You can find Australia’s best coffee in this surprising city

Elizabeth Whitehead Elizabeth Whitehead
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Australia takes its coffee very seriously. But which city has the best? A new study put the controversial question to the test, with surprising results…

In the Antipodes, coffee is more than just a beverage – it’s a ritual. Australian coffee culture is so strong and our standards so high that Starbucks incurred massive losses when they tried to open up shop down under – a point of national pride for many Aussie coffee drinkers. So, when it comes to the best coffee locales in the country, there are plenty of contenders vying for the top spot.

Recently, money transfer company Remitly crunched the numbers to determine where the best coffee in Australia (and New Zealand) can be found. And surprisingly, the usual suspects didn’t claim the crown. Here are the best coffee regions in Australia, according to data. (Spoiler alert: it’s not Melbourne!)

The Method

Remitly’s ‘coffee index’ drew from over 2.7 million Google reviews to rank cities based on:

  • The number of coffee shops per capita.
  • The average customer rating for coffee shops in each city.
  • The number of customer reviews per coffee shop.
  • The number of #Coffee posts on Instagram in each city (compared to its population).

And the winner is…

Somewhat unexpectedly, the breezy beachside city of Coffs Harbour beat out all major cities to claim the crown of best coffee region in Australia. But it shouldn’t be all too surprising – while the overall vibe here is laid-back, the city takes its coffee very seriously.

Supply Speciality Coffee
Supply Speciality Coffee in Coffs Harbour epitomises the laid-back coffee culture of the city. (Image: Destination NSW)

Beachside cafes with a boho aesthetic, cute-as coffee vans, and vegetarian-friendly spots serving Buddha bowls alongside excellent brews are all part of the mix. Although the town is filled with top-notch java joints, we’ve rounded up the best cafes in Coffs Harbour for you.

Close up of espresso at Artisti Coffee
Artisti Coffee Roasters is a boutique roastery in Coffs Harbour.

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AI Prompt

Special mention

The Gold Coast came in second place, but the region placed first in the country (tied with Brisbane) for the highest average café rating, at 4.42/5. In the mini Los Angeles of Australia, you’re bound to see activewear-clad fitness enthusiasts jogging along the palm-tree-lined beach. The health-conscious lifestyle is reflected in the cafe culture here, with hyper-Instagrammable blue superfood lattes in Mermaid Beach and and plenty of cafes serving up organic food. You can find the best cafes on the Gold Coast here.

Elk Espresso Cafe Gold Coast Interior
Elk Espresso epitomises the health-conscious, laid-back coffee culture of the Gold Coast. (Image: Destination Gold Coast)

The full list

  1. Coffs Harbour, NSW
  2. Gold Coast, QLD
  3. Cairns, QLD
  4. Sunshine Coast, QLD
  5. Shepparton, VIC
  6. Melbourne, VIC
  7. Mildura, VIC
  8. Brisbane, QLD
  9. Adelaide, SA
  10. Sydney, NSW

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Elizabeth Whitehead
Elizabeth Whitehead is a writer obsessed with all things culture; doesn't matter if it's pop culture or cultures of the world. She graduated with a degree in History from the University of Sydney (after dropping out from Maths). Her bylines span AFAR, Lonely Planet, ELLE, Harper's BAZAAR and Refinery 29. Her work for Australian Traveller was shortlisted for single article of the year at the Mumbrella Publishing Awards 2024. She is very lucky in thrifting, very unlucky in UNO.
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From fresh seafood to native flavours: discover the best hotel restaurants around Australia

(Credit: Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences)

    Dilvin Yasa Dilvin Yasa
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    Feeling peckish? These hotel restaurants prove the best weekend escapes are ones planned around noshing in-house.

    Forget club sandwiches and lobby house wine; the folks at Hilton clearly missed the memo that stated that the dining experience should be a business trip afterthought.

    Instead, they’re leading with their core belief that incredible dining should be the cornerstone of every travel experience: the long breakfasts with usually good flat whites, the golden hour cocktails, and the local flavours you’ll talk about long after you’ve returned home.

    The result? We’ll let the following Hilton hotel restaurants do the talking.

    1. Together & Co, Busselton

    Together & Co, Hilton Garden Inn Busselton’s on-site restaurant.
    Sit down to the family-friendly Together & Co.

    Nothing pairs better with the iconic Busselton Jetty and the beaches of Geographe Bay (both mere moments away) than the relaxed coastal charm of Together & Co, Hilton Garden Inn Busselton’s on-site restaurant.

    Offering a relaxed, light-filled and family-friendly atmosphere with an open kitchen, Together & Co somehow appears unfussy on the surface, yet maintains a myopic focus on showcasing the best of local ingredients (regulars swear by the flame-grilled octopus, as well as their perfectly cooked steaks).

    Keen to stay put for a drink? Together & Co Bar offers an extensive wine list, cold beer on tap, a crafted cocktail selection and a bar bites menu.

    2. Cafe Sunrise, Cairns

    Hilton Cairns Cafe Sunrise
    Start the day with breakfast favourites.

    At Hilton Cairns, dining and drinking options are plentiful – even without the Executive Lounge (open to Executive Room and Executive Spa Room guests who can enjoy continental breakfast, light refreshments and a nightly drinks and canape experience).

    Cafe Sunrise starts the day with breakfast favourites, from fluffy pancakes to an omelette station, while Edge Terrace is made for a wind-down cocktail. At Gin Social, shared plates and succulent mains showcase fresh produce, and poolside dining comes with a playful bonus: call the ‘Popsicle Hotline’ for a complimentary fruit ice-block.

    3. The Vine Room, Cairns

    DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns, the vine room
    Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired eats by the pool.

    In DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns, Atrium Restaurant’s breakfast buffet offers more than 100 options, but don’t check out before dining at The Vine Room, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar pairing Tropical North Queensland produce with southern European flavours. A herby prawn risotto overlooking the Coral Sea? Yes please. Just be sure to leave room for Le Petit Chef, an immersive 3D dinner theatre experience where a tiny animated chef leads a culinary adventure to remember.

    4. PepperBerry Restaurant, Darwin

    Hilton Darwin Pepperberry
    Taste an award-winning menu, shaped by First Nations culture and residents.

    Shaped by First Nations culture and residents from over 100 nationalities, Darwin’s dining scene has more character than most. It’s something to keep in mind as you consider Hilton’s trio of perfectly located properties (and its onsite restaurants).

    At Hilton Darwin, PepperBerry Restaurant is the flagship, an award-winning upscale establishment where modern Australian cuisine is sharpened with native bush spices and superfresh NT produce. The multi-sensory dining experience that is Le Petit Chef is available here too, as is the option to enjoy lighter meals and cocktails at Palm Court Bar & Lounge, a premier spot favoured by locals.

    5. Catch Restaurant, Surfers Paradise

    Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences Catch restaurant table spread
    Lean into the Gold Coast lifestyle at Catch Restaurant.

    When you’re staying in a property located in the heart of Surfers Paradise, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got stamina for all the nearby attractions and happily, Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel & Residences has you covered with some stellar options.

    Start the day with breakfast at Catch Restaurant, the hotel’s signature eatery, which is inspired by the vibrant Gold Coast lifestyle. Make a reservation for dinner (Wednesday to Saturday nights only), where the focus is on sustainably sourced seafood, steaks and pasta.

    Elsewhere, Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats, a coastal-inspired restaurant facing the buzzing Orchid Avenue strip, remains a crowd favourite thanks to its tapas menu (think coconut king prawns and fried honey haloumi bites), flatbreads and signature cocktails, but why not also treat yourself to its High Tea offering?

    6. Saltbush, Alice Springs

    saltbush restaurant alice springs

    Taste native bush flavours at Saltbush.

    Set against a red desert backdrop, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs feels like a palm-fringed oasis, but it’s the property’s dining offerings which anchor you firmly in the outback.

    Saltbush, where buffet breakfasts roll into contemporary Australian lunches and dinners incorporating native bush flavours, remains a popular choice. The restaurant’s signature dishes include outback tenderloin koftas, lemon myrtle pannacotta and a classic outback pie made with kangaroo meat.

    7. Hanuman Restaurant, Alice Springs

    Experience a foodie weekend with a flatlay of food from Hanuman.
    Experience award-winning pan-Asian cuisine. (Image: Tourism NT)

    For an upscale dining experience, award-winning Hanuman Restaurant isn’t to be missed.

    Also part of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Alice Springs and located on the banks of the Todd River, expect a pan-Asian menu combining Thai, Indian and Nonya (Straits Chinese) cuisines. And why not finish up with a post-meal drink or snack at The Deck Bar & Eatery, a relaxed outdoor space where cocktails are served under a canopy of stars?

    Start planning a foodie escape at hilton.com.