Best Brunch In Gold Coast: The Definitive Guide

Australia's Gold Coast is an outdoorsy destination for swimmers, hikers, surfers, and general lovers of nature. The east coast city is heaven for lovers of sandy beaches and national parks with towering waterfalls and lush forests. Even if you're not into outdoor activities, Gold Coast offers some of the best museums, art galleries, shopping, and nightlife in the region. Located about an hour south of Brisbane and two hours from Sunshine Coast, fitting in a trip to this scenic playground is easily done.

All the sightseeing and adventure activities in Gold Coast can work up quite an appetite. Luckily, the area is teeming with brunch restaurants perfect for a cup of coffee, delicious pastry, or an elaborate brunch that would make anyone drool. The brunch options in Gold Coast also include beach shacks, French cafes, classic breakfast joints, and even ones with a modern dining room. You can get breakfast and brunch fare until the late afternoon, and if your appetitive is big enough, get your money's worth with an all-you-can-eat brunch. And, don't forget the brunch cocktails; bloody marys and mimosas flow freely.

Before you head out for some delicious food, make sure your bags are stored somewhere safe. Head to a Bounce luggage storage in Gold Coast and let them take care of the luggage. Besides, you'll need both hands for eating!

Cardamom Pod

Cardamom Pod is a vegetarian cafe and deli with two locations in Gold Coast - one in Southport and one in Broadbeach. The great brunch spots promote clean plant-based eating by offering everything from pancakes to eggs benny to toasties. Cardamom Pod also has tons of gluten-free and vegan options, and their alternative to bacon - facon - might help fill the meat gap for any carnivores in your group.

The prices here tend to be on the higher end for casual brunch restaurants, but they use only the freshest ingredients and some of the concoctions, like the weekend special crispy waffles with the flavors of peanut butter, bananas, and espresso boba ice cream, are so decadent that you won't mind dishing out a few extra dollars. The plates are colorful and beautifully presented and you can get your meal from 8 am to 2:30 pm by dining in their quirky restaurant or getting some takeout and heading to a nearby beach.

Commune

The vintage decor and the beach-adjacent location of Commune in Burleigh Heads might be enough to draw you into the restaurant. Their focus is on organic food, light meals, and tasty coffee doesn't hurt either. They serve everything on their menu from 6:30 am to 2:30 pm every day of the week and the light fare features items like yogurt with muesli, coriander corn fritters, banana pancakes, and some of the best espresso in town. The eggs are free-range and the chili jam is always made in-house.

Commune is one of the more affordable breakfast places with many options that are AU$10 or less. The vintage vibe is magnified by the wall-to-wall posters on the interior walls, and the outdoor patio with picnic tables and umbrellas is lovely on a sunny day.

Paddock Bakery

The place to go for breakfast, lunch, and of course, brunch, is Paddock Bakery in the Miami neighborhood. The menu is stocked with comfort food and has indoor seating as well as much sought-after outdoor seating in their idyllic garden. Options for meat-eaters, vegans, vegetarians, and those on a gluten-free diet abound. They also offer dairy-free options and are conscious of allergies.

The bakery is famous for their wood-fired sourdough and the creme fraiche scrambled eggs are super decadent. Try the benny on a bagel or the watermelon rose panna cotta bowl for something ultra unique. Another plus here is the drinks. The restaurant is fully licensed and offers everything from bloody marys and mimosas to margaritas and beer. If you're just stopping by for something quick, the smoothies, milkshakes, and coffee are the ideal pick-me-up.

Little Mermaid

Open daily from 6 am to 3 pm at their location in Mermaid Beach, Little Mermaid is a fantastic mid-range option for brunch in Gold Coast. Set right across the street from the picturesque Mermaid Beach, this boho-chic spot combines bottomless brunch with brunch classics like avocado toast and eggs benedict alongside gourmet burgers and colorful salads.

Dining at Little Mermaid is an experience. Aside from the good food, they treat restaurant-goers to live music every Sunday, a relaxed atmosphere, and a well-stocked bar. Check out their extensive wine list, or just enjoy the ambiance while sipping a great coffee.

Espresso Moto

One of the earliest opening spots in Gold Coast, Espresso Moto's locations in Palm Beach and Mermaid Beach throw open their doors every morning at 5:30 am. From their name, you can likely guess that they can cover your caffeine needs with great coffee, but they also serve a wonderful brunch. Start your day with something simple like the eggs your way on toasted sourdough. Otherwise, if you're feeling adventurous, the Lebanese flatbread and spicy chorizo scrambler are sure to satisfy you. Tuck into your meal inside in their dining room or, if the weather is favorable, head outside to dine on their bistro-style patio. And, let's face it, the weather in Gold Coast is usually favorable.

Even if you're not looking for a full meal, Espresso Moto bakes fresh muffins daily, and when you pair that with some coffee, there's no way your day won't start off on the right foot.

Bazaar Surfers Paradise

Bazar Surfers Paradise is an all-you-can-eat restaurant that does buffet breakfast or dinner daily, and a tasty buffet brunch on Sundays from 11 am to 3 pm. From the location in the Q Hotel in Surfers Paradise, this upscale buffet is anything but basic. The food is pleasantly presented and lets you experience the culinary flavors of the world without leaving Gold Coast.

While an all-you-can-eat brunch might seem a bit daunting for some, keep in mind that Gold Coast is a very active city, and while here, you're likely going to be burning quite a few calories. Why not treat yourself to a decadent brunch where you get to sample a little bit of everything? Eggs, fried chicken, pizza, and lots of items you can get made to order. Did we mention the bottomless mimosa option? All this choice comes at a cost, and the Sunday brunch will set you back about AU$65. Make a day of it since you're probably only going to get a delicious brunch here once on your trip.

Base Broadbeach

Located in the convenient Oasis Shopping Centre in Broadbeach, Base is known for its awesome breakfast and great service. They aim to provide healthy, organic meals in a comfortable yet modern setting. It's a relatively affordable option with nothing on the menu over AU$20. If you're craving something sweet, the Nutella waffles or the Canadian pancakes with bacon and ice cream certainly won't disappoint. The Base big brekky is similar to a traditional English breakfast with eggs, bacon, tomatoes, hashbrowns, and mushrooms on toast. If your mouth isn't watering yet, how about the big veggie breakfast with avocado smash and spinach on toast? Wash all this deliciousness down with a smoothie or cold-pressed juice. And, the coffee list is extensive with options for fancy macchiatos and mochas or basics like pour-over, cold drip, and espresso.

Hot Shott Main Beach

Another tempting spot for delicious food for brunch or breakfast is Hot Shott Kitchen in Main Beach near Macintosh Island. The selection of hearty breakfast will fuel any traveler for a day of hiking and exploring, whereas the light start choices are a little more sensible, especially if you aren't too hungry. The menu has everything from Spanish-style eggs to sinful pancakes to sweet corn and chive fritters. The most popular choice here has to be The Benedict of All Benedicts. The name might seem like bragging, but this benny has the swagger to pull it off. It has the somewhat standard smoked leg ham and two poached eggs, but then it diverges from the traditional by adding asparagus, feta, rich hollandaise, and cherry tomatoes all on hunks of toasted sourdough. This is next-level eggs benedict.

Bam Bam Bakehouse

Bam Bam Bakehouse in Mermaid Beach is a local favorite for all-day brunch and some of the best croissants and other pastries in Gold Coast. The airy dining room is great for a meal, or you can simply pick up a few items to go. The egg nasi is something you won't find anywhere and the perfect choice for anyone who is sick of or doesn't like traditional brunch fare. Bam Bam sautees white rice, assorted vegetables, eggs, and sweet sauce in a wok and then tops it with spicy sambal oelek and crispy onions. But, if the classics appeal to you more, they have those too. Eggs Benedict, croissant French toast, and eggs your way with all the fixings.

Bam Bam Bakehouse is also a great option for lunch with flavorful noodle salads, burgers, and even a BLT. It's an ideal place for groups with varying tastes and dietary requirements.

Barefoot Barista

With multiple locations in Palm Beach, Currumbin, and Mermaid Beach, you're likely to pass a Barefoot Barista storefront as you venture around the city. They have every kind of coffee imaginable and it's the perfect place to grab a brunch bite. The Turkish eggs are bursting with flavor from the harissa hummus, basil oil, ground beef, and roti that's charred to perfection.

Aside from typical breakfast food, Barefoot Barista has wraps, burgers, and salads that are vegetarian-friendly or include tasty meat. The restaurants always open at 5 am and close between 3 and 4 pm depending on the day of the week and the location. Considered a staple in the Gold Coast community, Barefoot Barista is a worthy spot to spend your brunch dollars.

Le Cafe Gourmand

Another brunch spot in Mermaid Beach, Le Cafe Gourmand is open daily from 7 am to 2 pm and on Friday nights they also open for dinner. Known for an Australian twist on classic French food, you'll find all the traditional items like croissants, tarts, omelets, and croque monsieurs at this casual eatery. The chefs are French and everything here is fresh-baked, so you can't leave without at least one pain au chocolat. Pair it with a proper French coffee and you'll be in heaven in Gold Coast.

This place has just the right amount of decadent French food coupled with breakfast favorites. The location should suit most just off the highway with proximity to the beach as well as the Pacific Fair Shopping Centre. Basically, there's no excuse not to brunch here.

Conclusion

With all the choices available to tourists and locals for brunch in Gold Coast, it can be daunting to find the best. That said, the best brunch is the one that suits your tastes, schedule, and budget, and luckily, Gold Coast has something for everyone. You can sample Turkish, French, Canadian, Australian, and Spanish delicacies at the various brunch restaurants throughout the city. Mermaid Beach tends to have to highest concentration of options, but rest assured, you won't have to look very far for brunch regardless of what Gold Coast neighborhood you're in.

You can get boozy or stick to coffee and juice or simply choose a decadent pastry or two. Whatever your best brunch in Gold Coast looks like, you're sure to find it (and without looking too hard).