From laidback fare to refined dining, beachside Burleigh Heads restaurants showcase serious culinary cred.

The Gold Coast has its fair share of fantastic eateries, and if you’re heading to the buzzing beachside ’burb of Burleigh Heads, be sure to arrive with an appetite. Set to the backdrop of glittering Pacific Ocean waves, the local dining landscape is innovative, enticing and up late. From high-end fine diners to lively izakayas and easy-going eateries, there’s no shortage of diverse cuisines and vibrant scenes to get you stowing your beach umbrella in favour of bites and well-mixed drinks.

THE SHORTLIST

Best views: Rick Shores
Best fine dining gem: Restaurant Labart
Best outdoor dining: Burleigh Pavilion
Best new opening: LiTO

1. Restaurant Labart

Slide into a banquette in the wood-panelled dining room at Restaurant Labart to slip seamlessly into the fantasy that you’re down a Parisian backstreet. The stylish Burleigh Heads restaurant has topped best restaurant lists for years and earned coveted hats for its beautifully finessed fine dining that puts providence first. You might encounter a perfectly executed roasted spatchcock or spanner crab risotto, but no matter what’s on Labart’s seasonally charged menu when you visit, be sure it’ll be served with polished hospitality and a well-curated wine list. Brace yourself for their can’t-get-enough caramelised butter, best spread over Burleigh Baker bread (a standout starter for plain old bread, truly) from around the corner on James St.

Cuisine: European bistro

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Elegant

Location: 8 West Street, Burleigh Heads

2. Rick Shores

Perched right on the beach with its toes in the sand, Rick Shores makes a breath-snatching first impression. The tables are arranged to ensure everyone can soak in the blue beyond, but you will find your attention justifiably diverted (if only temporarily) when your plates begin to hit the table. Shareable serves such as the signature Moreton Bay bug roll with a special sauce of mayonnaise and Sriracha, pork and chilli xiao long bao, Ballina king prawns in coconut curry, and grilled pork rack are full of dialled up flavour and entirely complementary to a list of lively cocktails, which you should certainly entertain. Reservations open two months in advance and you can always request prime real estate, right against the window, but there’s no guarantee. Regardless, best to throw that hat in the ring.

Cuisine: Pan-Asian

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Special occasion

Location: 3/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

3. Burleigh Pavilion

It’s hard to know where to look when you enter the vast and humming Burleigh Pavilion. White-washed tones let that turquoise ocean out-front take the spotlight, but the people-watching here does a thorough job of hogging your attention, too. Once your eyes finish their frantic scan of this beloved upmarket pub scene, settle in for a fresh and lively drinks list and equally enticing menu that wanders from pizza to burgers and salads. It’s easy-breezy and has a definite vibe, with seating both indoors and outdoors under umbrellas.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$–$$$

Atmosphere: Beachy casual

Location: 3a/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

4. The Tropic

Turn left as you come up the stairs to Burleigh Pavilion and you’ll find yourself in The Tropic. While it shares those same gob-smacking ocean vistas as its more rambunctious sibling, things on this side are a little more elevated. The menu is seafood-forward and gracefully weaves between Mediterranean and mod Oz flavours, while the vino errs on the French side. Whatever you order, don’t skip this Burleigh Heads restaurant’s crowd-pleasing Puffed Spiced Bread, a doughy, Instagram-perfected carb load you’ll struggle to nibble at slowly — it’s a more-is-more-right-now kind of dish. A booking here is worthy of your best summer attire.

Cuisine: Modern Australian-Mediterranean

Average price: $$$$

Atmosphere: Refined

Address: 3a/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

5. Jimmy Wah’s

Since 2016, Jimmy Wah’s has been scratching the Gold Coast’s culinary itch for fragrant Vietnamese flavours, albeit with a modern Australian sentiment. A laidback elegance sets the scene here for a menu that straddles tradition and innovation, such as the Burleigh Heads restaurant’s beloved soft shell crab banh mi, joined by other heavy flavour hitters of tempura oysters, caramelised pork belly with watermelon radish, and Vietnamese pancake with pork larb and prawns. Grab a seat at the window, order a crisp glass of something and watch Burleigh bustle right outside.

Cuisine: Vietnamese

Average price: $$$–$$$$

Atmosphere: Trendy

Address: 1724 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

6. Familiar Spirits

The star of the show is undoubtedly its distillery, conjuring up far-too-sippable liqueurs and spirits, but dining at Familiar Spirits is also a wonderful experience. The perfect spot to catch up with friends while indulging in tipples straight from the source, this Burleigh Heads restaurant creates a cosy haven for top-shelf antipasto and the perfect alcoholic accompaniments. Choose from a ploughman’s platter with all the classic ingredients plus a couple more small plates before wrapping on a high note with the chocolate Oreo tart lavishly tricked up with double cream.

Cuisine: Italian-inspired share plates

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Boozy

Address: 1/9 Calabro Way, Burleigh Heads

7. MC’s Sandwich House

Craving a crammed sanga? MC’s Sandwich House is worth driving just a few minutes inland from James St for its jam-packed, flavour-swinging sandwiches. Cranked out within an industrial car park (there are a few tables, but most just grab and go), the creations are fully loaded to perfection, like the three-cheese toastie with garlic mushrooms and feta, and the beloved salad sandwich leaning into every colour of the rainbow. Vegan tastebuds are also catered for with Panko crumbed mushrooms and more.

Cuisine: Sandwiches

Average price: $

Atmosphere: Hipster

Address: 83 West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh Heads

8. Light Years

The Burleigh Heads edition of the Light Years chain, which is strung along the coast from Noosa to Newcastle, will ensure hours well spent in the pursuit of good food and a great mood. This pastel-hued diner leans into tropical styling cues and has Asia as its culinary muse with plates such as the Thai basil pork ribs, ‘Fire Cracker’ chicken, and wagyu beef rendang. Don’t overlook the bao buns, too, tempting guests with four choices: fried chicken, pork belly, crumbed fish and eggplant Katsu.

Cuisine: Asian

Average price: $$–$$$

Atmosphere: Rowdy (and hot in summer)

Location: 1848 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

9. Justin Lane

This come-as-you-are pizzeria is a welcoming spot for a slice and a pint. Stay at street level to watch the throngs come off the beach or level up to the umbrella-festooned rooftop to catch the breeze and listen to DJ-spun beats. The pizzas are deliciously blistered, the drinks are cold and the atmosphere is full of Burleigh-esque charisma.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 1708–1710 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

10. Freddy’s

Hands down the best chicken and chips in town, Freddy’s knocks up smashing full and carved up chooks dripping in a homemade blend of herbs and spices. Stand side by side with bikini-clad locals who stroll in off the beach for a hearty takeaway feast of Freddy’s signature bird with waffle-cut chips, big-flavour salads and more than 10 milkshakes including the house signature of cookies and cream ice cream with whipped cream. You won’t miss this Burleigh Heads institution, located on the corner of James St, across from the bowls club.

Cuisine: Takeaway

Average price: $-$$

Atmosphere: Hectic

Location: 19 Connor St, Burleigh Heads

11. Maman

Assembling a menu that fires up the palate with robust aromatics, Maman (that’s French for mum) meanders from Mediterranean dishes of bruschetta and moussaka to Middle Eastern plates such as chicken with za’atar and pomegranate molasses, and Moroccan spiced duck cigars. Bright and all-white with pops of Greek Island blues, this stylish diner offers a step into a calm and laidback, Euro-inspired interlude away from the bustle and heat of Burleigh.

Cuisine: Mediterranean to Middle Eastern

Average price: $$$–$$$$

Atmosphere: Euro sojourn

Location: 49 James Street, Burleigh Heads

12. Oi Izakaya

Set on Burleigh’s night owl street, this semi-traditional Japanese izakaya is here to cater to sessions of frivolity with good drinks and booze-adjacent eats. Cocktails and whiskies are a highlight, but you’ll also find refreshing Japanese ales and cold-and-hot sakes that pair with gyozas, sashimi and sushi tacos (yes!). You could start the night here before moving on, but you might find one drink unravels into several rather quickly.

Cuisine: Japanese–Modern Australian

Average price: $$–$$$

Atmosphere: Chilled bar and bites

Location: Shops 4–6, 30 James St, Burleigh Heads

13. ZuroZuro

If you’re looking for authentic ramen on the Gold Coast, go directly to ZuroZuro where the traditional and world-beloved soup is made fresh daily with local ingredients by Michelin-starred chef Jun Furukawa. This diamond, set in the rough of the Gold Coast Highway, shines brightly with ultra-excellent renditions of tonkotsu pork, black tonkotsu with roasted black garlic oil, and the Michelin-awarded gyoki tonkotsu ramen that’s adorned with shoestring potatoes and a soup stock jelly. This is a bowl worth travelling for.

Cuisine: Japanese

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Casual

Location: 1/1726 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

14. Mr Hizola’s

At Mr Hizola’s, Cantonese fare is released from tradition and given that Gold Coast razzle-dazzle. Think plates of kingfish with jalapeno salsa and pork belly char sui with pear and five-space mayonnaise. Flavours are big, bold and hold their own against a list of fruit-driven cocktails, such as the signature Hong Kong spice with kaffir lime-infused vodka, lychees and fresh chilli. Styled with dark wood tones and speckled with Chinese lanterns bathing the place in a red glow come evening, this is the spot to sip and savour with mates.

Cuisine: Contemporary Cantonese

Average price: $$–$$$

Atmosphere: Moody

Location: 1730 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

15. Local Burleigh

This friendly, all-day haunt is the place to come for everything from Friday knock-offs to Sunday sessions, breakfast, lunch, dinner and cocktails. It’s all things to all people with a menu that covers off pub favourites like burgers and steaks to more elevated dishes of lobster linguine and grilled cuts with all the bells and whistles.

Kids are accounted for with a dedicated ‘Lil Locals’ menu and you can choose from sitting by the road, in the central swell or out the back in an al fresco dining space.

Cuisine: Modern Australian

Average price: $$–$$$

Atmosphere: Casual

Address: 1744 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

16. Hail Mary

All Hail Mary for their $85 bottomless lunch deal, including 1.5 hours of booze, every weekend that sets the scene for a good time. This casual, pastel pink beachy eatery is tucked away a little, but that doesn’t mean it’s removed from the action. In fact, this is where the party kicks off, with tables set for a fiesta of Mexican-infused flavour. Devour achiote pulled pork quesadillas, panko avocado tacos and snackable jalapeno poppers while watching margaritas flowing freely. On Tuesdays, all tacos are a purse-pleasing $6, in fact, there’s a special deal most nights of the week.

Cuisine: Mexican

Average price: $$

Atmosphere: Party

Location: 26 James St, Burleigh Heads

17. Kin

Gather your kin and kindred spirit and settle in at this modern Japanese izakaya. You’ll find yourself swaying and bopping along to the silky jazz or soul tunes at Kin as you work your way through a menu of finessed plates, from squid karaage to tuna tataki and pulled duck betel leaves. The drinks list is robust and extensive with classic and signature cocktails, all kinds of spirits, saké, sparkling and even dedicated Japanese gin and martini sections.

Cuisine: Japanese fusion

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Eclectic

Location: 5/1730 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

18. Manny’s Wine & Fish

You’ll be welcomed with open arms at Manny’s Wine & Fish, a culinary ode to Greece. Drift directly to the Med with dishes such as barbecue garlic prawns and octopus with lemon oil and oregano. It’s not possible to depart without a sweet treat of baklava, rose-flavoured Turkish Delight or even the team’s Spider Float topped with pistachio ice cream and Moscato drizzle.

Cuisine: Greek

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Intimate

Location: 33 Tallebudgera Creek Rd, Burleigh Heads

19. LimLay

Level up your Friday night Thai takeaway with seriously delicious LimLay creations off the Gold Coast Highway. It does a roaring takeaway trade, but dining in will see you wholly embrace a colourful fit out that dazzles with jewel tones (a Grimace-purple plush booth, perhaps?) and coastal whites. As for the food, they cover all your usual curries and skewers plus scallops in chilli lime dressing, hot pots and hearty, meaty mains.

Cuisine: Thai

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Bustling

Location: Shops 1-2, 1730 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

20. LiTO

One of the most anticipated eateries in Queensland, inside the Mondrian Gold Coast, LiTO brings authentic Italian cuisine to the southern beaches’ golden shores. Found on the ground level of the only Mondrian in the country, the Burleigh Heads restaurant lets the salty breeze in via retractable glass doors as dishes span set menus filled with pasta, line-caught fish, wood roasted vegetables and rotisserie chicken done with lemon butter. Breakfast, an event itself, incurs its own menu of refined modern Australian classics and European odes. Watch this space for further details once trading swings into gear.

Cuisine: Italian

Average price: $$$

Atmosphere: Fresh

Location: Mondrian Gold Coast, Ground Level, 3 First Ave, Burleigh Heads

Originally written by Lara Picone with updates by Kristie Lau-Adams

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