We’ve rounded up the best of Brisbane eats but insiders will know there’s certainly more to Queensland than the capital! Whether you’re taking a drive out to Burleigh Heads or living on the coast, here are 10 more spots peppered across the state to book for an excellent experience.
Venues are listed in no particular order.
1. Little Truffle
This intimate yet relaxed two-hatted venue in Mermaid Beach is reserved for the special occasions or perhaps, a little treat-yourself on a regular day. Come for the exceptional menu of European-inspired fare featuring Australian ingredients and local producers. Standout dishes like the beef tartare and tuna and ponzu-laced oyster dot the menu, next to equally impressive desserts and drinks. Nothing short of a sublime experience fitting for an establishment that has multiple awards on the shelf.
Location: 2444 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
Opening hours: Mondays to Thursdays, 5:30 – 10:30pm; Fridays and Saturdays 12 – 3pm and 5:30 – 10:30pm.
2. Jimmy Wah's
Burleigh Heads’ favourite Vietnamese restaurant blends traditional and contemporary in their share-style plates, perfect for a weekend trip half day out of Brisbane. You can’t miss the murals of eponymous Jimmy Wah, the charismatic bar owner character from the 80s classic movie Good Morning Vietnam, and the same playful, upbeat energy seeps through the rest of the venue — including cocktails with a bite. Here’s a menu you want to get your hands into, from the sticky pork ribs and prawn Vietnamese pancakes to tempura barramundi wrapped in betel leaf. But if you can’t decide, there’s always their chef-curated Feed Me menu that gets the group covered.
Location: 1724 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Opening hours: Daily, 12:30 – 2pm and 5:30 – 9pm
3. Bar Evelyn
From the power duo behind Melbourne’s now-defunct Ramblr and Leonardo’s Pizza Palace comes Bar Evelyn nestled in Coolangatta. This low-key neighbourhood bar takes you back to the 70s with its cosy diner booths, veneer wooden walls and vintage lamps. But when it comes to bites and booze, new is the name of the game as Chef Nick Stanton changes up the menu regularly. This season, we spotted a banger linguine with wood roasted tiger prawns and gremolata and anchovy crostinis to go with classics like a pisco sour and negroni.
Location: Shop 20/58 Marine Parade, Coolangatta QLD 4225, Australia
Opening hours: Mondays to Thursdays 5 – 11pm; Fridays 5pm – 12am, Saturdays 3pm – 12am and Sundays 3 – 11pm
4. Wagyu-Ya on Chevron
Nestled on Chevron Island in the heart of the Gold Coast, this understated hidden gem takes away the formality for a relaxed experience that offers the gold standard quality of Japanese dining. The menu slinks between fresh off the coast sashimi, beautifully curated and plated, along with premium A5 and MB8 Wagyu cuts made for the grill. There are also hearty rice bowls and noodles for a fuller meal. As for a tipple, the sake and whiskey selections make excellent complements.
Location: Shop 2/42 Thomas Dr, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays 11:30am – 1:30pm, 5 – 8:30pm; Sundays 5 – 8:30pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
5. Hotel Panchos
Take a tip from locals and nip into this Mudgeeraba gem for the coastal cantina atmosphere and your pick of Mexican eats. The classic tacos with signatures like pineapple pork belly and salsa roja grilled steak give tortilla lovers a run for their money while the Tom Lane brisket burrito is pure music. Whether it’s burrito Thursdays, margarita Saturdays or live band Sundays, the party never ends at Hotel Panchos.
Location: 581 Gold Coast Springbrook Rd, Mudgeeraba QLD 4213
Opening hours: Thursdays 5 – 8pm; Fridays 4 – 10pm, Saturdays 12 – 10:30pm and Sundays 12 – 9pm
6. Mike's Kitchen
For a classic family meal 20 minutes out from Surfer’s, head down to Merrimac to the warm, wholesome comfort of Mike’s Kitchen. Standouts include the hearty barbecue ribs, saucy beef burgers and farmhouse chicken. The home-style dining is consistent throughout the joint, from its cosy booth seats to the good-for-sharing portions and unmistakably friendly service.
Location: 2 Gooding Dr, Merrimac QLD 4226
Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays 5 – 8:30pm; Saturdays and Sundays 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5 – 8:30pm
7. Bar Leo
This Mediterranean wine bar in suburban Sorento is a hidden gem worth tracking down when in Queensland. Neighbourhood nosh takes a different direction here, with in-season produce on small plates that thoroughly impresses — think anchovy fillets on housemade grilled foccacia, spicy octopus and potato and blood orange ponzu-slicked fish. Take an alfresco seat when the sun’s out, or pull up a chair inside. Against the backdrop of sprightly patron chatter and a curated wine list, this small neighbourhood wine bar has chops.
Location: Riviera Plaza 7/4 Panitz Street, Bundall Queensland 4217
Opening hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays 4pm till late; Fridays and Saturdays 12pm till late and Sundays 12 – 6pm
8. Burleigh Pavilion
When in Queensland, one cannot miss the stunning structure that is Burleigh Pavilion. Sitting on the coast with sweeping postcard views, this hyped-up club with the capacity to fit 600 delivers on the epic ambitions. At full-service restaurant The Tropic, sit down to beachside bites ranging from snapper fish and chips, fresh prawns on ice and wood-fired pizzas. On the other end is The Terrace, where you can dine casual, sip on delicious cocktails and shake the sand off your feet with local DJs playing every Thursday through Sundays.
Location: 3A/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
Opening hours: Daily 11am – 12am
9. La Calabrese
La Calabrese checks all the boxes for a Queensland Italian institution — commitment to using high-quality ingredients, simple but skillful preparations and of course, service with intimate, old-school charm. On food, expect a warm hug their pan-fried gnocchi in pumpkin sage butter and fresh marinara pasta then make your way down the menu for more comfort in the form of their margherita pizza. Here for lunch? Get your hands on their crunchy foccacia sandwiches!
Location: 86 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays 10am – 2:30pm and 5:30 – 9pm; Saturdays and Sundays 9am – 2pm and 5:30 – 9pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
10. Glass Dining and Lounge Bar
Capping off this list filled with waterfront dining venues is Gold Coast’s quintessential Glass Dining. Here you’ll look out to the marina with a first-class view of boats and yachts for that classy summer energy. The elegant menu takes a dip in well-travelled cuisines, from warm Turkish bread to tempura zucchini flowers, and grilled New Zealand whole sole. The extensive wine list is on hand for a drink that lives up to the stellar ambience. Pro tip for a value for money experience — book a table for the $65 weekday set lunch.
Location: The Wave, Lvl 2, Building, 89/91 Surf Parade, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Opening hours: Mondays to Fridays 9am – 5pm
