Where To Find The Gold Coast’s Best Acai Bowls In 2026
Nothing says ‘summer on the Gold Coast’ like a refreshing bowl of acai. You can almost taste it: thick, smooth, with just a hint of tartness, balanced by a clean burst of fruit and a crunch of nutty granola. Add an iced latte and a beach walk into the mix, and you’ve got the perfect Gold Coast brunch.
I'm a big fan of dessert for breakfast. And you'll often find me side-eyeing any and every sweetly topped bowl in the AM. But for me, nothing beats the fruity explosion of a frosty acai bowl. And it has strong roots here too, with Gold Coast local Dwayne Martens founding Amazonia, an acai supply biz back in 2008. So let's just say a good portion of my last decade or so has had a big focus on tasting my way around the Gold Coast's best acai bowls.
But it begs the question—where are the very best acai bowls on the Gold Coast? I've rounded up my top picks. Spoons at the ready, here are 15 of the Gold Coast/Kombumerri Country’s best acai joints ordered from north to south, served up and ready to go.
How we choose: Quality produce, cultural relevance, sustainability where possible, and real-world buzz from our team and community.
Best Acai At A Glance
- Northern Gold Coast Acai
- Central Gold Coast Acai
- Southern Gold Coast Acai
Northern Gold Coast Acai
Bear Boy Espresso
Shop 66/502 Hope Island Rd, Helensvale QLD 4212
Though there's a mix of savoury delights at Helensvale's ever-popular Bear Boy Espresso, it's hard to pass up their acai on offer. While their gigantic classic with coyo icecream and mango puree has die-hard fans, the Curly Wurly Acai is, in my opinion, genuinely life-changing.
My heart belongs to the vegan chocolate mousse which is drizzled with lashings of caramel sauce with peanut butter and nutella. There's even this wild experience that is the biscoff pistachio creation that's gotta be tasted to be believed.
INSIDER INTEL
- Order your bowl with a Pistachio Mont Blanc on the side for perhaps the most induldgent breakfast on the Gold Coast
The Cardamom Pod
3/3 Brolga Avenue, Southport QLD 4215
Image Credit: Cardamom Pod | Instagram
Ah, Cardamom Pod. This vegetarian eatery is a fixture of the Gold Coast brunch scene—and, when you check out the plating, it’s easy to see why. Each dish is a kaleidoscope of cutely cut fruit that practically screams “take a photo of me!”.
That same aesthetic extends to the acai. You’ll need to dig through a literal rainbow of toppings to get to the purple stuff (although, trust me, it’s not exactly a hardship). If you’re feeling a little naughty, grab the Snickers bowl instead—there’s something about granola and caramel-y goodness that just goes so well together.
INSIDER INTEL
- Do yourself a favour and order The apple pie latte
- Bookings are only available via phone or text on 045 189 3008
Blendlove
1/253 Ferry Road, Southport QLD 4215
Blendlove is right up there with the Cardamom Pod for the Gold Coast’s hottest plant-based eatery. Slinging up vegetarian dishes like sweet corn and zucchini fritters, its minimalist aesthetic is best enjoyed with a cup of caffeine and some early morning sunlight.
Look at the Blendlove menu, though, and you won’t find a single acai bowl. Instead, you can scale up any of the eight smoothie options to a ‘bowl size’, which comes with complimentary fruit and granola. Start off easy with the classics like the Acai.
INSIDER INTEL
- Order the Banoffee Espresso bowl, sub out the granola for chocolate buckinis, and pair it with a piccolo for an extra-great day
Acai Jungle
2/32 Davenport St, Southport QLD 4215
If a unicorn were to be hiding inside an acai bowl, it'd definitely be at Acai Jungle. These towering bowls of heaven are a sight to behold. While many an acai spreads into a soupy bowl, these ones literally defy gravity. It's more acai tower than bowl. Picture a unicorn horn surrounded by fruits and that's basically what we're working with here.
There are saucy numbers and fruity options, even acai in cones up for grabs. If it's a unique and acai-obsessed experience you crave, head directly to Acai Jungle. I am yet to have the same experience twice and it is honestly so exciting.
INSIDER INTEL
- The pistachio and biscoff acai bowl is a winner for me
Central Gold Coast Acai
Yo-Chi
Various Locations
Image Credit: Yo-Chi | Supplied
It’s in the name. Yo-Chi is all about frozen yoghurt and good energy, with a side of self-serve acai. Born in Melbourne, the brand now has 56 stores across Australia, including five on the Gold Coast. Walk into any of them and you’ll see the same eye-catching aesthetic—sweeping wooden floors and sophisticated yoghurt dispensers, all bathed in clean, white light.
The thing I love about Yo-Chi is the self-serve setup. Pull a bowl of acai and smother it in whatever crazy combination of toppings you want with zero judgement. Fudge brownies, cookie dough, mochi, fruit pearls… this is the place you come to fall off the low-sugar bandwagon. Just make sure you bring some friends so you can do it in company.
INSIDER INTEL
- The Robina Town Centre branch is conveniently located in the outdoor food precinct to opt for an acai after dinner
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Oakberry
Various Locations
If you want to get a handle on just how popular acai has become, take a look at Oakberry. It’s a franchise dedicated to the purple stuff—and, wow, it’s popular. I'm talking nine locations across the Gold Coast, including the OG Burleigh store (next to Oi Izakaya and Hail Mary) and a hole-in-the-wall at BSKT.
To be fair, acai in a cup is a great idea. It’s perfect for spooning down during a beach walk, and you get to dig through alternating layers of granola and acai, instead of having all your crunch at the bottom or top. I also love the DIY menu, which lets you pick unlimited toppings—plus one for the coconut chia pudding.
INSIDER INTEL
- There are limited edition flavours up for grabs, at time of writing Wuthering Heights is having a moment with Haunted features
- There are acai bowls and acai smoothies here to make your day
Blessed Bowls
Various locations
Casually having three stores across the Gold Coast, Blessed Bowls really do make us the blessed ones. I particularly love their raw caramel slices on the peanut bliss bowl and let's just say the caramel crunch bowl is the most incredible bite to share with a date. Scattered across Broadbeach and Burleigh, I'm genuinely obsessed with these bowls.
This is one of the only acai spots on the Gold Coast that also offers protein bowls. Basically it's an acai bowl with added vanilla, chocolate or strawberry protein. So if it's a pre-workout load up you're after, head directly here.
INSIDER INTEL
- The nutella brownie cup is my go-to for induldgence
Goji Granola Bar & Cafe
60 Santa Cruz Boulevarde, Clear Island Waters QLD 4226
You don’t come to Goji Granola Bar & Cafe for your standard acai. You come for the bright colours, the bold flavours, and those dramatic coils of Coco Fluff that make you go “woah!”. (And, yes, Coco Fluff is Goji’s house-made answer to Cocowhip.)
The menu features five acai-adjacent options: plain acai, pitaya, Mermaid Blue, Nutella, and taro. My pick, though, is the Dubai Acai Bowl. Think acai, granola, and strawberries, smothered in a layer of pistachio knafeh—and, if you don’t know what that is, Google it to be amazed. Add a swirl of Fluff and twin churros for extra sweetness.
INSIDER INTEL
- There’s plenty of al fresco seating
- Goji is dog-friendly, so bring your fur baby along and set them up with a pile of Puppufluff
- Keep an eye out for regularly rotating special Coco Fluff additions to the menu
Nobby’s Shack
2241 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
There’s a whole series of great eateries scattered along the Gold Coast Highway, and Nobby’s Shack is one of them. Its unassuming shopfront unfolds into a spacious shaded deck—the perfect spot to get stuck into some acai by yourself, in company, or with your fur baby.
The menu features four bowls, but prepare to be hypnotised by the Espresso Bowl. There’s something pretty special about sipping an actual coffee while eating espresso-infused acai loaded with cacao and coffee beans. Or is that just my caffeine addiction talking?
INSIDER INTEL
- There's an alfresco picnic table seating area out the back
Southern Gold Coast Acai
Nectar Espresso
North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club, 293 The Esplanade, Miami QLD 4220
Acai and beaches go together like coffee and croissants—exceptionally well. That’s good news for Nectar Espresso, because this hole-in-the-wall is as close to the water as it’s possible for a cafe to get. Order at the side of the North Burleigh Surf Club, grab a seat under an umbrella, and admire the views.
Like Commune, Nectar is all about quality over quantity. The single acai bowl on the menu almost overflows with summery fruit and a cheeky dusting of coconut—bonus points for the cinnamon toasted muesli, which is also available gluten-free.
INSIDER INTEL
- For a proper Nectar experience, arrive early (the cafe opens at 5am) and take your bowl up to the North Burleigh lookout to watch the sun rise
Helen’s Cafe and Juice Bar
1/29 James Street, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Helen’s Cafe and Juice Bar is the acai OG of the Gold Coast. Located halfway along Burleigh Heads’ James Street, this laidback health bar serves up everything from caffeine to Cocowhip—including some monstrous vegan wraps—but its six bowls are the standout.
Choose the signature Helen’s Bowl (acai plus goji berries, strawberries, and cacao nibs), add some colour with the Pink Pitaya and Green Bowls, or opt for the Chocolate and PB Cookie Dough Bowls to satisfy your sweet tooth. (And if you’re not hungry enough for a full bowl, go for one of the many smoothie options instead.)
INSIDER INTEL
- Order a large Acai Bowl, add a scoop of peanut butter, and spoon it down while surveying the Burleigh bustle
Commune
1844 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
There’s a saying: “It’s not the number of acai bowls on the menu that matters, but how good they taste.” Actually, I just made that up, but it’s certainly true for Commune. Located just a stone’s throw from James Street, this Burleigh Heads staple is equal parts eclectic hole-in-the-wall and trendy coffee bar.
There’s plenty of good stuff on the menu (special mention goes to the chorizo burrito), but I'm here to talk acai. Commune’s single bowl features a clean blend of acai, blueberries, and banana—a hint of extra sweetness that’s balanced out by an excellent paleo granola. Wash it all down with a coffee made on beans from Commune’s OG sister cafe, Blackboard.
INSIDER INTEL
- Add cacao and macadamia crumb to your acai for extra oomph
The Salt Mill
784 Pacific Parade, Currumbin QLD 4223
Image Credit: The Salt Mill | Instagram
If I wrapped up Currumbin and put it into a single cafe, it might look like The Salt Mill. This laidback hole-in-the-wall is all sun-faded timber and rough-hewn stools—perfect for a post-surf acai bowl and coffee.
And, hey, those bowls are seriously high-calibre. The Salt Mill steers clear of the sweet stuff, focusing on combinations of fruit and cacao nibs that complement the acai’s natural tartness. They don’t skimp on the granola, either. If you’re in the mood for something a bit lighter, slurp down a smoothie or one of the two pitaya bowls instead.
INSIDER INTEL
- There's a 5:15am run club that kicks off from this spot every Tuesday
Niche & Co
449 Golden Four Drive, Tugun QLD 4224
Good waves. Good vibes. Great acai. There’s a bunch of reasons to visit Tugun, but Niche & Co is pretty close to the top of my list. Sitting just a block from the beachfront, this little cafe ticks all the boxes: single-estate coffee, a menu that looks good and tastes better, and, of course, the bowls themselves.
The options range from the Kirra Original (acai blended with banana and apple juice) and summery Mango Bowls to the more indulgent Peanut Butter and Cacao & Coconut Bowls. Of course, brunch is just another meal, and there’s nothing that says you have to stick to savoury dishes. Go on, order a Mocha Bowl. Or a Snickers Bowl with caramel chia mousse. Or a…no. It’s time to stop. You’re drooling.
INSIDER INTEL
- The amount of choc atop their acai feels like it should be illegal, in the best way possible
Tugun Fruit & Flowers
467 Golden Four Drive, Tugun QLD 4224
Image Credit: Tugun Fruit and Flowers | Instagram
One block north of Niche & Co is Tugun Fruit and Flowers, which levels up the standard acai experience with a selection of locally sourced bouquets. Order a bowl, browse the blooms while you wait, then wander down to Tugun Beach.
Speaking of bowls: there are three up for grabs. Opt for the original acai, which is a blend of berries, banana, and coconut water, the choc acai, or the pitaya bowl. Each one comes served in a generously-sized container that makes keeping all your toppings on board a little bit easier. Wash it all down with a fresh-pressed juice—the citrus-rich Zinger is a great way to cleanse your palate.
INSIDER INTEL
- There are adorable kids acai cups
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Main image credit: The Salt Mill | Instagram
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