While Melbournians shiver in their laneways and Sydney-siders are saving their pennies to catch a glimpse of a celebrity chef, we’re kicking it alfresco – year round. Here’s a roundup of the best places to catch some rays while downing some of the Gold Coast’s best eats.
ALFRED’S DINER
This coastal diner tucked in beside Alfred’s Apartments is about as chilled as it gets. Drop in straight off the beach to chat over a coffee or grab a quick bite to eat with mates.
THE PADDOCK BAKERY
What do you get when you cross an 80-year-old Queensland house in backstreet Burleigh with a couple of young entrepreneurs… deliciously authentic, rustic fare and artisan bread. If that’s not reason enough, Paddock Bakery is one of Hugh Jackman’s favourite hangs on the Coast. Just saying…
BASKK AT KIRRA POINT
The place of ‘slow mornings, long lunches and Havana-style nights’, locals linger on in this beachside haven, one meal blending into the next as they enjoy time out ‘baskking’ in the sun.
GARDEN KITCHEN & BAR
If you’re after a huge outdoor area that the kids can run around in while you tuck into fresh seasonal fare in the sun, this is your place. It’s perfect for family dining, but come the weekend, they take it up a notch with DJs playing on Friday and Saturday nights. Beats are swapped out for acoustic on a Sunday afternoon, making it the perfect spot for a Sunday session, if you’re so inclined.
COMMUNE
Commune’s funky alternative vibe matches its name. Serving great coffee and generous rustic serves of wholesome healthy food, the café is eco-friendly and environmentally aware. Diners sprawl out around the premises on well-worn couches or clustered in conversation out on the sun-drenched block next door.
JUSTIN’S ROOFTOP
There’s a reason why Justin’s Rooftop has become a local institution. With views of Burleigh Beach, this is where locals begin, spend and end afternoons with friends. Justin’s serves up good tunes, good vibes and even better pizza. Do yourself a favour…
HIDEAWAY KITCHEN & BAR
Behind this Asian backstreet-themed restaurant, sliding doors open to an expansive astro-turfed deck with its own bar. Overhead, vibrantly coloured upside-down umbrellas and café lights carry the promise of excellent Sunday sessions, a private party or family dining under the stars.
SANDBAR
Life in Surfers is all about the beach, the surf, and the iconic Sandbar. It’s one of the coolest eateries in town, with the beach and Lifeguard Tower #35 just across the street. Decked out in nautical blue and white, it’s the ideal place to enjoy a Pacific Rim seaside menu.
Adapted from independent content contributed by Marj Osborne
THE LATEST
News
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Destination Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.