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1. Barefoot Barista – Palm Beach
Opening Hours: 5.30am to 2pm Weekend 5.30am to 4pm Weekdays
Don’t let the name fool you… Barefoot Barista combines rustic hearty meals with premium blended coffee just around the corner from the beachfront. Their menu consists of fresh locally sourced produce that is cooked to perfection. If you’re a big breakfast eater then ‘The Breakfast Board’ is the recommended meal for you. Consisting of double smoked ham or baked mushroom, avocado, fresh tomato, Meredith goat cheese, two poached eggs, wife made chutney & toasted organic sourdough. They also run frequent coffee workshops for avid coffee lovers so if you’re interested in creating the perfect cup as a Barista then this café is for you.
2. Canteen Café – Burleigh Heads
Opening Hours 7am to 3pm daily
Canteen’s culinary café is one of the best cafes in Burleigh Heads. Upon arriving you have the opportunity of being seated for unique meals at the Canteen Kitchen where you can order caramelised banana on sourdough toast accompanied by pistachios and honey. If you don’t have a sweet tooth you can simply enjoy specialty grade coffee at the Canteen Espresso Bar. Canteen’s home style dining allows for customers to feel at ease while sitting to enjoy the meal surrounded by old photographs and vintage furnishings. Coffee fanatics can enjoy a Piccolo Latte to go before heading to Burleigh Beach.
3. Commune Café – Burleigh Heads
Opening Hours: 7am to 3.30pm Monday to Wednesday and Thursday and Friday 7am to late
Commune is a community orientated café located in Burleigh Heads and is one of the most established dining spots along the coast. The architecture of the building encompasses high wooden ceilings with brick arches and chandeliers giving the inside a medieval mood accompanied by local jazz acts performing weekly. An additional outside eating area is more casual for those of you wanting a simple meal and nice coffee. The commune also has a bar and wine room for evening meals and local functions can be hosted with tapas platters and beverages.
4. Vintage Espresso – Mermaid Beach
Vintage Espresso is a local treasure providing a place to enjoy caffeine and handmade treats whilst being surrounded by vintage ornaments and artwork giving it a nostalgic atmosphere. Supported by the local residents this café also offers catering and birthday party celebrations within a personal venue where everybody is welcome. The food is also one of a kind with the menu changing weekly depending on the chef but the meals have the special something with their secret recipes.
5. Blackboard Cafe – Varsity Lakes
Opening Hours: 7.30am to 4pm daily
Blackboard’s unique café setting in Varsity Lakes has earned a reputation for specialty coffee among the locals. With their full menu and takeaway coffee area, customers don’t need to wait in line to purchase a coffee and food on the run to work. Blackboard’s signature café snack is the ‘Cronut’, which is the hybrid cross between a croissant and doughnut. At a glance this delicious treat merely looks like a regular doughnut however with the first bite into it, your mouth becomes overloaded with layers of tasty pastry accompanied by copious amounts of glazed icing. Blackboards menu has also expanded and they now serve breakfast and lunch 7 days a week.
6. No Name Lane Cafe – Broadbeach
Opening Hours: 7.30am – 4pm daily
A relatively small but stylish cafe, No Name Lane has made its mark along the swanky Broadbeach strip for its great and fast customer service. Simple hand made sandwiches can be ordered off the daily menu that is written on a chalkboard and placed along the street. With coffees starting at $3.50 the quality of the blend and baristas show how this niche cafe has made its mark against other commercial coffee giants just across the road.
7. Black Coffee Lyrics Café – Surfers Paradise
Opening Hours: 12am to 2.30pm weekdays, 8am to 5pm weekends
Black Coffee Lyrics is Surfers Paradise’s best kept secret hidden upstairs along the glitter strip of Surfers Boulevard it offers alternative entertainment with fine dinning open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Everything on the menu is specialty and hand plated by culinary chefs in a food sculpture masterpiece on the plate giving foodies something to drool over. Their cocktail menu is extensive with a built in bar so you can place your order whilst waiting for meals, but don’t expect to get the regular Pinna Colada because all alcoholic beverages are original creations only available at Black Coffee Lyrics.
8. Elk Espresso – Broadbeach
Opening Hours: 6am to 4pm
Elk espresso is an alternative café where locals can sit on stools around the relaxed side of Broadbeach whilst enjoying good quality food just a street away from the ocean. Elk’s specialty is their ‘Killers Burgers’ comprising of gourmet ingredients that guests can eat in a casual setting. The industrial spacious design of the café also allows for large groups and families to enjoy what it has to offer after having a swim or surf.
9. Chill In Café – Palm Beach
Opening Hours: 7.30pm to 2.30pm Monday to Friday, 7.30 to 12pm Weekends
Chill In Café is owned and operated by two lovely European women who bring their unique flavour of food and coffee to the Gold Coast. This coffee shop provides interesting meals with a Mediterranean taste accompanied with locally blended coffee. If you love their coffee you can also purchase coffee beans to take home or have at work. They also offer in-store training that ranges from Barista workshops to cooking classes.
10. Café Monsoon – Paradise Point
Opening Hours: 6am to 4pm daily
For those locals who are further up the coast, Café Monsoon provides a combination of breakfast tapas and lunch menus with a range of local favourites to Mediterranean influences meals. Monsoon is also open on Friday and Saturday night for dinner and dessert until 10pm. Being so close to the ocean their signature dishes include marinated and grilled seafood on all dining menus fresh to your plate.
Do you know of a cafe that deserves a mention in out foody list? Let us know below in the comments!
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