5 Best Restaurants in The Gold Coast, Queensland

At the far southern end of the Gold Coast, this bustling hole-in-the-wall punches well above its weight, serving Neapolitan-style pizzas from 5 pm every night to a friendly crowd of in-the-know locals and visitors. With quirky pop- and rock-inspired names like The Fennel Countdown, Sage Against the Machine, and the Dollop Parton, the menu includes a full range of vegan pizzas, with plenty of gluten-free options. Francies doesn't take bookings, so arrive early or be prepared to add your name to the list, then order a bottle of their own label wine, pour a glass and wait. Or if you prefer, order take away via text.

Run by charismatic chefs, who clearly love to please a crowd, this popular teppanyaki restaurant at the JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa is as much about the spectacle of the meal as the quality ingredients and perfectly executed flavors. Try the succulent fillet steak with teriyaki chicken, traditional tofu and hibachi vegetables, or salmon and lobster tail.

This iconic seafood restaurant perched on the waterfront at the lovely Marina Mirage center has dishes spanning the seafood spectrum—from bouillabaisse and classic surf and turf to local barramundi, lobster, oysters, mud crab, and Moreton Bay bugs. This is also a tempting selection of meat, vegetarian, and pasta dishes, and an extensive dessert menu and wine list. The A$55 set menu includes choice of entrée, main, and dessert.

Tucked away down a side street, across the road from beautiful Kirra beach, Zephyr Coffee is the kind of unpretentious local café you wish was in your neighborhood. With house-roasted beans, coffee is the major drawcard, but the food is also delicious, with tasty options including acai bowls, homemade banana bread, and jaffle toasted sandwiches, all perfect for a beachside snack.