EAT, MEET, SHARE
Gold Coast food and drink
Discover restaurants, guides and people in Gold Coast.
What's on in Gold Coast
Discover current dining events in Gold Coast.
EventPalette Restaurant event
One night. Two chefs. One extraordinary region. Wed Sep 9 Join Executive Chef Dayan Hartill-Law and acclaimed chef Ben Devlin of Pipit Restaurant for a six-course dining experience celebrating the producers, waterways and landscapes of the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers. Elevate your experience with our VIP offering, featuring an exclusive Gyotaku workshop with Ben. Limited VIP seats. Book NOW.
SpecialJuju Mermaid Beach special
Enjoy a perfectly cooked steak frites, and a complimentary local wine or beer for just $38 Every Wednesday and Thursday. Bookings recommended online.
EventFrida Sol (Palm Beach) event
Nacho Wednesday at Frida Sol $15 nachos, every Wednesday. From 12pm till late 🍹See you there.
SpecialHail Mary special
That feeling when your bottomless lunch is about to start 🌮 🍹 Every Saturday and Sunday: chef's entrées, your choice of two tacos and 1.5 hours of bottomless drinks. 🍷 Beers, wines, spritzes, sangria + mocktails — $85pp 🍹 Add classic and coconut margaritas — $105pp Book now.
Restaurants in Gold Coast
Explore allThe Most Recommended Restaurants in Gold Coast
Explore the city’s most recommended restaurants right now.
The Most Recommended Cafes in Gold Coast
Find the cafes locals and tastemakers recommend most.
The Most Recommended Bars in Gold Coast
Browse the bars mates and locals keep recommending.
Restaurant leaderboards —
ranked by mates and locals
Explore the most loved venues in Gold Coast.
No.VenueAboutAddressPhone
01.Sunshine● 40 RecommendationsJames Street’s slickest lunch flex. Beverly Hills aesthetics colliding with top-tier Greek philoxenia. Forget rigid set menus—this brilliant pay-by-weight concept hands you total control. Limit the waste, maximize the flavor. James Street scenesters treat this patio like a second dining room for good reason. The charcoal-grilled chicken is sensational. The spanakopita? Flawless. Pile your plate high with unapologetically rich lamb shoulder and phenomenal crumbed eggplant. Then finish with a slice of golden, creamy bougatsa. It’s restaurant-caliber Mediterranean fare, served fast, eaten under a striking canopy of yellow umbrellas. Born from the same hospitality pedigree as Hellenika across the road, the service is disarmingly warm. Yes, you’re paying a premium for the postcode. But the sheer quality of this sun-drenched, health-forward spread justifies every single cent. Grab a plate, weigh your cravings, and bask in the vibe.39 James St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia+61 7 3741 597902.Short Grain● 35 RecommendationsTucked into a stunningly refurbished Fortitude Valley factory space—think soaring ceilings and perfectly spaced tables—Short Grain is a masterclass in regional Thai aromatics. Word on the dining circuit points straight to Chef Martin Boetz, who frequently ditches the pass to run plates directly to your table. The energy here is electric but deeply hospitable. Tables consistently champion the fiercely authentic heat of the Chiang Mai-style spiced trout larb and a silken tofu dish that borders on spiritual. Expect punchy hits of nam pla and tamarind, vibrant betel leaf king prawn bites, and a dry green curry that sings alongside house-pickled cucumbers. Flawless service, a razor-sharp wine list, and a kitchen completely unafraid of real chili spice. Get the brown rice fried rice. Order plates to share. Thank me later.15 Marshall St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia+61 448 677 37803.Sunny Side Sandwiches - Windsor● 30 RecommendationsSandwich fiends are making the pilgrimage from across Brisbane for this one. Sunny Side Sandwiches in Windsor is dropping some of the most elite sandos in the postcode. Pillow-soft bread. Outrageously crispy panko-crumbed schnitty. Sauces that punch way above their weight class. Brisbane foodies are absolutely flooding their feeds with praises for these messy, two-handed masterpieces—especially the wildly creative monthly drops like the tangy fish and chip sanga. Expect a bustling, high-energy room where the staff are literally singing while slinging orders. Grab a side of crispy fries, wash it down with a freshly squeezed OJ, and get ready for a serious flavor riot.Shop 203/142 Newmarket Rd, Windsor QLD 4030, Australia047545955804.The New Black● 25 RecommendationsTucked down a quiet Ann Street alley. A proper Fortitude Valley heavyweight doing serious brekkie right. Valley regulars and lucky out-of-towners alike point to one undisputed champion of the menu—the Fried Chicken Benny. It’s a masterclass in texture. Flawless crumb-to-bird ratio. Expertly poached eggs. A silken benny sauce tying the whole beautiful, crunchy mess together on top of flawless, top-tier sourdough. Swerving the fried chicken? The grapevine insists the smashed eggs with earthy, dialled-in mushrooms are an absolute knockout. Dog-friendly seating. Icy chais to beat the Brisbane heat. Unapologetically good cafe fare without the wallet shock.694 Ann St, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006, Australia+61 457 315 56405.Farmhouse, Kedron Cafe● 20 RecommendationsBrisbane’s weekend brunch crowd consistently packs out this bustling, rustic powerhouse. Think top-tier hospo warmth paired with a seriously creative menu—everything from golden potato cakes and fluffy ricotta hotcakes to a rich vegan jackfruit bolognese. It’s a fast-paced, high-energy space. Generous portions. Immaculate plating. Despite the buzzing queues, the kitchen fires out flawless dishes at lightning speed, aided by frictionless QR ordering. Grab a patio seat—staff hand out cozy blankets on crisp mornings—and settle in with a stellar flat white. Free street parking saves the day when the tight on-site lot fills up. A fiercely popular destination that genuinely earns its hype. Pro tip: secure a booking to skip the walk-in waitlist, then hit the gelato shop next door for a post-brekkie treat.9 Somerset Rd, Kedron QLD 4031, Australia+61 7 3861 1956