20 Of The Gold Coast’s Most Beautiful Long Lunch Restaurants
Danielle Read
Contributor | Urban List
There's no denying the Gold Coast's food scene has reached new heights. Pair this with stunning views, overflowing drinks lists, award-winning establishments and you've got the ultimate long-lunching locale.
Honestly, choosing where to go for your long lunch on the Gold Coast/Kombumerri Country is certainly the hardest part of the equation.
I'll admit it. I've induldged in my fair share of midday grazes, early arvo sips and lunchtime catchups that turn into raising a glass at sunset hour. All in the name of 'research', of course.
From waterfront dining to quaint hideaways and industrial chic eating precincts. Here are 20 of mine and the Urban List team's favourite Gold Coast long lunch spots for 2025.
Long Lunches At A Glance
Fine Dining Long Lunches
Social Eating House
3 Oracle Bvd, Broadbeach QLD 4218
A word to the wise when it comes to Social Eating House—book, and book early. This immensely popular Broadbeach eatery has become famous through word of mouth, quite literally, with their absolute flavour bomb of a menu keeping it at the top of all Gold Coast foodies’ must-do lists.
While it’s hard to pick favourites from this selection of utter delights, I keep coming back for the XO arancini with spring onion mayo, the BBQ sugarloaf cabbage (trust me) and the 12-hour slow cooked lamb shoulder has a long line of top fans. Take your time going through the choices—lovingly crafted by head chef Matthew Jefferson—and savouring each course the way it deserves.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch is from noon daily
- At Social, it’s all about sharing so only invite those you'll happily double dip on housemade spanner crab pasta with.
- Consider the Banquet menu, which also caters to most dietary requirements and drink pairings available
The North Room
2527 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Built around a philosophy of ‘eat with your eyes’, this intimate Mermaid Beach fave hosts just 20 guests, so you’d best book in advance for their four- or five-course Friday and Saturday lunches.
Tantalising the senses from the moment you walk in, The North Room’s creative meals are designed to get your stomach grumbling before you’ve even perused the menu.
Enjoy bar seating at their custom-made marble bar for an up-close experience with the friendly staff or get cosy in the luxe blue velvet lounge.
INSIDER INTEL
- This lunch hotspot is the handiwork of talented husband and wife duo Tim and Shannon Stewart
- Group sizes are maxed at 6 people
- These guys received a three glass award from Australian Wine List Of The Year for their wine list two years in a row, including 2025
- Custom and secret off-menu wines are sometimes available
Labart
8 West St, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Image Credit: Labart | Instagram
Gold Coast’s foodie portfolio was elevated when Sydney chef Alex Munoz Labart and his Gold Coast-raised wife Karla opened their first restaurant in Burleigh Heads. This intimate 40-seat bistro brings a touch of European sophistication to the Gold Coast and is, hands down, one of the best long lunch spots around.
Open for lunch only on Saturdays and Sundays, spots are coveted and are snapped up months in advance. Choose from a share set menu (for groups of five plus) or the a la carte menu, which boasts rotating delights like beef tartare with sundried tomatoes and anchovy vinaigrette, confit duck leg and seasonal sorbet with basil oil. I also love that Restaurant Labart’s open-plan kitchen and charcoal grill allows diners a front-row seat to watch Alex and his talented team work their magic.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch is 12-2pm Friday through Sunday
- This menu's designed to share and features locally and sustainably sourced ingredients
- The Burleigh Baker bread with caramelised 'La Butter' is a must-try
LARS
Shop 1, 2217 Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach QLD 4218
The Oxley's own bar and grill joint, Lars somehow balances casual fine-dining in perfect harmony. The food's consistently outstanding, and if its a long lunch with freshly shucked oysters and baked scallops with garlic chive butter you have in mind, this is your spot.
Mains will set you back around $50 thought the quality of this fine produce makes for perfect sharing and devouring. The pan fried snapper with burnt butter, tangy capers and fresh lemon is my go-to.
They're conveniently open from noon until 3pm Thursday through Saturday and until 5pm Sundays for wickedly long lunches. Keep the plates coming and the cheers chiming.
INSIDER INTEL
- Heading up the kitchen is Lars Kollrepp, son of Gold Coast hospitality royalty, Marty Kollrepp of Oskars on Burleigh
- This place is go-to lunching for fire-kissed steak and seafood experiences
- Top quality, hyper-local produce shines here
Norté
2217 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
A moody gem in The Oxley's lineup of eateries and watering holes, Norté makes lunching feel like a super swanky affair.
It's the Latin American dining room that sprawls out onto an open-air terrace and encourages you to share like you care.
There are delicate pickled sardines and Mooloolaba spanner crab churro, plus slow-cooked short ribs with pineapple and a selection of high-class steaks.
There's a reason this place is always bustling.
INSIDER INTEL
- It's designed by award-winning architecture and interiors firm, J.AR OFFICE
- Get the lilly pilly salad for a zingy ode to native Australian ingredients
Best Lunches With A View
La Luna Dining & Beach Club
74 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach QLD 4217
Welcome to the multi-faceted beach club that is La Luna at Main Beach Marina. This locale's quickly become the place to be for the Gold Coast glam squad, cocktail hour chasers and long lunch lovers everywhere. There are multiple options to choose from for group get-togethers like a luxe poolside cabana with VIP service, mezze dining and drinks for up to 22 people.
Or if you’re down for a lavish feast, their poolside restaurant, MĀRE, has a major al fresco flair with an Italian and Mediterranean-style menu prepared by world-class chefs.
Or, head to their sophisticated La Luna Dining restaurant (on dry land) for a luxe, waterfront experience. See? So many options.
INSIDER INTEL
- Perhaps my favourite part is that their range of price points still afford that million dollar view
- Order the scallop ceviche with passionfruit ponzu or watermelon steak if you get a chance - genuinely lifechanging
- There's one of the best non-alcoholic margarita cocktails on the Gold Coast here
- My top pick for a long lunch is MĀRE
Siblings
15 Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Siblings | Instagram
Once you soak up the gorgeous views at award-winning Siblings you’ll never want to leave, making it the perfect spot for your long lazy lunch. In my opinion, Kirra views are among the best on the Gold Coast, so combine that with a modern Australian menu that rivals some of the best in the country, and you’ve got yourself a stunning combination.
With a menu like this, you’re better off bringing a crowd and getting a sample of everything. Think: baja fish tacos, tempura oysters, prawn and bug meat risotto, and 500g steak au poivre to name a few, all cooked to perfection. Siblings Kirra is a hard one to go past.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch starts at 11am
- There's a completely vegan menu too
- Don't skip the detailed liquid journey, my pick's the Pink Gin Spritz
You Might Also Like:
The Gold Coast's Best Restaurants
Burleigh Heads' Best Restaurants
Broadbeach's Best Restaurants
Rick Shores
43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Image Credit: Rick Shores | Instagram
It’d be plain wrong if this Gold Coast staple didn’t make the list of top-tier long lunches. If you're yet to dine at the icon that is Rick Shores, here's my top recommendation for your long lunching affair. Perfect for dates, group celebrations or honestly a solo lunch so you don't have to share, #win. Perched on Burleigh’s beachfront, floor-to-ceiling windows offer dreamy vistas up the coast and across to the Hinterland.
Expect Pan-Asian flavours in a pristine setting. With menus changing with the seasons, every experience here feels fresh and new.
Just imagine—surfers running into the breakers, fresh ocean breezes as the waves crash basically at your feet and, of course, 12 bug rolls deep. Long boozy lunches on the Gold Coast don’t get much better than this.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch is daily from 11am
- My go-to dish is the crispy soft shell crab som tum with papaya, peanuts, tamarind and lime
- Park up behind the library for longer stays and wander down
- This restaurant is at the foot of iconic Burleigh Hill and home to the infamous Big Roll
The Tropic
43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Image Credit: The Tropic | Supplied
You don’t get much more beachfront than The Tropic at Burleigh Pavilion. Chow down on the delicious modern Australian fare with a Mediterranean twist while inhaling the sea air and listening to the waves crash below. Dreamy.
This is the long-lunching locale to get amongst Burleigh’s glam squad and munch on wagyu bresaola, market fish and, of course, The Tropic's famed spiced 'puffy' bread.
For larger groups of nine or more, they've got two set menus ($85 pp or $145 pp) and there’s even a separate vegan menu for plant-based peeps. Wash it all down with an impressive cocktail menu, and you’ve got yourself a long lunch to remember.
INSIDER INTEL
- The puffed bread is worth the hype
- Lunch is from midday weekdays and 11am weekends
Tommy's Italian
818 Pacific Parade, Currumbin QLD 4223
Image Credit: Tommy's Italian | Instagram
Located on pristine Currumbin Beach, Tommy’s Italian is the breezy southern hang with all the charm of a coastal Amalfi getaway. The bright, airy venue features an upstairs balcony with prime position for unbeatable ocean views.
The menu encapsulates the perfect Italian food philosophy—simple food done well, with a focus on fresh, high quality ingredients. Load up the lunch table with antipasti including burrata and chicken liver parfait, as well as something hot and fresh from the grill, before diving into the classic pizza and pasta selections with a modern twist.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch is from 11.30am Friday - Sunday
- Opt for a seat upstairs if views are your jam
- The zucca pizza with pumpkin piree and caramelised onion is what I consider a perfect slice
- Set lunch menus for groups of 9-22 are a modest $75 per person for four courses and always leave my crew rolling out the door
Kirra Beach House
4 Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Kirra Beach House | Instagram
Perched on the second level of Kirra Point Precinct, Kirra Beach House is a jaw-dropping 1200 sqm beachfront venue which boasts uninterrupted ocean views from every vantage point, unlike anything I’ve seen before. A sprawling terrace envelops the entire venue, offering you front-row access to ocean views, or take your pick from the plethora of dining and event spaces throughout.
I love the beach-style cabanas on the front terrace, but if you're after a more refined seated affair, the restaurant's my pick for an elevated dining experience.
- Lunch is daily from 11.30am
- Opt for the sunset terrace for the ultimate long-lunching locale
- The Mediterranean-style menu stars a chimmi churri pork loin with apricot puree, broccolini and apple cider sauce which delivers on big flavour
- The now-famous tempura Kirra bug roll is the perfect lunchtime feature
Edgewater Dining
Shop 3 Via Roma, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Image Credit: Edgewater Dining | Instagram
Edgewater Dining is one long lunch venue that’s successfully embraced the beauty of Gold Coast’s canals. Situated on Isle of Capri, Edgewater’s sprawling deck opens out to a swoon-worthy view of million dollar mansions and an up-close-and-personal look at the iconic Q1 and glittering Surfers Paradise skyline.
With talented restaurateurs at the helm and open for long, boozy lunches seven days, a visit here is a sure bet you and your posse will be satisfied beyond belief. Munch on oysters, lemon pepper calamari, speciality burgers, risotto or perhaps juicy lamb rump.
INSIDER INTEL
- It's home to an impressive drinks menu and one for the midday whiskey swillers
Glass Dining
74 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach QLD 4217
This elegant waterfront gem is the perfect spot for those extra-special long lunches and celebrations. Ogle the superyachts in the marina with envy as you dive into the freshest and best seafood around, exquisitely prepared and served.
Glass Dining’s award-winning fare includes kingfish tartare with lychee and coconut, crispy zucchini flowers with citrus glaze and tender lamb racks with roasted eggplant croquette in a romesco sauce with red wine jus. BRB booking a table.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch begins at noon
- You can order a bottle of bubbles to greet you upon arrival
- You'll find a kids and vegan menu as well as a la carte and group set menus available for lunch
- There's an impressive lineup of dessert cheeses sourced from around Australia
Best Casual Lunch Restaurants
Tarte Beach House
1/4 Thrower Drive, Currumbin, QLD 4223
Image Credit: Tarte Beach House | Pandanus Lane
This two-storey coastal Hamptons-esque bakery and restaurant is as gorgeous as it is primely located—a seamless marriage of Hamptons style and Parisian touches is complemented by direct creekfront views of Currumbin Creek. So, yes it’s heavenly.
The multi-level building encompasses an upstairs restaurant, which just beckons you to sit back and pass the day away over a long, boozy lunch. Tarte Beach House also boasts a variety of private event and function packages, including a share-style luncheon with share plates of Tarte's most popular dishes and a few lunch-only specials, plus cocktails, wine or beer.
INSIDER INTEL
- Tarte Beach House have also opened a Tea Garden, perfect for high-tea lunches
- Lunch is conveniently available all day
- There's also a kids lunch menu featuring adorable mini chocolate chip cookies
The Collective
1128 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach QLD 4221
The Collective, located on the Gold Coast Highway in Palm Beach, is something of a foodie’s paradise, with plenty of room for groups and a tonne of lunch options for you and your mates. Home to five different restaurants under one roof, any given table can bear the best of Mexican, Greek, Asian, American and Italian dishes.
Can’t decide? Grab yourself a few entrees and share plates and dive into the whole damn scene. Get your foodie on in the bright, buzzy dining area and then head on up to the rooftop bar for uninterrupted views of the hinterland, with a cheeky marg in hand.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch is daily from noon
- This is the number 1 lunch spot for groups with varied dietary requirements
- Head directly here if your group can never decide on one cuisine
Local
1744 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Image Credit: Local Burleigh | Clayten Fowler Photography
Meet Local, a favourite Burleigh hang of mine. Serving up coffees in the morning, froths during the day and cocktails by night, long lunches are really the name of the game with the mega beer garden featuring spaces for medium to large groups or an intimate catch up for two.
Revel in the dappled sunshine in this laid-back, tree-shaded eatery, complete with a generous, modern pub-style menu including prawn buns, mouth-watering chicken ribs and even a pumpkin parmy. For the ultimate long lunch experience, top off your grub with a frosty marg or three.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch is daily from 11.30am
- This is a pooch-friendly long lunchingspace
Robina Pavilion
229 Ron Penhaligon Way, Robina QLD 4226
For Gold Coast long lunches, nothing really beats the comfort of a waterside day bed, in my opinion. Kick back, recline and let the tasty pizzas and fresh seafood come to you at the much-loved Robina Pavilion.
If daybeds don’t suit your digestion, there are plenty of other options for eats and bevvie service at this stunning lakeside venue, such as the airy indoor eatery, sunny outdoor desk and picnic tables in the park.
With a menu featuring generous curries, salads and burgers, Robina Pavilion takes a top spot as one of the Gold Coast’s best long lunch venues.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch begins 11.30am
- Bookings are strongly advised
- There's a kids playground on-site
- If lunchtime turns into an all-day affair, head to nearby Eddy and Wolff from 5.30pm Tuesday to Saturday
Surfers Pavilion
30/34 Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Image Credit: Surfers Pavilion | Kaitlin Maree Photography
Surfers Pavilion has glittering river views for days, alongside cheery service, modern industrial vibes and a drool-worthy menu that offers plenty of tasty options to keep your long lunch exciting. Think: chilli mussels, loaded seafood platters and generous burgers, with dietary options for all.
And let’s not forget the extensive cocktail list, featuring my guilty pleasure—the lemon meringue lomoncello cocktail topped with sweet lemon foam.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch is from 11am daily
- It's right by the Hopo ferry terminal, so you can travel to HOTA in style and follow your long lunch with an afternoon of art
Southport Yacht Club
1 Marina Crescent, Hollywell QLD 4216
Southport Yacht Club is a family-friendly venue that's perfect for a laid-back dining experience right on the glittering waters of the marina.
Pick out your dream yacht over creamy seafood chowder and spiced butternut pumpkin salad in the Waterfront Restaurant. There's a range of tasty tapas in the 4shore Bar, or sous vide lamb rump and sticky pork ribs in thenewest addition, the Waterscape Pontoon Bar, with a special kids’ menu for the littlies.
INSIDER INTEL
- Lunch starts from 11.30am weekends
- Stay for the epic north-facing sunset
Looking for more long lunching spots? Check out:
- Surfers Paradise's Best Restaurants
- Coolangatta's Best Restaurants
- Tamborine Mountain's Best Restaurants
Main image credit: La Luna Beach Club | Supplied
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.