The Gold Coast’s best kid-friendly cafes the whole family will love

You’ll find BSKT right in the heart of Mermaid Beach, less than 40 metres behind the sand. The dedicated kids area on the beach side of the restaurant (with bonus activity packs) is just the beginning of the drawcards for families.

While they’re known for their locally-sourced, organic, paleo and gluten-free menu, BSKT is a hit with kids thanks to the berrylicious pancakes,  flatbread ham and cheese toastie, and kiddies ham and eggs. Little (and big) kids can top it all off with a CocoWhip, a healthy soft serve that’s vegan and dairy-free.

Where: 4 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach.

Custard Canteen, Palm Beach

It’s all about location (and pastries) at this kid-friendly Gold Coast café. Custard Canteen is the ultimate pit-stop before - or after - you hit the sands of Tallebudgera Creek. Located a short walk from the sparkling waterfront, Custard Canteen is known for its excellent coffee, decadent pastries, and simple-but-delicious classics like bacon and egg rolls, loaded croissants and burgers. The Portugese custard tart is a must-try.

Where: 1525 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach

Hot tip: If you’re planning to take your goodies to the creek for a picnic, order takeaway online before you arrive to skip the lines. 

Bumbles Café, Surfers Paradise

It might only be a five-minute walk from the heart of Surfers Paradise, but Bumbles Cafe on Budds Beach – facing the Nerang River – feels miles away from the high-energy centre of the GC.

Find a spot outside under a big shady umbrella at one of the best under-the-radar kid-friendly cafes on the Gold Coast and place an order for a prawn or lime chicken finger sandwich (for you) and cheeseburger or pancakes and maple with ice-cream (for them).

Where: 19 River Drive, Budds Beach, Surfers Paradise.

Hot tip: Go posh and book in for Bumbles’ high tea featuring housemade sausage rolls, quiche lorraine and cakes - available daily (bookings required two days in advance).

Tarte Bakery & Cafe, Burleigh Heads

Bring the whole family along to try one of the best breakfasts on the Gold Coast at Tarte. The a la carte menu overflows with flavour – it’ll be tricky choosing between everything bagels loaded with smoked salmon, bacon & eggs or veggie options, salted caramel crumpets, or a five cheese and truffle toastie. Then there’s the cabinet stocked with supermodel-level pastries.

Tarte serves an exclusive house-blend of locally roasted Parallel coffee, while the kids will love the fruit smoothies and rich custard shakes.

The café is walk-in only, but with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating you can usually find a spot quickly even when crowded. But if the kids are restless, simply order coffees and snacks from the takeaway window to enjoy with beach views in nearby Justins Park.

Where: 1748 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Hot tip: Tarte has a second location – the Beach House in Currumbin – which does take bookings (2-4 Thrower Drive, Currumbin).

Waterfront Restaurant at Southport Yacht Club, Main Beach

Want your kids to learn sailing skills while you sip your latte? Head to the Southport Yacht Club on Saturdays at 8:30am or 12pm so your seven to 17 year-olds can take off on a FreeSail adventure - a one-hour intro to the Learn to Sail Programs.

Once they’re back from a morning on the water, they’ll need something palatable from the “cadets” lunch menu, which includes classics like fish and chips, pasta, pizza and teriyaki karaage chicken. Seafood-loving parents, on the other hand, will be more than happy with the oysters, seafood chowder, and blue swimmer crab spaghetti. 

In between sailing and eating, the kids will be sorted for fun at the playground on the western lawn of the clubhouse.

Where: 1 Macarthur Parade, Main Beach.

Hot tip: Come on down for live music on the waterfront every Friday 4-7pm. 

Barefoot Barista, Currumbin

If you’re a family of early-risers, call into Barefoot Barista after your first swim on the day. Mere steps from the surf at Currumbin Beach, it’s a relaxed and friendly spot with a great selection of all-day breakfast and lunch bites.

Parents can tuck into avocado toast, zucchini and haloumi fritters, prawn taco bowls and burgers, while the $12 kids menu will keep little ones happy with bacon and eggs on toast or waffles topped with strawberry, banana and Nutella.

Where: 1/794 Pacific Parade, Currumbin 

Pasture & Co., Currumbin Valley

Nestled in amongst towering fig trees and looking out at the lush Currumbin Valley, Pasture & Co. has a relaxing vibe and plenty of room for the kids to stretch their legs. The menu heroes locally sourced fresh and organic ingredients, including an ever-changing selection of raw treats if you fancy something sweet with your coffee or golden latte.

There’s always a social activity to join in on here, be it a mum and baby yoga class, a story and craft session for the little ones, listening to live music, or the local markets that are held at the Green Marquee within the Ground At Currumbin eco village. As a bonus, you might spot the wild kangaroos who regularly frequent the area.

Where: Ground At Currumbin, 639 Currumbin Road, Currumbin Valley.

Miami Marketta, Miami

If you’ve got kids that can’t agree on cuisines, head to outdoor street-food market Miami Marketta for a smorgasbord of global food stands that’ll suit all tastebuds. It's free to the public, and open from 5pm every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

There's always something new - sweet or savoury - to try, with four bars and live music from local blues, jazz and roots artists (with a dancefloor) to round off this fun family night out.

Where: 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami.

Hot tip: Celebrating a special occasion? Miami Marketta is home to several unique event spaces available for hire, including a stunning Champagne bar, the Gin Parlour, or huge warehouse studio space.

Paddock Bakery, Burleigh Heads

For kids (both the two- and four-legged kind), this busy bakery and café inside an old Queenslander home is a great spot to enjoy a family-friendly breakfast, brunch or lunch (or an anytime treat).

Head beyond the picket fence to explore the veggie patch, citrus trees and lavender garden, armed with one of the crunchy cronuts, gooey tarts and other treats that are freshly baked every day.

Want something more substantial? The dippy eggs (served with buttered sourdough soldiers, bacon bits and labna) and cookie monster milkshakes are high on the order rotation for the kids, while parents have tough decisions to make with the all-day breakfast and lunch options.

Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads.

Dune Cafe, Palm Beach

Dune Cafe’s location in the middle of bustling Palm Beach Parklands, beside Currumbin Lagoon and fun-fuelled Pirate Park, gives them a five-star family badge. 

Those who love a sweet breakfast will dig the house made maple waffle, while lunch options include Korean BBQ brisket burgers and lemon pepper calamari bowls. Smaller appetites will find their own dedicated menu which includes eats under $10 - and there's even a range of dog treats and puppacinos for those bringing the entire family along.

Where: Palm Beach Parklands, 945 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach.

Hot tip: Grab a table or BYO picnic blanket and take in the live music fortnightly from 9am on Saturdays.

Plantation House Café, Burleigh Heads

Right on Tallebudgera Creek and less than 10 minutes’ walk from David Fleay Wildlife Park, you’ll find Plantation House Cafe. With plenty of off-street parking, this easy-access cafe pulls in the locals with their all-day organic and free-range breakfast treats like breakfast bruschetta or corn and zucchini fritters, both served with avocado and poached eggs on sourdough.

Acai bowls are ready for those seeking a healthy start to the day while kids can’t say no to Plantation House’s burgers, pancakes and shakes. There’s a kids’ play area with chalkboard, rocking horse and loads of toys, too.

Where: 1/43 Tallebudgera Creek Road, Burleigh Heads

Stones Throw, Currumbin

A leafy garden café for those who love alfresco spaces (and space for kids to play), a visit to Stones Throw feels like you’ve been welcomed into a community backyard.

Alongside Fonzie Abbott coffee, Stones Throw is known for its innovative menu that breaks out of the eggs-benny boundary to offer unique dishes you won’t find on other Gold Coast café menus, including some with Malaysian and Indian influence. And there’s an all day menu for the kids too, if you can convince them to take a break from the sandpit to eat.

Where: 9 Station St, Currumbin Waters 

Currumbin Beach Vikings Surf Life Saving Club, Currumbin

Whether your family is signed up for the local nippers or not, Surf Life Saving Clubs are a pretty sure bet for good-value kid-friendly food options - and epic water views. Currumbin Beach Vikings has breakfast, lunch and dinner by the beach sorted with loads of specials across the week.

The Nippers breakfast menu covers simple delights like sausage, egg and hash brown or pancakes with maple syrup and ice-cream. Family faves like chicken nuggets, cheeseburger and chips, and ham pizzas takeover the Nippers lunch and dinner menu - and all kids meals include a small soft drink and ice cream. 

Need extra entertainment while you dine? Activity packs are available for $2.50. 

Where: 741 Pacific Parade, Currumbin.

Need more family dining ideas? Here are some more Gold Coast kid-friendly cafés and restaurants:

• Cafe Tahbella, 11/3 Cottonwood Place, Oxenford
• BMD Northcliffe Surf Club, 51 Garfield Tce, Surfers Paradise
• Elk Espresso, Oasis Mall, Broadbeach
• Mermaid Beach Surf Club, Hedges Avenue, Mermaid Beach
• Pancake Diner, The Strand, 72 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
• Historic Rivermill (come for the friendly animals!), 950 Beaudesert Nerang Road, Mount Nathan
• Bella's Wonderland (an indoor play centre with its own cafe), 3/15 Jackman St, Southport

Heading to Brisbane? These are the best kid-friendly cafes in Brisbane to check out.