Affordable Australia: 9 Cool Places to Eat and Drink on the Gold Coast

by  Laura Motta | Updated on May 3, 2022
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Sydney and Melbourne are known for their flashy dining and drinking scenes, but Queensland’s Gold Coast -- a spectacular stretch of sand fringed by a crown of mirrored skyscrapers -- offers better prices and a laid-back sophistication that feels more like California at happy hour than New York at rush hour. Here’s a sampling of some of the hippest haunts on Australia’s east coast -- great for when you're hungry after a day of surfing, sunning, or wallaby-spotting.

Laura Motta

For the ultra-sophisticate: Palazzo Versace

You don’t even need to stay at this five-star hotel to enjoy its sun-soaked ambiance. The lobby restaurant, Le Jardin, offers a stellar, surprisingly affordable high tea under a soaring glass atrium. Miniature scones, fruit tarts, housemade macarons, and pickled cucumber sandwiches are just a few of the offerings. Sit on the plush couches done in bright Versace florals, and sip from the designer’s signature china as you toast to a magnificent meal. 

Laura Motta

For those who want to live like a local: Elk Espresso

Eggs benedict, hearty salads, and a robust burger menu are among the things that keep Elk Espresso jammed with locals all day long. Settle in with a latte, a novel, or your laptop under the hanging planters and pretend for a minute that you’re as permanent a fixture in the café’s eponymous mural, which presides over power-brunching diners seven days a week. If you want to make friends, ask to be seated at one of the café’s shared tables. 

Laura Motta

For those who like music (and shopping) with dinner: Miami Marketta

This is definitely not in Florida. Inspired by Asia’s colorful night markets, the Miami Marketta is a mashup of food trucks, live music, strings of overhanging lights, street art, shops selling art and housewares, and chatty patrons trying to decide between tempura buns or nachos while sipping glasses of wine. The market is open every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night, starting at 5 PM.  

Laura Motta

For those craving a decent burrito...and a haircut: Alfred’s Apartment

Don’t let the bedraggled exterior fool you. This barbershop-slash-upscale men’s clothing store/restaurant/diner is situated in what looks like any other house along the Gold Coast’s Miami Beach. Grab a picnic table and order from the menu of stylized hippie fare; think smashed avocado with eggs and spinach, a halloumi burger, a chicken ranch burrito, and hot dogs (meat or vegan). When you’re full, wander the shop’s impeccable selection of menswear, from vintage eyeglasses to featherweight knits. Gentlemen with a little extra time may want to consider visiting the barbershop for a trim or a shave. Keep in mind that the diner portion of Alfred’s offers no indoor seating, so save your trip for a sunny day. Pro tip: Go early and watch the breathtaking sunset before heading in for dinner.

Laura Motta

For caffeine junkies: No Name Lane

If you’re staying in the Broadbeach neighborhood, make this your morning go-to for coffee. Local businessmen, surfers, and tourists rub elbows in this tiny space, all of them clamoring for single-origin roasts, matcha green tea lattes, macadamia nut muesli, and other excellent day-starters. And, if you’re staying in the soaring towers of Peppers Broadbeach, you don’t have to go far to get your morning brew: No Name Lane is in the building.

Laura Motta

For casual fashionistas: Commune

If the Palazzo Versace is where you go to show off your triple-figure sunglasses and your new gel manicure, Commune is where you’d wear your new baby doll dress and your vintage Dr. Martens. Covered in ads for local bands and events, and with a central table that’s perennially stacked with the latest magazines and newspapers, this is where you can enjoy a peanut butter banana muffin while learning about a local artist’s Etsy shop. The breakfast vibe is bustling, and there’s often live music in the evenings. The avocado toast isn’t much more than a halved avocado, thick-sliced multigrain bread, and a wedge of lemon. And it’s the exact thing you need to start the day. 

Laura Motta

For posh pescatarians: The Fish House

For a quiet dinner with family, nothing tops The Fish House, which boasts a seaside location at Burleigh Heads -- and a view of the skyline -- and a host of perfectly prepared, mostly-Australian seafood. Even simple dishes like whole chargrilled calamari or a lemony fish soup feel elegant and memorable enough for a special-occasion splurge. Unless you’re dining alone and can sneak in at lunchtime, reservations are a must. To enhance your experience, spend some time chatting up the sommelier for the perfect wine or cocktail pairing.

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