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The round-up: the Gold Coast’s ten best cafes, as voted by you
Earlier this year, we put out the call for our readers to nominate their favourite places for the Gold Coast EAT/drink Awards. One tasty category was Best Cafe – which attracted a record number of votes. We’ve already announced the winners, but now it’s time to reveal the top ten. So, friends, here it is – the Gold Coast’s ten best cafes, as voted by you!
The Winner: Paddock Bakery, Miami
This leafy institution is often bustling with locals and visitors from afar. Get in early to secure your spot under the canopy of trees, then decide if you’re feeling like dippy eggs, doughnut French toast, a housemade sausage roll or a tasty Reuben sando. Pair it with a Single O coffee (or a hot salted caramel) and once you’re done, head back inside for round two – indulging in house-baked sweet treats from the cabinet.
Runner-Up: Bam Bam Bakehouse, Mermaid Beach
Bam Bam is an institution on the Gold Coast for good reason. Whether it’s breakfast, coffee and cakes, a champagne-paired brunch, or a lazy lunch with friends, Bam Bam delivers on the daily. No trip to Bam Bam is complete without getting a croissant (the hero of the eye-popping pastry cabinet), while those settling in for the long haul must experience favourites like the Bam Bam Benny, the nasi goreng, and the Korean fried-chicken bowl.
Runner-Up: Elk Espresso, Broadbeach
This is a true local favourite. Elk’s seasonally changing menu means there are always new and exciting dishes to try – so regular visits are a must! Think breakfast and brunch eats like Violet Crumble waffles, and aged-cheddar and corned-beef croquettes. Oh, and definitely add Elk’s potato hash to everything. For lunch, tuck into vibrant salads, hearty wagyu-beef or fried-chicken burgers and more. Everything from the food to the coffee and the fit-out will keep you coming back for more.
Hide n Seek Espresso, Miami
We do love a good neighbourhood gem – so we were delighted to see Hide N Seek voted by locals into the top ten cafes. The friendly team are at it from 5:30 am, dispensing Toby’s Estate brews to caffeine-deprived locals, alongside a tasty breakfast and brunch menu and a cabinet full of grab-and-go eats and house-made treats. Hide n Seek was also voted into runner-up spot in the Best Place for Coffee category in the 2019 EAT/drink Awards.
Double Barrel Kitchen, Mermaid Waters
Yet again, another off-the-beaten-track cafe was voted into the top ten. Double Barrel Kitchen has a true neighbourhood vibe, attracting the early-morning coffee sippers to the breakfast crowd and the long lunchers. The menu covers refined classics and intriguing creations, from crowd-pleasing eggs benny to bacon-and-egg bao buns, while caffeine lovers can get their fix from Supreme Roasters.
Blackboard Coffee, Varsity Lakes
Blackboard has quite the colourful history on the Gold Coast, starting out as a humble hole-in-the-wall to becoming one of the city’s most well-known coffee roasters and cafes. Its Varsity Lakes cafe is bustling with locals on any given day, with its seasonal breakfast and lunch menu (and weekly specials) proving to be a huge drawcard. The chilli scramble with nduja is the perfect day starter – just leave room for something from the sweets cabinet.
Paradox Coffee Roasters, Surfers Paradise
As the flagship cafe for esteemed roaster and wholesaler Paradox Coffee Roasters, you can safely assume your morning brew is going to be top notch here. Pair your coffee with something deliciously sweet from the from the front display, or settle in for breakfast, brunch or lunch with all-day dishes like brioche French toast with salted-peanut parfait or the fried-chicken milk-bun burger with jalapeno mayo.
Commune, Burleigh Heads
Sitting in the sunshine while sipping coffee and devouring bacon and eggs in between rounds of ping pong is what mornings at Commune are all about. This long-standing neighbourhood cafe is a true institution on the coast, slinging the goods for locals seven days a week. It’s meat-free Mondays are still going strong – so head on down to start your week the right way.
Rockleigh Cafe, Coolangatta
It seems a lot of you like brunching in the sunshine with a quality coffee in hand, because Rockleigh earned itself a hefty chunk of the votes in the EAT/drink Awards. The popular Coolangatta hang has a relaxed vibe, great brews and a seasonal menu that’s underscored by rotating specials. Think beef-brisket burgers, pork ramen, gooey toasties and more.
Espresso Moto, Palm Beach
Allpress coffee, a vibrant series of breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes and laid-back vibes make Espresso Moto one of the southern end’s most popular spots for caffeine and daytime eats. You’ll need a few visits to work your way through the menu of favourites, and there are always a bunch of weekend-only specials to keep you intrigued. Mushroom and leeks with parmesan snow in a croissant, anyone?
2019 EAT/drink Awards Best New Cafe –
The Winner: Burleigh Co-Op, Miami
NOTE: Burleigh Co-Op has now closed and will soon become Espresso Moto.
With a true community vibe, quality Social Espresso coffee, and a creative, seasonal menu featuring local produce, Burleigh Co-Op has quickly earned its stripes as one of the coast’s favourite new cafes. It burst onto the scene in early 2019 (taking the space of Burleigh Social), with a concise and mostly gluten-free collection of dishes, along with rotating specials from renowned chef and co-owner Denis Duncanson.
Runner-up: Highline, Palm Beach
Highline’s arrival in late 2018 was a breath of fresh air for the Palm Beach cafe scene. With a strong focus on showcasing local, spray-free produce, the Highline team offers a vibrant and inventive all-day menu that changes with the seasons. If you’re into coffees and filter varieties, make sure you chat to the guys and experience the rotating blends on pour.
Runner-up: Cross + Feather, Paradise Point
The many northern folk that tend to travel south for their coffee and brunch fix let out a sigh of relief when Cross + Feather opened its doors. Located in the heart of Paradise Point, the relaxed daytime hang features a tempting breakfast, brunch and lunch dishes, as well as a fun series of cocktails. That’s right – the idea of a boozy brunch is well and truly embraced here.
Yes, we’re all about the Gold Coast, but we also heart Brisbane. So, here’s what the Brissie locals voted as their top ten cafes.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.