Your Dinner Reservation Is Ready: Our Foodie Hitlist
We were engaged by The Urban List NZ to create the ultimate Noosa foodie hitlist, exploring the town’s standout flavours, all in the name of celebrating Jetstar’s direct flights from Auckland to the Sunshine Coast.
What unfolded was more than just a content shoot. It was shared plates, sunsets, riverfront cocktails, and some of the best food we’ve had in a long time.
Here’s exactly what we’d order again at our top three favourite spots…
Humble on Duke:
Shared Plates & Soulful Flavour
Cosy, intimate, and a welcome you don’t often come across. The staff here guide you through not just their insane shared menu but a truly intimate experience. At Humble, it’s all about passing plates, tasting local flavours, and experiencing the love of food together.
Our Favourites
Baba Ganoush with house made Turkish bread: completely addictive
Fava bean hummus & celery chermoula: bright, fresh and beautifully balanced
Shawarma spiced Margra Barnsley lamb: tender, spiced and packed with flavour
Chocolate milk pudding, coffee granita, tahini cream & halva: rich, layered and the perfect sweet finish
Lucio’s Marina:
Waterfront Elegance
There’s something cinematic about Lucio’s Marina: golden hour over the river, a calm setting, and soft light bouncing off the water. Lucio’s blends Northern Italian traditions with premium local produce. It’s where Italian culture meets Queensland’s lifestyle, and we think every plate reflects that harmony effortlessly.
Menu Highlights
Tuna Tartlets: sustainably caught tuna, crème fraîche & chives
Bianchetti: flash-fried WA whitebait with 'sea' salt & umami mayo
Pappardelle al Ragú (a.k.a. Phoebe’s favourite meal in town): saffron pappardelle, hand-diced ragú, lemon zest & bone marrow
Gianduiotto: chocolate & hazelnut mousse, orange coulis, pistachio cremino
It’s the kind of place where you look up and realise three hours have passed.
Ricky’s River Bar & Restaurant:
Chic Riverfront Dining
Picture this: golden hour light bouncing off the Noosa River, a gentle breeze, and a cocktail in hand. That’s Ricky’s. Chic but relaxed, it’s the perfect spot to unwind after exploring town or to toast a long day of foodie adventures.
Don’t skip this…
Start with the Mooloolaba Yellowfin Tuna Carpaccio:
delicate, fresh, and light enough to leave room for everything else.
Move to the Spanner Crab Spaghettini or Fire-Roasted Scallops:
perfectly balanced and bursting with flavour.
For mains, the Whole Roasted Baby Barramundi or Char-Grilled Swordfish are showstoppers!
Finish on a sweet note with the Dark Chocolate Mousse:
rich, decadent, and just the right size for sharing.
Our Tip: Time your visit for sunset.
The view over the river transforms the meal into a moment you’ll remember long after you leave.
So, when are we booking our next visit?
With love,
Phoebs & Kate