THE 17 BEST CAFES ON THE GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA
With one of the the bare sea's co-founders @dom.overseas based on the Gold Coast with her Australian partner, we could not help but round up our 17 most favourite cafes in the city. From early morning coffees to Saturday brunches, enjoy discovering our fave spots in the suburbs Broadbeach, Mermaid Beach, Miami, Burleigh & Palm Beach in the latest travel guide by the bare sea below!
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BROADBEACH
Image by @theory.agency
ELK ESPRESSO
Address Shop G044, Level G, Oasis Shopping Centre, 2 Charles Ave, Broadbeach, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Daily, 6am - 4pm | Instagram @elkespresso
Just a short stroll from the beach in Gold Coast's buzzing suburb Broadbeach you will find Elk Espresso, a Gold Coast institution not to be missed! Using Single O beans and featuring roasters from all around the country with alternative brew methods, coffee lovers will be coming back for more! Their food menu features brunch favourites as well as changing highlights season by season, yum!
No Name Lane Broadbeach | Image by @thesocialivy_
NO NAME LANE
Address Elizabeth Ave, Broadbeach, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Daily, 6am - 3pm | Instagram @nonamelane
Coffee addicts, you have come to the right place! The speciality roaster shop in Broadbeach uses two roasters for their house blends: Black Sheep Coffee and 3rd Crack Coffee Brokerage. Enjoy a cup (or two!) accompanied by a selection of their simple and fresh food menu!
MERMAID BEACH
THE MILKMAN'S DAUGHTER
Address 1/43 Alfred St, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Wed - Sun 7.30am - 2pm | Instagram @themilkmansdaughter_gc
Weekly visits at our favourite cafe on the Gold Coast cannot be missing from our (work) schedule! Serving one of the best iced (almond) lattes on the coast to highly addictive vegan nachos, The Milkman's Daughter is not only a hotspot for the ultimate coffee snap - it also serves the most delicious vegetarian cuisine not to be missed.
ALFRED'S DINER
Address 2389 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Daily, 6.30am - 2.30pm | Instagram @alfredsapartment
Whether you are feeling like a fresh juice post-beach walk or a hearty breakfast on Saturday mornings, Alfred's Diner on the Gold Coast highway has you covered in their breezy outdoor garden. Soak in the morning sun and enjoy the treats from their delicious menu - our favourites: Alfred's avo smash and halloumi burger for breakfast, Alfred's nachos and roast pumpkin salad for lunch!
The Yard Cafe Mermaid Beach | Image by @dom.overseas
Image by @fitwithtori
YARD CAFE
Address 17 Lavarack Rd, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Mon - Thu 5.30am - 5pm, Fri - Sun 5.30am - 6pm | Instagram @theyardcafe
Only a short stroll from Nobby's Beach, the Yard Cafe is a local hotspot for your quick caffeine fix, weekend happy hours and everything in between! Priding themselves on a paddock-and-patch to plate-and-bowl philoshophy, you can be sure to indulge in super fresh brunch favourites.
Bam Bam Bakehouse Mermaid Beach| Image by @alexricia
Image by @cheztwl
BAM BAM BAKEHOUSE
Address 2519 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Daily, 7am - 3pm | Instagram @bambam_bakehouse
One look at Bam Bam Bakehouse's menu and you can say goodbye to your diet resolutions - no calorie counting allowed here! Mermaid Beach's iconic destination bakery takes three days to create their heavenly croissants (talk about dedication!). Want to enjoy their treats without having to line up? Click here to order online!
Image by @amberleytangxo
BACKGROUND BARISTA
Address 2375 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Mon - Fr 5.30am - 4pm, Sat/Sun 5.30am - 3pm | Instagram @background_barista
Part of the Palm Beach Barefoot Barista family, Background delivers the same fantastic coffee, treats and fresh food selection! Located only a short stroll from Mermaid Beach it offers air-conditioned indoor seating as well as a breezy terrace outdoors. Our menu favourite: the green juice along with their halloumi wrap!
MIAMI
Image by @thefoodhedonist
DAYMAKER ESPRESSO
Address 44 Pacific Ave, Miami, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Tue - Thu 9am - 4pm, Fri 9am - 6pm, Sat/Sun 9.30am - 6pm | Instagram @daymakeresp
Our everyday local, Daymaker Espresso in Miami cannot be missing from the list of Gold Coast's best cafes! Dog and kids-friendly with a buzzing vibe, Daymaker serves up speciality coffee from Axil Coffee Roasters and offers all-day breaky. Stop by in the mornings for coffee and pastry and return for lunch, don't blame us if you get addicted!
Image by @goldcoasteats
THE HENCHMAN
Address 8 Henchman Avenue, Miami, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Mon - Fri 5am - 2pm, Sat - Sun 6am - 2pm | Instagram @the_henchman_miami
One of the newer kids on the block, The Henchman has quickly amassed a cult following. Claiming to serve the best jaffles in Australia (we'll admit - they're definitely up there!), the dog friendly cafe has a beautiful outdoor area with a beer garden feel and opens at 5am for the early birds out there!
PADDOCK BAKERY
Address 20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Daily, 6am - 2pm (Grill) & 3pm (coffee & cakes) | Instagram @paddockbakery
This iconic wood-fire bakery & cafe might easily be missed as it's tucked away in a side street off Gold Coast Highway. The owners discovered the abandoned Queensland house and decided to fill it with life - and great coffee and food - again! Their wood-fire oven is made with antique red bricks collected from all around Australia with doors salvaged from the first bakery in Tasmania. A must-visit on the coast if you love beautiful interiors, amazing coffee and delicious pastries!
BURLEIGH
COMMON GROUND
Address 2/2 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads | Opening Hours Daily, 6.30am - 2pm | Instagram @commongroundburleigh
Common Ground has quickly become our weekly go-to for refreshing juices, almond iced lattes and an acai bowl in a the bare sea coconut bowl! Their outdoor area offers plenty of spaces in the shade & sun and is the ideal spot for catching up with your human and furry friends!
Next Door Espresso Burleigh | Image by @peonyandpage
Image by @dom.overseas
NEXT DOOR ESPRESSO
Address Unit 1/24 Junction Rd, Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Mon - Fri 6am - 2pm, Sat 6am - 1pm | Instagram @nextdoorburleigh
Next Door Espresso Burleigh is the sister cafe of the beloved Tweed cafe - and when the owners of Australian interior store St. Bart's were looking for someone to run the adjoining cafe it was a no-brainer to get the Next Door team on board! The fruitful partnership has born a beautiful venue within Burleigh's industrial area, serving up coffee from Byron Bay's Moonshine roasters and a delicious all-day menu.
NOOK
Address Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Daily, 6am - 4.30pm | Instagram @nookespresso
With two venues in Burleigh, Nook Espresso is famously known for its hole-in-the-wall coffee joint in Burleigh Heads. Always buzzing with locals and tourists alike ordering their takeaway coffee (don't forget to bring your Keep Cup!), it's our favourite thing to do on Sunday morning. Grab your favourite coffee and walk around the Burleigh Headland for beautiful views of the ocean and native rainforest.
Image by @helllojess
COMMUNE
Address 1844 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Daily, 6am - 3.30pm | Instagram @communeespresso
The go-to local joint when on the coast, Commune Espresso never disappoints! From coriander corn fritters to eggs benedict and caramelised banana pancakes (with nutella, eek!), you will most likely be rolling home. Or may we suggest going for a walk along Burleigh's hip James Street for a little shop!
PALM BEACH
Image by @rachael_attard
BAREFOOT BARISTA
Address 15 Palm Beach Ave, Palm Beach, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Daily, 5am - 4pm | Instagram @barefoot_barista
Attracting a large crowd in the mornings, from surfers to freelancers and families, Barefoot Barista in Palm Beach has long established itself as serving delicious coffee from recent weekly harvests to turmeric and beetroot lattes (you name it!). You cannot forego breakfast, lunch or brunch here either - we love their caveman bowl and loaded vegan fries!
HIGHLINE
Address Shop 5/10 Palm Beach Ave, Palm Beach, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Daily, 6am - 2.30pm | Instagram @highlinepalmbeach
This small but to the point Palm Beach cafe has joined the local scene in 2019 - and we wouldn't know what to do without it! After working up an appetite op shopping at Lifeline and Vinnie's down the road, we love popping in for an iced latte and their signature ferment bowl!
And our secret tip for all the coffee junkies out there - you absolutely cannot miss...
MILLER'S ESPRESSO
Address Railway St, Mudgeeraba, Gold Coast | Opening Hours Mon - Fri 6am - 2pm, Sat 7am - 11am | Instagram @millersespresso
Inofficially voted one of the best coffees on the coast, Miller's Espresso in the suburb of Mudgeeraba is well worth a visit if you are in the area! Make sure to come hungry as their wagyu beef sandwich is to die for!