The casual sibling to Neil Perry’s acclaimed restaurants has landed the highest Aussie ranking. Next Door’s American cheeseburger is stripped-back perfection: a CopperTree Farms beef patty, rose mayo, pickles, ketchup and onions. Judges hailed the patty as “one of the two best" they tasted all year, calling it the ultimate example of comfort elevated to fine-dining standards.
12. The Gidley, Sydney
The Gidley treats the burger with steakhouse seriousness.
In its moody basement setting, The Gidley treats the burger with steakhouse seriousness. A blend of prime Aussie beef cuts is seared hard for a smoky crust, then layered with cheese and pickles in a soft bun. It’s robust, indulgent and unapologetically carnivorous – a burger that tips its hat to the steak heritage of the restaurant while still being approachable.
14. Charrd, Brunswick East, Melbourne
This hole-in-the-wall spot has rocketed to world fame less than a year after opening. Charrd keeps things simple with just two burgers: a classic cheeseburger and a signature number with truffle aioli, chilli jam, caramelised onions and cheddar. The patties are cooked over open charcoal for a smoky hit that keeps people lining up down the street.
The world’s 25 best burgers
The Gidley’s burger came in at number 12. (Image: Dominic Loneragan)
Hundred Burgers, Valencia
Bleecker Burger, London
Black Bear Burger, London
Popl Burger, Copenhagen
Funky Chicken Food Truck, Stockholm
Gasoline Grill, Copenhagen
La Birra Bar, Buenos Aires
Hawksmoor, London
Burger & Beyond, London
Next Door, Sydney
Dove, London
The Gidley, Sydney
Sip & Guzzle, New York
Charrd, Melbourne
Nowon, New York
All or Nothing Burger, Alicante
Gui’s Burger, Ashiya
11 Woodfire, Dubai
The Loyalist Burger, Chicago
Salt Shed, Brighton
Red Hook Tavern, New York
Reburger, Florence
4 Charles, New York
Amboy, Los Angeles
Heard, London
With three entries in the top 25, Australia’s burger game has gone global. From refined classics to smoky steakhouse creations and stripped-back newcomers, our chefs are proving that a great burger is integral to Australia. The only question is: which one will you bite into first?
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Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her 4+ years at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? South Australia and The Kimberley.
There’s more to discover in this buzzing city beyond its thrilling theme parks and pretty beaches.
One of the world’s most celebrated coastal destinations, the Gold Coast has long drawn in visitors with its endless stretches of golden sand and thrilling theme parks. And while these iconic drawcards deliver time and time again, there’s much more to discover in this idyllic pocket of the world.
Luxury enthusiasts are catered for with fabulous five-star retreats, foodies can delight their taste buds with the freshest produce, and nature lovers can lose themselves in a world of ancient rainforest.
If you’re in need of a weekend away to recharge, you’re well looked after with the suite of five-star beachfront hotels. And with the country’s first Andaz hotel opening later this year in Broadbeach and a glamorous Ritz-Carlton on the way, a new era of luxury is being ushered in.
Many of these hotels, like The Langham (Chuan Spa) and the Mondrian Gold Coast (CIEL Spa), feature world-class day spas in sumptuous settings, offering treatments spanning massages, facials, body wraps, and hand and foot therapies from some of the world’s best therapists.
It would also be remiss when on the Gold Coast not to take to the sparkling waters, and the most stylish way to do so is by chartering a yacht, of course. Set sail on your own private haven from Crystal Blue Yacht Charters or Sailing in Paradise, spending your days lounging on deck, discovering secluded coves only accessible by boat and dipping in crystalline waters.
2. Escape to the Hinterland
Hike through Springbrook National Park to enjoy incredible views. (Credit: Reuben Nutt)
You’d be forgiven for not being able to pull yourself away from the Gold Coast’s sparkling coastline, but just a 30-minute drive inland, the Hinterland spoils visitors with a lush landscape that brings an instant sense of calm.
In the World Heritage-listed Lamington National Park, an ancient oasis of over 500 waterfalls and over 160 kilometres of bushwalking trails are waiting to be discovered, soundtracked by the calls of rare rainforest songbirds. And in the ancient Springbrook National Park, you can witness a dazzling light show from one of the largest glow worm colonies in the world. And walk beneath towering Antarctic Beech Trees.
The Hinterland’s fertile volcanic soil and subtropical climate make it a growers’ paradise, and gourmands can relish the best of the region’s bounty at restaurants like Paddock at Beechmont Estate. This casual fine-dining destination offers a paddock-to-plate experience in the truest sense, with produce harvested onsite and sourced from local farms. It might also surprise you to learn that there are fabulous wineries in the region as well, including the must-visit Witches Falls Winery, which produces world-class wild-ferment drops.
3. Taste the best of the dining scene
Treat yourself at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. (Credit: Jesse Lindemann)
The culinary scene on the Gold Coast exceeds expectations thanks to its location and gastronomic talent. Ultra-fresh seafood, abundant hinterland produce and inventive brews star on menus, making it a haven for foodies.
Start your day on a delicious note with the smell of fresh pastries and some of the best coffee in the city at Tarte Bakery & Cafe. Or sit in the classic Queenslander at Paddock Bakery to tuck into their elevated take on ‘egg and soldiers’, with toasted sourdough, organic labna, parsley and bacon bits.
Rick Shores is a must-visit lunch or sunset dinner spot in Burleigh Heads, loved for its front-row vistas of the ocean and succulent Pan-Asian flavours – the Fried Moreton Bay Bug Roll with its delicate sweet meat and toasted brioche bun has a cult following. The team’s second venue, Norté, is another culinary triumph, serving Latin American bites in an ultra-sleek space.
For a more relaxed affair, sit outside at the award-winning Burleigh Brewing Co and sip your way through a tasting padel of inventive lagers and ales while tapping your feet to live music.
4. Recover with wellness & relaxation
Enjoy a total reset surrounded by rainforest at Eden Retreat.
The Gold Coast knows a thing or two when it comes to pampering and relaxation, and those seeking some R&R or to banish their worries can do so at the multitude of bathhouses, day spas and secluded hinterland retreats peppered across the city.
One of the most coveted spots to unwind and experience the tranquillity of Japanese bathing culture is at SOL Elements, Australia’s first floating bathhouse snuggled in the rainforests of Mt Tamborine. Also located in the hinterland is Eden Retreat, a luxury health retreat on a 400-acre property designed to reconnect you with nature via daily wellness classes and contemporary lodges overlooking the rainforest.
Back in the city, Soak Bathhouse is a local favourite for contrast therapy with its open-air hot spas, mineral baths, cold plunges, cedar sauna and steam room. If a massage or facial is more your calling, book into Spa by JW at JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort and Spa. Let the professionals soothe overworked muscles and rejuvenate skin in a heavenly setting.
And who could forget the city’s untamed side? Seek out natural swimming spots like the dreamy Araluen swimming hole hidden away in the Tallebudgera Valley, and the lower section of Currumbin Creek, a pristine tidal estuary with lagoon-like waters.
