While Australia‘s Gold Coast might be best known for their famous beaches, their culinary scene offers some outstanding restaurants and cafes. If you are a foodie heading to the Gold Coast here are some of the best places to eat.
Bam Bam Bakehouse
Bam Bam Bakehouse is a trendy bakery in Mermaid Beach, that if you didn’t know where it was located you’d never find it. Completely hidden within an office building complex, this outstanding bakery often has lines out the door of locals wanting to devour their delicious baked goods.
When visiting I was overwhelmed with all the delicious options, you can find tons of healthy breakfast menus off the menu such as acai bowls, but the most popular items would have to be the pastries.
Each day there is an assortment of different pastries, with their almond croissant, cruffins, and choux bombs being the most popular. Closing at 3 pm, make sure to arrive early in the day to get your order of pastries and an Instagram worthy blue mermaid latte.
Unable to decide what to have I tried a few bites of all their pastries and the acai bowl. My favorite would be the almond croissant and Nutella cruffin which were some of the best baked goods I’ve ever had.
Paddock Bakery
A short walk from the Miami Beach, Paddock Bakery is a charming cafe. This is the perfect spot to go for breakfast and enjoy their mix of healthy breakfast options or baked goods. If you enjoy avocado toast you need to try the purple toast which is topped with roasted beetroot. My personal favorite was the almond croissant which is filled with almond frangipane and topped with almond slices.
If the weather is nice you can enjoy dining in their charming outdoor patio which is filled with small plants and patio lights.
Rick Shores
When asking locals of the Gold Coast where is their favorite place to eat in the area Rick Shores was often their number one suggestion. Located on Burleigh Head Beach, getting reservations for this super popular restaurant are often made weeks in advance to secure a table.
Here you can enjoy small sharing plates of pan-asian inspired dishes, and fresh local seafood. The most popular dish is the bug roll, which is a battered Queensland bug tail topped with lettuce and Sriracha and served on a soft brioche-style bun.
At Rick Shores, the main feature is the amazing view, here you can dine right next to the water and all the tables are designed to face the crashing surf.
Itsu Izakaya
Much like Bam Bam Bakehouse, Itsu Izakaya is another restaurant that unless you know where to look for it you might miss it when driving down the street. The restaurant’s storefront has no signage so the only thing to indicate where to find Itsu is the glowing red lantern outside.
After you slide open the door you will be transported into a hip Izakaya filled with traditional Japanese tables and neon signs.
As someone who used to live in Japan, I was impressed with how authentic and delicious the food was. An Izakaya is a Japanese of a pub where food is served, so the menu consists of small plates designed to be shared over drinks.
Two not to be missed dishes would be the assorted sashimi and the flavor-packed black cod with miso sauce and pickled lotus root.
The Fishhouse
Located in Burleigh Head, The Fishhouse is a charming restaurant that as the name would imply specializes in seafood. The cozy restaurant has plenty of celebrities dine inside such as Hugh Jackman, Orlando Bloom and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
Go to enjoy the European flavors, such as the popular Patagonian Toothfish along with a glass wine from their massive wine menu.
Hellenika
image courtesy of Hellinka
Hellenika is an authentic Greek restaurant that offers sharing plates that you can enjoy family style. The lovely restaurant has a sleek interior with marble counters and chandeliers, along with a new rooftop patio.
This restaurant is best visited with a group, as all the plates are designed to be shared with multiple people, such as their massive house special lamb which is 1.2kg of lamb served with roasted potatoes.
Hellenika would make a great date spot, or place to enjoy with a large group of friends, but when I visited I was attending solo due to work. Throughout my visit to Hellenika, I was left dazzled by the friendly and helpful staff, who offered the best customer service I’ve experienced in years. Despite everything being designed for multiple people, they went out of their way to adjust dishes for me so that I could sample a few dishes.
The service was friendly and attentive, while the food was divine. I only wish this restaurant was closer to home as I would be a regular as every aspect of the restaurant was perfect.