Sunrise snacks to sunset sips – where to dine during this year’s Horizon Festival
In early May, the Sunshine Coast’s best and brightest will come together for the tenth anniversary of Horizon Festival – region’s signature celebration of the arts. Over ten days, events will be taking place all across the coast, from the Glasshouse Mountains in the south to Coolum Beach in the north. If you’re making the trip up, we’ve compiled a handy list of places to dine in between events, from hinterland bistros and seaside steakhouses, to primo pastry spots and cool cafes.
With a program boasting more than 35 events in a myriad of locations across ten days, Horizon Festival is making it incredibly easy to fill up an itinerary. With that in mind, it’s important to make sure you’re fuelled up for big days and long nights – starting with the morning coffee hit.
While the Sunshine Coast isn’t short on top-tier caffeine dispensaries, we find the best plan of attack is to hit up a spot close to one of Horizon Festival’s event hubs. Maroochydore in particular is a hotbed of festival activity, from an exhibition at Equity Makers and concerts and the festival’s basecamp at The Metropolitan (The MET). Wax Espresso on Duporth Avenue is a vinyl record store and cafe hybrid serving silky brews, sweet treats and sublime sounds.
Further south in Caloundra, where festival venues like Kings Beach Park, Library+ and Caloundra Regional Gallery can be found, family-run artisan bakery The Pastry Lab is beloved by locals for its handmade pastries, cakes and toasties – the perfect place to pick up a bite before hitting up an exhibition or two.
If it’s closer to lunchtime, there are a few dynamite places we’d recommend. Up in the hinterland sits Mapleton Public House – one of the coast’s most acclaimed regional nosh spots. Here, head chef Cameron Matthews serves up sensational farm-to-table fare, drawing ingredients from the venue’s own regenerative property, The Falls Farm. With events taking place in Mapleton, Maleny and Montville, Mapleton Public House is perfectly situated for a pre- or post-event feed.
Back in Maroochydore, Samila Gaeng is a vibrant restaurant that specialises in authentic Thai flavours, with traditional dishes like khao soi, kana moo grob (crispy pork belly with wok-charred greens) and pla tod kamin (southern Thai-style whole fried fish) on the menu. In Mooloolaba, not far from The Wharf, Liliana’s Trattoria is ideal for classic, homestyle Italian dishes – think meatballs, spaghetti alla carbonara and woodfired pizzas.
As the afternoon transitions to evening, a few sundowners are in order. If you’re up in Coolum for Yauar Warai Wandi – Sing, Dance, Gather, Coolum Beach Bar near Lions and Norrie Job Park is a true neighbourhood hangout – a go-to spot for sunset cocktails in view of the beach. Happen to still be in the hinterland? It’s hard to go past Brouhaha’s Maleny kitchen and taproom, where you can savour seasonal gastropub fare while sipping schooners of the brewery’s award-winning suds.
After a day of cruising up and down the coast, make tracks to one of the region’s best local eateries for a bit of dinner. If you’re down Bokarina way, Tony Kelly’s chic Italian-inspired restaurant Bocca Italian is a great pick if you are craving antipasti, pizza, pasta and a vino or two. Near the Mooloolaba Spit, Fish House Steak & Grill – Todd and Kristine Young’s beachside restaurant – celebrates land and sea in equal measure, with a Japanese-tinged menu featuring premium dry-aged beef and line-caught seafood.
Subscribe for updatesFurther inland, culinary institution Spirit House in Yandina is a must-try venue for anyone visiting the Sunshine Coast. If you’re passing through on the way to or from Nambour (an epicentre of Horizon Festival action), we suggest making a booking to try Spirit House’s contemporary Asian cuisine.
Horizon Festival is running across Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country from May 1–10. Click here to read all about this year’s jam-packed program.
This article was written in partnership with our good friends at Horizon Festival.
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