8 best restaurants & activities at Burleigh Heads
An easy guide to Burleigh Heads’ best restaurants and activities on the Gold Coast.
Good vibes, great coffee and shockingly pretty beach views: the bohemian surf neighbourhood of Burleigh Heads is a Gold Coast favourite for good reason. These eight hangouts – all conveniently located on the same strip of the Gold Coast Highway – can be put together into a day-long itinerary of eating, sipping and shopping, or you can explore them at leisure over a longer break. See you there.
1. Burleigh Beach
Gorgeous aerial views of Burleigh Beach: Credit iStock
With its point break, rolling headland and patrolled beach, Burleigh Beach is a hard spot to beat for a dip, a surf and people watching. When the Gold Coast sun gets too intense, pop up to the beachfront Burleigh Pavilion for a cold Burleigh Brewing Co craft brew and spectacular vistas over Burleigh and up to Surfers Paradise in the distance.
2. Justin Lane
Justin Lane eatery: Credit Destination Gold Coast
This bustling pizzeria and bar, Justin Lane, is a Gold Coast institution. While new bars and eateries seem to pop up every week, this original double-storey hangout consistently delivers good food, good wine and good times. Take advantage of the subtropical climate with pre-dinner sundowners on the rooftop before indulging in one of Justin Lane’s famous sourdough pizzas and a signature cocktail.
3. Jimmy Wah’s
Modern Vietnamese shared dishes are served up in a chic mid-century-influenced dining room at the lively Burleigh establishment of Jimmy Wah's. If you can’t decide from the dishes on offer – think whole charred baby squid or betel leaf with tempura bug tail – the chef will create a special “feed me” seven-course menu. A top spot for a long, lazy Sunday lunch with friends.
4. Rosella’s
Rosella's: Credit Kirra Smith
Intimate Australiana-themed watering hole, Rosella's has won the hearts of locals and visitors alike since opening its doors in January 2019. Serving up fare such as jaffles with a slew of tasty fillings, cheese and onion dip with Jatz crackers, and prawn cocktails, the menu evokes a sense of childhood nostalgia. Tongue-in-cheek fun aside, you won’t find any stubbies and thongs here. This intimate space boasts cosy booths, attentive staff and quirky cocktails such as the signature rosella, which comes in a bird-shaped glass. Don’t leave without trying the aptly named ironman, which combines Beenleigh white rum and Bundaberg small-batch rum with lime, banana and Nutri-Grain.
5. Harry’s Steak Bistro & Bar
Owned by the founder and former owner of Justin Lane, hip eatery Harry's Steak Bistro & Bar adopts a paddock-to-plate food philosophy and is home to some the best steaks on the Gold Coast. Harry’s nails its own take on the traditional steak frites, with the grass-fed beef delivered from hand-selected pasture and produce for the side salads and vegetables grown on the owner’s farm nearby.
6. The Village Markets
The Village Markets: Credit Destination Gold Coast
Arguably Australia’s most successful boutique designer market, The Village Markets (or TVM as locals call it), has been a launchpad for international labels such as Peony Swimwear, Cleopatra’s Bling, Kivari, and Zulu & Zephyr. Held on the first and third Sunday of each month at Burleigh Heads State School, TVM attracts everyone from families to hipsters with its curated mix of fashion, art, ceramics, jewellery, homewares, street food and live tunes from local musicians (Tones and I and Ziggy Alberts both played TVM before they shot to fame).
7. Commune
Housed in a restored Art Deco building on the lower Gold Coast Highway, this long-standing cafe has a laidback atmosphere and some of the best breakfast dishes you’ll find on the Gold Coast. With a focus on organic ingredients and an all-day breakfast menu that includes Commune’s famous corn fritters and cacao pancakes, it is easy to spend hours grazing, drinking coffee in the sun and playing a game of ping-pong or two.
8. Kira & Kira
Treat yourself to a special something to take home at this retail space. Technically located in neighbouring Miami, but considered North Burleigh by locals, Kira & Kira has a focus on thoughtful, timeless design and offers a slick edit of art, jewellery, furniture and homewares sourced from local and Byron Bay designers. Shop jewellery from Temple of the Sun, art and tiles by Jai Vasicek, linen from Dos Ombré, artwork by Tania Blanchard and hand-blown glass lighting by Søktas.
