Let’s grab a coffee:
Black Dingo Cafe, Coolangatta: Expansive ocean views, salty sea air, sun-drenched outdoor seating… Black Dingo Cafe is already ticking a lot of boxes before you even get to the delicious European-inspired menu and French pastries. Sit down on the deck and share your life stories while watching for whales or take your coffee to go for a long beach walk.

Elk Espresso, Broadbeach: You can’t overlook the classics just because they’re classic. A trip to this iconic Gold Coast venue never disappoints with its killer vibes and delicious dishes. It can be a little crowded at times, but that’s precisely why it’s all the better to meet that Tinder date for the first time to be sure they’re not a murderer. Then if things go well, you can transition from coffee to one of Elk’s glorious boozy brunches.

Palm Springs, Burleigh Heads: This Los Angeles-inspired joint is easy, breezy and dreamy, just like you want to be when you rock up to your date with your hair artfully tousled by the wind. This eye-catching two-story cafe offers balcony and garden seating options where you can tuck you and your date away with some tasty Southern Cali-style eats or Insta-worthy drinks such as golden, matcha and velvet lattes. Morning margs are totally a thing here.

Tarte Bakery & Cafe, Burleigh Heads and Tarte Beach House, Currumbin: Both these sister venues showcase owner Chloe Watt’s signature Hamptons-meets-Paris aesthetic and Paris is the city of love. Ipso facto these are the cafes of love (with a touch of beachy charm). Share an impressive Parisian-style hot chocolate with three different types of chocolate and a house-made torched marshmallow balancing on top, maybe a pastry or two and let romance bloom. 

Let’s do dinner:
Costa Taco, Palm Beach: Since there really is no elegant way to eat a taco that’s dripping with delicious goodness, you may as well just go all in with both hands. Costa Taco is Palmy’s tasty taco-centric outpost that offers a refreshingly simple menu and perfect first-date vibes. The margs (available in classic, coco and chilli) will be sure to keep the conversation well lubricated. 

Tommy’s Italian, Currumbin: Why are Italian restaurants such a classic date night pick? It’s because in our hearts we all know that nothing will ever be more romantic than the spaghetti scene from Lady and the Tramp. Tommy’s Italian is an exceptional trattoria with pasta handmade from scratch in house, perfect for slurping both ends of one long strand together. It also offers other delicious Italian dishes – think mortadella, pizzas, truffle mushroom arancini and lamb ragu pappardelle. Or you can head down the road to its sassy sibling venue Little Tommy’s and grab your meals to go for a beachside picnic. 

Big Papi’s Cocina, Coolangatta: A small seater venue, what Big Papi’s lacks in size it makes up for in personality. Let the soothing sounds of old-school hip-hop beats set the scene as you dine on some of the best contemporary Latin American street food around. If you want to wine and dine beyond your budget, you’re in luck – alongside an exciting drinks selection of signature cocktails, we’re told Big Papi’s servers the cheapest wine by the litre, some of it sweet scores from lesser-known Latin American wine regions. 

Blessing of the Sun, Mermaid Beach: A hole-in-the-wall with a whole lotta heart, Blessing of the Sun is a dream date location with its warm and welcoming atmosphere. Linger over a smattering of its succinct selection of Asian-fusion share plates, with a unique cocktail or two to wash it down. Make sure you save room for dessert! The citrus creme brulee is perfect for sharing, as is chef Kohta’s pride and joy chiffon cake. 

You want to have a drink:
Rosella’s, Burleigh Heads: This quirky, colourful bar’s dedication to its Australiana theming makes for the perfect ice breaker, as you and your date can swap stories and compare touch points of childhood nostalgia whilst slinging back Aeroplane Jelly, Fantales and Matildas-themed cocktails (featuring green ant gin, sake, white chocolate, passion fruit, mango and eucalyptus Midori). Fortify your stomach against first-date jitters with Rosella’s refined remixes of Aussie classics such as XXXX and fig damper and hot chips with chicken salt and Rosella’s special smoked tomato sauce. 

Happy Endings, Broadbeach: If you’re looking to introduce a little tasteful innuendo to your evening why not climb up the staircase behind Fig & Frankie’s to this late-night modern Asian bar. Named in honour of the infamous massage parlour that formerly occupied its real estate, Happy Endings is a moody, dark and intimate space with an impressive back-lit bar, striking circular lighting and a couple of prized booths perfect for cuddling up in. Snack on a serve of lotus-root chips, kingfish sashimi or yakitori while sipping on bevvies like the Matcha Espresso (matcha liqueur, matcha tea, clear coffee vodka and condensed milk) or the Tokyo Drift (wasabi-infused mezcal, house-made melon liqueur and pineapple oleo). It could be the first night of your own happily-ever-after. 

Cantina, Mermaid Beach: A cute, casual neighbourhood tapas bar slinging Spanish-style bar bites and cocktails, Catina has an enchanting convivial energy. There are no bookings, just a bar and a completely open kitchen that provides an interactive element that can help smooth over any awkward pauses. Its offerings include a scattering of light bites such as vinegar beans and Ritz and manchego cheese and quince alongside more substantial plates including prawn croquettes and a delightfully decadent fried mortadella sando. And there’s no need to hem and haw over the drinkables – a tight turnout of predominantly Spanish wines and just three cocktails; a negroni, martini and margarita. 

Bar Evelyn, Coolangatta: Bar Evelyn brings a little taste of Melbourne to the southern Gold Coast, with a quaint diner-style fit-out featuring a couple of leather-clad booths and a clutch of bar stools framing a sizeable L-shaped bar that gives an atmospheric, film-noir quality to the piece. Dishing out pasta, pizza, snacks and share plates alongside a delightful line-up of new-wave wines including sparkling, white, rose, orange and red and a succinct cocktail list with six signature concoctions with classics on request. Here’s looking at you, kid.