If you’re anything like us, you like to think you know your way around the GC dining scene.
That hot pop-up bar in Broadbeach? You’ve been there twice already. New café in Burleigh? You basically know the menu off by heart. Sometimes though, there are those hidden-away gems, or been-there-forever-type venues that fly under the radar. While these eateries are often well-loved and patronised by a bunch of passionate locals who can find their way there with their eyes closed, for the rest of us, they’ve somehow managed to avoid the limelight, and are just waiting to be discovered.
Cafés, bars, restaurants… we asked you to name the best underrated foodie hotspots on the Gold Coast. With well over 60 different eateries nominated by our readers, it’s clear we could fill your diary for the following year should you want to uncover them all. In no particular order, folks, here’s your top 10!
HANK Dining and Bar
After dark, you could be forgiven for wandering down Victoria Avenue wondering if you’d lost your way. Tucked away along a quiet Broadbeach mall, we think HANK Dining and Bar falls neatly into this off-the-radar category. Those in the know expressed their love for HANK’s artistically-prepared dishes, gin cocktails, effortless service, and #thatporkbelly.
Where: Victoria Square, 15 Victoria Avenue, Broadbeach
Zullaz Bar and Eating Place
We asked for your fave heart-melting owners, which resonated with plenty of Metropolist readers who spoke with their fingers when nominating Zullaz Bar and Eating Place. Zullaz is one of those originals which has helped put Burleigh’s James Street on the map as an eating and drinking destination, and, like a fine bottle of wine, has simply improved with age. You gave them a shout out for the always-buzzing speakeasy-style atmosphere, regular live music, round-the-world eats and, of course, the dedicated owners team who treat everyone like family.
Where: 21a/50 James Street, Burleigh Heads
The Sandwich Bros
Fans will be stoked to learn their days of tracking down some of the best sandwiches on the Gold Coast are numbered, with The Sandwich Bros opening their first bricks and mortar store in Surfers Paradise. Hurrah! No longer will it be a case of wondering are they or aren’t they at market so and so. You guys showered The Sandwich Bros with adoration in the way of votes, ‘cause you feel the rest of the GC needs to discover them too. Drool-worthy Cubans, Reubens, and service with a beaming smile, what’s not to love?
Where: 7/38 Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Percy’s Corner
Metropolist’s CBD-based readers are claiming Percy’s Corner serves up some of the best coffee on the Gold Coast, and who are we to argue? Housed inside a beautifully-restored 1920s ambulance station (which is also home to the kick-arse Co Spaces, if you’re a start-up looking for a new workspace), Percy’s is totally deserving of its place among the Coast’s best underrated gems.
Where: 45 Nerang Street, Southport
Good Day Coffee
As a Metropolist local, we were delighted to see Good Day Coffee among your pick of the most underrated cafés on the Gold Coast. While for many of you, Tugun is a place you pass through on the way to somewhere else, for 4224 locals it’s #lyfe and Good Day Coffee has their hearts. Some things our readers love most include their epic toasties, the cool cats behind the counter, and the always-perfect brews by Marvell St Roasters.
Where: 2/476 Gold Coast Highway, Tugun
Sheoak Shack Gallery Café
We proudly tuck this extension of the Gold Coast under our wing whenever the opportunity arises, and it’s clear you feel Fingal’s Sheoak Shack is a treasure deserving of a moment in the spotlight, too. Cooled by breezes off the Tweed River, this eclectic café slash art gallery slash live music destination is littered with driftwood and other gifts from the sea, and is an underrated gem worthy of a short road trip next Saturday arvo.
Where: 64 Fingal Road, Fingal Heads
Counter Café Eatery
Having only just visited this Merrimac gem a few months back ourselves, we wholeheartedly agree Counter Café Eatery is one of the most underrated foodie hotspots on the Gold Coast. A country kitchen with a French twist, come for the Blackboard coffee and stay for the grilled corn croquettes and buttery pastries.
Where: Corner Gooding Drive and Ghilgai Road, Merrimac
Bumbles Café
With the mind-boggling train of new openings in recent years, you might be forgiven for overlooking this Budds Beach treasure. Our readers are here to remind you this cute-as-a-button café is still as delightful as ever, and that you’ll want to Instagram the heck out of Bumbles’ interiors and cake cabinet before settling in for a bubble-fueled long ladies’ lunch.
Where: 19 River Drive, Budds Beach
Goji Granola Bar
We’ve watched this unassuming café receive lots of cheer from their patrons in the past, so it comes as no surprise Metropolist readers in the vicinity of Clear Island Waters also think Goji Granola Bar is pretty neat. Obvs they make a mean granola in-house, but we’re most intrigued by the black charcoal coco soft serve. ‘Cause any excuse to eat dessert for breakfast, and we’re all over it.
Where: Shop 7/60 Santa Cruz Boulevard, Clear Island Waters
Kirramisu
Kirramisu has been around forever, which is an achievement unto itself in today’s changing culinary landscape, and this Kirra Beach main-stayer received a ton of local love in the way of votes. Where do we start? “Outstanding food and staff”, “magic location”, “consistently delicious every time”, “the view is to die for”, “perfect after a dawn surf” were all comments repeated in one various form or another. Cheers, guys!
Where: 2/28 Musgrave Street, Kirra
Love food as much as we do? Validate your #breakfastboss status with 30 cafés you should have eaten breakfast at if you live on the Gold Coast.
Photo Credit: Ariana Gillrie for Metropolist