Planning a trip to the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia or are you a Gold Coast local? Either way, don't miss out the top brunches and coffee finds from these cafes. Work your way through our ultimate Gold Coast cafe checklist!
The Ultimate Checklist of Gold Coast Cafes you must try:
Forreal Kitchen - Nobby Beach
BSKT - Nobby Beach
Poke Poke - Mermaid Beach
Background Barista - Mermaid Beach
Paddock Bakery - Burleigh Heads
Bam Bam Bakehouse - Mermaid Beach
Next Door Espresso - Burleigh Heads
Pasture & Co - Currumbin Valley
Cubby Bakehouse - Chinderah
Goji Granola Bar - Clear Island Waters
The Alkemist - Broadbeach Waters
Canvas Espresso - Nobby Beach
Blackboard - Varsity Lakes
Day Maker Espresso - Miami
Alfred's Diner - Mermaid Beach
Custard Canteen - Tallebudgera Creek
Greendays - Bundall
Cafe Dbah - Duranbah
The Milkman's Daughter - Mermaid Beach
Edgewater Dining - Clear Island Waters
Barefoot Barista - Mermaid Beach
Stable Coffee Kitchen - Tugan
Elk Espresso - Broadbeach
No Name Lane - Broadbeach
Little Mermaid - Mermaid Beach
Commune - Burleigh Heads
Wilderness - Palm Beach
The Elephant Rock Cafe - Currumbin
Bumbles Cafe - Budds Beach
Now for a little more detail below! We've added some of our favourite must try dishes & all the details you need.
The full cafe details: All of the dishes you can't miss ordering:
Location: Nobby Beach
When to visit: Open daily from 5am – 3pm for breakfast and lunch (with the breakfast menu available all day)
What we love about it: Forreal our number one café of choice, we love the large amount of outdoor dog friendly seating, yellow sun umbrellas and of course the food and amazing coffee.
Dishes you can’t miss:
Chilli Scrambled eggs: Creamy scrambled eggs on fresh sourdough bread mixed with Chorizo, feta and garnished with a little chili on top. Don’t forget to add the hash browns on the side too. This is one dish we can’t miss ordering on every visit.
Buttermilk Pancakes: Forreal aces their sweet menu! This thick stack of of fluffy pancakes comes topped with banana, chocolate and macadamia nuts.
Location: Mermaid Beach, Along Albatross Ave
When to visit: Open daily from 6am – 2pm on weekdays and until 3pm on weekends. Breakfast and lunch available
What we love about it: A menu packed with healthy and delicious options, or the perfect spot for a take away coffee as you enjoy a beachfront walk
Dishes you can’t miss:
Skinny eggs benny: A must try with the Kaleaise sauce.
Vegan Pancakes: Healthy pancakes never tasted so good!
Location: Mermaid Beach Village, Gold Coast Highway
When to visit: Open daily from 12pm – 8pm
What we love about it: While this is more of a lunch and dinner venue, we’ve added it here as we rate Poke Poke as serving up the best Acai bowls on the Gold Coast! And an amazing selection of savoury poke bowls with generous portions of meat too. We also love the tropical vibe, which is perfect for a post swim snack on the way home from the beach.
Dishes you can’t miss:
The Acai bowl with peanut butter
The Pork Belly bowl with a side of Roti Bread
Location: Mermaid Beach Village, Gold Coast Highway
When to visit: Open daily from 6am – 2pm
What we love about it: Sheik and minimalist style, amazing coffee and delicious variety of all day breakfast options
Dishes you can’t miss:
o Zucchini and Haloumi Fritters
o Apple and Rhubarb Muffins
Location: 20 Hibiscus Ave, Burleigh Heads
When to visit: Open daily from 6am – 3pm
What we love about it: The smell of freshly baked in-house bread, The homely and Instagram worthy vibe of dining outdoors in a neighbourhood backyard, the massive portion sized meals (tip – do share!), the freshly baked sweet treats
Dishes you can’t miss:
o ANY baked goods! They are seriously all amazing. We loved the chocolate Nutella cookies which were soft and oozing of Nutella in the centre. Make sure you share.
Bam Bam Bakehouse, Mermaid Beach
Location: 2519 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
When to visit: Open daily from 6.30am – 2pm
What we love about it: The smell of freshly baked treats, The outdoor greenery which is perfect to pick up a snack and picnic outside.
Dishes you can’t miss:
o ANY baked goods! These are also amazing, especially the baguettes. We loved the Strawberry tart and eggs benedict croissant.
Location: Unit 1/24 Junction Rd, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
When to visit: 7am - 2pm Monday to Saturday
What we love about it: The instagram worthy decor and cutlery, you will love the coffee mugs and plates so much we guarantee you'll want to wonder into the next door homewares store St Barts and pick up some for yourself (We did!)
Dishes you can’t miss:
o Smashed Avo on toast, the coffee
Location: Eco Village, 2 Village Way, Currumbin Valley QLD 4223
When to visit: 7am - 3pm daily
What we love about it: It's located in the Eco village, a total green and sustainable living village where kangaroos roam free beside the cafe. There's live acoustic music and an organic produce store full of local foods grown on site.
Things you can’t miss:
o Live acoustic music from 10am saturdays
o Packing a picnic blanket to sit and enjoy the natural surrounds
o Wonder the village after brunch to spot the Kangaroos
Location: Santa Cruz Village, 7/60 Santa Cruz Blvd, Clear Island Waters QLD 4226
When to visit: 6am - 4pm daily
What we love about it: The wide selection of healthy vegan bowls with coco fluff, you can even build your own with all of your favourite flavours.
Dishes you can’t miss:
o The Vegan Coco Fluff bowls. Go for a mix of colours and flavours with the Mermaid Bowl.
Location: 162 Chinderah Bay Dr, Chinderah NSW 2487
When to visit: 5.30am - 2pm daily
What we love about it: Take a road trip south of Tweed Heads to enjoy some of the best baked treats you can find, brought to you by the same owners as Bam Bam Bakehouse and Custard Canteen.
Things you can’t miss:
o The pastries and baguettes. Enjoy a seat out the front or back lawn or take away and make your own picnic along the Tweed River.
Location: 1/1 Sunshine Blvd, Broadbeach Waters QLD 4218
When to visit: 6am - 2.30pm daily
What we love about it: The decor, the amazing smoothies and large portion sized breakfasts
Dishes you can’t miss:
o The choc protein smoothie
o The jam donuts
o The bacon and egg burger
Location: 2221 Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach QLD 4218
When to visit: 6am - 2.30pm daily
What we love about it: Great stop for a quick take away coffee, croissant and local craft find in store (although there's no full kitchen menu or large seating areas, there are a few nice tables and chairs to sit at outside of the cafe)
Things you can’t miss:
o The coffee & a browse through the store
Location: 7/240 Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes QLD 4227
When to visit: 6am - 1.30pm daily
Dishes you can’t miss:
o The nutella and salted caramel donuts/cronuts
Location: 44 Pacific Ave, Miami QLD 4220
When to visit: 5.30am - 3pm weekdays and until 2pm on weekends
Things you can’t miss:
o Enjoy sipping the coffee in this hipster cafe converted from an old warehouse
Location: 2389 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
When to visit: 6.30am - 11.30am for the breakfast menu and 11.30am - 2pm for the lunch Menu
Things you can’t miss:
o Sitting outside in the sunshine of the lawn
Location: 1525 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach QLD 4221
When to visit: 6.30am - 2.30pm daily
o Get there early for the best selection of baked goods! Bring a picnic blanket to enjoy your treats overlooking the sparkling clear and calm waters of Tallebudgera Creek.
Dishes you can’t miss:
We loved the Salted Caramel cookies & Portuguese custard tart (their speciality) the best!
Location: 8/6 Ashmore Rd, Bundall QLD 4217
When to visit: 6am - 3pm weekdays, 7am - 3pm weekends.
o Perfect spot for a high tea or high 'cheese'. Check out the selection of home decor shops in the vicinity after you dine too.
Dishes you can’t miss:
We loved the high tea and scones
Location: 275 Boundary St, Coolangatta QLD 4225
When to visit: 7am - 2pm daily
Things you can’t miss:
Panoramic ocean views over Point Danger lookout right on the border of Queensland and New South Wales
Location: 2/43 Alfred St, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
When to visit: 7am - 1pm Wednesday - Friday, 7am - 2pm Weekends, Closed Monday - Tuesday
Fully vegetarian menu of fresh food
Location: Shop 3 G7, Capri on Via Roma, Via Roma, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
When to visit: 8am - 12am daily
Get a waterfront seat and enjoy the canal front views over Surfers Paradise. Don't miss the smashed Avo with Halloumi.
We hope you enjoyed our cafe guide to the Gold Coast. To see more of our other destination guides click here.
Your,
LITTLE SHERPAs
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