Coolangatta and Kirra have gone through a major food evolution over the last few years. From a suburb with a handful of popular haunts frequented largely by locals, it's now become something of a Gold Coast/Kombumerri Country foodie mecca.
Locals from all over the Gold Coast—and further afield—are heading to this southern region to get their culinary fix at top-notch restaurants with next-level fare to boot. Read on 14 of the best restaurants in Coolangatta and surrounds in 2024, according to Urban List.
Siblings Kirra
15 Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Siblings Kirra | Instagram
When you get to the award-winning Siblings you’ll never want to leave, making it the perfect spot for your long lazy lunch. 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 smashing combination. We advise bringing a crowd and getting a sampler.
Think—Chimichurri steak tacos, Mum’s meatballs, Manchego croquettes, prawn and bug meat risotto, warm roast cauliflower salad and steak au poivre to name a few, all done to perfection. Vegans are catered for with their own personal menu, too. Siblings is, hands down, one of the best restaurants around Coolangatta.
Franc Jrs
2/102 Griffith St, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Franc Jrs Famous Pizzeria is the younger sibling to the popular Francie’s (who are currently doing only pop ups, catering and events), and has well and truly taken over the hearts of locals with a soft spot for damn good pizza. Simple and old school is the name of the game. You rock up, order, they churn out sublime pizzas and you take them away to devour on the beach or in the park. We dig it.
No phone orders, no apps, no bookings. Simple, just the way we like it. Choose fom the Francie's classic 13" pizzas, vegan 13" pizzas, the gold standard 16" pizzas or the Detroit-style Sicilian square pizzas. The Mr Musho Risin with mushroom ragu and crème fraiche is a tough to beat but we also can't go past the vodka pie with vodka sauce, cheese, mozzarella, pickled jalapeños and basil.
Billy Chow
76 Musgrave St, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Billy Chow | Pandanus Lane
Billy Chow is the 'little brother' of the much-loved Ally Chow in Nobby Beach, so you already know it's going to immediately garner a loyal following (and for good reason). The peach and terracotta-hued restaurant champions coastal pan-Asian cuisine with plenty of unique Gold Coast flair.
While we could rave about the entire menu, the spanner crab rice paper rolls, ocean trout crumpets and eye fillet pad see ew are all must-orders. If you’re looking to indulge, go for a multi-course banquet which showcases star dishes—there’s also a vegetarian banquet option. Hands down, one of the best restaurants on the Southern Gold Coast.
Kirra Beach House
14A Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Kirra Beach House | Supplied
Perched directly above Kirra Beach Hotel on the second level of Kirra Point Precinct, Kirra Beach House is a jaw-dropping 1200 sqm beachfront dining masterpiece. The dining, drinking and event destination boasts uninterrupted ocean views from every vantage point, unlike anything we’ve seen before.
From the team behind kōst, Mozza Mozza, Crafty's and Bird Royale, the stunning venue accommodates up to 750 people and seamlessly amalgamates impressive indoor and outdoor spaces, wine and cocktail bars, and opulent event spaces, making it a coveted setting for weddings, celebrations, and galas. The vibrant, flavour-packed Mediterranean-style grazing menu reflects the coastal location. Think: fresh seafood platters, wood-fired flatbreads and pizzas and signature burgers, all complemented by a coastal-inspired wine and cocktail selection.
Clay Cantina
2/16 Griffith St, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Clay Cantina | Instagram
Follow the scent of deliciousness down the little laneway off Chalk Street in Cooly and you’ll land yourself in the tasty taco heaven that is Clay Cantina.
Open Wednesday to Saturday, this lowkey laneway cantina slings traditional Mexican market plates like taquitos, enchiladas and their specialty loaded sopes (a thick tortilla with pinched up sides, ready to pile high with topping). The best part is if you want to learn how to cook like that at home, you can book a cooking class then and there. It's the perfect date night gift.
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Kirra Beach Hotel
14A Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Kirra Beach Hotel | Supplied
The freshly revamped Kirra Beach Hotel within the Kirra Point Precinct is the central part of the revival of the cherished coastal locale which has proudly stood as a Kirra icon since 1956. The essence of the pub remains the same—a casual, quintessentially Aussie watering hole which keeps locals at its heart.
While the relaxed atmosphere of Kirra Beach Hotel remains the same, it’s certainly received a stunning new facelift. Spanning an impressive 1300 sqm, the coastal pub encompasses an expansive sun-drenched beer garden with panoramic surf views, lively family-friendly bistro, public bar, dedicated kids' area, sports bar, and a boutique bottle shop. The coastal-inspired menu celebrates local produce and keeps it casual with an array of pub classics, lighter bites, and share-style plates.
Agave Rosa
2/74 Musgrave St, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Agave Rosa | Instagram
This modern Gold Coast-Mexican-fusion restaurant is a real palate-dazzler. At Agave Rosa you will find a range of beautifully loaded tacos on the menu, but the Asian twist on Mexican classics means that nestled among the expected are plenty of unexpected gems.
Think: tuna sashimi tostadas, scallop tempura, Wagyu rump with miso butter and corn, and even cauli tacos with yuzu miso. We also love that Agave Rosa does weekly deals, including $17 Nacho Wednesday, $5 Taco Thursday and daily happy hour, from 3pm/4pm to 6pm.Can’t decide between Japanese or Mexican? Porqué no los dos?
Bread and Butter
76 Musgrave St, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Bread and Butter | Instagram
The swanky modern décor at Bread and Butter goes perfectly with its funky, colourful Spanish-Italian menu. Featuring woodfired pizzas, handmade, melt-in-the-mouth gnocchi and a range of tasty tapas, this Kirra haunt is a not-so-secret local favourite.
Patatas bravas with chorizo nestle neatly next to garlic prawn bechamel bites, risotto with 16-hour cooked lamb and all the traditional Italian pizza and pasta classics your hungry little heart could desire. Hot tip: Bring friends for sharing, and get more variety to devour.
Bar Evelyn
58 Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Bar Evelyn | Instagram
Bar Evelyn is a charming pizza, pasta and antipasto bar that rocks a retro, Italian-American theme with definite 70s vibes. This low-key Coolangatta diner sports an ever-changing menu, with owners and mates Nick and Mark loving to change things up.
Their inventive sourdough pizza menu is usually the talk of the town, with offerings such as pineapple and jalapeno; bolognaise, bechamel and spring onion; venison chorizo with lardo and gremolata; and Lion’s Mane mushrooms with salsa verde all having had a recent turn over the woodfire. Fresh seasonal antipasti kicks off your night to perfection, and you’ll love the natural wine list. If you can fit in dessert, be sure to grab the cherry amaro tiramisu with a river of salted milk chocolate sauce. Oh yeah. These guys know their stuff.
Xenia Greek
58 Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Xenia Greek | Instagram
Xenia Greek has made its mark on the Coolangatta—nay, Gold Coast—dining scene with some of the best Greek you're likely to try outside of the motherland. Xenia seamlessly blends the charm of a traditional Greek tavern with laidback Gold Coast charm.
The extensive menu encompasses small meze, larger meze plates, souvlaki (gyros), salads and glyka (dessert). If you're looking to feast, we recommend the Greek meat grill banquet loaded with homemade dips, pita bread, olives, crispy fried zucchini fritters, a massive chargrilled meat platter, feta fries and Greek salad. At just $65 per person, not only is it a cheekily cheap deal but it stars chargrilled lamb that simply melts in your mouth. They also host regular Greek events with live music, dancing, plate smashing and their famous Greek banquet.
Tupe-Aloha Bar and Grill
1/1 Douglas St, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Southern Gold Coasters are really spoiled with Tupe-Aloha bar right on their doorstep. $10 Monday Margies? No problem. Taco Tuesdays? $5 each, yep you heard right. $1 wing nights on Thursdays? They’ve got you. And of course, the old Friday and Saturday happy hour from 2pm to 4pm.
The menu is simple, yet loaded with deliciousness, and we love that they have a full vegan menu for plant-based friends. Oh, and the cocktail menu is one of the most extensive we've seen on the Gold Coast. This vibrantly colourful tropical tiki bar will transport you straight to a Hawaiian island with a Mexican twist. Happy vibes, tasty eats. All without breaking the bank.
Eddie’s Grub House
171 Griffith St, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Image Credit: Eddie's Grub House | Instagram
Is any list of southern eats complete without Eddie’s on the list? Bringing the cool back to Coolangatta, Eddie’s is keeping a loyal following of southern Gold Coasters watered and amused to the sounds of blues, rock ‘n’ roll and the vinyl playlists of local DJs.
This long-standing Coolangatta diner boasts arguably the biggest and most mouth-watering burger concoctions on the Southern Gold Coast, accompanied by bar snacks like wings, fried chicken and loaded fries. There’s no silver cutlery or delicate napkin dabbing here. It’s all crunchy, saucy goodness, and trust us, you will get messy. With rocking live tunes and a lineup of legends behind the bar, it’s definitely time to embrace the Eddie’s experience.
Lam Lam Delicate Thai
52-58 Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Amongst the profusion of Italian, Mexican and burger joints in Cooly there are also some lovely Asian delights that mix things up, and Lam Lam Delicate Thai is one of them. If you’re in the mood for the fragrant, spicy flavours of Southeast Asia, then look no further than this casual Cooly eatery.
You’ll find all the faves at Lam Lam, including satay skewers, Thai fish cakes, red curry and tom yum, alongside some less well-known offerings such as grilled beef slices with dry chillies and ground roasted rice (Nam-tok); shallow fried crispy prawns with choo-chee sauce; and soft shell crab curry. With five-star reviews, top notch service and plenty of return customers, Lam Lam is definitely the real deal. Make sure to book ahead.
Ottimo Gelato and Coffee
52 Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Although this one isn't a restaurant, dessert is a post-dinner necessity and it would be plain rude not to include this. If you’ve been dining in Coolangatta, then you’ll definitely want to save room for a scoop or two at Ottimo after your meal. This traditional Italian gelateria offers up a wealth of drool-worthy gelato flavours like salted caramel and nutella; and mandarin custard with pistachio and almond caramel.
But wait—it’s not just a gelateria. Caffeine connoisseurs will love getting their cup of joe made from toasty Julius Meinl coffee beans, while anyone out there that isn't into gelato can take their pick from the range of fresh, flaky pastries in the cab.
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Main image credit: Billy Chow | Pandanus Lane
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