Let’s be real: coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a lifestyle. Without that first cup of liquid gold, productivity would probably collapse faster than a popped balloon. Honestly, how do people function without coffee? Because we couldn’t tell you.

In Burleigh, the rich aroma of fresh brews flows with the sea breeze, creating the ultimate feel-good combo. We’ve taken one for the team (you’re welcome) and hit the streets to track down the very best coffee Burleigh has to offer.

Tarte Bakery

Needing no introduction, word has got around that Tarte is the place to be in Burleigh. The coffee is Parallel Roasters Exclusive Tarte House Blend so you know it’s going to be goooood. You can order it however you like to sip, from velvety flat whites to a rich filter. Pair your caffeine fix with a loaded bagel (the Bullseye Bang is a cult fave) or go light and sweet with a strawberry muffin top. Whether you’re a morning regular or just passing through, skipping a visit to Tarte is practically a crime.
Where: 1748 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Commune

When it comes to coffee culture in Burleigh, Commune is the OG. This laid-back cafe has been fuelling locals with smooth, strong brews since day dot, and under the Blackboard crew, the espresso game is as sharp as ever. Grab a quick latte on the run or linger over a long black with friends, Commune’s coffee is the kind that keeps you coming back. Pair it with their famous rosti-stacked Eggs Florentine or a chorizo burrito if you’re hungry, and stay for the community vibes.
Where: 1844 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Palm Springs

If you’ve cruised the GC Highway, you’ve definitely spotted Palm Springs, the pastel-hued cafe serving up serious Cali desert vibes. But behind the breezy facade is a coffee club that locals rave about. Smooth espresso, perfectly poured lattes and iced coffees made for sunny mornings. The Therefore Coffee Roasters brew feels right at home under the Burleigh palms. Of course, the eats are on point too. Breakfast tacos, anyone?
Where: 1878 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Next Door Burleigh

Next Door Espresso in Burleigh is a coffee lover’s dream tucked inside the stylish St Barts space. With crisp white Besser block walls, timber tables and a sleek concrete bar, it’s the kind of spot you’ll want to linger. The coffee? Organic, roasted by Federal brewers Moonshine. Want to treat yourself? Try a speciality bev like a Banana Pudding Matcha or Dirty Chai Cloud. Pair your cup with wholesome brunch bites or a sweet treat, then browse St Barts’ dreamy homewares. Shopping, sipping, smiling – your day in Burleigh is sorted.
Where: 24 Junction Road, Burleigh

Social Espresso

Social Espresso has been fuelling the Gold Coast caffeine scene for over a decade, roasting beans that power many of your favourite cafes. Their Burleigh HQ is a sleek space in the industrial area of Burleigh where the coffee truly shines with three signature blends, rotating single origins and smooth cold brew. Owners Mitch and Hayley have built a hub for coffee lovers and locals alike. Whether it’s a takeaway or a sit-down sip, this is specialty coffee done right.
Factory 1/9-11 Fremantle St, Burleigh Heads

Social Brew

Tucked inside the Big B Arcade, Social Brew is where Burleigh’s coffee culture comes alive. From early morning espressos to mid-morning cappuccinos, this buzzing cafe is fuel for brekky dates, work catch-ups and everything in between. The people-watching is as good as their signature house blend, and the vibe makes it easy to linger as breakfast drifts into lunch. Surrounded by lush greenery, it’s a little oasis in the heart of James Street.
Where: 34-36 James Street, Burleigh Heads

Canteen

When it comes to cafes locals love, Canteen is the name on everyone’s lips. Crowned Best Coffee in Burleigh in last year’s Love My Cafe awards, their brews have earned a true cult following. Perched on the Park Ave side of the Burleigh buzz, the timber fit-out adds rustic charm, while friendly smiles greet you from kitchen to counter. Serving their signature Cleanskin Coffee Co. roast, Canteen feels like the perfect pause in busy Burleigh.
Where: 23 Park Avenue, Burleigh Heads

Pretty Handsome

Re-firing the coffee machine last year, Pretty Handsome has made a pretty epic comeback. Pouring Allpress beans, every shot is carefully weighed and extracted for consistently smooth, rich flavour, from your morning flat white to a cheeky espresso martini in the afternoon. Pair your cup with a breaky wrap, tacos, or ribs, and you’ll be fuelled up for the rest of the day..
Where: 18 Christine Avenue, Burleigh Heads

LiTO

At LiTO, coffee takes centre stage in true Italian style, beginning with smooth Allpress brews that pair perfectly with breakfast favourites like Sicilian Poached Eggs or Spiced Avocado Bruschetta.  Mondrian Gold Coast’s all-day eatery is the kind of spot where a quiet morning espresso naturally stretches into lunch and beyond, with every cup keeping the la dolce vita flowing. From that first sip post-surf to a final flourish of Tiramisu with coffee mascarpone cream and syrup, LiTO proves life really is better with coffee.
Where: Ground Level, 3 First Ave, Burleigh Heads

Common Ground

Coffee is at the heart of Common Ground, with Burleigh locals raving about their expertly poured Social Espresso brews. Whether you’re after a silky flat white, a refreshing cold brew or something a little spiced like their chai, every sip is designed to complement the sunlit garden setting. The sleek machine on the counter hums from morning to afternoon, fuelling long brunches and catch-ups. Pair your cup with one of their seasonal plates and you’ve found your new daily ritual.
2/2 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh.

Willy’s Beans

If you’ve seen a classic red Jeep humming around town, you might have seen Willy’s Beans delivering signature roasts to many of your favourite caffeine hubs on the GC. Willy’s Beans takes you on a coffee journey from crop to cup. The warehouse cafe is decked with nods to Colombian coffee culture which captured the heart of owner Jayson to open Willy’s Beans. On the menu, you’ll find an impressive lineup of single-origin beans and rare specialties like the Summer Gesha, crafted for those chasing something extra. For an even deeper dive, Willy’s Beans hosts private tastings, giving coffee lovers an immersive experience that goes far beyond the everyday brew.
Where: 1/4 Ramly Drive, Burleigh Heads

Dover’s Drop

Tucked just off Reedy Creek Road, Dover’s Drop is the kind of pit stop that turns into a daily ritual. Serving up fantastic brews from carbon-neutral roasters Locale Espresso, every cup is smooth, rich, and full of flavour that’ll keep you powering through the day. Swing by for locally sourced baked goods, fresh sandwiches and healthy bites that pair perfectly with your caffeine fix. Industrial district coffee never looked (or tasted) so good.
Where: 9 Dover Drive, Burleigh Heads

Paddock Bakery

Paddock may have first won us over with donuts and sweet treats, but it’s their coffee that keeps locals lining up day after day. Tucked inside the charming weatherboard cottage, the team pours smooth, perfectly balanced brews that pair effortlessly with their fresh-baked goods. Whether you’re grabbing a latte to go, sipping a flat white in the garden, or settling in for a long breakfast, the coffee is always flowing. And yes, you should take home their signature sourdough or that Almond Croissant Cookie for later.
Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads

Memento

Just steps from the beach, Memento is the perfect spot to grab your morning flat white before a seaside stroll or settle in with friends (and furry companions) over a leisurely breakfast. The Supreme Coffee brews are smooth, the space is warm, and the vibe is carefree. But the best thing? It’s open at 5am, making it the ultimate pit stop for a pre-surf caffeine hit or a post-run club refuel.
Where: 16 The Esplanade, Burleigh Heads

MC’s Sandwich House

At MC’s Sandwich House, the coffee is as carefully considered as the sangas. They’ve teamed up with Coffee Supreme, ensuring every cup is bold, balanced and smooth enough to stand alongside their globally inspired creations. Grab a flat white to go with a Hot Chicken sanga or sip a long black while you people-watch from the front window, MC’s keeps your sandwich game and your caffeine levels strong.
Where: 83 West Burleigh Road, Burleigh Heads

Nook Espresso

Long before Burleigh became a cafe hub, Nook Espresso was already shaping the Coast’s coffee culture. Now the beloved local keeps serving the smooth, perfectly balanced brews that built its cult following. Using the same Byron Bay beans for over a decade, Nook proves consistency is key and every cup hits just right. With friendly faces behind the counter and a breezy, plant-filled setting, it’s the perfect stop for your daily caffeine hit.
Where: Stockland Burleigh Heads, West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh Heads

Words by Lisette Drew

So it seems the best news of 2020 comes out of our very own Burleigh Heads and you guessed it, involves the very best of baked treats and a few familiar faces.

We’re talking about the opening of Tarte Bakery & Cafe, which is happening Wednesday August 19^th and if there is one thing you absolutely must do this year, it’s head in there and eat absolutely everything.

Tarte is the stunning new baby of Gold Coast hospitality royalty Chloe Watts, former owner of Paddock Bakery and an absolute magician when it comes to creating a world-class venue. It can be found on a sunny corner block in the heart of Burleigh, where Vecchia Roma once lived and look, you won’t miss it, there’ll be hordes of people (socially distanced obviously) wanting to get in for the rest of time.

The space has been entirely redone with the front façade being pulled out and put back in again to create a Soho, West Village (NYC) vibe that’s perfectly at home amongst the surrounding greenery. It’s all cool whites and calming blues with a huge open window overlooking the street, perfect for that Parisian-inspired people watching we all love while sipping coffee and downing baked goodies.

As you’d expect from Chloe, the space is beautifully put together – an antique bench was brought in from a rural NSW movie theatre (circa 1940’s), the door handles are over 100 years old, a luggage rack from an old train holds the bread behind the counter and Chloe’s Dad built a bench seat at the back.

Our favourite detail are the little gold cups Chloe bought from a London flea market years ago when she first decided she wanted to open a café and has been saving for this very moment ever since. Oh and the fact that she (and her builder) hand-chiselled 5,000 tiny black tiles into the floor. A labour of love indeed.

We could go on but let’s chat eats shall we?

First things first, the sweet baked treats will absolutely blow your mind. Every single one of them.

A Gold Coast first is the Cookie Cup which is indeed a cup made out of cookie mixture and served with warm vanilla bean milk (cold in summer). Yep, that’s a (very amazing) thing.

There are also Chocolate Praline Tartes, Cannoli with whipped ricotta and choc chips, a Rhubarb Custard Tarte, the list goes on. Many of the items are vegan and some are gluten-free but all are absolutely mind-blowing. We’ll let you discover the rest for yourself.

In terms of cooked dishes, there are some life changers and you’re going to want to sample them all. Starting with the Turkish Eggs with whipped Greek yoghurt, two poached eggs and Turkish spiced butter and served with white sourdough. Chloe has wanted to put that one on her menu for a while now and we are so very happy she did. There’s also Miso Scramble, a packed Breakfast Burrito and BAGELS in many epic flavours.

You should also sample the Roasted Grape Tartine, the Toastie (best in the world) and Cauliflower Burger because they are all some of the tastiest things we’ve ever eaten, hands down.

Every dish on the menu is thoughtfully created and balanced with intricate flavours and look just really yummy honestly. Best get down there and try them all for yourself hey.

Tarte Bakery & Cafe is sweet and sophisticated, warm and welcoming and the absolute perfect addition to Burleigh’s dining scene.

Things are looking up Gold Coasters, how good.

LOCATION: 2 West Street, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: TBC

Words and photos by Kirra Smith