18 Of The Best Cafes In Currumbin And Tugun For Brunch Dates
Danielle Read
Contributor | Urban List
Sand. Salt. Sea breezes. The southern end of the Gold Coast/Kombumerri Country has a genuinely enviable atmosphere, which might be why it’s home to an eclectic selection of mid-morning eateries. So us suburb-dwellers can lap up the epic vibes, rays and morning g'days even if we're Northerners.
I reckon Currumbin's got it all. A lush hinterland peppered with waterfalls. A meandering creek ribboned with boardwalks. And a picturesque beach dotted with Swell Scuplture festival's goods every September. Not to mention neighbouring Tugun which is the Gold Coast's answer to tiny coastal town vibes, in my opinion.
So it's no wonder that like me, you're after the very best cafes in Currumbin. For good brews, epic foods and in most cases, even a view. Good news for us, there's a flurry of industrial-chic, neighbourhood-esque and sprawling brunching locales with your name on them, no matter your mood.
Offering up a plethora of fresh dishes, sprawling lawns, organic produce and giftable homewares galore, here are 18 of the best cafes in Currumbin and Tugun for cuppas and croissants on the Southern side.
Best Cafes At A Glance
- Best Currumbin Cafes By The Beach
- Best Currumbin Cafes By The Creek
- Best Hinterland Currumbin Cafes
- Best Tugun Cafes
Best Currumbin Cafes By The Beach
The Salt Mill
784 Pacific Parade, Currumbin QLD 4223
Image Credit: The Salt Mill | Instagram
The perfect hole-in-the-wall might look something like The Salt Mill—sun-faded timber, a vibe that’s casually cool, and wild popularity with the locals. This laidback eatery gazes out across Currumbin Beach, making it the perfect post-swim pitstop.
Park yourself on one of the benches outside (or seize the solo timber ‘table’ if you’re fast enough) and browse the menu. Options range from Allpress caffeine to some of the Gold Coast’s best acai bowls.
INSIDER INTEL
- For max pleasure, combine a fresh-pressed green juice with a regular acai bowl topped with extra peanut butter
Barefoot Barista
794 Pacific Parade, Currumbin QLD 4223
Image Credit: Barefoot Barista | Instagram
If a sit-down meal is more your cup of coffee, wander up a couple of doors from The Salt Mill to Barefoot Barista. The game here is specialty brews and loaded burgers, and, hey, Barefoot plays it well. Be warned: trying the bacon and beef burger may lead to addiction.
This is classic cafe fare executed to excellence, plus a few very tasty curveballs like the prawn taco bowl. With ocean views and single-origin caffeine from Gabriel Coffee, Barefoot is, hands down, one of Currumbin’s best cafes.
INSIDER INTEL
- Regularly changing menus feature local produce and bloody good businesses
Kinship
766 Pacific Parade, Currumbin QLD 4223
Image Credit: KInship | Instagram
They say location isn’t everything, but, when you get views of the Pacific Ocean from behind your La Marzocco … well, it’s pretty hard to beat. Kinship is just a few dozen steps off the beach, and it’s reflected in the fresh chow and casual ambience.
A baby on the Currumbin cafe scene, Kinship has carved out a name for itself by balancing crowd-pleasers with summery global influences—like the Tex-Mex breakfast burrito or the Japanese-style protein bowl (matcha is optional but highly recommended). Dose up on Social Espresso coffee and then round out your visit with a quick ocean dip.
INSIDER INTEL
- All profits from Kinship go towards supporting the Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club volunteers and operations
- There's a wide open green space with picnic tables perfect for kiddos and cartwheels
Best Currumbin Cafes By The Creek
Tarte Beach House
4 Thrower Drive, Currumbin QLD 4223
Image Credit: Tarte Beach House | Pandanus Lane
Sister to the Burleigh Heads icon Tarte Bakery, Tarte Beach House blends Parisian influences with coastal charm. This combination of cafe and restaurant sprawls over two storeys on the banks of the Currumbin River, making it equally great for casual hangs or something a little more refined (bookings recommended in the restaurant).
The cafe is walk-ins only—the only thing you need to bring is an empty stomach. Choose from a solid lineup of bagels, burgers, and baked goods, plus various gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan dishes like acai and miso scrambled eggs. You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but my pick would have to be the lobster roll. It's Australian Bay lobster folder through East Coast spices and Old Bay seasonng with garlic butter and classic mayo on brioche.
INSIDER INTEL
- Neighbouring Tarte Tea Garden is now open for high tea
- Consider popping into the adjacent Tarte Market for a little after-lunch gelato.
Refinery Coffee
37 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Waters QLD 4223
Image Credit: Refinery Coffee | Instagram
The best eateries embody their names, and Refinery is no different. Channelling a pared-back, industrial ambience, this two-storey cafe has some of the best early-morning vibes in Currumbin. Snag a stool on the top level, order your caffeine, and soak up the sunlight.
Speaking of caffeine: all Refinery coffee is brewed on Blackboard beans, which happens to pair splendidly with its lineup of Asian-influenced dishes. And if you're more of a matcha person? Well you've come to the right place. Refinery boasts some of the Gold Coast's best matcha, sourced from Mycha Tea Co which is grown by fifth-generation family farmers at the foothills of Mt Fuji in Japan.
You can try their famous matcha in three delicious forms—a matcha float, matcha latte or matcha soft serve. Tough choice. Don’t write off Refinery as a morning-only spot, either. Its daily bottomless brunches combine any main with unlimited mimosas (with or without alcohol, your choice).
INSIDER INTEL
- Bottomless mimosas for 1.5 hours wit a main of choice for $62 per person, any day
- It's across the road from Dust Temple, which has a brand new community space
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HOME Currumbin
4a/42 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Waters QLD 4223
Image Credit: HOME Currumbin | Instagram
Nestled in the former nook that was Portside Coffee is one of Currumbin's newest pint-sized cafes that’s making big waves. A few local mates took over the spot, gave it a lick of paint (and by that, I mean a stunning new fit-out) and started churning out some seriously top-quality coffee alongside sandwiches and toasties worth talking about.
HOME Currumbin is living up to its name, becoming a hangout spot for locals and visitors alike, and creating a truly welcoming, community feel to accompany their delicious food and drinks. To top it all off, they also host knock-off beverages and burgers on Friday afternoons, as well as pop-up events like their monthly smoke-up.
INSIDER INTEL
- Keep your eyes on their socials for menu updates and weekly features
- The breakfast late with halloumi, avo and poached eggs is elite
Aperitivo Cafe
8 Thrower Drive, Currumbin QLD 4223
Image Credit: Aperitivo Cafe | Instagram
Located just across the road frop Tarte, Aperitivo Cafe is the piccolo-sized eatery that harks back to simpler days—you know, strong coffee, square tables spilling onto the sidewalk, and that feel-good local vibe.
The Italian influences aren’t superficial, either. Aperitivo delivers a mouthwatering combination of panini, focaccia, and other authentic Euro delights (including lasagne and cheese-smothered meatballs). Add a coffee brewed on Niccolo beans and some good company for the perfect Sunday morning.
INSIDER INTEL
- The panini are available gluten-free, and they’re shockingly good
- Happy hours run Wednesday through Sunday 12-2pm including $10 Aperol Spritzes
- The neighbouring dental clinic opens up their garden on weekends for extra space
Dust Temple
54 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Waters QLD 4223
Eclectic. Untrammelled. Fiercely, funkily different. It’s hard to put a label on a place like Dust Temple. The cafe and bar blur into the art gallery. Indoors and outdoors weave together in a maze of weathered wood, corrugated iron, and sunlight. There’s painting and pottery and artwork everywhere, but the building itself is a kind of giant sculpture.
If I sound like I'm a little in love, it’s because I am. Dust Temple has been around for more than 10 years, and it just keeps getting better with age. Come for a Single O coffee and seasonal sandwich. Stay for the ambience and, if you’re lucky, a weekend rummage sale. Come back again for an evening of live music, drinking, and art. Do you—just make sure you visit.
INSIDER INTEL
- December 2025 marks a new chapter for Dust Temple, with their revamped kitchen and community space freshly open
Lobby
60 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Waters QLD 4223
Lobby is the sleek new cafe that’s opened its doors in The Warehouses in Currumbin, and I can’t get enough of it. From the potent, yet smooth coffee to the perfectly chewy cookies, and don’t get me started on the jaffles—suffice to say, they can do no wrong.
At this point, the split-level layout and chic polished steel coffee cups are just an incredibly aesthetically-pleasing bonus. While parking has always been a bit of a challenge in this area, I believe that Lobby is worth the potential stroll from your car.
INSIDER INTEL
- Keep your eyes peeled for rack sales, journal clubs and pop-up events
Stones Throw
9 Station Street, Currumbin Waters QLD 4223
Don’t let Stones Throw’s unassuming appearance fool you. Owned by sister-and-brother duo Melanie Windsor and Cameron Chartres, this former Burleigh cafe unfolds into an attractive al fresco space featuring boardwalks that wind from table to table.
The menu, curated by head chef Chartres, is all about flavour. Quesadillas, bibimbap, saag aloo – no cuisine is off limits, and I love it. Try out one of the more adventurous dishes or play it safe with cafe classics like pancakes and acai, then wash it down with Fonzie Abbott coffee or organic Byron Bay tea. Either way, Stones Throw will definitely join your list of Currumbin’s best cafes from first visit.
INSIDER INTEL
- Bonus points if you visit over spring when the jacaranda is in bloom
Best Hinterland Currumbin Cafes
Pasture & Co.
6 Village Way, Currumbin Valley QLD 4223
Pasture & Co is a blissful roadtrip into the hinterland that's well-worth the drive. Set in the heart of the Currumbin Valley Ecovillage, this sprawling cafe has become a destination in its own right (and is so popular that it’s undergone multiple expansions over the last few years).
The menu changes seasonally, but expect a diverse lineup that ranges from overloaded burgers to piled pancakes garnished with bright botanicals. The star, though, is the notorious lemon meringue pie: a genuinely intimidating confection served in sky-high slices as big as your face.
INSIDER INTEL
- It's the perfect pitstop to fuel up at before a float at nearby Cascade Falls
- After dessert, head to the nearby Bathhouse at Ground for a round of hot tubs and hydro spas
- Get there relatively early if you’re visiting on the weekend; parking can be tight
Currumbin Valley Harvest
1380 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Valley QLD 4223
If you haven’t seen this lush haven all over your social media feed, then allow me to introduce Currumbin Valley Harvest. This stunning spot sits out in Currumbin Valley, right by the gently flowing inland creek—talk about tranquillity.
While it’s predominantly an organic grocer, they do serve coffee, pastries and Mio wraps, ad the kitchen is ever-expanding within the scope of their license. It's a place that's alive with community, often soundtracked by local musicians and stocked to the brim with arts and goods from local creators.
Come, slow down and take time to lap up the magic of this place. Its rustic charm has a way of capuring many a heart. There really are few nicer ways to spend a weekend morning than looking out at the beautiful valley, sipping on a coffee and eating a mushroom truffle Mio wrap.
INSIDER INTEL
- Prepare to leave with a bounty of local, organic produce
- Check their Instagram for regular pop-up gigs, events and workshops
Crockd Studio
14 Nuban Street, Currumbin Waters QLD 4223
Image Credit: Crockd Studios | Instagram
Coffee and clay. They don’t sound like they should go together, but they do, and oh so well. Local favourite Stone Studio & Co, which combined community-based potting with an on-site tuckshop, has recently been acquired by fast-growing pottery chain Crockd Studios (whose stable of studios includes locations in Kingscliff and Sydney). The brews remain just as tasty and sipped from a hand-made mug adds extra wholesomeness.
The tuckshop serves quality grab-and-walk-style fare like smoothies, cups, and toasties. We recommend parking yourself at one of the indoor tables – there’s something oddly relaxing about watching other people pot while you eat.
INSIDER INTEL
- The start of each week brings a new ‘feature filter’ from brands like Floozy Coffee and Wide Open Road. There’s plenty here for non-filter fans too (including beans from Therefore Coffee)
Tugun Cafes
Stable Coffee Kitchen
570 Gold Coast Highway, Tugun QLD 4224
I'm just going to say it: Cornerstone Stores is one of the most unique retail precincts on the Gold Coast, and Stable Coffee Kitchen is its heavily caffeinated heart. Picture pops of green against a two-storey backdrop of brick and raw concrete, and you’ll start to get how it feels to visit this deeply stylish cafe.
Specialty coffee. A plant-centric menu. The occasional visiting water dragon. Stable has it all. Don’t worry, omnivores—there’s still plenty of protein up for grabs, ranging from pan-fried fish to highly moreish karaage burgers. Keep an eye on Stable’s socials for evening events, featuring live music and cold drinks served up in the sprawling al fresco entertainment space.
INSIDER INTEL
- The quaint lawn and picnic table area makes this one of the most kid-friendly cafes
- It's home to a curated selection of specialty gifts, homewares and booze
Niche & Co
449 Golden Four Drive, Tugun QLD 4224
I don’t like to play favourites, but we have to admit: Niche & Co is one the best places to get acai on the Gold Coast (maybe even the best). You’ve likely already seen their perfectly composed bowls gracing your ’gram, and if that wasn't sign enough to head down, let this be.
Not a fan of the purple berry? Don’t stress. Niche & Co plates up plenty of other exceptional dishes too, including those eye-catching charcoal sourdough burgers (courtesy of Burleigh Baker). For the optimal dining experience, grab a spot on the window bench inside, order a coffee and the smoked pork quesadilla—sub in smoked tofu as needed—and enjoy the clean, airy ambience. Oh, and if you decide you need to take away a mocha bowl, this is a judgment-free zone.
INSIDER INTEL
- The vegan mushrom toastie is loaded with veg and delivers big flavours atop crisp buttery bread
Hidden Gem Coffee
28 Station Street, Tugun QLD 4224
Image Credit: Hidden Gem | instagram
Tucked into a row of shops opposite Tugun Bowls Club, Hidden Gem Coffee fits its name perfectly. This laidback eatery is the kind of place that’s equally popular with locals and tourists, featuring a seasonal menu that ranges from towering cheeseburgers to bowls of tandoori and quinoa.
On the caffeine side, it’s specialty beans from Paradox Coffee Roasters, consistently brewed to excellence by the Hidden Gem team. Sip at one of the sun-soaked outdoor tables or stay inside and contemplate the full-length Marvel murals while you drink.
INSIDER INTEL
- The name ‘Hidden Gem’ is a play on the name of the owner, Gemma
Good Day Coffee
476 Gold Coast Highway, Tugun QLD 4224
Local favourite Good Day Coffee delivers a lean menu that emphasises traditional cafe offerings like toasties and croissants. And, hey, I'm not complaining—I’ll always take quality like Good Day’s over quantity. Special shoutout to the mushroom toastie, which is happily available gluten-free.
Of course, it helps that the coffee here is excellent as well. This is caffeine for the connoisseurs, brewed on specialty beans from Blackboard. Have yours on one of the countertop stools for an authentic coffee bar experience.
INSIDER INTEL
- It's the flagship store of Willy's Beans Coffee offering farm to cup experience
House of Hubert
5 Toolona Street, Tugun QLD 4224
Image Credit: House of Hubert | Instagram
Wander around the corner from Niche & Co and you’ll find yourself outside House of Hubert, a sprawling cafe that’s less than a minute’s walk from Tugun Beach. The decor here is eclectic, white-washed walls and varnished wood highlights punctuated with splashes of tropical greenery. And, with tables that run from the sidewalk to an out-the-back courtyard, it’s perfect for both groups and fur babies.
Expect seasonal dishes with international influences—like Hong Kong French toast and potato rosti—and keep an eye out for the juice of the week.
INSIDER INTEL
- Parking on Toolona Street gets competitive, especially if you’re visiting later in the day. Consider checking out Wyberba and O’Connor Street first—they’re also more convenient if you fancy a post-brunch dip
Looking for more Gold Coast cafes? Check out:
Main image credit: Tarte Beach House | Pandanus Lane
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