Where to Find the Best Cafes in Gold Coast Right Now

I’m on a mission to discover the best cafes in Australia. This time, I'm in beautiful Queensland, visiting the best cafes in Gold Coast.

After a really hard couple of years of COVID. Cafes are doing it tough. You can walk through any town in Australia and see cafes who have had to close their doors.

I want to help in any way I can. I have decided to dedicate my blog to finding the best Cafes in Australia and shine a light on them. It’s time to get out and support these wonderful cafes. I have already uncovered fabulous cafes in New Farm, some of the best cafes in Brisbane and brilliant cafes in Newcastle. 

The Gold Coast is located south of Brisbane on Australia’s beautiful east coast. The Gold Coast is warm, super relaxed and welcoming. It's famed for its perfect weather, long sandy beaches, world famous surf breaks and an elaborate system of inland canals and waterways. Beyond water activities, the Gold Coast has amazing subtropical hinterlands, rainforest walks, waterfalls and is home to Australia’s theme parks. With 12 months of sunshine and clear blue skies, the Gold Coast has a climate that sets the scene for year-round alfresco activities. There’s no wonder it has a booming culinary scene and a growing café culture to rival the southern States.

I’m determined to go right round this beautiful country of ours and narrow in on regions, cafes and coffee roasters to find exactly where the best cafes are.

Where is the best cafe on Gold Coast right now. Which amazing Gold Coast Cafe does the most delicious avocado on toast? Who has the best coffee? Do Gold Coast cafes have a better eggs benedict than the best cafes in Brisbane?

It’s so hard to know exactly where to get a delicious breakfast and the smoothest coffee. Especially if you’re just visiting for a day or two. No-one likes being disappointed with a bad brekky. So, I’ve done the hard yards. After many, many lattes, bacon and egg rolls, avo on toasts and so many long brunches. I’ve narrowed it down to the 4 best cafes in Gold Coast.

I’m so excited to share. Let’s get going.

The Line Up

Daark Espresso

Located at 2/41 Musgrave Ave Labrador. Daark Espresso is known for its exceptional coffee, great service and delicious food. Judging by the queues for a table, it is a firm favourite among the locals. Situated in a great little pocket of Chirn Park on the Northern Gold Coast, Daark Espresso is always buzzing with coffee lovers relaxing on the wrap-around deck.

The delicious breakfast menu will be enough to lure you from your bed.  On the menu there are some beautifully plated dishes including the Salmon, Potato and Feta Croquettes and a Crispy Herbed Potato Hash Benedict. The Raspberry Cheesecake French Toast is amazing. It comes with cornflake crusted brioche filled with raspberry cream cheese, with white chocolate coconut sauce and berries.

For lunch, there is a Sweet Potato and Halloumi Salad, a Beef Brisket Toastie and a delicious Thai Chicken Salad. The Thai Chicken Salad comes with juicy chicken, capsicum, Spanish onion, fried shallots, vermicelli noodles, shredded cabbage, sliced chilli, fresh green herbs and soy ginger dressing. It is outstanding.

The coffee is fabulous here and is supplied by Supreme Roasters. It is locally sourced and brewed with love.  

Alongside the delicious coffee (including iced coffee), there is a wide selection of teas, cold pressed juices, shakes and vibrant smoothies. Next time you are at Daark Espresso, try the Green Smoothies with spinach, banana, mango, passionfruit, coconut milk and coconut water. You won’t be disappointed.

Butler’s Tea Room & Noshery

Located at 197-207 Reedy Creek Road Burleigh. Butlers Tea Room and Noshery is one of the most recent additions to the Gold Coast’s blossoming cafe scene. Founded in 2022, the cafe is widely known for revolutionizing the way people eat and enjoy food. The team at Butler’s Tea Room, take pride in their ability to discover the most unique flavours from around the world and share them with their beloved community on the Gold Coast.

Inspired by local, fresh and seasonal produce, the breakfast, brunch and lunch menu is something to dream about. Sprinkled with a few vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options (as well as a fabulous kids menu) there's food for everyone at this wonderful café.

On the menu, there are signature dishes like the Spanner Crab Omelette with Frazer Island spanner crab, corn puree, egg, bottarga, watercress and chives. There is also a wonderful Green Eggs, a delicious Kimchi Joen and a mouth-watering B and E Burger with crispy free-range bacon, fried egg, cheese and house-made sauce on a milk bun.

There are also wonderful versions of all the favourites including Avocado on Sourdough, Ricotta Hotcakes and Pandan Porridge. For lunch, the Caesar Sourdough is delicious with Burleigh Baker sourdough, free-range poached chicken, free-range crispy bacon, parmesan, gem lettuce and Butlers twist sauce.

But my favourite dish here is the Goodness Bowl with spiced cauliflower, sweet potato, kale, avocado, brown rice, pickled chilli, carrots and green dressing.

Seven Miles Coffee Roasters’ Cultivar Blend is used for the house blend. There are also teas available alongside fresh pressed juices and loaded milkshakes.

Santa Barbara Specialty Coffee

Located at Shop 1/7/9 Pinnaroo Street Hope Island. Santa Barbara Speciality Coffee has fantastic coffee, delicious eats and a relaxed friendly feel. Its such a great find on the Gold Coast. If you’re near Hope Island, be sure to check it out. I love to sit back and relax and enjoy the pretty water views.

On the menu there are delicious Sourdough Crumpets served with either honey macadamia butter or lemon myrtle curd. The Avocado on Toast comes garnished with seasonal tomatoes, basil, Persian fetta and maple balsamic glaze. The Nourish Bowl is also a winner with seasonal greens and vegetables, quinoa and halloumi.  There is also a delicious selection of toasties including a Chicken Pesto, Mushroom and the El Cubano. It comes with smokey pulled pork, pickles, mozzarella and sharp cheddar on thick cut sourdough, topped with grated parmesan and a side of dijonaise dipping sauce.

In terms of coffee, Santa Barbara pulls out all the stops with speciality coffee roasters Supreme. Those familiar with these blends will know just how good they are.  Not only will you be able to get your hands on all types of espresso-style coffee. They also showcase regular feature filter roasts, ideal for those who love batch blends.  

Tea lovers are not left out, with a wide selection of organic artisan tea from Love Tea. There’s also a selection of Harvest Street cold-pressed juices, delicious milk shakes and soft drinks available.

Elk Espresso

Located at 12 Victoria Ave Broadbeach (Shop G044, Oasis Shopping Centre). Elk Espresso is a firm favourite among locals, renowned for serving the best breakfast on the Gold Coast. Whether you're walking straight in off the beach, having a catch up with your bestie, or just sneaking away from reality, the friendly staff will have you covered.

With an arty alternative feel, the specialist coffee is poured by some of the best baristas in town. They pride themselves on pouring quality coffee all day long. Elk use their own Elk blend which is roasted by Parallel Coffee Roasters. They also feature roasters from around Australia for their alternative brew methods. Whether you like your coffee black, white, hot or strong, the knowledgeable staff at Elk Espresso will look after you.   

Elk Espresso has one of the most imaginative menus that changes with the seasons. They love to get creative with their dishes to bring something new and always have something to remember.  Don't worry they also do all the classics too. On the breakfast menu there is a delicious Potato Hash with avocado, rocket, free-range poached eggs and hollandaise. There is a mouth-watering Breakfast Burger with smoked bacon, avocado, fetta mash, jalapeños, spinach, cheese, chutney and fried egg. There is also Coconut and Berry Porridge, Burnt Pineapple Pana Cota and a delicious Winter Bowl.

For lunch there is a Fried Chicken Burger, a Wagyu Burger and a Vege Burger with crispy sweet potato scallop, avocado, carrot hummus, beetroot sauerkraut, spinach, herb mayo and a side of fries.

There is also Crispy Skin Salmon, a Grape and Halloumi Garden dish and a Grain Salad that is out of this world. It comes with lentil grain mix, baby spinach, asparagus, peas, fetta, cranberries, cauliflower, sweet potato and apple balsamic dressing.

Alongside the delicious coffee, there is a wide selection of teas, cold pressed juices, shakes and vibrant smoothies. They also have numerous options of retail beans available to take home for the avid home coffee brewer.