If you haven’t figured out that Broadbeach is one of the Gold Coast’s central destinations for all things scrumptious, you’re doing the whole foodie thing wrong.
Surfers Paradise’s sophisticated older sister has a restaurant for any occasion, and we’re here to tell you where to go and why. Read on for our round up of the 20 best restaurants in Broadbeach in 2023, so you can plan your next food and wine binge accordingly.
Social Eating House
Located on glittering Oracle Boulevard, Social Eating House is definitely not somewhere to go for a quick bite, for the simple reason you would not be doing it justice. Social Eating House underwent some major renovations in 2021 and has a luxe new look, complete with an upgraded kitchen and bar, new intimate fine dining space and jaw-dropping interior details.
Hands down, this one of the absolute best restaurants on the Gold Coast—this unassuming and unpretentious two chef-hatted bistro sets a culinary bar that other restaurants can only aspire to. Come for Social Eating House’s legendary twelve-hour slow-cooked lamb shoulder, followed by the most exquisite desserts in town and washed down with orgasmic espresso martinis.
Kiyomi
Spearheaded by celebrated Executive Chef Chase Kojima, Kiyomi is perfection on a plate. Tucked discreetly away on the mezzanine level at The Star Gold Coast, this stylish Japanese eatery is dimly lit, made moodier by the candlelight, dark furnishings and warm wood feature walls.
With an adventurous menu including seared scampi with foie gras, Hiramasa Kingfish miso ceviche, Wagyu flank with confit shiitake and melt-in-your-mouth sashimi platters, all dishes are prepared to look like an edible work of art. Don’t know where to start? We recommend passing the reins over and trying Kiyomi's limited-edition bento boxes—they're the stuff foodie dreams are made of. Without a doubt, one of the best restaurants in Broadbeach, nay the Gold Coast.
Sofia's Restaurant & Bar
Sofia’s Restaurant and Bar is a homage to the dreamy tones of coastal Europe and this Italian gem brings a breath of fresh, salty sea breeze air to the Broadbeach dining scene. The magnificent share-style menu is stripped back, refined and lets the quality produce speak, nay, sing for itself.
Curated by some of the Gold Coast’s most lauded culinary legends, the menu is simplistic and showcases the flavours of fresh, local produce—as well as some delectable European specialties thrown in for good measure. Oh, and the white-washed space with mirrored wall arches filled with Aperol bottles is seriously stunning.
Hideaway Kitchen And Bar
The Gold Coast’s Asian food scene is oh-so-hot right now and one of our all-time favourites has got to be Broadbeach’s funky Hideaway Kitchen & Bar. Hidden in plain sight just off the Gold Coast Highway, don’t be dissuaded by the simplistic exterior. Inside is a vibrant mix of neon signage, graffiti, booths for groups and, out the back lies a buzzing alfresco garden with rows of colourful umbrellas suspended overhead.
Hideaway’s mind-bogglingly long menu is a drool-worthy medley of Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Malay, Chinese and more. We suggest diving head first into the raw bar selections, beef tataki with garlic chips, housemade wagyu dumplings, soft shell crab bao and the pork belly with kimchi salsa. Or just order a share-style street feast for the entire table and thank us later.
Cucina Vivo
Step past the open plan kitchen and crackling wood-fired pizza oven and you’ll be transported to a little slice of the Amalfi Coast right here in Broadbeach. We love Cucina Vivo’s on-trend ‘60s colour palette of dusty pink and seafoam blue, decorated with oversized pendant lights, plantation-style shutters and a chic white terrace overlooking The Star’s sparkling resort pool.
Work your way through a menu of antipasti, wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas and Alla Grigila mains (from the charcoal grill). Our tip? You can't leave without trying Cucina Vivo’s legendary Chocolate Sphere—or any dessert for that matter; they’re some of the Coast’s absolute finest.
Luna's
Brought to you from the powerhouse team behind Sofia's comes fresh Broadbeach newcomer, Luna's. Championing authentic Italian cuisine, you'll find an array of artisanal wood-fired pizzas, sumptuous pasta dishes and seriously impressive slection of curated wines and funky cocktails.
The gnocchi al tartufo tossed in a 20kg parmesan cheese wheel with truffle paste and truffle oil is what dreams are made of. Pair this with a few slices of the mare bello seafood pizza and you've got a winning combo you'll want to write home about.
kōst
The epitome of a modern bar and grill venue, kōst boasts Australia’s first two-metre Mibrasa charcoal bar and grill and has taken over three previous tenancies on Oracle Boulevard to create one sprawling venue and a striking outdoor pavilion; encompassing a stunning 130-seat restaurant and 50 seats for cocktail-style dining.
kōst seamlessly blends elevated bar and grill cuisine with playful cocktails, fine wine and live fuel cooking methods, to deliver a high-level sensory immersion experience. The exquisite menu stars epicurean offerings of charcoal-grilled and dry-aged dishes, seafood platters, whole market fish and modern takes on plant-based dishes. We would be remiss not to mention champagne and caviar trolley that you can indulge in throughout your dining experience.
Mamasan Kitchen & Bar
Mamasan Kitchen & Bar is Asian fusion done deliciously right. A favourite for business meetings, long boozy lunches, date nights and everything in between, Mamasan boasts the perfect blend of tradition and modern cuisine from South-East Asia.
Think: flavour-packed dishes from twice-cooked pork belly bao to spanner crab ravioli dumplings to Peking duck pancakes to miso Patagonian Toothfish, all wrapped up in a swanky Oriental-styled package on Oracle Boulevard. Without question one of the best restaurants in Broadbeach, Mamasan is the place to be and to be seen.
Miss Moneypenny's
Nestled in the heart of Broadbeach, Miss Moneypenny’s coastal colour palette is dreamy and the styling is elegantly timeless. From the stunning terracotta lined bar, to the walnut tables, plush leathered grey and seafoam blue couch seating—Miss Moneypenny’s is chic, grown up and very classy. Now that you've lusted over the interior, let's move onto the food.
Artistically executed, work your way through moreish meals like seared Wagyu carpaccio, Hiramasa kingfish ceviche and squid ink tagliatelle. With social dining at its heart, we recommend trying Miss Moneypenny's chef's seven dish signature selection, which will have you dining on a carefully curated menu of Miss Moneypenny's signature dishes, including wagyu beef skewers, Alaskan king crab leg and strawberry pistachio fanancier.
Fig + Frankies
You’ll be channelling serious Melbourne vibes, nibbling on sophisticated tapas and sipping mind-blowingly good cocktails under fairy lights when you make a date with Fig + Frankie’s. Oh, and you'll also be at the Gold Coast's first official laneway bar.
The pint-sized laneway bar-meets-restaurant boasts white and terracotta washed walls, peach-hued brick, blonde wood, sophisticated pendant lights and both laneway and indoor seating. On the share-style menu, standouts include truffle honey haloumi with rosemary salt and the sublime heirloom tomatoes with stone fruit, stracciatella, salsa verde, hot honey and pistachios. Come for the cool-as-hell atmosphere and stay for the epic specialty cocktails.
The Loose Moose
One of the best restaurant-meets-bar venues in Broadbeach, if the regular crowds are anything to go by, The Loose Moose is sure to impress with one of the most mind-blowing restaurant designs in town.
Inspired by the illicit underground speakeasies of America’s 1920s Prohibition era with a twist of its Canadian cousin, The Loose Moose boasts an impressive 160 whiskies behind the bar and 25 varieties of craft beers on tap. Their soul-satisfying menu specialises in Canadian fare with wings, ribs, steaks and all of the burgers.
Gemelli Italian
A packed dining room seven nights, plus lunch Thursday to Sunday, is a testament to the Carney brothers who introduced some of the most authentic Italian fare to the Gold Coast. Gemelli, translating to ‘twins’ in the mother tongue, is the original trattoria in the Gemelli hospitality empire and is somewhat of an institution among pizza and pasta lovers.
It's the traditional recipes made with imported ingredients from Italy, passed through the generations, which are enjoyed by locals and visitors alike at their iconic Broadbeach restaurant. Come for the wood-fired pizzas, melted gnocchi bowls and loaded salumi boards, and then stay for their drool-worthy Nutella Bomba desserts.
Orzo
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Orzo is the second eatery by lauded hospitality couple Matt and Dayna Jefferson, who have made their mark on the Gold Coast with the divine Social Eating House, so when Orzo opened its doors in early 2020, we were always confident this would be special. And we were right.
Orzo brings sophisticated coastal Italian cuisine to the Gold Coast; its concise yet impressive Italian-inspired menu includes a playful smattering of Asian and native Australian ingredients to make it truly distinctive. Orzo's slurp-worthy, handmade pasta menu is simpy divine—from the cacio e pepe risotto to the roasted butterflied baby barramundi, you can't make a wrong choice. If you're on the hunt for one of the best restaurants in Broadbeach, stop the search.
Nineteen At The Star
If there’s one destination that seriously nails hotel dining on the Gold Coast, it’s The Star Gold Coast, with a half dozen stellar eateries under one roof. And the crème de la crème of Gold Coast hotel restaurants is Nineteen at The Star.
This is where the who’s who come for grilled Patagonian Toothfish and the signature rock lobster bolognese with glittering views of the coastline 19 floors up; and where visitors and locals splurge to celebrate that special something or someone.
Maggie Choo
Boasting a typical share-style menu with both larger and small portions, the menu at Maggie Choo is everything you’ve ever wanted from hawker-style fare and more. Between the banquet menus and the vegan menus, plus the plethora of choices for both, we promise you will not go hungry.
If you’re anything like us, you might actually go home too full to move. Think: salmon sashimi tacos, Indonesian fritters, Kingfish sashimi, oysters; it’s all here and it is delicious.
Koi Lounge And Dining
The OG dining hotspot amongst Broadbeach’s top restaurants, Koi Lounge and Dining is where locals and visitors collide. Unabashedly bold and glittery, this buzzing alfresco corner restaurant is legendary for catering to all palates and dishes up an impressive array of bites, with an emphasis on premium local produce.
Start small with burrata and pickled zucchini, then progress to wagyu beef ragu pappardelle and crispy pork belly with celeriac puree and apple jus. It’s simply impossible to leave here not feeling satisfied and full.
Room81
Room81 is the Sofitel Gold Coast's recently revamped French-inspired restaurant which marries French cuisine and cooking techniques with locally sourced produce. We recommend pulling up a chair on the alfresco terrace and sipping your way through the curated wine list or sampling one of Room81's signature cocktails.
The extensive menu is loaded with traditional French-style plates like duck rillette with orange marmalade and a mini baguette, saumon fume (smoked salmon french toast with brioche, creme fraiche and lemon buerre blanc) and the most sumptuous creme brulee we've had the pleasure of devouring.
The Cuban
If vibrant food in a atmospheric, playful venue is your thing, you need to dine at The Cuban in Broadbeach. As the name suggests, the Cuban brings traditional Cuban cuisine, albeit with some modern twists, to the Gold Coast. Some must-try dishes include the Paella Cubana, Ropa Vieja and share-style tapas, all finished with delectable desserts and authentic Cuban cocktails.
Moo Moo Wine Bar & Grill
If you love a juicy steak, then Moo Moo Wine Bar & Grill should be your go-to restaurant, regardless of the occasion. With its stunning modern interior decor of natural stone finishes, sleek organic curves and state of the art lighting system, this steak restaurant has evolved.
Enjoy a cheese plate and oysters while overlooking Broadbeach’s Victoria Park, followed promptly by one of Moo Moo’s signature steaks. If cocktails are your style, an apple vineyard bellini or espresso caramel margarita is a must. If you’re on the hunt for one of the best steak restaurants in Broadbeach, well, you’ve found it.
Tried all of the best restaurants in Broadbeach and ready to move south? Check out the very best restaurants in Burleigh.
Image Credit: Brooke Darling, Hayley Williamson, Kaitlin Maree & Supplied