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Best Restaurants in Gold Coast (2026)

The Gold Coast's dining scene is strongest in the southern beach suburbs. Burleigh Heads has Rick Shores, with its Moreton Bay bug roll and beachfront setting, Restaurant Labart's contemporary European bistro cooking and the modern Vietnamese share plates of Jimmy Wah's. A short way north, Mermaid Beach packs several hatted venues into one stretch of highway: The North Room's tasting menus, Little Truffle's fine dining, Etsu Izakaya and the wood-fired Latin American cooking of Norté.

Broadbeach is the other hub, led by Mamasan Kitchen + Bar on Oracle Boulevard, while Madame V brings modern Asian cooking to Palm Beach. For a cheap and cheerful meal, Peter's Fish Market on The Spit serves fish and chips beside the Broadwater. Book the smaller restaurants well ahead, especially for Friday and Saturday nights, as places such as The North Room and Labart open only a few days a week and have limited seats. Many venues offer set or feed-me menus, which are a good way to try a broad range of dishes, and several add surcharges on Sundays and public holidays. Lunch sittings at the top restaurants are often the best way to enjoy the views and the food for less.

10 places · Updated November 12, 2026

Our top 3 restaurants in Gold Coast

  1. Rick Shores Pan-Asian seafood, Burleigh HeadsBeachfront restaurant on Burleigh Beach serving pan-Asian sharing plates built on Australian produce, best known for its Moreton Bay bug roll.
  2. Restaurant Labart Contemporary European bistro, Burleigh HeadsNeighbourhood restaurant in Burleigh Heads serving a frequently changing contemporary European menu built on local farmers' produce, named Queensland's best restaurant by Gourmet Traveller.
  3. Jimmy Wah’s Modern Vietnamese, Burleigh HeadsModern Vietnamese restaurant on the Gold Coast Highway at Burleigh Heads, serving share plates and Feed Me menus with an award-winning wine list.

Restaurant

1. Rick Shores

Pan-Asian seafood$$$Burleigh Heads

Beachfront restaurant on Burleigh Beach serving pan-Asian sharing plates built on Australian produce, best known for its Moreton Bay bug roll.

View details — Rick Shores

Restaurant

2. Restaurant Labart

Contemporary European bistro$$$$Burleigh Heads

Neighbourhood restaurant in Burleigh Heads serving a frequently changing contemporary European menu built on local farmers' produce, named Queensland's best restaurant by Gourmet Traveller.

View details — Restaurant Labart

Restaurant

3. Jimmy Wah’s

Modern Vietnamese$$$Burleigh Heads

Modern Vietnamese restaurant on the Gold Coast Highway at Burleigh Heads, serving share plates and Feed Me menus with an award-winning wine list.

View details — Jimmy Wah’s

Restaurant

4. Norté

Latin American wood-fired grill$$$Mermaid Beach

Mermaid Beach restaurant cooking over a custom wood-fired hearth, pairing Latin American flavours with seasonal Australian produce, cocktails and South American wines.

View details — Norté

Restaurant

6. The North Room

Seasonal tasting menu$$$$Mermaid Beach

Intimate 20-seat Mermaid Beach restaurant, open since 2017, serving tasting menus built on seasonal produce from local growers, with matching wines.

View details — The North Room

Restaurant

7. Little Truffle

Fine dining$$$$Mermaid Beach

Long-running Mermaid Beach fine dining restaurant owned by chef Daniel Ridgeway, offering a la carte or four-course menus in an elegant dining room and bar.

View details — Little Truffle

Restaurant

8. Madame V

Modern Asian$$$Palm Beach

Modern Asian restaurant in Palm Beach from the team behind Little Truffle, with a chandelier-lit dining room, banquets, private dining rooms and a midweek feast menu.

View details — Madame V

Restaurant

9. Etsu Izakaya

Japanese izakaya$$Mermaid Beach

Japanese izakaya at Mermaid Beach, one of the Gold Coast's original Japanese eateries, open every evening from 4:30pm with set menus and a well-regarded drinks list.

View details — Etsu Izakaya