12 Of Mermaid Beach’s Best Cafes For Brunch Dates
Danielle Read
Contributor | Urban List
Picture this: you’re heading to Mermaid Beach for a fresh morning swim or a walk with friends. But, before long, hunger hits and decaffeination smacks you in the brain. The problem: you don’t know which Mermaid eatery will defeat your hangriness and settle those coffee cravings. Fear not, there are joints a-plenty.
Mermaid Beach cafes offer a whole swag of places to nibble through. From greenery-lined health houses and light-filled locales with prime ocean views. To induldgent pancake stackers and mid-morning mimosa pourers beckoning you with a sunny side up grin from first bird's chirp. There's no shortage of spots to fill refuel at.
Back around 2016 I lived in Mermaid Beach, for a fair few years in a little two bedroom unit with a horse-door at the front, true story. And despite my young freelancer budget, I made it my personal mission to save those pennies and chomp around the local cafes. Mostly with a laptop in tow and definitely with a Long Black on the mind.
Basically a decade later, I still find myself returning to the same spots that consistently deliver fresh dishes of top produce and some of the best coffees on the Coast. Then there's the newbies, that have quickly made a mark on my heart and the local foodie scene. It's enough to make me drive the 40 or so minute trek from the 'burbs and whip out a knife and fork at with cartoon-esque salivation.
The best cafes for me, combine great food with piping hot cuppas and friendly service. Bonus points if there's a view or a nearby activity to make the visit a full-day affair. Hunger at the ready, here are the best cafes in Mermaid Beach, dished up in order of opening hours. Prepare to have your taste buds satiated.
Mermaid Beach Cafes At A Glance
Cafes open from 5am
Buoy
17 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 | Open from 5am
Image Credit: Buoy | Instagram
Buoy sprawls along the front of The Oxley 1823, a boutique retail precinct that includes well-loved venues like Eska and Lars. The brainchild of Seadog founder Brodie Green, this upscale cafe is housed in a spacious, light-filled atrium that feels like it’s designed for humid summer days. Dine indoors among tangles of houseplants and pothos, or pull up a dog-friendly table curbside and enjoy the Mermaid Beach atmosphere.
The menu here is decidedly brunch-focused, featuring mouth-wateringly good dishes like the Buoy Big Breakfast (a massive fry-up with local sausages) and the ricotta pancakes—which, in my humble opinion, might just be the best on the Gold Coast. Pair your choice with a strong selection of beverages, including organic matcha and Ethiopian filter coffee.
INSIDER INTEL
- And keep an eye out for a cheeky bottom-of-cup message once you’ve finished your drink
- It's pronounced 'boo-ee'
Cafe Served
2582-2584 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 | Open from 5am
Open from a neat 5am, Cafe Served pours Allpress coffee, tasty treats and donates a whopping 100% of profits to Serving Our People, which supports refugees and homeless people in South-East Queensland.
This sun-drenched coffee house and its sambo perfectors walk the talk with their 'treat people with kindness' mantra. Served on baguettes, their loaded salmon, cream cheese and avocado sandwich is honestly stunning. Not to mention their protein cookies, brownies and clean cold brews. Induldge generously and simultaneously do a good deed. Delish.
INSIDER INTEL
- Every order helps refugees and homeless people in South-East Queensland
- Your order supports 'The People's Market', Queensland's first free supermarket for people in need
BSKT
4 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 | Open from 5am
Image Credit: BSKT | Instagram
BSKT (pronounced ‘biscuit’) is the definition of a Mermaid Beach icon. Locals often queue up before the sun's kissed the horizon. Its wholefoods menu, which folds Mexican influences into a standard range of cafe classics, keeps things fresh, light and clean. If you exclude those pretty indulgent pancakes, it's the most health-centric cafe in Mermaid Beach.
Depending on what time you rock up, your options will range from vegan huevos rancheros and Cocowhip-piled bowls to spiced prawn tacos and brisket beef burgers. The broad selection of fare, plus specialty coffee, make BSKT perfect for weekend hangs and remote work alike.
INSIDER INTEL
- If you’re in the mood for acai, Oakberry has an onsite hole-in-the-wall
- BSKT was founded in 2013 by Selasi Berdie and Danny Bogatie, the same people who invented Cocowhip, and taken over by Sonia Giggins and Dennis Bastos in 2019
- BSKT is moving to The Oxley, it's current locale will be taken over by Peter Gloftis' new specialty yuros bar, here's the scoop
Rafiki
172 Hedges Avenue, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 | Open from 5.30am
This laidback hole-in-the-wall is huddled next to the local surf club in Mermaid Beach. Rafiki slings up an impressively broad menu served against a beachfront backdrop of astroturf and umbrella-shaded tables.
The star is the cafe’s signature Flavour Bomb spice blend, which graces everything from the avo toast to the beautifully fresh nachos. The notorious ‘Killer Toasties’ genuinely astound. Shoutout to the Moroccan pesto chicken—and the truly excellent acai granola. If fresh ingredients, bold flavours, and ocean breezes are your thing, Rafiki is a must-visit.
INSIDER INTEL
- Their specialty coffee comes direct from Burleigh Heads roastery, Kuki Coffee
- It's directly opposite a beachfront playground perf for mid morning slides with the littles
- Their flavour bomb spice is now available fo purchase
The Holliday. Coffee
2251 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 | Open from 5.30am
Image Credit: The Holliday. Coffee | Instagram
The Holliday. Coffee occupies the sun-soaked corner of Wave Street and the Gold Coast Highway, former home of Japanese fusion joint i like ramen.
This Mermaid Beach cafe homes a lean menu featuring crumpets, croissants, loaded sourdough, acai bowls, and, of course, their infamous jaffles. Some might argue that 7am is too early for banana and Nutella crushed between two pieces of beautifully toasted bread. I say: ignore those people—and wash away the evidence with a cheeky malted milkshake.
INSIDER INTEL
- Come here to top up, not fill up—caffeine, cold-pressed juices, and crispy jaffles is the name of the game
- Holliday was founded by cafe veterans Olivia Ayres and Marcus Wilkins, of Nook Espresso fame
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Double Barrel Kitchen
64 Karbunya Street, Mermaid Waters QLD 4218 | Open from 5.30am
Image Credit: Double Barrel Kitchen | Instagram
Varnished timber, chipped black paint, and dim pendant lighting—that’s the deliciously maximalist vibe of Double Barrel Kitchen. Located amid a string of retail shops in the Waterway Village shopping centre, this deeply aesthetic cafe transforms what could have been a bland, run-of-the-mill coffee shop into something unique and downright attractive.
And, while you might come for the ’gram, you’ll stay for the food. This is a case of cafe classics executed excellently—think a breakfast burrito with jalapeno aioli, or a steak sandwich served grilled on Turkish bread slathered with chimichurri and caramelised onion.
INSIDER INTEL
- Order the iced strawberry matcha for a bright mouthful
Cafes open from 6am
Bam Bam Bakehouse
2519 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 | Open from 6am
Image Credit: Bam Bam Bakehouse | Instagram
If indulgence had a home, I'm pretty sure it would be at Bam Bam Bakehouse. Excellent coffee brewed on Single O takes a back seat to an eye-popping assortment of sweet treats and baked snacks—available for a la carte dining and bulk takeaway (no judgement here). If you’re envisaging a small-sized local bakery, though, think again. Bam Bam’s industrialist interiors are all exposed brickwork and low-hanging pendants, creating a vibe that could have been transplanted straight from Melbourne.
And, as much as you do come here for the pastries, the rest of the menu is equally moreish. My personal favourites: the green tea noodle salad (perfect for warm summer lunches) and the Wagyu Philly cheesesteak, served on a Bam Bam croissant with jalapenos. Snuffle into your dish of choice inside or at an outdoor table overlooking Mermaid Park.
INSIDER INTEL
- Order dishes to go, shake out the picnic rug and dig in at neighbouring Mermaid Park
- It's renowned for flaky pastries, but don't overlook the Egg Nasi
The Milkman’s Daughter
43 Alfred Street, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 | Open from 6am
Image Credit: Milkman's Daughter | Instagram
Light, airy, and au naturel—that’s The Milkman’s Daughter. This veg-focused Mermaid Beach cafe nails a white-washed, laidback aesthetic that's made for turmeric lattes and long conversations. (Bonus points if you can score one of the coveted cushioned alcoves.)
The menu matches the decor, featuring a sweep of fresh, vibrant dishes that are almost all vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free. Choose between light options like the free range egg scramble with chasew and basil pesto, or full-throated dishes like the lemon-ricotta custard pancakes and shakshuka. Add a charcoal-vanilla iced latte made on the cafe’s signature Purple Rain beans for a complete experience.
INSIDER INTEL
- My pick for Mermaid Beach's best Chai
- Order the iced dunce de leche for a delighted experience
- There's breakfast and coffee 7am-1pm and tapas and cocktails from 10am daily
- Moonlights as an exclusve tapas bar Friday through Saturday 5-9pm
Little Mermaid
1a/2557 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 | Open from 6.30am
Image Credit: Little Mermaid | Instagram
Parked on the corner of Sunbrite Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway, Little Mermaid feels like a local hangout that’s grown up with Mermaid Beach. White-washed timber and brick is offset by splashes of steel blue and a sprawling collection of potted plants, cultivating a coastal vibe that we absolutely love.
Order brunch from this cafe-slash-bar and you’ll see why it’s remained a local favourite for so long. There's a collection of bowls that are well and truly up there with the Gold Coast’s best acai. A special shoutout goes to the berries and nuts acai bowl—a genuine Little Mermaid icon that’s stacked with enough antioxidants to make you glow for a week.
INSIDER INTEL
- The smashed avo toast and Wagyu beef burger (sourced from Rangers Valley in Glen Innes) is a banger
Alfred’s Apartment
2225 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 | Open from 6.30am
There will be very few Southern Gold Coasters who aren't familar with the now-iconic Alfred's Apartment—a clothing/merch/I-don't-know-how-to-define-it-but-it's-cool shop which doubles as an ever-bustling coffee and bagel shop. Organic Allpress Espresso beans are the name of the game here which pair well with Alfred's bagels which garnered a cult-like following.
They keep things simple with four main bagel flavours—PB & J, avocado, cream cheese and strawberry jam and cream cheese with tomato and cucumber. It's tiny, but it's one of the vibiest Mermaid Beach cafes around.
INSIDER INTEL
- Keep an eye out for specials on their Instagram
- This cafe relocated from Milkman's Daughter area of Mermaid Beach, to next to Mexicali
Cafes open from 7am
Sunnyboy Espresso
168 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 | Open from 7am
Dripping in sunshine and mere steps from the ocean, Sunnyboy Espresso offers a creative, seasonal menu that cements this as one of the best cafes in Mermaid Beach. It's the type of joint where creativity's plated up and designed to delight.
Take the strawberry shortcake French toast, for example. It's a thick slab of pillowey bread, topped with strawberry custard, an almond crumb, fresh berries, gelato and a zig-zag piping of Prosecc mousse. It's cheeky artistry on a plate that'll make you giddy.
INSIDER INTEL
- Sunnyboy is brought to us by the renowned team behind Elk Espresso
- Bottomless boozy brunches run daily from 10am for $49 with a dish of your choice, for one hour
Le Cafe Gourmand
2545 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
So Le Cafe Gourmand might be a Mermaid Beach cafe, but it feels more like a café (emphasis on the accent) —a shot of undiluted Frenchness that could have been transplanted straight from the countryside of Gascony. They even do set-menu dining every Friday night. Don’t blame me if your taste buds come away completely spoiled.
Park yourself inside or on the outdoor balcony and browse the menu to find your perfect meal. And, yes, you’ll have a hard time picking just one—fusion dishes like the salmon and avo bun compete with French classics like raclette (melted cheese poured over a potato-and-onion compote with French ham) and garlic-buttered escargots.
INSIDER INTEL
- Order your coffee piccolo or espresso to complete the Le Café experience
- Brunch slot high tea bookings are available