Cafe Dbar

Cafe Dbar sits high on Point Danger, the headland above Rainbow Bay at the southern tip of the Gold Coast, on Boundary Street in Coolangatta. Its dining rooms look out over the coast, and Tourism Australia, which includes it among the Gold Coast's best coffee shops, highlights the panoramic views as the cafe's defining feature. For a breakfast with a view on the southern beaches, few places are better placed.

The menu covers breakfast and lunch and is built on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, following what the cafe calls a paddock-to-plate approach. That makes it a good place for a proper sit-down meal rather than just a coffee to go, though a coffee with the ocean in front of you is a fine reason to come on its own. The focus on local produce also makes it a good way to taste what the region's growers and suppliers have to offer.

The location is part of the experience. Point Danger is where Queensland meets New South Wales, and the state border runs across the headland, so you can walk from the cafe to stand with a foot in each state. The Captain Cook Memorial lighthouse, built in 1971 for the bicentenary of Cook's voyage along the east coast, stands on the same headland, and the lookout is a good place to watch for dolphins and, in season, whales. Below are Rainbow Bay and Snapper Rocks, where professional surfing events are held each year.

The cafe suits couples, families and anyone wanting to pair a meal with a coastal walk. A walking trail around Greenmount Hill links Greenmount Beach with Rainbow Bay, and from Rainbow Bay you can head up the hill to Point Danger, so it is easy to earn your breakfast with a stroll along the beaches first. Bring a hat and sunscreen, as the headland is exposed.

Cafe Dbar is a natural stop for anyone exploring Coolangatta, a beach suburb named after the schooner Coolangatta, which was wrecked here in 1846, and still known for its relaxed, old-school beachside character. Check opening times before you go, as the cafe concentrates on breakfast and lunch service rather than evenings, and allow extra time to explore the lookout and the Captain Cook Memorial afterwards.