Uncovering the Best Eumundi Restaurants & Bars

ByEddie and Kelli Updated on
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The tiny, vibrant town of Eumundi in the north Sunshine Coast hinterland has been punching well above its weight when it comes to creative endeavors and innovation. Naturally, the culinary scene here is no exception. We took a trip to find the best Eumundi restaurants and bars.

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I spent two years living in Sunshine Coast Hinterland nearby Eumundi. However, that was thirty-odd years ago now and a lot has changed, both for me personally and with the town of Eumundi.

Given I was a toddler then I feel I’ve developed, and I have certainly gotten bigger. Eumundi’s has also changed … however, its growth has come without expansion and without sacrificing its small country town charm.

Eumundi has also retained its mantle as one of south-east Queensland’s more artistic and creative rural hubs attracting innovators in a variety of industries and disciplines. Of particular note is the restaurant scene here which has come to the fore in recent years.

I returned with my wife to spend a week reconnecting with the region and discovering the best Eumundi restaurants and bars.

The 5 Best Restaurants in Eumundi

Bask
Popina
Eumundi Coffee Roasters
Eumundi Markets
Alfresco’s Garden Cafe

The Best Eumundi Restaurants

Bask Eumundi – for the Long Lunch

The menu at Bask, one of the best Eumundi restaurants.

Saturdays are the day for the long lunch at Bask.

A four-hour affair, lunch sittings begin at 12:30 pm with the last sitting at 1:30 pm and feature a set menu carefully curated by the chef using the seasonal, locally sourced produce that is available.

Four courses, tempt, taste, savor, and linger are drawn out over a warm arvo in Eumundi. Our experience began with house baked bread and garlic confit butter, simple, but more than enough to signal an excellent meal ahead. From there the meal continued to impress with manchego croquettes, ocean trout, halloumi roasted with sweet peppers, and an impeccable duck confit.

The short but thoughtful wine list rounded out the meal, and the whole experience was a truly wonderful outing in Eumundi.

Given the quality, length, and attention you experience over a long lunch here, Bask is a bargain at $100 per person for their set menu.

Overall Bask easily one of the best Eumundi restaurants.

Thursday evenings and Fridays you can order a la carte at Bask.

Eumundi Coffee Roasters – For Your Morning Fix

Cup of coffee cafe book Uncovering the Best Eumundi Restaurants & Bars

Eumundi Coffee Roasters is the best cafe for your morning fix in Eumundi. Its inviting decor, friendly baristas, and excellent coffee are just a few of the many reasons to pop in here during your time in Eumundi.

As the name suggests, Eumundi Coffee Roasters roast their own beans ensuring each cup of joe is as fresh as the next. You can also purchase their coffee to be used at home (which we highly recommend). They have a small selection of pastries available each morning.

Eumundi Coffee Roasters also hosts regular weekend brunches featuring local musicians, vegan meals, and, of course, their delicious coffee.

Popina – For an Intimate Italian Dinner

Mushroom lasagna and a glass of wine at Popina, one of the best Eumundi restaurants.
Shrimp drizzled with olive oil and herbs and arancini balls covered in parmesan cheese at Popina, one of the best restaurants in Eumundi.

Popina is the place to head for an intimate dining experience. With around ten tables, you are sure to have a memorable meal at Popina. Run by a husband and wife team, the ambiance and culinary creations created by these two is something not to miss during your stay in Eumundi.

A small focused menu allows the team at Popina to showcase the locally sourced seasonal produce that is used to create each dish. The dishes are inspired by the shores of Italy but leave room for a little Australian creativity to peak through.

The wine list while short and sweet is designed specifically for the menu.

The Eumundi Markets – To Have It All

“Make it, bake it, sew it, and grow it” is the tag line of the Eumundi Markets, one of the most the region’s largest and longest-running market the towns most famous attraction. the massive bi-weekly markets feature hundreds of stalls showcasing locally produced artisan products. Including tonnes of delicious food stalls.

Japanese stall in the Eumundi markets
Dim sum stall, Feng Hui, in the Eumundi markets
Eumundi markets Uncovering the Best Eumundi Restaurants & Bars

Featuring the best of the best food stalls from around the region serving up everything from Japanese ramen, Turkish gozleme and pide, woodfired pizzas, french pastries, and authentic northern American bagels to name just a few, the markets are definitely one of the best places to grab breakfast or lunch on Saturdays or Wednesdays.

Alfresco’s Garden Cafe – For the Sunday Session

This relaxed cafe just outside of Eumundi offers Mediterranean-inspired breakfasts and lunches, as well as freshly baked treats and delicious coffee.

A friendly welcoming atmosphere that extends to four-legged friends helps make this cafe one of the best Eumundi restaurants with a great community feel.

A fully licensed bar means it’s a great place to head on Sunday arvos to enjoy live music between 12 pm and 3 pm.

Alfresco’s also offers takeaway picnics for those heading into the hinterland or to the beach for a day out.

The General Slow & Smoked – For Barbecue

The General smoker
Beef brisket, french fries and pickles at The General Slow & Smoked in Eumundi

A relative newcomer on the scene, The General Slow & Smoked is located in the Pavilion Eumundi which is a small collection of shops, cafes, and bars. As expected, The General Slow & Smoked serves up delicious slow-cooked brisket, pulled pork, and wings. Loaded fries and nachos round out the menu.

You can choose to eat at the few tables outside of the food truck or take your meal up to the Tiki Bar and wash it down with a creative cocktail or cold beer.

The Imperial Hotel (Eumundi Hotel)

Where Joe leans into all things Queensland pub, the Imperial has swerved left. The historic Imperial Hotel has stood proudly on Eumundi’s main street for more than 110 years. Instead of being a relic of eras bygone, the Imperial Hotel has leaned into modernizing the quintessential pub of Australia. Today, alongside pub classics you’ll find contemporary options like wasabi-crusted salmon on soba noodles, ricotta fritters, and fragrant lamb tacos.

Joe’s Watering Hole – For a Pub Feed

It is an Australian tradition that when visiting a new country town, you must visit the local hotel to evaluate the quality of the pub feed. How cold is the beer, how big is the chicken parmy and good is the general atmosphere in the pub.

Well it doesn’t get much more local than Joe’s, and Joes ticks a lot of boxes. A traditional hotel going strong since 1891, they know how to keep the the punters happy with trivia, live music on Saturdays, pool tables, and darts.

This pub knows what it is, and does it extremely well.

The Best Restaurants Near Eumundi

Staying in Eumundi or the region for a while? The hinterland of the Sunshine coast has plenty of charming towns and beautiful regions all brimming with producers and culinary experiences.

Sunshine Coast Noosa Surfing Uncovering the Best Eumundi Restaurants & Bars

Spirit House

Nestled in the lush tropical surroundings of Yandina, Spirit House offers a unique dining experience that combines exceptional Thai cuisine, enchanting ambiance, and serene natural beauty. Often touted as one of the best restaurants on the Sunshine Coast, Spirit House has won numerous awards in Australia.

Drawing inspiration from traditional Thai street food and regional dishes, the menu at Spirit House showcases a diverse range of tantalizing flavors, aromatic herbs, and fresh local produce in an absolutely captivating atmosphere. The restaurant is set amidst a lush, tranquil garden adorned with lotus ponds, Thai sculptures, and lanterns, creating a magical and serene ambiance.

If you are looking for something more than just lunch or dinner, Spirit House also offers a hands-on cooking class where you can try your hand at creating your own Thai masterpieces. The classes cover various aspects of Thai cuisine from mastering basic techniques to creating complex dishes.

Boiling Pot Brewery

Boiling Pot Noosa Brewery Uncovering the Best Eumundi Restaurants & Bars

While we have tried mostly to avoid coastal restaurants around Noosa on this list to focus on hinterland offerings, Boiling Pot, located in the backstreets of Noosaville definitely deserves a mention.

Some of the best beers the region has to offer perfectly complement their European-inspired menu which features winners like Spanish garlic chili prawns, German sausage and sauerkraut spring rolls, Belgian white wine mussels, and slow-cooked Spatchcock.

Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co.

A little further afield in the neighboring town of Cooran is the delightful Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co. This small family-owned brewery is housed in an old timber joinery that has been beautifully transformed with its eclectic and creatively put-together furnishings.

At Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co, all the beers are brewed in-house in small batches with no preservatives. With seven craft beers, you are sure to find one that tickles your fancy. From the Cooran Crusher to the Hazo’s IPA and our personal favorite, the Kaffir Lime Saison, these guys produce great beer and it is the perfect place to drop by on a weekend (or weekday) afternoon.

Noosa Hinterland Brewing Co also serves light snacks, perfect for beer drinking. Think cheese and charcuterie platters, buffalo wings, beer-battered chips, and a ploughmans.

Pomona Distilling Co.

The neighboring town of Pomona just 18 kilometers north makes for a great outing when visiting Eumundi and stopping in at Pomona Distilling Co whether for food or drinks is a must!

One of the best things about Pomona Distilling Co is the atmosphere with its large open courtyard, (usually) live music, and friendly staff. Oh, and Pomona Distilling Co welcomes your four-legged friends making it a great place for an afternoon!

Pomona’s menu centers around public classics but taken up a notch. Instead of a traditional parm, consider the Korean-style parm. Consider trying their delicious BBQ brisket spring rolls or the tantalizing tempura broccoli bao buns. Whatever you decide from the menu, is bound to be delicious.

As for drinks, Pomona Distilling Co distills its own gin and vodka which is featured in all of its signature cocktails and spritzes.

  • Where: 18 Reserve St, Pomona QLD 4568, Australia
  • When: closed Monday – Tuesday | 12 pm – 9 pm Wednesday – Friday | 11 am – 9 pm Saturday | 11 am – 5 pm Sunday
  • How Much: From $24 pp for food and $20 per cocktail

Pomona Village Kitchen

This unassuming cafe in the Noosa hinterland country town of Pomona is easily one of the best places to grab breakfast, lunch, or brunch. The Pomona Village Kitchen uses the freshest ingredients from locally sourced, sustainable producers in the Noosa hinterland.

Their motto “Slow Food Express” ….

Showstoppers like PVK Eggs Benny your way, shakshuka and garlic greens, and smashed avocado deluxe are just a few of the many items on their brunch menu. Their lunch menu is equally as tantalizing with a variety of “sexy buns”, loaded spuds, and freshly caught barramundi.

Best Eumundi Bars

Eumundi may be small and close up shop early, but there are a few places to get around a schooner or cocktail if you are keen.

Imperial Hotel (Eumundi Brewery & Eumundi Distillers)

Easily the best Eumundi bar is the Imperial Hotel (Eumundi Hotel). This lively is one of the best in the area brewing its own delicious beer since 2017 and most recently opening up a gin distillery in 2020.

The Imperial Hotel regularly hosts live music and trivia night on Tuesdays. Make sure to book a table for trivia in advance as spaces are limited and fill up fast.

The Tiki Bar

You may be surprised to find a Hawaii-inspired bar in Eumundi, but this al fresco bar is just the place to be for creative cocktails and is one of the few Eumundi bars available. Located in the Pavilion, it is often busy with locals and tourists alike enjoying refreshing cocktails and delicious local beers from nearby breweries such as the Noosa Beer and craft beers from Land & Sea.

The Tiki Bar also regularly features kitchen takeovers such as German sausages, Japanese feasts, Mexican tacos, and Asian street food. Head over to their Facebook page to find out what is cooking tonight!

You can also bring your furry friends to the Tiki Bar, another added bonus.

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Hopefully, within this list of the best Eumundi restaurants and best Eumundi bars you will find something perfect for your trip! Let us know if you agree or if there is a Eumundi restaurant or bar that we missed by commenting below or sending us an email to thevanabonds(at)thevanabondtales.com.

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Looking to visit Other Small Towns in Queensland?

If you love a good country town and are headed up the coast of Queensland, here are a few small towns that are worth a visit.

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Eddie and Kelli

Out of a love of travel we met in a hostel in Estonia, one snowy Christmas night. Eighteen months later, we quit our day jobs in search of a more nomadic life style together.

Five years later, we are still traveling. Between us we have explored more than 80 countries, undertaken countless #vanlife adventures in more than 12 countries on 4 different continents. Most recently we have been learning to sail on our little boat whisper in the Mediterranean, falling in love with sailing and the live aboard lifestyle. While we travel and work work remotely as digital nomads.

Through this website and our vlog we hope to share some of the things we learn about the off-the-beaten path destinations we visit, about van life, sail life and working remotely from the road.

We are the Vanabonds, these are our tales.

Eddie & Kelli

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