Rickys River Bar & Restaurant

Rickys River Bar & Restaurant has been trading in laid-back elegance on Noosa River since 2006 – practically a lifetime in hospitality. Key to this long-time success is its dedication to local produce, including fruit, veg and herbs from the restaurant’s own Maravista Farm, and seafood from the surrounding region.

Signature dishes include fried three-cheese-stuffed olives with aioli for dipping; a garlic- and chilli-loaded spanner-crab spaghettini with lemon cheeks on the side for spritzing; and passionfruit soufflé with white chocolate and passionfruit curd.

Rickys’ waterfront location demands an order of freshly shucked oysters and a plate of gin-cured kingfish dressed with lime and coconut. For mains, it might be whole roasted fish of the day with seaweed butter, or locally caught white fish fillet with celeriac puree and prawn bisque. For red-meat enthusiasts, there’s also an eye fillet from the NSW Riverina and a sirloin from Queensland’s Southern Downs.

The cocktail list is perfect sunset fodder – particularly the aptly named Sunset Martini (vanilla vodka, rose syrup, lychee, lime and apple). Local beers by Heads of Noosa Brewing Co and Land & Sea are on offer, alongside a strong showing of Australian wines, with a few international drops for good measure.

A renovation in 2022 saw Rickys double in size, as it took over the space next door. White walls, pale timber floors and cane light features let the views do the talking. Speaking of, floor-to-ceiling windows – which open for maximum exposure in summer – look out to the river, and a separate al fresco bar encourages pre-dinner tipples.