Locals love them. People travel from across the world for them. They’re even in our name. We are, of course, talking about the Gold Coast’s beaches—and the best place to view our spectacular shores (while indulging in a cheeky nibble or sip) is from the deck of a surf club.
So, without further ado, these are the Gold Coast/Kombumerri Country’s top 13 surf clubs, in no particular order.
Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club
741 Pacific Parade, Currumbin QLD 4223
‘Beachfront’ means different things in different contexts. When you’re talking about cafes and restaurants, it’s being across the street from the beach. For most surf clubs, it’s being next to the footpath that runs adjacent to the shore. Currumbin Beach Vikings SLSC? Well, it’s literally on the sand.
This two-storey building has, hands down, the best views of any surf lifesaving club on the Gold Coast. Bonuses include being directly next to Elephant Rock (a hulking hillock of rock with 360-degree ocean views), the on-site beachfront Kinship Cafe and a stone’s throw from Currumbin cafes like The Salt Mill and Barefoot Barista. Do yourself a favour. Visit.
The Surf Club Burleigh
Mowbray Park, Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
One of the most iconic surf clubs on the Gold Coast, The Surf Club Burleigh is at the very heart of Burleigh Heads—not only geographically but also as a community hub, a meeting place, a damn good surf club. It was formally founded in 1923, so yes, it's certainly stood the test of time.
The restaurant located on Level 1 has prime ocean-facing views and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, in addition to the sports bar on the ground floor and the beach kiosk on the ground floor which is open from 5:30am daily for your morning brew. The surf club is also a prime function space for weddings or events and has a dedicated events team. Swing past on any morning and the crowds of patrons watching the sun rise is a testament to The Surf Club Burleigh's popularity.
Kurrawa Surf Club
Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Not every Gold Coast surf club has access to beachside real estate. Kurrawa Surf Club does, though, and it makes the most of it. The recently renovated upper deck enjoys spectacular views that sweep from the towers of Surfers Paradise to the glittering waves of Broadbeach. The menu is equally wide-ranging, with a lineup that travels from Italy (pizza, pasta and parmigiana) and Spain (paella) to India (dahl) and Indonesia (gulai sapi).
If you’re visiting earlier in the day, Tower 28 Cafe—so named for the nearby surf lifesaving tower—serves a no-frills menu differentiated by Middle Eastern and Spanish influences. And, yes, it’s perfectly acceptable to visit sandy-footed.
Rainbow Bay Surf Club
2 Snapper Rocks Road, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Ah, Snapper Rocks. Could there be a better location for a surf club? It’s home to one of the world’s most famous surf breaks: the Superbank, a sandbar that delivers the incredibly long, consistent waves Snapper is known for. If that’s not enough for a journey to Rainbow Bay Surf Club, we’ll give you two more reasons.
One, the all-day menu is consistently solid. Polish off a pulled pork pizza or sirloin burger at sunset for optimal culinary pleasure. Two, if you’re visiting earlier in the day, snag a coffee from downstairs Behind the Rock Cafe and head up to Point Danger. We’re not kidding: the panorama is genuinely breathtaking.
North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club
293 The Esplanade, Miami QLD 4220
What do you want in a surf club? Good coffee, great dining, and exceptional views. With three different eateries under the one roof, North Burleigh Surf Life Saving Club manages to hit the trifecta.
Watch the sun rise over the ocean with a cup of caffeine from Nectar Espresso, a vibrant hole-in-the-wall that also slings up some of the best acai bowls on the Gold Coast. Come back for lunch at the Supporters Club—the kind of surf-and-turf-style chow that always tastes best with a cold beer. As the day starts to fade, head upstairs to Sandfire, a fine dining establishment that features a 180-degree panorama of sand, sea and sky. (You’ll need to book well in advance, though. Sandfire is popular.)
You Might Also Like:
- The Gold Coast's Best Cafes
- The Gold Coast's Best Restaurants
- The Gold Coast's Best Long Lunch Restaurants
Palm Beach Surf Club
117 Jefferson Lane, Palm Beach QLD 4221
Palm Beach Surf Club blends modern bistro cuisine with the sprawl of the Pacific—a pairing that delights all the senses. Dine al fresco on the beachfront balcony or sequester yourself indoors (a must when visiting for lunch over summer). If live music’s your thing, pop in over the weekend for a laidback round of cocktails and pizza.
Of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention Jeffersons, a delightful coffee nook located on the ground floor. It opens from 5:30am each day—ideal for spotting sunrises and, at the right time of year, the occasional migrating whale.
Nobby’s Beach Surf Life Saving Club
25 Albatross Avenue, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Nobby’s Beach Surf Life Saving Club might not have the same ‘there on the sand’ vibe as North Burleigh, but it does combine a solidly diverse bistro menu with good gluten-free and vegetarian options.
Add in regular live music events, full-frontal ocean views, and a range of on-tap beers, and you’ve got yourself a local favourite. (Like most surf clubs on the Gold Coast, Nobby’s Beach SLSC does have regular ‘special nights’, so check out their ’gram before you plan your visit.)
Southport Surf Life Saving Club
MacArthur Parade, Main Beach QLD 4217
Southport is home to some pretty excellent eateries—places like Cardamom Pod, GOTO Japanese, and Mozza Mozza. But none of them have the kind of seafront outlook that Southport Surf Life Saving Club does. Established in 1924, this is a genuine Gold Coast institution—one that’s worth visiting as much for its history as for its food.
Speaking of food: the menu here is classic bistro fare that goes down equally well for lunch as it does for dinner. Pair classics like Bolognese and parmigiana with a dose of caffeine or a cold pint for a feed at any time of day. Note: Southport SLSC is just three minutes’ drive from Sea World, making it great for fuelling up after a day of marine adventures.
Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club
Corner of Hanlan Street and The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Set slightly back from the beach, Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club still enjoys some of the best low-rise views in the Gold Coast’s party district. Wander off the street and you’ll find yourself in the Coffee Hub, a ground-floor cafe that’s ideal for early-morning coffees and walks along the Esplanade. Head upstairs for the bistro, which opens from 7am to 12am (yes, you read that right) and delivers reliable all-day feeds.
Feeling a little depleted after a heavy night in Cavill Avenue? Surfers Paradise SLSC has you covered. Grab a double shot of Merlo and the Hangover Wrap, a fistful of greasy, protein-y goodness that comes with a side of hash browns, and wash it all down with a detox juice.
BMD Northcliffe Surf Club
51 Garfield Terrace, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
A half-a-dozen blocks from Surfers Paradise SLSC, BMD Northcliffe Surf Club delivers the usual suspects—180-degree ocean views, a bistro menu, and on-tap beer—in a Hamptons-esque space that’s pleasantly upscale.
That (plus a diverse menu and generous portions) has made this award-winning club a local staple with often-limited table space. If you can’t find a park, try walking from either Thornton or Frederick Street.
Tallebudgera Surf Club
1505 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach, QLD 4221
Editor's Note: While still open daily, Tallebudgera Surf Club is currently under renovation and is slated to reveal the refreshed surf club in early November 2024.
Located just metres from both Tallebudgera Creek and Palm Beach beachfront, Tallebudgera Surf Club is winning when it comes to location. They back up an incredible location with a bistro menu packed with fresh, local seafood and great steaks and an impressive selection of locally brewed beers.
Talle Surf Club (as the locals call it) also offers daily meal specials for both members and visitors and even has a courtesy bus operating Wednesday to Sunday. We recommend pairing your visit to Tallebudgera Surf Club with a Portugese tart from Custard Canteen.
Mermaid Beach AEME Surf Life Saving Club
172 Hedges Avenue, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Okay, we’ll admit it: great food probably isn’t the first thing you think of when someone says ‘surf club’. Happily, Mermaid Beach AEME SLSC knows what a strong bistro menu looks like. Some of the more noteworthy dishes: the signature beef burger, the Tower 26 seafood basket, and, of course, an array of carefully plated breakfast options that would be right at home in any of the Gold Coast's best cafes.
If you’re someone who likes a bit of whimsy in their day—and, as an Urban List reader, you probably do—combine the Between the Flags mystery breakfast with an early morning swim at Mermaid Beach.
Coolangatta Surf Club
Cnr Dutton St & Marine Pde, Coolangatta QLD 4225
Coolangatta Beach Surf Club is one of the Gold Coast's most southerly surf clubs, where you can step straight off the sand into the club. Open seven days a week from 11am to 10pm, there really isn't a bad time to visit here but we recommend in the late afternoon so you can soak up the golden hour views.
The Seabreeze restaurant is family-friendly with oceanfront views from the balcony or swing past the on-site Board Short Barista cafe, as the perfect coffee pit stop on your morning walk.
Honourable mentions: Greenmount Surf Club, Miami Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Tugun Surf Life Saving Club and Broadbeach Surf Life Saving Club
Looking for more? Check out:
Main image credit: Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club | Instagram
Urban List Best Of: has our highest stamp of approval—curated lists of the very best recommendations for you to eat, do, see, buy or book, carefully chosen by our Editors.