Flying Scots Girl

1. Custard Canteen

Location: Tallebudgera Creek (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: the custard tarts

Custard Canteen has got a prime location right next to Talle Creek beach at the Gold Coast Rec Centre. You can choose to sit in, underneath the iconic red and white umbrellas or takeaway down to the beach. The location means that Custard is a popular spot in the summer as plenty of people head to Table Creek for the day to enjoy fun in the sun.

I may be biased as I worked at Custard Canteen for a couple of months, but it’s such a great spot on Gold Coast for brunch or lunch. Custard is most famous for its custard tarts (which people travel for) and the almond croissants. Admittedly, I’m not a custard fan so instead I would recommend the muffins and cookies which are super indulgent with flavours such as white chocolate and salted caramel or blueberry and lemon curd. Another shout out is to the sausage rolls which are juicy and flakey and always served warm. The pastry team are baking through the day based on demand so you’ll always get freeeeesh food here.

The food menu is relatively small which means an efficient service and you can choose from some brunch and lunch options like Eggs Benny Croissant, Burgers and Fish & Chips.

Website: Custard Canteen

2. Social Brew

Location: Burleigh Heads (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: plenty of space and great value

Social Brew is located in the bustling heart of Burleigh Heads. It has some of the best value coffee on the Coast and with an extensive seating area, it’s perfect for stopping by with your laptop for an hour or so to get some work done. Not only that but Social Brew has also got a great range of brunch options as well asa counter choc full of salads and cakes so there’s plenty to choose from. Whilst Social Brew itself is not on the beachfront, it’s a matter of minutes to get to Burleigh Beach so you can grab a takeaway and make your way there.

Insta: Social Brew

3. Pasture & Co.

Location: Currumbin Valley (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: rural setting and excellent brunch options

I reckon Pasture & Co is probably my most visited spot to have brunch. And there are a good few reasons for that! The menu is always delicious and rotates frequently so there is always something new to try. Plus the prices are pretty reasonable and it’s in such a lovely setting. Pasture & Co is in Currumbin Valley and part of the Ecovillage Complex. Despite only being a short drive from the coast, you feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere and if you visit near dawn or dusk you may even spot the local kangaroos hopping around – cute!

It’s a pretty popular spot but luckily there are lots of seating options to choose from and enjoy your coffee or meal. I mentioned above, but my favourite thing about Pasture & Co is the brunch choices. The menu changes frequently and they love to have seasonal specialities which means you get to try some delicious flavour combinations. I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth so usually opt for some sort of pancake / waffle / french toast situation and every dish I’ve had has been as pretty as it is tasty.

Website: Pasture & Co

Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours

My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇

Get Your Guide App

4. Refinery Coffee

Location: Currumbin (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: industrial aesthetics and tasty brunch

I first came across Refinery Coffee on Instagram and just loved the chic, minimalist aesthetics. It lets the menu and coffee really speak for themselves. They’ve always got an intriguing brunch menu to choose from as well as cakes and banana bread to order. Refinery is in a more industrial setting (Currumbin) than other locations on this list and the building really reflects this with the vibe of an old refurbed warehouse. It’s a good place to come to work for a couple of hours or for a meeting.

Website: Refinery Coffee

5. Tarte

Location: Currumbin (📌 Google Maps Location) & Burleigh Heads (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: Muffin tops, galettes, coffee and decor

Walking in the door of Tarte feels like stepping into a Parisian bakery with the beautiful floor tiles, antique looking counter, the yummy smell of pastries and bread baking and an absolute feast for the eyes with their selection of goodies. Tarte now has two locations, one on a busy corner in Burleigh and the other a quieter spot beside the river at Currumbin. I’ve been to both and they’re equally lovely. The coffee is served in gorgeous, quirky cups and there’s something so characterful about those wonky, asymmetrical plates and bowls!

Honestly, it’s so hard to choose what to have here but I have got to recommend the muffin tops. It’s something I don’t think I’d ever seen before on a menu and something I haven’t come across again but the white chocolate and strawberry top is just delish. If you love that crispy, sweet, caramelised top of a muffin and not so fussed about the bottom these are such a must!

Website: Tarte

6. House of Hubert

Location: Tugun (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: bright and cheery

House of Hubert is in Tugun and very close to the beach so it’s a great option for a post surf refuel when you’re around this area. The eating area is larger than it looks thanks to a lovely outdoor seating area to the rear. The photos above are unedited and really show how vibrant and colourful the brunch choices are here. The banana bread with caramelised bananas was such a sweet treat and great coffee as well. The downside to House of Hubert is that it’s right under the GC Airport flight path so you’ll have to take short breaks in your convo as they fly over head.

Insta: House of Hubert

7. Bam Bam Bakehouse

Location: Mermaid Beach (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: croissants and cruffins

Bam Bam Bakehouse comes under the same umbrella ownership as Custard Canteen (and NSW’s Cubby Bakehouse) so you know the bakery treats and pastries are going to be YUM. Bam Bam specialises in croissants and cruffins although I opted for a croissant cinnamon roll which I can tell you was utterly divine. So much cream cheese frosting and lovely flakey layers underneath. This is one of the places to visit on Gold Coast for your bakery and cake delights.

Website: Bam Bam Bakehouse

8. Third Base

Location: Palm Beach (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: chilli scrambled eggs

Third Base has two outlets in Gold Coast. One in Palm Beach and one in Robina. I haven’t been to the Robina location but I’ve visited the Palmy Third Base a few times. It’s further back from the GC Highway on a tree lines street so it has a quieter atmosphere than some of the other Gold Coast cafes. It’s a peaceful spot to come with a book and grab a coffee or to come with friends for brunch. My partner has told me good things about the chilli scrambled eggs and I’ve always got my eye on their bakery cabinet!

Website: Third Base

9. Paddock Bakery

Location: Burleigh Heads (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: the brownies, lots of spaces

Paddock Bakery is a Gold Coast classic located in Burleigh Heads. It’s one of the best on GC and a firm favourite for locals catching up with friends. They have a hugely extensive menu for brunch, lunch, pastries, desserts and the Milk Bar! The family behind the bakery have transformed the space here into a series of lovely spots to hide in and you can choose from the cottage, the loft, the barn and plenty of outdoor areas as well. They do a great coffee, deeelicious sweet treats and some of the best wood fired sourdough around.

Website: Paddock Bakery

10. Cotton Living

Location: Kirra (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: sophisticated patisseries and home living shop

Kirra is a quieter Gold Coast suburb as it comes after the long, stretch of Bilinga. Bilinga is hemmed in between the airport, GC Highway and the beach so it’s mainly residential and as it comes to the end and the coast sweeps out to the east you find Kirra. There are a few nice spots here but I’m adding Cotton Living to my list because it’s a little bit different and I’ve been a number of times. Bam Bam (7) is often named the best place for a croissant but I think Cotton Living’s croissants are an absolute rival. I think you can probably tell from my photo above that the layers are so thin, buttery and perfectly flakey! Cotton Living also does some beautiful pastries like plum cheesecake and pear tarts.

What makes Cotton Living rather unique is that this is primarily a home living shop with the cafe as an add on. The tableware in the cafe is stunning and dangerously, available to buy. I kept meaning to buy some of the adorable handleless mugs but forgot on my last visit there.

Insta: Cotton Living

Top Tip – Data Roaming
If you’re visiting Australia from overseas then getting online with an eSIM from Holafly is such a game changer. No swapping SIMs. No complicated data roaming. Lots of choice. If your phone is compatible, just download the eSIM and get going!

Holafly

11. Rockleigh

Location: Coolangatta (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: down to earth and cosy

Rockleigh is a cosy little cafe on the main street in Coolangatta. It’s tucked away amongst shops, restaurants and bars with a lovely exterior that looks a little like a beach shack! The staff are very friendly and they do a great coffee down the southern end of GC. I haven’t eaten there but the menu is rotational with the seasons so great to keep trying something new. It’s a lovely spot to catch up with friends and soak up the sun outside or relax into one of their indoor chairs.

Insta: Rockleigh Cafe

12. Dune Cafe

Location: Palm Beach (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: airy, beachside location and friendly staff

Dune Cafe has a fab location at the Currumbin Lagoon where you can either sit in or take away to head down to the water’s edge. I’ve always chosen to sit in here because it’s a lovely spot to enjoy the view. The Palm Beach Parklands and Currumbin Boardwalk are all within reach of Dune and the car park here so make a morning of it and stretch your legs before refuelling with brunch and coffee.

Website: Dune Cafe

13. Buoy Cafe

Location: Mermaid Beach (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: exceptional latte art

I discovered Buoy Cafe towards the end of my time in Gold Coast and it has to be one of the best coffees you’ll find on the Coast. It certainly has some of the best latte art from the baristas that I’ve ever seen! Just look at that seahorse 😍 The interior is light and breezy with plenty of seats so it’s a good place to come if you’ve got a bit of work to do or if you’ve got a bit of a gang to catch up with.

Website: Buoy Cafe

14. Dust Temple

Location: Currumbin (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: Shabby chic, events, art gallery setting

Dust Temple is a rather cool venue located in Currumbin (actually just about opposite Refinery Coffee) and its industrial feel fits its industrial location. During the day it’s a cafe with plenty of space to hide away in. You can opt to sit in the breezy courtyard out the back or in one of the interior studio spaces where you can admire the art. The menu is pretty small but everything is yum. There’s also a little handmade gift shop with lovely ‘treat yourself’ pieces to pick up. Dust Temple has all sorts of other events going on from live music gigs to the iconic Dusty Rummage so there’s lots to keep an eye on and join the fun!

Website: Dust Temple

15. Ottimo

Location: Coolangatta (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: ice cream 🍦

Head to Ottimo if you’re after the best ice cream in Gold Coast. On a warm summer evening or to cool down after a day at the beach in Cooly, Ottimo is the best place to hit up. The gelato is creamy and packed with flavour – everything you want from an ice cream treat. There are so many flavours to choose from and whilst the prices are quite high, the portion sizes are generous and you always get a little baby scoop of ice cream on top to try. So fun!

Website: Ottimo

Top Tip – Booking Activities & Tours

My favourite app for booking tours, adventures and plenty of fun is Get Your Guide. There are so many epic memories that you can choose to make from food tours to entry tickets, laidback wine tasting to adrenaline filled adventures. Make sure you use my discount code CATTHOMSON5 for 5% off your first booking when you download the app as a new user 👇

Get Your Guide App

16. Aperitivo Cafe

Location: Currumbin (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: the focaccia meatball sub

I only ate at Aperitivo Cafe & Panini Bar once and I wish I’d discovered it earlier to be able to enjoy it again and again… Aperitivo is open during the day so a great lunch option when you’re around Currumbin, Tugun, Palm Beach and the Elanora areas. I was recommended to try here by an Italian friend who at one point had a business making and selling focaccia so she knows her stuff! I opted for the meat ball sub which is served in a focaccia and we also ordered a side of foccacia slices with a big bowl of meatballs. The tomato sauce was just delicious – so fresh! And the meatballs super juicy. The combination of the tender meatballs loaded with tomato sauce with focaccia was just so good. Highly recommend!

Insta: Aperitivo Cafe & Panini Bar

17. The Deli by Pepe

Location: Palm Beach (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: Cheese. Wheel. Night. Do I need to say any more?

The Deli by Pepe is an Italian restaurant close to Fourth Avenue in Palm Beach (it’s next door to the Coles) which is particularly famous for its Cheese Wheel Night 🤤 Yes, you did read that correctly. The Deli also does delicious pizza but it’s the Wednesday cheese pasta which you need to come for. They have three options to choose from ($29 each) so you can take your pick from 4 cheeses, mushroom and pancetta variations. But what they all have in common is that the pasta is tossed in a wheel of melted parmesan cheese creating the sauce and soaking it all up. Hope you don’t have nightmares afterwards 😉

Website: The Deli by Pepe

18. Bar Evelyn

Location: Coolangatta (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: saucy pizzas, wines, friendly staff

Bar Evelyn is the next Italian restaurant that I’m sharing in this list which I visited with friends. Whilst, as the name suggests, Bar Evelyn is probably more famous for drinks (with an excellent selection of wines and spritzes in particular), the pizzas are also very tasty. The vibe is very relaxed and you feel as though you may be in a charming Italian bar, especially in the evening when day has turned to night with the lights down low. The staff are fun and very helpful if you’re not quite sure what to choose – also means the menu is pretty great 😀

Website: Bar Evelyn

19. Justin Lane

Location: Burleigh Heads (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: iconic Burleigh rooftop vibes

Justin Lane is such an iconic location in Burleigh Heads. I must admit it may have the lowest reviews on this list but I still love it! There’s something about visiting here that really is typical GC. You might not be able to see the waves at night but you’re so close to the beach, the open roofed top floor lets the breeze through and there’s usually some good tunes playing. You can choose to have drinks on the terrace which can be bustling with a party atmosphere at the weekend or if you’re here to dine then there’s a quieter restaurant room as well. The menu is pretty big so there’s an option called ‘feed me’ ($59 min. 2p) which means you can keep on ordering pizza or pasta and tasting what you fancy until you’re full. Not bad!

Website: Justin Lane

20. Tommy’s Italian

Location: Tugun (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: smart casual date, beachfront setting

Tommy’s Italian is very much a smart casual vibe. Laidback for its beachside setting but chinos and shirts for its crisp aesthetics and clean red and white striped awnings. The balcony terrace has got to be the best spot, especially at sunset to watch the colours dancing across the sky so make sure you get a booking in. Downstairs is a little more crowded and bustling so it’s a great little spot to do some people watching as well as enjoy your meal. I opted for an Aperol Spritz (what else) on a date night here with a white based pizza. I do enjoy a white base every now and again and the toppings with this one at Tommy’s sounded too good not to!

Website: Tommy’s Italian

21. Franc Jrs

Location: Coolangtatta (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: the Detroit pizzas 🤤

Franc Jrs is best known for its Detroit style square pizzas as well as it’s big 16″ pies with plenty of toppings. The Cooly location has nostalgic vibes with its interior decor and the cutesy white and red checked tables. The Detroit pizzas are so epic with the parmesan crust around the edge and soft chewy dough.

Website: Franc Jrs

22. Costa Taco

Location: Palm Beach (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: bitesize tacos with a chill vibe

Costa Taco is another favourite on the Gold Coast Highway at Palm Beach and as the name would suggest, it’s popular for its tacos. The vibe here is very laidback and casual so choose a couple of tacos and grab a beer. The tacos are super juicy, packed with yummy spiced fillings and lots of extras. They’re relatively small which means you can easily try a few different flavours.

Website: Costa Taco

23. Hail Mary

Location: Burleigh Heads (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: IG worthy decor and the burritos

Hail Mary has a super Instagrammable interior with pink everywhere you look and plenty of kitsch details to capture. But it’s not only very cute, it also has a tasty menu with deals available nearly every day of the week. Monday is margs night with $14 cocktails and on Taco Tuesday, tacos are all $7. I visited on a wednesday for the burrito night and they were so yummy. They’ve got so many different flavours on offer and they’ve all got a beachside twist compared to other Mexican restaurants.

Website: Hail Mary

24. Bonita Bonita

Location: Mermaid Beach (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: Mexican tapas

Another Mexican choice on my list is Bonita Bonita which is one of the furthest north options I’ve included. This was one of the last places I went for dinner whilst in Gold Coast and it didn’t disappoint. It gets super busy here so we ate in the bar section of Bonita Bonita because the restaurant area was fully reserved but thankfully the food was all on offer there. A lot of the food choices have sharing in mind with tapas and sharing platter options to choose between. The croquettes have got to be the star of the dishes 🤤 I loved the bar area, whilst it was dark, it felt nice and intimate and I do love seeing beautiful shelves set up with bottles on display.

Website: Bonita Bonita

25. Burgster

Location: Palm Beach (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: burgers!

Burgster was a late addition to my eating out in GC despite living not too far away! It’s got funky decor with a fun window opening out onto the street. You can get some of the best burgers on the Coast here and Wednesdays is wing night when you can buy wings for just $1 each and $14 margaritas, what’s not to love!

Website: Burgster

26. The Collective Palm Beach

Location: Palm Beach (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: A sophisticated version of a food court where everyone can order what they want and the margaritas

The Collective is another Palm Beach classic and it is a great option if you can’t decide what sort of food you want or you’ve got a group that all likes different cuisines. At The Collective, you don’t have to make that decision! There are five different kitchens from around the globe so whilst someone might want Latin American, someone else can opt for Italian or Asian. If you’ve ever been to a food court, The Collective follows that concept but in a much more upmarket venue. The seating here is beautiful and they have an excellent roof terrace as well. The Collective also has an extensive drinks menu although its the margarita menu that was always a favourite!

Website: The Collective Palm Beach

28. Rick Shores

Location: Burleigh Heads (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: impressing someone! The views and the tasting menu

Rick Shores is perhaps the most famous restaurant in Gold Coast because of its gorgeous location and its innovative Pan-Asian menu. The price reflects the quality so it’s really one for a special occasion and opting for the tasting menu is an excellent way to try a range of their dishes. Every course was delicious with unexpected flavour combinations that worked wonderfully well together. An insider tip is that you really have to book at Rick Shores. Even on a weekday lunchtime, online tables were fully booked for about a week out so if you’re looking at an evening weekend table you need to set a reminder when bookings open up. Particularly if you’re after one of the waterside view tables. There are a number of tables that are walk in only but you’ll either be sitting outside with bar menu only or for the full menu, sitting on stools at the bench.

Website: Rick Shores

29. Rainbow Bay Surf Club

Location: Rainbow Bay (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: best spot for a sunset view and laidback vibes / prices to match

There are so many Surf Clubs in Gold Coast (if you’re reading this from the UK I would probably best describe the Aussie Surf Clubs as a bit like Wetherspoons – cheerful and good value) but the one that I’ve added to this list is Rainbow Bay. And there’s a good reason for it. Whilst plenty of the other surf clubs have got epic sea views, the one down at Rainbow Bay is special. You can see the whole of Gold Coast sweeping up away from you and particularly at sunset, the view is unreal. Book yourself a table for sun down, grab a beer and watch the sky light up with all shades of orange, pink and red to enjoy a day on the Gold Coast coming to an end. During the winter months, you can also spot migrating whales from here as Rainbow Bay juts out into the Pacific Ocean. I had a lovely few hours one afternoon in 2023 trying to spot the spouts of water blowing up into the air!

Website: Rainbow Bay Surf Club

30. Suga

Location: Palm Beach (📌 Google Maps Location)

Best For: hidden bar, cocktails

Suga was one of the first places I visited in Gold Coast on a first trip out with a new housemate! We started off with tacos at Costa Taco and then came to Suga for a glass of wine. You won’t find a sign post for this bar because it’s got a secret, prohibition style atmosphere going on which makes it all the more fun when you do walk in the door. You feel like you’ve stumbled upon the secret that others don’t know about. The speakeasy vibes and fancy rum cocktails are an excellent date choice!

Insta: Suga