Where to find Christmas Day lunch on the Gold Coast

The Star Gold Coast, Broadbeach

Home to some of the Gold Coast’s best restaurants and bars, you’re guaranteed plenty of festive vibes across all corners of The Star Gold Coast on Christmas Day.

Culinary wonderland Harvest Buffet is offering an indulgent all-you-can-eat Christmas lunch and dinner spread, with its special menu featuring traditional Christmas fare, international favourites and an abundance of fresh seafood, from Hervey Bay scallops to Moreton Bay bugs.

Chef Song Yao Su has created a one-off festive menu at The Star’s Asian eatery Uncle Su, combining Mandarin and Cantonese flavours to treat diners to a sumptuous Christmas Day banquet lunch with a twist. Here, roast turkey and pudding are subbed out for chicken shu mai and custard buns. 

There’s a four-course Italian-inspired Christmas lunch at Cucina Vivo, with delights like pistachio and cherry-stuffed porchetta, loaded seafood platters and plenty of prosecco. If you’d prefer to take the goodness home, let The Star do the cooking and pre-order a food hamper loaded with all the trimmings.

Price:
Harvest Buffet from $280 per adult
Uncle Su: $168 per adult
Cucina Vivo: $199 per adult

Sofitel Gold Coast, Broadbeach

The festive spirits will be high in the Sofitel’s Grand Ballroom, which is transforming into a whimsical winter wonderland to create the perfect backdrop for a spectacular buffet lunch on Christmas Day. Mouth-watering roast meats, towers of seafood, salads piled high, decadent desserts and more will be served up from midday.

Price: Grand Ballroom, $325 per adult

The Langham Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise

Lap it up in luxury at The Langham, perched right on the Surfers Paradise beachfront. The Diamond Ballroom will host an opulent family Christmas buffet lunch with an indulgent array of fresh local seafood on ice, a live barbecue with wagyu steaks, vibrant salads, desserts and plenty more. Or enjoy stunning across the sparkling Pacific Ocean on Christmas Day while enjoying a sumptuous seafood buffet lunch at Akoya, complete with a crudo bar and live carving stations.

Price: Diamond Ballroom lunch $495per adult, Akoya buffet $449per adult

QT Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise

Retreat to the stylish QT Gold Coast  and get into the spirit with a Christmas cocktail on arrival before setting your sights on a fabulous spread of seafood, meats, desserts. Santa will report for duty, keeping the kids occupied with gifts and entertainment. 

There’s also Christmas breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets available at Bazaar for an indulgent feast of festive favourites. While down at cutting-edge izakaya Yamagen (a standout on the local dining scene) you can enjoy a sizzling seven-course seafood degustation for a Christmas lunch with a Japanese twist.

Price: QT Ballroom $299, Bazaar $299, Yamagen $299 per adult

Hilton Surfers Paradise Hotel, Surfers Paradise

You’re off kitchen duty, so that means you’ll have ample time for a beach swim before you settle in for a lavish Christmas lunch at the Hilton in Surfers Paradise. Held in the Grand Ballroom, guests will be treated to a sumptuous feast of fresh seafood and Christmas classics like hot ham with cherry compote. Top tip: leave some room to give the dessert station a nudge. On the menu is summer pavlova and apple crumble!

Price: $329 per adult

Burleigh Town Hotel, Burleigh Heads

Spend Christmas Day in the sunshine at this Burleigh Heads local, with a fun-filled festive buffet and plenty of family-friendly entertainment. The buffet will be loaded with cold seafood and a smorgasbord of hot roast meats, with classic desserts like pudding, pavlova and mince pies capping of the feast.

Price: $175 per adult

The Island, Surfers Paradise

Soak up sweeping views over the Surfers Paradise coastline from the swish rooftop penthouse of The Island – one of the Gold Coast’s most popular sipping spots. The sky-high Christmas Day buffet will showcase fresh Queensland seafood, roast meats, summer salads and vegetables, alongside holiday treats like plum pudding and trifle. For something more kid-friendly, there’s also a Family Christmas Buffet in The Island’s Glasshouse with a crowd-pleasing spread of traditional favourites.

Price: Penthouse Buffet $229, per adult Family Buffet $179pp

Christmas Day lunches in the Northern Gold Coast area

RACV Royal Pines, Benowa

In true form, the RACV Royal Pines Christmas buffet is spoiling you for choice, with a colossal spread of festive classics in its Royal Ballroom. Expect plenty of top-notch seafood, traditional roast meats and hot dishes, and fresh salads. Have a breather before hitting the collection of moreish desserts, then roll on home.

Price: $307 per adult

InterContinental Sanctuary Cove

There’s an exclusive six-course Christmas Day degustation lunch at The Fireplace at InterContinental Sanctuary Cove for those wanting an adults-only fine-dining experience. Festive theming of the palatial dining space will spur the Christmas spirit, with each guest to receive a customised gift on arrival. With dishes like whisky-cured salmon with pink grapefruit and blue caviar, and turkey roulade with chestnut and apricot stuffing on the menu, you can expect quite the luxurious affair. The sophisticated lunch will finish on a sweet note with dark-chocolate marquise with Frangelico cream.

Price: Dining $489 per adult, Seafood Buffet, $229 per adult

Looking for a getaway during the festive season? Here's how to have a budget Christmas holiday in Queensland.