Monica's Cafe
A long-running fixture on Maple Street, the main run of shops in the hinterland dairy town of Maleny, trading for well over a decade on a seasonal menu built around local and organic produce. What sets it apart from the district's more conventional country cafes is a dedicated vegan section rather than a token substitution or two: a sweet potato and lentil patty panini with curried tahini, vegan crepes, and burgers and salads that read as considered dishes in their own right. Dairy-free and gluten-free eaters are handled with the same ease, and the coffee is fair-trade. Open for breakfast and lunch seven days, it draws a mix of locals and weekenders up from the coast, and remains one of the few genuinely plant-friendly kitchens in the Blackall Range villages.