Dining on the Gold CoastRestaurants, Cafes and Coffee Shops
As you'd expect with any tourist town, the Gold Coast has a restaurant on every corner - except that unlike a lot of other tourist towns, most Gold Coast restaurants are really quite good.
The Broadbeach CBD has become the premier eating spot on the Gold Coast and has a great range of cuisines and price points on offer, with a variety of restaurants lining Victoria Avenue, within the Oracle precinct and of course at the Star Gold Coast Casino. Nobbys Beach and Burleigh also have a good selection of dining spots, not to mention the main shopping centres housing some great choices - grab a bite to eat before seeing a movie or after a day of shopping.
Tedder Avenue in Main Beach, is a popular dining strip where about 20 top restaurants and bars sit side by side on either side of the street. Surfers Paradise has more places to choose from, but they are scattered across a wider geography and there is no specific dining 'strip'.
If you're after a cheap meal by the ocean pretty much all of the surf clubs (found in every oceanside suburb of the Coast) have a bistro where no matter what you choose you'll find a huge pile of great food sitting on your plate for less than $30. Menu options are generally limited to chicken parmigiana, steak, fish and chips, spaghetti marinara or the seafood platter, but you can't beat the quality, value and view. There's also a great variety of taverns offering hearty pub food for a great price.
If you want to go even cheaper still, find a corner shop and pick up a hamburger with the lot for $7 and fish and chips for about the same. If you're feeling like you want to splash out a little and wear a suit while you shovel lobster down your gullet, find your nearest five-star hotel and they'll have something that you will enjoy paying the price for.
When in doubt, just ask a local.
- Directory of Gold Coast Restaurants
- Gold Coast's Top Restaurants on Trip Advisor
- Local Restaurant Guide
Themed Restaurants, Dinner & Show Combos
Experience the heart, soul and true Aussie spirit of the outback with Australian Outback Spectacular: Heartland, a heart-warming and immersive arena show that depicts farm life during a severe drought. Experience the music, drama and action while you enjoy a three-course Aussie BBQ dinner with drinks & free Stockman's hat! See amazing stunts, aerial performances, and some incredible special effects. Don't miss this remarkable dinner show presented by magnificent Australian animals and Aussie farmers.
Location: Entertainment Road, Oxenford
Buy TicketsDracula's has been entertaining both locals and visitors alike for over 30 years with its unique nights of burlesque-style entertainment, comedy and dining the likes of which is unmatched on the Gold Coast! For a ghoulishly good time, Dracula's is a humourous tribute to the B-grade horror movie genre incorporating musical productions alongside side-splitting comedy to provide a memorable evening that has been much acclaimed for years!
Location: 1 Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach
Buy TicketsSituated in Broadbeach, The Star has been a Gold Coast icon for entertainment for over 25 years and is the Coast's only casino. With regular stage shows in the recently refurbished multi-million dollar theatre, live music and entertainment throughout the various bars and clubs, award winning restaurants and bars, boutique shopping and of course, more gaming tables and machines than any other venue on the Coast.
Location: 1 Casino Dr, Broadbeach
Learn MoreLunch or Dinner Cruises
Join this exclusive 2-hour lunch cruise departing from the heart of the Gold Coast with a delicious dining experience that takes you through the extensive Surfers Paradise canal system - larger than the systems of Venice and Amsterdam combined! Then head out to the Broadwate, enjoy your seafood and chicken lunch, a drink from the fully licensed onboard bar, and soak in the sunshine from the deck.
Book OnlineEmbark on a memorable evening cruise along the Gold Coast's stunning waterways. Departing from Sea World Terminal at 7pm, our spacious, newly refurbished vessel will take you on a journey of culinary delights and breathtaking views. Indulge in a fresh seafood dinner featuring local prawns, complemented by a variety of hot dishes and desserts. As you cruise past the illuminated Surfers Paradise skyline, enjoy live entertainment and unwind on our rooftop lounge.
Book OnlineEnjoy a relaxing 3.5 hour scenic Tweed River cruise through sugar cane fields and sub-tropical rainforest with a scrumptious locally sourced lunch. Take a journey through time and learn about the region’s Traditional Custodians, spot birds of prey and admire the lush natural ecosystems of what is now considered one of Australia’s most beautiful National Parks. Explore the scenic Tweed waterways, with extensive live commentary.
Book OnlineImages courtesy Tourism & Events Queensland, Tourism Australia, Destination Gold Coast & Getty Images. Restaurants pictured above (starting top of page, then left to right): Etsu Izakaya, Mamasan, Miami Marketta tapas boards, the Paddock Bakery.
