This informal and quirky venue whips up hormone-free, vegetarian, and weird and wonderful between-bun delights; the lamb burgers (especially 'Top Bun', with brie cheese, lime slaw, and piccalilli sauce; $14) are particularly divine.

With a selection of flavours as tall as the Tower of Pisa, and loyal local clientele who appreciate the ice creams' natural ingredients, this is definitely one of the best gelaterias in Queensland.

Fine dining without pretensions. This extremely popular eatery is, according to locals, one of the best in town. It lives up to the hype, with toothsome treats including superb fillet steaks, sticky pork belly, and a large range of creative vegie options. Definitely book ahead.

Unpretentious, but with a menu that's up there with the best of them, Gaston is a (beautiful-) people-watching paradise. Gawk at the passing parade over superb-value lunch specials (main and a drink $20) or dinner deals (two mains and a bottle of wine $55), offered during quieter periods.

This ever-attractive spot keeps long hours and the location, on the beach, is superb for a relaxing experience, from coffee to cocktail. Brunch offers the best value for money (try the corn-and-chive griddle cake, $22). In the evening, the locale's atmosphere wins over cuisine quality, but the bar is fun. Afternoon tapas is on offer, too.

Perfect beach views from the deck make for idyllic beer-sipping and reasonable (if erring towards the pricey) pub-food chomping. That is, everything from 'ironman' breakfasts (think eggs and bacon and a plateful of extras) to lunch- or dinner-time fish 'n' chips and burgers.

Beautiful Berardo’s is culinary utopia and one of Noosa's most famous restaurants. The elegance of its food matches the surrounds, an all-white affair with tinkling piano and sun-dappled chic. Ingredients are almost all locally sourced, with interesting little touches such as green mango and sugar-cane sauces.

In a perfect location on the Noosa River in Noosa Sound, this elegant restaurant is popular among the local businessfolk for looonnng lunches. It has as a simple, well-executed menu favouring local produce like Noosa spanner-crab spaghettini. The tapas menu is equally tantalising, and there's an excellent wine list.

A welcome addition to the coastal cafes, this lovely little spot, hidden up a small laneway, serves up some of the best bites around. Dishes are 100% vegetarian, organic and oh so tasty. The funky interiors comprise locally made lights and furniture.

Funk hits Caloundra. This gorgeous little pocket-sized coffee spot-cum-bar holds other surprises: its own ale and cider, good coffee blends and free-range ingredients. Go for the 'Gourmet Pocket of Joy' (a pie). It's the perfect spot to chill, or grab a snack and head to the beach, a short jaunt away.

Despite it's off-beach location, this is the current 'hot' place in town for its quality Italian fare served in unfussy, modern surrounds. On Sundays only, panini and burgers are the thing for a postswim lunch, or opt in early for fabulous breakfasts, from fancy raisin toast to excellent egg dishes.

This splashy, stinky and altogether atmospheric fish market-cum-shop sells the freshest of fresh seafood (what else?) in a variety of ways: order and eat on the upstairs Deck on Parkyn, buy fresh to take away and prepare yourself, or have the chefs cook your purchase so you can have a picnic in the park.

In short: this is where the local foodie crowd comes to play. This attractive, modern eatery with a red and black decor serves up superb Asian fusion cuisine. Share plates are the go – the likes of Hervey Bay scallops and 'Numbing Chicken' – chilli pepper–covered poultry parts that leave you 'zinging' for more. Offers a fabulous degustation menu.

A shabby-chic gem on the banks of the Maroochy River, great for sunset drinks beneath the sprawling cotton tree. Seafood is the star of the Mod Oz menu; after dinner, roll back to the outdoor lounges for dessert and some seriously romantic stargazing. Or grab a riverside sofa seat for sunset drinks.

Run by a highly trained and hands-on French pâtissier, Jean Jacques, this little place, on the corner of the village square, is indeed as Gallic as a croissant. As sink your teeth into a delectable eclair, macaron or quiche, you'll swear Peregian Beach Sq has just morphed into the Champs Elysee.

This fun spot is no little fratellino ('little brother' in Italian) to the cafes on this Sunshine Beach cafe strip. The kitchen pumps out Big Mamma quality Italian dishes including delicious homemade pasta and crispy-thin pizza. And, hurrah, the coffee is good, too.

This smart eatery's award-winning chefs pump out a concise menu, with an emphasis on seafood dishes. The daily line-caught fish is usually the star pick. Allow time for a meal here: sip on a wine and soak up both the atmosphere and the action from within Pitchfork's delightful, contemporary setting on Peregian Beach Sq. Then, err, dig in and enjoy.