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Quickly earning itself a cult following in Coolangatta, we reckon Francie’s pizzeria is one of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast if you find yourself wandering around the southern end with a hunger you need to crush. With cool vibes, a laidback local clientele, hip staff and wood-fired neo-Neapolitan-style pizzas featuring cheeky names like Pears Brosnan and Cheese Louise (not to mention an entire vegan pizza menu!), Francie’s is unassuming but a total fan favourite.

The ‘best television in the world’ is what Coolangatta locals like to call their waterfront loungeroom view from the Rainbow Bay SLSC. Cold beers flow on tap, giant chicken parmis waft out of the kitchen and if you listen closely enough, tales of waves surfed past and present bounce from wall to wall in this iconic Coolangatta location. Order a schooner of local Balter beer, sit back and listen to some surfing tales told, both tall and true. A visit here is our top pick among the best things to do in Coolangatta.

Whether you’re on the run or have time to sit and relax, Griffith St Larder has your caffeine fix sorted. Order your takeaway through their sweet little side window or step inside to enjoy a smooth brew with beans from the local folks at Blackboard Coffee. The ideal brunch spot, try their ‘bread or bowl’ options or their famous Eggs Benny on a Hash Brown and curl up into a little food induced, brunch coma.

The long wait is over, folks. A vacant warehouse in the middle of a Burleigh Heads industrial estate has been converted into a bustling marketplace, packed with stalls dishing up more barbecue-inspired eats than you could possibly poke a fork at. Sounds like some kind of dream, huh? Wrong!

The gang from Byron have migrated north and brought with them their mouth-watering baked goods! Sitting just across the NSW border in Tweed Heads, The Bread Social offers up one of the most impressive pastry cabinets perhaps on the entire Coast. Choose from a crispy pork and fennel sausage roll, lemon myrtle meringue or a loaf of their insane sourdough and you’ll forget that you ever just popped in here for a coffee!

Sitting like a sweet little farmhouse in the middle of busy Griffith Street, Rockleigh Cafe is our top pick for breakfast in Coolangatta. Grab a table outside under the shady tree and order our favourite: a mixed confit of mushrooms with kale, goats curd, walnut crumb, pickled cucumber and salsa verde on sourdough. Are you picking up what we’re putting down? Good.

Date night, girl's night or dinner with the lads, fanciful Moo Moo is great for all occasions. Enjoy a cheese plate and oysters, then choose from their extensive list of wines or overlook Broadbeach’s Victoria Park while enjoying Moo Moo’s signature steak. If cocktails are your style, an Apple Vineyard Bellini or espresso caramel margarita is a must. Don’t leave Moo Moo without at least a bite of their house made chocolate honeycomb or choc fudge sundae. If you’re on the hunt for one of the best steak restaurants on the Gold Coast, well, you’ve found it. 

When you’re on the hunt for the best breakfasts in Southport, a trip to Chirn Park's Daark Espresso is totally worth an extra five minutes in the car. An institution among professional brunchers, Daark is always buzzing with coffee lovers chilling on the wrap-around deck. With attentive table service, speciality brews and delicious options from vanilla bean panna cotta to leg ham and parmesan croquettes or slow-cooked lamb and beetroot salads, there’s a lot to love about Daark. 

If you’re on the hunt for one of the best cafes in Southport and capital city quality coffee, the friendly team at Simple Coffee House is at your service. Located on the CBD’s main drag, this simple yet bustling cafe sells sweet and savoury treats and a small grocery line to kickstart your day. But you’re here for the smooth Toby’s Estate caffeinated brews, served every which way, and the regular line up of loyal locals ensures you’re in the right place. 

Since opening their doors in Bondi Beach way back in 2016, Milky Lane has already planted themselves firmly on many Sydneysider’s foodie hit lists. And now, Sydney's infamous burger joint has landed on the Gold Coast.

The arrival of Azure Spa & Fitness is another final piece of the puzzle in The Star Gold Coast’s staggering transformation. Quickly taking its place among the best day spas on the Gold Coast, step past the doors and be transported to a tranquil oasis. Choose from an indulgent treatment menu including luxe facials and massage to signature body treatments, manis and pedis, plus offerings just for the gents. With seven treatment rooms at the ready, guests are welcome to take advantage of the high-tech fitness room and sprawling resort pool to extend their experience.

A top choice among the best cafes in Southport, locals really do have something to be proud of in the CBD’s characterful Randy Wallhole. While the breakfast options are simple and seriously good value (think jaffles, loaded bagels, nourishing bowls and CocoPop iced lattes), this eclectic cafe—filled with retro couches, arcade games and paraphernalia—is an uber friendly local favourite that’s sure to brighten your Monday blues. 

Gotham is the latest (and hands down greatest) project of lauded restaurateurs Daniel and Ruggie Ridgeway. Well respected for their Mermaid Beach institution Little Truffle and the BiN family of tapas restaurants, Gotham Bar & Grill is seriously ambitious and unlike anything they’ve attempted before. 

Popular cafe spot Niche & Co. just keeps on getting better, with a fresh update to the walls with a splash of pink paint and pretty palms as well as a new seasonal menu on offer. This cute af cafe has all the superfoods sprinkled throughout every single dish. You will find beetroot smash on sourdough, poke bowls, haloumi burgers and vegan burritos, to name a few. The salted caramel acai bowl should not be a special, but added to the menu FOREVER, it’s that good. Okay, okay we know we should probably go for the green bowl, anything green is good, right? #Itsyournichetoo so get on down and get tasting and tagging ‘cause if it’s good enough for Sally Fitzgibbons (FYI she is the epitome of health) then it’s good enough for us. If you’re looking for one of the best cafes on the Gold Coast, well, you’ve found it! 

With no end in sight to the Coast’s new-found love for poke bowls, it makes total sense that sunny beach hangs, Kirra, were to gain its own dedicated poke bowl cafe. Inspired by the lush island archipelago of Hawaii, Kirra’s HiPoke brings a burst of summer to any day, and is all just a sandy-footed stroll from the seaside.

If you’re a Pilates fan, you’ll already be familiar with The Body Method brand, who boast one of the most attractive studios on the Coast. An organic expansion of their flagship studio in Tugun, this larger, even more magical new space hosts yoga, Barre, meditation, as well as Pilates and workshops (from pregnancy yoga to women’s wellness), and we’re so ready to sign up. Seriously, this dreamy, light-soaked space needs to be experienced to be believed, and it’ll be impossible to walk away from a class without slipping into a total Zen-like state of mind.

If there’s ever a venue that's iconic, it’s The Avenue, a GC institution in the heart of Surfers. From its origins in the 70s as one of Australia’s first nightclubs, it’s benefitted from a multi-million dollar refurb (and move across the road) to bring it back to the right side of modern (while all the good vibes remain). The Avenue's buzzing atmosphere guarantees you and the crew will have a fab afternoon, but not at the expense of genuinely good food: think an Italian-influenced, New York-style menu of oysters, entrees, gourmet burgers, charcuterie platters, pasta, steaks and salad, all washed down with plenty of drinks. Quintessential beachy Surfers Paradise feels!

Got a weakness for seafood? Beeline to Surfers Paradise's esplanade where you’ll find Seascape Restaurant & Bar. Sprawling over three levels, including a breezy rooftop bar, nabbing a prime possie with uninterrupted Pacific Ocean vistas won’t be too difficult. Go casual with a generous seafood platter in the bistro, or frock up for a divine seafood spread starting with fresh cuts of sashimi, seared Alaskan scallops with truffled white bean puree, to brag-worthy Pernod Bouillabaisse bursting with mussels, prawns and Moreton Bay bugs. When in Queensland, right?

With poke bowls taking the world by storm, it was only a matter of time before the Gold Coast caught onto the trend and gained its own dedicated poke bowl restaurant. Like a Hawaiian or Caribbean Island marooned in Mermaid Beach, Póke Póke is a vibrant and utterly unique eatery that’s open for brunch through dinner with a chill crowd and funky tunes bringing the positive vibes.   

It’s true, cheese lovers, the southern Gold Coast has just gained its very own European-style cellar and fromagarie—with a freakin’ walk-in cheese room. Hurrah! Quince is the super sweet edible offering in boutique retail precinct Cornerstone Stores. Grab an African woven basket and fill it with boozy delights from a selection of both European-sourced and organic, biodynamic Australian wines (including the hard-to-get range from Delinquente), Husk Distillery Ink Gin and rums, and Strange Love tonics. Or, plan your gourmet picnic or dinner party with deli pastas (hello, Per Tutti!)), sauces, mustards, oils, olives and cured meats. But it’s the walk-in fromagarie that’s making us weak in the knees. Imported from France, Italy and Spain you can pick up the creamy Cremeux de Bourgogne and the Crottin D’Antan which pairs perfectly with a Savvy B. Or wait ‘til they cut into the 36-kilogram wheel of Gran Moravia Italian Parmesan… Or just buy one of everything, we won’t judge. 

Pops of pink, loads of white, nude wood and cute pendant lights above the sunny window nook make this place totally Pinnable. But there’s so much more to this gem than the interior. Easily one of the best hairdressers on the Gold Coast, Kerri and her team at Zanzi Hairdressing are pros at delivering perfectly primed cuts and colours. With a holistic approach to hairdressing, eco-friendly Zanzi is part of the Sustainable Salons program, where 95% of salon waste is carefully recycled. Zanzi has also eliminated the need for unnecessary paper (there are iPads instead of magazines!) and exclusively uses organic OWAY products that are free from toxic chemicals, while still providing a quality treatment without comprising the health of the hair, client and environment. You'll find Zanzi Hairdressing in the stunning Cornerstone Stores precinct in Currumbin-Tugun.

We’re calling it now… Stable Coffee & Kitchen is one of the most atheistically stunning cafes we’ve seen open its doors on the Coast, ever. We’re crushing on Stable’s blush pink stone-top island table—which will no doubt become the bucket-list Instagram backdrop for many breakfast dates—retractable floor to ceiling windows, courtyard seating, oak wood accents, artwork by Claudio Kirac, and a unique cement breakfast bar which adjoins the barista station and is lined with custom built stools by Martin Johnston. With ex-Gwinganna health retreat executive chef Stacey Tarleton heading up the kitchen, almost everything is made in house from the jams to sauces and creams, and the real-food menu is simply brilliant. We tucked into the Overnight Oats with rhubarb and burnt orange yoghurt, the Raw Tuna plate with quinoa and salted labne, plus the Potato Hash with poached eggs and miso cashew cream. If these are not some of the best breakfasts to grace the Gold Coast, we will eat our words. 

Holey Moley, the cult-like chip-and-putt that’s taken the country by storm has finally arrived on the Gold Coast and we've never been more excited to grab a set of clubs. Holey Moley is an 18-hole crazy AF mini golf course that's joined Surfers Paradise’s Circle on Cavill precinct, along with a new and improved bowling alley, karaoke, The Caddyshack cocktail bar and two state-of-the-art escape rooms. Yep, this freakin’ awesome golf company is teaming up with Strike Bowling to create the ultimate all-in-one entertainment hub, and let’s just say the kidult in us is pumped!

Ally Chow serves up incredible pan-Asian fare in Nobby Beach. Dishing up share-style plates, you’ll find a mix of Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese flavours across the menu. 

Cornerstone Stores is a labour of love for a family of long-time locals, who’ve held onto this Gold Coast Highway-side block for the last four years while they planned their build. Among the gorge stores there's Stable Coffee & Kitchen; a new yoga, Pilates and meditation centre by The Body Method; Quince Fromagerie (with a freakin’ walk-in cheese room); organic hairdresser Zanzi Hair; indoor plants by The Borrowed Nursery, Essence of Beauty; Little Loves babyswear; plus curated lifestyle boutiques Kind Curations and Prae Store. 

Husk Distillers, a humble Northern Rivers NSW family-owned and operated business, once happily serviced their market out of a backyard shed on their fertile cane and cattle farm. Exploding in popularity thanks to their iconic Ink Gin brand, they're Australia’s first paddock to bottle Agricole rum distillery, which means it’s made from freshly crushed sugar cane juice, instead of molasses. 

Fu Manchu Oriental Kitchen on Surfers Paradise’s Chevron Island has a true Asian fusion menu that morphs from devout traditions to dishes with a European twist. Hiding behind an unassuming London shop front-style facade, Fu Manchu is totally where we want to hang on our next date night, with a dark and moody supper club-ish interior that lends itself to getting cosy and just a lil’ bit boozy. Our tip? Fu Manchu’s Singapore chilli crab and sticky Asian beef short ribs are life changing. 

Absolutely brimming with Japanese soul food, Okazu offers convenient meals to go and casual dining indoors in their cosy space with ample people watching views. Equal parts authentic and god damn cute, these guys are serious about offering you a laid back Japanese, yet totally GC, experience. With their signature ‘you make miso happy’ neon sign and rustic seating nooks, you’ll be grinning ear to ear each and every time you step foot into this place.

A recent addition to Tweed’s busy Kennedy Drive thoroughfare, this diamond in the semi industrial rough is what immediate locals have long been craving. For the rest of us, a short jaunt across the border is totally worth it for this hip corner cafe with raw industrial vibes, a whimsical feature flower arrangement by Gather Store, personalised service and some of the best new breakfasts we’ve devoured this year. Start with Hymn’s smooth caffeinated brew using Melbourne’s St Ali beans or an Insta-worthy Mermaid Latte by local supplier Nutra Organics. Before moving onto the egg and bacon Hawker Roll with roti, apple sauce and house made condensed milk mayo or the nek-level Here Fishy Fishy with gin-cured salmon, potato salad, walnuts and poachies. Yep, you’re going to love this southern gem.  

Boasting one of the most beautiful and spacious salons on the Coast, contemporary art gallery at the rear and a dedicated dude’s corner with a fulltime barber, you could say Maverick Hair & Art Space has got it all going on. 

Beauty gurus, raise your contouring brushes, this cruelty-free, non-toxic beauty bar in Nobby Beach is seriously worth a look-see. Y’know how some planet-friendly makeup can look kinda like the innards of an old avocado stuffed into a sad brown bag and slapped with a hand-written label? Well, this is totally not that place. 

If you’re yet to pull in and try the goods at Stones Throw, you’re missing out on one of the best cafes in Burleigh. With an ethnic twist infiltrating the menu, come for the Beef Rendang Mince or Saag Aloo Hash or, for the late brunching crowd, the Bibimbap is a stand out. Need something on the go? Stones Throw's homemade gourmet pies are nek-level. Helping you slide on into the weekend, this licensed local fave even keep the doors open for happy hour from 4pm to 6pm, Fridays and Saturdays. 

Hordes of hip coffee drinkers and lycra-wearing riders filling every available seat on a Saturday morning, is a testament to the popularity of this West Burleigh hangout. Worth the trek away from the main drag if you’re keen to devour some of the best breakfasts in Burleigh, we love Parlour Coffee’s easy-breezy patio and picnic tables in the front garden. Paired perfectly with Marvell St coffee and seasonal, Insta-worthy dishes from buckwheat waffles with house made salted caramel, Chantilly cream and toasted coconut to the coconut chia pudding with passion fruit, mango and stone fruit salsa. Summer in a bowl, right there. 

Recently undergoing a mega makeover, No Name Lane has created a smart Melbourne-esque style cafe in Broadbeach, which morphs into a vibing cocktail bar as the sun dips.  

Going to the local nursery may just become your next weekend ritual. Why, we hear you say? Because who doesn’t love a lush indoor plant? In fact, they’re actually really good for your health because, science. Indoor plants have been proven to help purify the air in your home, calm the mind and even increase productivity. 

Oozing beach club-style with plenty of rattan, jungle-esque potted and hanging greenery and peachy swinging chairs, Little Mermaid sits along Mermaid Beach's main drag. Morphing from morning 'til afternoon plus nights on weekends, get comfy in a peacock chair while armed with a simple breakfast, coffee and newspaper, or rally the gang for share cocktails as the sun sets and the music tempo steps up a few notches. You’ll even score free coffee for a whole week if your street is featured as part of their ‘Street Of The Week’ shout out.  

If you’ve ever scoffed a Nutella bot at Miami’s Paddock Bakery, inhaled a Barbie croissant at Mermaid Beach’s Bam Bam Bakehouse, or smashed an acai bowl from Neptune Kiosk at Talle Creek, then you’ll be familiar with the pure goodness that GC foodies Ursula and Ben Watts create in their eateries. 

Bombay Cricketers Club is the newest feather in the cap from the same culinary team that brought us Spice Den (which they’ve since sold) and Osteria in Casuarina (destination cafe slash restaurant slash all-out wedding venue), to Kingscliff’s dreamy Taverna and, more recently, waterfront Tweed River wedding venue, Ancora.

You guys went wild when we broke news of the Gold Coast’s first dedicated espresso martini bar, and rightly so. So, if you haven’t acted on your caffeine-fuelled urges yet, now is the time. Sure you can sneak a cheeky martini to boost you through your shopping mission, but we think an after-dark visit to Crafted Coffee Co. at The Kitchens is the best introduction. Frock up, settle in and prepare to work your way through the menu, starting with a Dark and Stormy espresso martini (with Kraken Rum and Kaluha), followed by the XOX (with Café Patron and vanilla vodka). Oh, and perhaps forget about sleeping tonight.

Southport's Blendlove has mastered the art of turning wholesome ingredients into mouth-watering, all-natural desserts. This is soul food at its finest. Take away a gorgeous gift pack of delicate raw delights, for a present, or yourself, or hang out with the divine staff over coffee, a spot of nourishing lunch, or a healthy spin on breakfast to start the day right. Hands down one of the best cafes on the Gold Coast's northern end, you're in good hands at Blendlove. 

Serving up some of the best tapas in Coolangatta for yonks, locals are all over this treasure chest. Take the escalator upstairs at The Strand, where you’ll find ocean vistas framed by Norfolk Pines and casual yet attentive service to help you slide into that holiday groove. Our tip? Start with an espresso martini before moving onto share plates like popcorn chicken with spicy mayo, prawn-stuffed zucchini flowers with a jalapeno dipping sauce and steamed bao bun stuffed with karaage chicken. Hungry yet? Bin 72 is one of the originals in town and still one of the best restaurants in Coolangatta. 

Salt Meats Cheese in Surfers Paradise is a hot contender among the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast. This vibrant, casual bistro serves up classic, tasty Italian cuisine with some special twists thrown in for good measure—spaghetti served from a wheel of cheese, anyone? Start your meal off with a loaded platter of imported cheese and cured meats then move onto their range of delicious pastas. On a budget? Salt Meats Cheese’s weekly $10 lunch special gets you a personal woodfired pizza with a glass of vino or beer for just five bucks more or, go for $25 all-you-can-eat pizza on Mondays. We call bargain. Oh, and did we mention they offer regular pizza and pasta-making masterclasses? 

Stumped on what to do for your next catchup with pals, or have an upcoming special occasion that needs celebrating? Then look no further than Brush & Barrel, the super cute paint and sip concept that guarantees a good time, every time! 

Chevron Island’s Tribeca NYC is named after the hip neighbourhood in downtown Manhattan with a world-renowned dining scene and inner-city loft living. It was the first true American dining establishment to open on the Gold Coast, and we can attest, is still one of the best. Tribeca NYC’s extensive menu strongly lends itself to share-style dining, which we totally urge you do, to ensure you can try as many dishes as possible in one sitting. Think: flame-grilled New York steak, Rueben sandwiches, gourmet mac and cheese, ridic burgers or their legendary BBQ rib night on Wednesdays, where 20 buckaroos gets you a full rack of pork ribs, fries and house slaw—but book early!

Blackboard has spread their magic coffee-roasting fairy dust up and down the Coast, with Blackboard beans starring on many a cafe menu. Coffee fiend or not, everyone who visits the always-humming Blackboard Varsity cafe instantly falls in love. 

We're calling it, Mr P.P.’s Deli & Rooftop is the coolest thing to happen to the northern Gold Coast in 2017. Just like the old ambulance station and Co-Spaces next door, Mr P.P.'s has been a labour of love to revive a long forgotten historical building in the CBD, honouring its heritage (aka the old postmaster, Mr P.P.) while injecting a swag of energy that's bringing people together over sunset cocktails and delicious eats. 

Burleigh's Iku yakitori and whisky bar is next level on so many fronts. 

It seems every time we turn around, there is another new hangout to explore in Broadbeach’s evolving dining and entertainment precinct, The Star Gold Coast. 

There’s a lot to love about The Island, Gold Coast's newest boutique hotel offering. From the stylish reception area with its eclectic mix of classic couches and leather armchairs, lamps and blonde timber detailing, to the functional hotel rooms and suites with their vogue colour scheme, matte black bathroom fixtures and city and ocean views. 

Baby brother to Broadbeach’s much-loved Gemelli Italian, you may be tempted to dine at Gemellini for the eye candy alone. Or not, we don’t mind. A refined addition to Nobby’s hipster scene and one of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast, Gemellini is dishing up authentic woodfired pizzas and homemade pastas with recipes inherited from nonna. What ever you do, don’t leave without trying The Carne pizza with pomodoro base, salsicce (a house-made fennel pork sausage), ham and salami. Delish! Hit their Instagram for deets of current events and specials from Sunday risotto lunches to Friday late-night pizza parties. You're going to love this joint. 

Sure, it’s not technically the Gold Coast, but take a jaunt south across the border on any sunny weekend and you’ll agree, the Tweed Coast is a sleepy pocket of paradise that we’d happily adopt as our own. So you should be delighted to know that Currumbin’s hole-in-the-wall institution, The Salt Mill, has opened another pocket-sized cafe on the southern end of Kingscliff. Just like their Currumbin location, you’ll be ordering Allpress coffee, smoothies and acai bowls only a towel throw from the glistening white sand of Kingscliff Beach. 

Robina Town Centre’s brand sparkling new eatery—that’s already wildly popular in Brisbane—Suki is serving up two of this year’s hottest food trends: build-your-own poke bowls together with their sushi and burrito mashups. 

QT Gold Coast is sassy, youthful and one of a kind. Whether it’s the vintage panel van with longboards strapped to the roof that’s parked in the drive, the retro outfits worn by the friendly concierge staff, the complimentary iced tea and homemade lemonade station, or the sunny courtyard and pool that beckons through the foyer’s massive windows.

Founders of Palm Beach’s OG cafe Barefoot (Barista) and Burleigh’s Borough (Barista) have added another family member to the fold, launching Background (Barista) in Mermaid Beach. 

It’s no longer a woman’s world where only us gals are carving out hours for self indulgence—guys, now you understand the pleasure of being primped and groomed. Another top shop among the best barbers on the Gold Coast, you’ll love Shipwreck Barber’s man den atmosphere where you can sip on a smooth spiced rum while the cool gents get you looking your best with clean shaves and classic cuts.

Fanciful dishes from an ever-evolving menu, served in an intimate 28-seater dining room, are what you can expect from Mermaid Beach’s The North Room. Be spoilt with a refined European-style dining experience combining faultless, personalised service, buttery smooth ambiance and a menu that champions the finest of seasonal, locally-sourced produce.       

The Coast’s first ever beach club was always going to be an absolute game changer for locals and visitors alike but one step inside, we can confirm it lives up to the hype. Boasting sweeping views of Burleigh beach down to the Surfers Paradise coastline and with enough room for 600 people, beachside cocktails just got a whole lot better.

They say good things come in small packages, which stands true for Coolangatta hole-in-the-wall grooming den, The Barberoy. We love the vintage-inspired interior dressed with wallpaper, pressed metal, and a gorgeous old wood floor; combined with classic full-service extras such as hot and cold towels, massage, and Turkish ear fluff singeing. And with just enough space for two clients at a time, you’re assured of some bro love and attention from the expert owner-operator scissorhands. 

Consider yourself a foodie? If this fine dining restaurant is not yet on your radar, it absolutely should be. Located on the ground level of Broadbeach’s luxe Sofitel Hotel, overlooking the park and Norfolk pines, this intimate venue will blow any preconception of hotel restaurants clearly out of the water. First and foremost, and this is something worth bragging about, room81 is one of only two Gold Coast restaurants awarded a coveted two Chef Hats. Impressive, right? 

With just 28 seats and 45-square feet total floor space, Rabbath, a contemporary Lebanese bistro, is officially the Gold Coast’s most intimate restaurant. Everything has been custom made; from the wine display racks that hang overhead, to the compact kitchen and bar combo that occupies a third of the venue. There are old world Mediterranean mosaic tiles, cosy corners and soft lighting that’ll make you immediately feel at home.