Skip to content
List your business

Best Cafés in Gold Coast (2026)

Cafe culture on the Gold Coast is concentrated in the southern suburbs, where surfers and early risers keep many kitchens opening at dawn. Paddock Bakery in Burleigh Heads is the best-known, with wood-fired breads, doughnuts and coffee served in a restored Queenslander house, and Bam Bam Bakehouse at Mermaid Beach is the place for croissants, especially the twice-baked almond version.

Further south, Barefoot Barista opens at 5am in Palm Beach and has a second venue beside the beach at Currumbin, while Currumbin Creek Road holds Dust Temple, a warehouse cafe with art exhibitions and events, and Fuel Bakehouse for inexpensive pastries, pies and coffee. Cafe Dbar at Coolangatta adds a breakfast with a view from the top of Point Danger. Most cafes are busiest on weekend mornings, so arrive early for the widest choice of baked goods and a better chance of a table. Many close by mid-afternoon, so plan breakfast and lunch rather than a late coffee. Combining a cafe stop with a beach walk, a surf lesson or a visit to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is an easy way to build a relaxed morning on the southern Gold Coast.

6 places · Updated November 12, 2026

Our top 3 cafés in Gold Coast

  1. Paddock Bakery Bakery cafe, Burleigh HeadsBakery cafe in a restored Queenslander house in Burleigh Heads, known for wood-fired breads and pastries, doughnuts and coffee, open seven days from 6am.
  2. Bam Bam Bakehouse French-style bakery and brunch cafe, Mermaid BeachFrench-style artisan bakery and brunch cafe on the Gold Coast Highway at Mermaid Beach, best known for its croissants and twice-baked almond croissants.
  3. Dust Temple Warehouse cafe, gallery and creative space, Currumbin WatersCoffee, culture and creativity hub in a converted warehouse in Currumbin's industrial precinct, pairing strong coffee and breakfast with art exhibitions and live music.

Café

1. Paddock Bakery

Bakery cafe$$Burleigh Heads

Bakery cafe in a restored Queenslander house in Burleigh Heads, known for wood-fired breads and pastries, doughnuts and coffee, open seven days from 6am.

View details — Paddock Bakery

Café

2. Bam Bam Bakehouse

French-style bakery and brunch cafe$$Mermaid Beach

French-style artisan bakery and brunch cafe on the Gold Coast Highway at Mermaid Beach, best known for its croissants and twice-baked almond croissants.

View details — Bam Bam Bakehouse

Café

3. Dust Temple

Warehouse cafe, gallery and creative space$$Currumbin Waters

Coffee, culture and creativity hub in a converted warehouse in Currumbin's industrial precinct, pairing strong coffee and breakfast with art exhibitions and live music.

View details — Dust Temple

Café

4. Barefoot Barista

Beach cafe$$Palm Beach

Community-minded Palm Beach cafe that began around 2009 as a local gathering spot, open daily from 5am for coffee, food and drinks, with a second beachside venue at Currumbin.

View details — Barefoot Barista

Café

6. Cafe Dbar

Breakfast and lunch cafe with ocean views$$Coolangatta

Breakfast and lunch cafe on Point Danger above Rainbow Bay in Coolangatta, with panoramic views and a paddock-to-plate menu built on local ingredients.

View details — Cafe Dbar