With views of Manly Harbour and Moreton Bay, this new-this-year, Hampton-style enterprise combines a restaurant, fish and chipper, gelateria and coffee shop. The restaurant proper is where’ll you’ll find the best views, with indoor and outdoor seating and a menu that runs from casual fare like Moreton Bay bug sliders, fish of the day and a simple bucket of prawns, to barbecued rock lobster with scallop butter and a range of steaks. 4 Trafalgar St, Manly; manlyboathouse.com.au.

Already right on a beautiful reach of the Noosa River, this waterfront favourite has expanded into the adjacent restaurant space long occupied by Wasabi. Now more diners can enjoy dress-circle views while tucking into, say, baked scallops, roasted Mooloolaba king prawns or whole roasted Coral Coast baby barramundi, plus finish with caramelised white chocolate cake. 2 Quamby Pl, Noosa Heads; rickys.com.au.

Relocating early this year to a new home on the banks of the Brisbane River, with stunning views across the water to the CBD, this upmarket Italian boasts a wine list this month judged Queensland’s best at the Australian Wine List of the Year Awards. Pair selections with spaghettini with champagne lobster, or brisket and smoked bone marrow-filled agnolotti. Shop 1, River Quay, Sidon St, South Bank; ottoristorante.com.au/brisbane.

Perched on Burleigh’s shoreline, this is the ultimate oceanfront restaurant, with a rocking pan-Asian lineup. Set menus are available to avoid any potential festive fallouts. Otherwise think the legendary bug rolls, crispy suckling pig with XO sauce or red curry of Sichuan roasted duck breast. 3/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads; rickshores.com.au.

This overwater bar right on the edge of the City Botanic Gardens is open from breakfast (breakfast pizza anyone?) through to the evening, when diners can enjoy small plates, pizzas and platters such as the ploughman’s platter, or the seafood, with wood-fired scallops, oysters, fresh prawns and smoked salmon. 59B Gardens Point Rd, Brisbane City; willandflow.com.au.

Boasting a large outdoor area taking in the river out the front, and huge CBD views, Yoko, with its broad menu from snacks to a raw bar, noodles, charcoaled fish, wagyu beef and set menus, is a must for waterfront lovers. The Wharves’ Stanley, Felons, Greca, and Ciao Papi are also on the river. 2/5 Boundary St, Brisbane City; yokodining.com.au.

New this year, just a couple of metres from the water, this buzzing Greek restaurant is relaxed and stylish with a massive menu including dips and pita bread to oysters and caviar, seafood, mezze such as flash-fried calamari or lamb ribs, as well as large plates including lamb cooked on the spit. 123 Eagle St, Brisbane City; opabar.com.au.

This grungy take on Asian street food has created queues since it threw open its red barn-style doors a few years ago. With an outlook over the marina and the Mooloolah River, tuck into 10-hour coconut-braised beef, duck bao, dumplings, curry, ramen and sticky pork belly with burnt lime caramel. 123, The Wharf Mooloolaba, Parkyn Parade, Mooloolaba; riceboi.com.au.

After a closure of several months while the hotel adjoining was renovated, Sails, right on the boardwalk at Noosa’s Main Beach, is back into the fray with a classic menu such as a sashimi plate to begin and main courses including barramundi, Moreton Bay bug or prawn linguine. 75 Hastings St, Noosa Heads; sailsnoosa.com.au.

Deriving its name from its position on the edge of the Nerang River, this relaxed restaurant and bar serves a modern Australian menu for lunch and dinner daily (plus breakfast on weekends) extending from oysters and small plates to pastas and mains including sticky pork belly and 24-hour cooked beef short rib with duck fat potatoes. This is a venue for lazy long lunches and partying into the evening. Shop 3 G7, Capri on Via Roma, Via Roma, Surfers Paradise; edgewaterdining.com.au.