so it feels as though you’re on a boat. The must-order is the ‘BBQ Seafood Tasting Plate’ stacked with king prawns, scallops, Moreton Bay bugs, raw salmon and calamari, but the entire menu utilises super fresh seafood and seasonal ingredients. They even do oyster shooters, a dreamy accompaniment to relaxed dining while out at sea.
Address: Within The Wharf, 123 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
8. Rice Boi
Asian street food is nailed at Rice Boi, a buzzing Mooloolaba restaurant located within The Wharf precinct. The interior mirrors the energy of a traditional night noodle market, complete with red lanterns and neon lights, and the dishes are piled with fresh herbs and spices so brace yourself for serious flavour bombs.
Vibrant flavours with a hint of Japanese are on offer at Rice Boi Restaurant. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Plus, there’s water views if you can grab a table at the rear of the restaurant known as the ‘beer garden’. Standout dishes include every one of their bao buns (the duck is especially yummy), plus the sticky char sui pork, katsu curry fries, barbecue ocean trout in banana leaves and beef carpaccio done Japanese style.
Address: Within The Wharf, 123 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
9. RB Dining
Sophisticated Asian dining is perfected at RB Dining, the Rice Boi team’s refined older sibling. But while subdued lighting and sleek minimalistic décor polish up the atmosphere, the team continues to nail their trademark flavour overload.
Subdued lighting and a sleek fit-out make for a refined night out at RB Dining.
Share snacks include the beef and betel leaf, prawn toast, pork wontons and pork belly miang before you’ll move onto the raw bar or mains that span a red duck curry, a 10-hour coconut beef short rib curry and fabulous barbecue chicken.
The prawn toast is a must-try.
Address: Within The Wharf, 123 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
10. Backlane
Whether you’re drawn to Backlane’s ‘From The Land’ or ‘From The Sea’ menu, tapas inspired by international street food is delivered with total flair. A vibrant venue filled with loud conversation, Backlane also dishes up cocktails and great beer and wine so there’s plenty to get excited about. On the ‘Land’ menu, you’ll find pork belly tacos, Karaage chicken, lamb koftas, chicken skewers and more, while there’s seafood saganaki, prawn and ginger dumplings, fish tacos and more floating around the ‘Sea’ menu.
Address: Shop 7, 19 First Avenue, Mooloolaba
11. Ton Khao Bistro
Feed your Thai craving at Ton Khao Bistro, Mooloolaba’s go-to for authentic Thai classics, making magic with seasonal produce and fresh herbs. The vibe is casual and understated, allowing the food to take centre stage. You’ll find all your usual players including cashew nut and basil and chilli stir-fries plus scene stealers like the yellow curry with Moreton Bay bug, a ‘Beach to Bush’ deep fried whole barramundi and a spicy roasted duck with beans.
Address: 19 First Avenue, Mooloolaba
12. Nouc Cham
Blending Asian street food with the Sunshine Coast’s outstanding seafood supply, Nouc Cham is an elegant Mooloolaba restaurant lifting the bar on Vietnamese cuisine. The interior is cosy with plenty of timber finishes while the food is illuminated with finesse and flavour. Choose from small plates including soft shell crab rice paper rolls, grilled XO scallops and grilled beef in betel leaves before launching into the main menu where a sizzling beef sirloin, roast duck, twice-cooked pork belly and several curries are dished up with love.
Address: 25 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
13. Il Vento
Take advantage of Il Vento’s woodfired oven, cranking out pillowy-soft red and white-based pizzas, as you sip on drinks overlooking the Mooloolaba Marina. This lovely Mooloolaba restaurant is located within The Wharf precinct, so the views are as magical as the carbs on offer.
Il Vento is located within The Wharf Precinct.
If you’re aching for pasta, take your pick from traditional favourites including Linguine Al Frutti De Mare, a seafood medley, Gnocchi Al Tartufo Nero with truffled cream and mushrooms, Spaghetti Ai Gamberi with local prawns and more.
Satisfy your pasta cravings with the Spaghetti Ai Gamberi with local prawns.
Address: Within The Wharf, 123 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
14. Prawn Star
You can’t leave Mooloolaba without visiting Prawn Star, even if it’s just for a selfie with the sign. But do decide to stay for a meal as dining in this restored fishing trawler is, hands down, one of the most iconic things to do in Mooloolaba. You’ll naturally find the region’s best prawns on the menu, plus crayfish, oysters, Moreton Bay bug and more, all fresh and absolutely smashing.
Head to Prawn Star and taste the region’s best prawns. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)
Address: Within The Wharf, 123 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
15. The Beach Bar & Grill
Keep things easy and breezy with a hearty feed at The Beach Bar & Grill on the Esplanade. Nailing American-inspired classics in the heart of town, the busy eatery offers a full menu of chicken parmys with seven variations up for grabs. Elsewhere on the menu, there’s Jamaican Jerk chicken wings, surf & turf, barbecue pork ribs and even a meat tray that combines the wings and ribs with spring rolls, kransky sausage and chips. Pure, unadulterated indulgence awaits.
Address: Shop 11, Landmark Resort & Spa, 11 Mooloolaba Esplanade, Mooloolaba
16. Fisheries on the Spit
Winning our vote for the best fish and chips in town, Fisheries on the Spit is an institution, frying up happy holiday memories since 1982.
Make a pitstop at Fisheries on the Spit when you’re in the beach town.
Flake, crumbed whiting, snapper and Atlantic salmon are all typically on the menu as is a crowd-pleasing Fisherman’s Basket filled with whiting, a seafood stick, a prawn cutlet, a seafood bite, pineapple fritter, calamari and chips. Burgers, Chiko rolls, battered savs, dim sims – the gang’s all here. Grab your favourites to go, and plonk yourself by the beach for the ultimate holiday bucket list achievement.
Address: 21 Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba
