Ultimate guide to cafes on the Gold Coast

Paddock Bakery is a gorgeous old Queenslander that has been done up in French Provincial style.

Behind the white picket fence and inside the bakery, you will find cafe delights like forest mushrooms (done with pumpkin, kale and pecorino), the Rustic Avo (served with yummy nuts and seeds), egg and bacon rolls and bacons, and the ubiquitous home-made sausage roll.

If you have the kiddies in tow, they will be sure to appreciate the PB&J (peanut butter and jam) milkshake.

And Paddock Bakery’s $17.90 strawberry donut French toast is a whole new world of deliciousness.

The owners of this Gold Coast cafe used to own the Paddock Bakery.

Visit this dog-friendly venue if you are in the mood for some truly delectable pastries and cakes to go with your cup of coffee.

Try Tarte Bakery and Cafe’s cinnamon or glazed maple donuts, their strawberry tart, or a gorgeous meringue.

If your tastes run to the savoury then the brekkie bagels are the way to go – we like the Bullseye Bang, which comes with a hit of house-made sambal chilli jam.

If you’re in for lunch then you couldn’t go past the classic chicken sandwich or sausage roll (this one comes with a pineapple twist.)

Sink your teeth into the $16.90 cauliflower burger would be our recommendation for your first (or any) meal at Tarte Bakery and Cafe.

The gorgeous courtyard of this great little cafe has a white-washed Mediterranean feel to it. Next Door Espresso diners can grab a simple banana and walnut bread, sourdough loaf or sourdough crumpet here, or opt for something more like a brekky burger or avo toast.

Freshly squeezed juices include the Recovery (watermelon, pineapple and mint) and the Vital Greens.

Cocktails can be ordered after 10pm, if you find yourself in the mood for a Mimosa.

Next Door Espresso’s $6 vegan banana and walnut loaf is simply irresistible.

Daily brunch made from fresh and organic local produce is what cafe aficionados will find at Pasture and Co.

How does chilli scrambled eggs sound? Or perhaps the ricotta pancakes, which come served with lashing of fruit compote, banana and syrup, or an organic sourdough waffle may be what you’re in the mood for.

Check out their Green Bowl, made with zucchini noodles, organic greens, and kimchi, if your immune system needs a reboot.

But seriously, the $18 ricotta pancakes is a must try at Pasture and Co.

Walk straight off the beach and into breakfast, lunch or drinks at Elk Espresso.

There is a great selection of burgers on the lunch menu here. Diners can enjoy a fried chicken burger, a tempura broccoli burger, a Wagyu burger, or a Scotch fillet toastie.

If you’re watching what you eat, opt for one of Elk’s salads – we like the crispy skin salmon with goats cheese and radicchio.
Otherwise, Elk do brekkie all day long if you happen to have slept in.

Elk Espresso $22 Thai chicken salad gets our recommendation.

Get yourself to Bam Bam Bakehouse to get your croissant fix as you cruise the Gold Coast Highway. At Bam Bam, you can choose from a plain croissant, the ham and cheese, the bacon and egg, or the wonderfully inspired croissant french toast, topped with cream, custard and maple syrup.

Coffee lovers will appreciate the liquid offerings here too; Bam Bam gets their beans from Marvel St. in Byron Bay. And the Schlong, which is short water and a long black, needs to be a thing everywhere, not just the Goldie.

The $16.90 Bam Bam BLT not only sounds great, it tastes as great too!

Breath-taking views of Broadwater make the cafe experience at
Cafe Catalina a memorable one. On the food side of things, brekkie is served from 6.45am to 11.30am; offerings are varied, with dishes like ocean trout, pea and ricotta fritters, and cassoulet on offer.

Lunch dish highlights are Japanese cold dishes – a range of sushi and sashimi, and soft-shell crab will hit the spot on a hot day.

Cafe Catalina is sometimes open for dinner too. We suggest the chicken with mushrooms, oregano and spinach. From 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

If you’re going to try anything from Cafe Catalina, make sure you’ve got the $9.50 hot chips with curry sauce in your order.