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The Ultimate Gold Coast Cafe Bucket list

Updated: Mar 20, 2021

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 Gold Coast, AUstralia 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:


Forreal Kitchen Cafe, Nobby Beach, Gold Coast
Forreal Kitchen, Nobby Beach
  • 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.


BSKT, Nobby Beach Gold Coast
BSKT, Nobby Beach
  • 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!


Poke Poke Mermaid Beach Gold Coast
Poke Poke, Mermaid Beach

  • 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



Background Barista Mermaid Beach Gold Coast
Background Barista, Mermaid Beach
  • 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

Paddock Bakery Burleigh Heads Gold Coast
Paddock Bakery, Burleigh Heads
  • 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

Bam Bam Bakehouse, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast
Bam Bam Bakhouse, 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.


Next Door Espresso, Burleigh Heads Gold Coast
Next Door Espresso, Burleigh Heads
  • 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


Pasture & Co, Currumbin Valley
Pasture & Co, Currumbin Valley
  • 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


Goji Granola Bar Clear Island Waters Gold Coast
Goji Granola Bar Clear Island Waters
  • 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.


Cubby Bakehouse, Chinerah
Cubby Bakehouse, Chinderah
  • 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.


The Alkemist Broadbeach waters Gold Coast
The Alkemist Broadbeach waters
  • 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


Canvas Espresso, Nobby Beach Gold Coast
Canvas Espresso, Nobby Beach
  • 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


Blackboard Varsity Lakes Gold Coast
Blackboard Varsity Lakes
  • 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


Day Maker Espresso Miami Gold Coast
Day Maker Espresso, Miami
  • 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


Alfreds Diner, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast
Alfreds Diner, Mermaid Beach
  • 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


Custard Canteen, Palm Beach Gold Coast
Custard Canteen, Palm Beach
  • 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!


Greendays, Bundall Gold Coast
Greendays, Bundall
  • 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


Cafe Dbah Coolangatta Gold Coast
Cafe Dbah, Coolangatta
  • 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


The Milkman's Daughter, Mermaid Beach
The Milkman's Daughter, Mermaid Beach
  • 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


Edgewater, Isle of Capri

Edgewater, Isle of Capri Gold Coast
Edgewater, Isle of Capri
  • 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



Little Sherpa Travels Gold Coast Cafe guide Australia





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ABOUT US

OUR AIM: is to help more people experience the world in just a weekend. We hope through sharing our easy-to-follow short break and weekend travel guides we can inspire others to make the most of their weekends and precious annual leave.

 

WE ARE: An Australian and British married couple living in Australia, which we recently moved back to after 7 years exploring Asia. By week we manage data forecasting and engineering projects. By the weekend we wander. This is the story of our weekend travels. We are passionate travellers who love taking photos, eating and going on adventures.  We hope you enjoy our travel blog.

Your LITTLE SHERPAS

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