Gold Coast locals love spending time outside, so it’s no surprise that the beachside city is jam-packed with cafes, restaurants and various interesting eateries. Boasting exciting cuisines from Asian to Mexican, Italian to Modern Australian, the food is as multicultural as the city itself. You are highly unlikely to leave the Gold Coast feeling disappointed or hungry!
Surfers ParadiseSurfers Paradise is full to the brim with eateries, from fast food restaurants to five-star dining. Food served here ranges from sugared churros and chocolate fondue to fresh calamari and mouth-watering Teppanyaki. Follow the main strip along Cavill Avenue and Elkhorn Avenue for a good introduction to local cuisines or, for two local favorites, head to Benihana or Samurais Paradise for a tempting array of Pan-Asian food.
• Benihana Japanese Steak House, 158 Ferry Avenue, Surfer’s Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa, Surfers Paradise. Broadbeach
If you’re up for something a little different with regards to culture and cuisine, then Broadbeach is the place for you. Home to a popular strip of cafes, bars and restaurants, eclectic dining options include everything from Italian to Chinese, Japanese to Mexican and seafood to Thai restaurants. New types of local favourite cuisine include Korean, Moroccan, German, Bavarian and Greek. Dessert is well covered too, with an exciting array of ice cream and gelato parlours scattered throughout the area. Head to Verve Restaurant Café and Bar to try delicious dishes such as pan-fried Barramundi.
• Verve Restaurant Café and Bar, 3/1 Sunshine Blvd, Broadbeach. Main Beach
Housed in the popular suburb of Main Beach, you’ll find the buzzing dining core of Tedder Avenue. Coming to life at night with a tehcnicolored maze of entertainment, nightlife and dining, this area is the perfect place to explore Gold Coast’s gastronomy. Head down the Main Beach Parade to wander along a charismatic stretch, commonly referred to by locals as The Spit. Head to Marina Mirage to enjoy a drink by the marina at sunset or visit the luxury 5-star dining facility of Palazzo Versace.
• Marina Mirage, 74 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach. Southern Gold Coast
For a relaxed beachside ambiance with panoramic views, Burleigh and Burleigh Heads are two very casual dining spots located in Southern Gold Coast. Further along the way, south Main Beach Parade and Griffith Street in Coolangatta are two other main streets where restaurants can be found. Like Surfers Paradise, the dining choices here range from fast food to high-class dining. For a particularly popular spot, visit The Little Plate found in Burleigh Heads. Here you’ll discover a boutique dining experience with a creative and inexpensive menu.
• The Little Plate, 11/3 Deodar drive, Burleigh Heads. The Hinterland
The Gold Coast’s Hinterland is very much under-appreciated. Whilst at times it isn’t the easiest location to reach, visiting Mount Tamborine or Springbrook is well worth the trek. Here, small locally-run businesses provide authentic tastes of foreign cuisines. An abundance of rustic restaurants, local wineries and quaint cafes can all be found dotted along Mount Tamborine. For some of the best flavors in the area, visit Belvedere on Main - a local restaurant serving hearty Italian food amongst lush green surroundings.
• Belvedere on Main, 43 Main Street, Mt Tamborine.
