16 of the best Burleigh Heads restaurants for 2024

From laidback fare to refined dining, beachside Burleigh Heads is a hotspot of 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 on the Gold Coast be sure to arrive with an appetite. Set to the backdrop of glittering Pacific waves, you’ll find the local dining landscape 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 a bite and a well-mixed drink.

The shortlist

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

1. 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, which it does, but the people-watching here does a thorough job of snatching your attention away. Once your eyes finish their frantic scan of the 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.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$–$$$
Atmosphere: Beachy casual
Review: 4/5
Location: 3a/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

2. The Tropic

Turn left as you come up the stairs to Burleigh Pavilion and you’ll find yourself in The Tropic. While it shares that same gob-smacking Pacific 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. A booking here is worthy of your best summer attire.

Cuisine: Modern Australian-Mediterranean
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Review: 4/5
Address: 3a/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

3. Restaurant Labart

Slide into a banquette in the wood-panelled dining room here and you can easily slip into the fantasy that you’re down a Parisian backstreet.

This stylish fine diner has topped best restaurant lists for years thanks and earned coveted hats thanks to its beautifully finessed plates that put providence first.

You might encounter a perfectly executed bouillabaisse or taleggio risotto, but no matter what’s on Labart’s menu that day, you can be sure it’ll be served with polished hospitality and a well-curated wine list.

Cuisine: European bistro
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Review: 5/5
Location: 8 West Street, Burleigh Heads

4. Rick Shores

Perched right on the beach with its toes in the sand, Rick Shores makes a breath-snatching first impression. The tables are so 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 lobster xiao long bao, Ballina king prawns in sambal, and honey-glazed pork rack are full of dialled up flavour and entirely complementary to a list of lively cocktails, which you should certainly entertain.

Cuisine: Pan-Asian
Average price: $$$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Review: 5/5
Location: 3/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

5. 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 some 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
Review: 3/5
Location: 1708–1710 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

6. Light Years

The Burleigh 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 honey and sesame pork ribs, the incendiary-sounding firecracker chicken, and wagyu beef rendang.

Cuisine: Asian
Average price: $$–$$$
Atmosphere: Casual
Review: 3/5
Location: 1848 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

7. Maman

Assembling a menu that gets the palate fired up 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: Casual
Review: 4/5
Location: 49 James Street, Burleigh Heads

8. 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
Review: 3.5/5
Location: Shops 4–6 James Street, Burleigh Heads

9. 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 oddly 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
Review: 5/5
Location: 1/1726 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

10. Mr Hizola’s

At Mr Hizola’s, Cantonese fare has been released from tradition and given a bit of Gold Coast razzle-dazzle. Think plates of kingfish with yuzu and green chilli, beef brisket bao, and pork belly char sui with apple ginger and pink mayo.

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 a little moody 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: Easy-going
Review: 3.5/5
Location: 1730 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

11. 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 of burgers and steaks to more elevated dishes of seafood linguine and whisky-glazed beef cheeks.

Kids are accounted for and, on the other end of the spectrum, there’s a more concise late-night menu for dining post 9pm. Lock in and let your hair down at this easy-going local.

Cuisine: Modern Australian
Average price: $$–$$$
Atmosphere: Casual
Review: 4/5
Address: 1744 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

12. Osteria Del Mare

This friendly neighbourhood Italian invites you in with the scent of freshly fired pizza. The dough here gets all the rest it needs, being left to prove for 48 hours before being topped with fresh, local or premium imported ingredients. There’s also pasta, made nonna-style, and a collection of appetite-appeasing sides, such as freshly shucked oysters, Mooloolaba prawns, and mussels cooked in white wine and garlic. Bellissimo!

Cuisine: Italian
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Laidback
Review: 3.5/5
Location: Shop 2/1718 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

13. 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 restaurant’s beloved soft shell crab banh mi, which is joined by other heavy flavour hitters of tempura oysters, wok-tossed squid with chilli and lime, and Vietnamese pancake with pork larb. Grab a seat at the window, order a crisp glass of something and watch Burleigh bustle beyond.

Cuisine: Vietnamese
Average price: $$$–$$$$
Atmosphere: Elevated casual
Review: 4/5
Address: 1724 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

14. Hail Mary

All Hail Mary for their $22 jugs of sangria on Sunday that set 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 it gets started with tables set for a fiesta of Mexican-infused flavour, from achiote pulled pork quesadillas, to panko avocado tacos and snackable jalapeno poppers.

The margaritas flow freely and on Tuesdays, all tacos are a purse-pleasing $7, in fact, there’s a special deal each day of the week.

Cuisine: Mexican
Average price: $$
Atmosphere: Laidback
Review: 3/5
Location: 26 James Street, Burleigh Heads

15. Kin Burleigh

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 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, sake, sparking and even a dedicated Japanese gin section.

Cuisine: Japanese fusion
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Easy-going
Review: 3.5/5
Location: 5/1730 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

16. Rabbath

You’ll be welcomed with open arms at this petite Lebanese Burleigh bistro. Drawing on his Syrian and Lebanese roots, owner Patrick Rabbath is all about sharing the love over a delicious meal. Richly flavoured and deeply fragrant, feel it with dishes such as grilled skewers with baba ghanoush and triple-layered lamb mince with labne. It’s not possible to depart without a sweet Lebanese treat of pistachio pastry or vanilla halaweh gelato, which it would be remiss of you not to enjoy with a glass of traditional arak – a tripled-distilled grape spirit. It’ll set you right for the night.

Cuisine: Lebanese
Average price: $$$
Atmosphere: Refined
Review: 4/5
Location: Shop 7A/1837 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

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