WAT Den. Credit @chevaunehindley
While we've certainly got the day-time fun covered, the Sunshine Coast is also home to some fabulous drinking hotspots around Mooloolaba and Maroochydore. Even better, local produce has also made its way onto the drinks menus, making these your go-to nightlife gems!
Ocean Street Maroochydore
If you’re looking for a dining experience with a funky food ambiance, then Ocean Street is the place for you! Packed with an eclectic array of restaurants, bars and cafes, you’ll find everything from Asian-fusion at Junk to South American tapas to old-fashioned American burgers and locally caught Mooloolaba seafood. Kick on and enjoy a relaxed, cosmopolitan atmosphere in one of the many bars on Ocean Street. With vintage-style bars, chic wine bars and bars for live music enthusiasts you’re sure to find the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail, glass of wine or an ice-cold beer.
WAT Den
Set right on the stunning Mooloolaba Esplanade, WAT Den brings a touch of Melbourne to its trendy cocktail bar experience. With its sleek interior and array of drinking experiences, this is a must-visit spot for you, your partner, or friends. Be sure to try out WAT Den's Cocktail Masterclass, which includes a beer or Prosecco on arrival, followed by an engaging tasting session.
Backlane Bar & Street Food
Backlane Bar & Street Food
Since arriving on the Mooloolaba dining scene, Backlane Bar & Street Food has generated a serious buzz from those who know their merlots from their malbecs. The winning wine and cocktail list is paired with an eclectic tapas menu featuring modern Mediterranean delights such as zucchini flowers and spanner crab, cuttlefish with black rice, buttermilk and romesco salsa, or piquillo peppers, smoked local fish with celeriac. The vibe is casual, the service convivial and the interiors are cool and modern. Open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 3 pm "until the lights are switched off" - it's the perfect spot for a late-night tipple and nibbles.
The Dock
Marina views at The Dock Restaurant & Bar at the Wharf Mooloolaba.
The Dock Restaurant and Bar at The Wharf Mooloolaba has become THE place for Friday night drinks, Sunday sessions and catch-ups with friends. The fit-out marries heritage features, including vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, and reclaimed bricks and timber, with modern treatments such as the concrete-topped bar and exposed copper pipes. The menu features smoked meats, charcoal grill and fresh seafood - with plenty of options for your vegan and gluten-free buddies. Desserts? We're making a bee line for the peanut butter parfait, with stout, chocolate ice-cream and caramel popcorn. Book your holiday and then count the days 'til you're relaxing on the sprawling deck that overlooks the Mooloolah River.
TAPS Mooloolaba
The mix master in action at TAPS Mooloolaba. Photo: Amy Higg
Beer lovers will totally froth on this hip bar just off the main drag on Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba. Inspired by the European practice of ‘pour-your-own’ beer, purchase a $5 token and then pour as much - or as little – as beer as you like for the same price as a schooner. Sip and sample a range of craft brews including Four Pines Summer Ale, handcrafted Stone & Wood Pacific Ale and Germany’s Newstead Marzen. You’ll want to wash down your beer with more beer, but leave room for some ‘poutine’ (that’s Canadian for chips, cheese and gravy). The TAPS guys also bring a serious cocktail game to the bar with an extensive list of blends you can enjoy by the glass or teapot.
Spice Bar Mooloolaba
Spice Bar, Mooloolaba
Spice Bar creates delectable Asian fusion cuisine that has been recognised in TripAdvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Awards as a must-do fine dining experience. The bar and dining area have spectacular ocean views that make the perfect backdrop to a session of unforgettable feasting. The delicious and exquisitely presented dishes make this restaurant a true foodie destination – make sure your phone is charged and your Instagram feed (if not your stomach) will soon be bursting with the kitchen’s colourful handiwork. Order share plates from the menu, or let the chef take you on a sensory journey with the celebrated degustation banquet featuring Mooloolaba prawns, Hervey Bay scallops, numbing chicken, and beef tatiki.
Augello’s Ristorante & Pizzaria
Augello's Mooloolaba - winner of 'Best Pizza in the World' in 2017. Photo: Amy Higg.
Augello’s Ristorante & Pizzeria in Mooloolaba has a cruisy vibe and is a great spot for a casual lunch with friends or a family meal. Dine alfresco on the deck and watch the parade of beautiful people on the Esplanade, or mosey upstairs to enjoy breathtaking ocean and beach views from the balcony. The restaurant serves top-notch Italian cuisine and you’ll find just-like-Nonna-used-to-make classic dishes and modern interpretations of traditional favourites on the menu. Order the duck a l’orange pizza with fig-infused dough, apricot sauce, confit of duck, feta, pomegranate and candied rind - and you’ll see why Augello’s has taken out the “World’s Best Pizza” award numerous times.
The Surf Club Mooloolaba
Mooloolaba Beach Surf Club.
Open for lunch and dinner, The Boathouse Restaurant in Mooloolaba’s Surf Life Saving Club offers generous serves of hearty fare – all served up with a side of stellar beach views. Enjoy club classics such as chicken schnitty or fish ‘n’ chips - or feast on mod Oz delights such as sand crab and zucchini fritters with house-made relish, or prawn and pork belly salad with nam-jim dressing. The bar boasts a range of craft, premium and imported beers, an extensive wine list and the friendly mixologists will whip up a cocktail for your Sunday session on the expansive deck.
Coastal Cruises Mooloolaba
Sunset Cruise in the Mooloolah River with Coastal Cruises Mooloolaba
Coastal Cruises Mooloolaba deliver a quality seafood and cruising experience – in fact, if the fish was any fresher it would still be swimming! Your Coffin Bay oysters, Hervey Bay scallops, and Mooloolaba prawns are collected en route from the Mooloolaba Seafood Market, and are prepared in the kitchen as you relax and soak up some of the best water views on the Sunshine Coast. There's also an evening cruise that coincides perfectly with cocktail hour. Seafood, sunsets and cosmopolitans on the deck anyone?
Parkyn Parade Seafood Precinct
Mooloolaba is home to the largest fishing fleet on Australia’s eastern seaboard and the Parkyn Parade Seafood Precinct is the place to source fresh seafood for your next seafood BBQ, picnic or Christmas lunch.
Basket of fresh prawns caught off Mooloolaba Beach
This bustling precinct is a working port - so there’s lots to see, do and eat. Stroll the shorefront and take in views of the sparkling waters from the marina, or, watch the fishing trawlers unload shoals of fish, crabs, and Mooloolaba prawns into the waiting kitchens and retail outlets that line the parade. If you don't feel like cooking, position yourself at one of the numerous seafood restaurants along the waterfront and dine on classic fish ‘n’ chips, sushi and sashimi, or a la carte seafood cuisine. It’s all good.
