There’s a reason why families love the Southern Gold Coast. A welcome break from the hustle and bustle of Surfers Paradise, its beaches are just as beautiful and feature child-friendly swimming areas that are protected and patrolled. Greenmount Beach is ideal for families, especially those with kids wanting to learn how to surf while Currumbin Beach offers gentle surf, stunning views, and the quiet life for Mum and Dad. Playgrounds are plentiful on the Southern Gold Coast, and there are other activities to do too like Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and Currumbin Rock Pools.
For families looking to get a great feed, there are lots of family-friendly dining options to sample while you’re exploring. Here are our top 5 suggestions for the next time you’re looking to take the whole family out for a fabulous feed:
1. The Eatery
A pub might not be your first point of call to take the kids, but The Coolangatta Hotel is no ordinary pub. The Coolangatta Hotel caters really well for families, and The Eatery features a good size kids menu that includes cheeseburger and chips, ham and pineapple pizza, and spaghetti with Napoletana sauce. An upgrade of $1 will get the kids a glass of soft drink and a STREETS Paddle Pop too!
Open 7 days a week from 11am for lunch and dinner, The Eatery is loved by all ages. In fact, it’s so loved that it’s often full, so be sure to book a table!
2. Pancake Diner
New to The Strand Coolangatta is the Pancake Diner, a family favourite diner that features retro vibes, a delicious range of meals, and comfy booth seating. Family owned and operated, it offers the best pancakes on the Gold Coast, maybe even Australia.
The Pancake Diner may specialise in sweet and savoury pancakes and crepes, but the menu features succulent steaks, ribs, chicken, fish and salads too. The servings are generous as well, meaning you and the kids will have plenty of energy to enjoy everything the Southern Gold Coast has to offer.
3. Delizioso
Delizioso Coolangatta, the second Delizioso restaurant opened by multi award-winning head chef Brad Nascone, brings modern Italian dining to a prime oceanfront location. Its signature offerings are pizza and pasta, but you can also enjoy lamb shank, pork belly and chicken scaloppini to name a few. An incredible selection of wine complements the menu, as does an extensive kids menu with dishes ranging from $10 to $19.50.
Brad Nascone describes Delizioso as “a place where you can sit and talk, have a nice bottle of wine, and enjoy good food with a good view overlooking the beach”. Sounds just about perfect, right?
4. Beach Burrito
The Southern Gold Coast is all about beachside culture. After all, it’s home to “The Superbank”, the stretch of sand that encompasses Snapper Rocks, Rainbow Bay, Greenmount Beach and Kirra. Sand has been pumped from The Tweed into this area since 2001, making for perfect waves nearly every day of the week.
To get the best of beachside culture, one must eat like the locals and grab a beach burrito from the aptly named Beach Burrito. Renowned for their fresh and tasty Mexican cuisine, Beach Burrito is a favourite not just with surfers, skaters and skiers, but with families too. It offers a fun, relaxed and friendly vibe, and an extensive menu that includes nachos, taquitos, burritos, fajitas, and quesadillas. For dessert, the kids will love dipping some churros in chocolate, and we’re guessing Mum and Dad might like the sangria.
5. Gelato Messina
Gelato Messina’s mission is to make people happy, and boy does it do that. Serving amazing gelato using natural, quality ingredients, it offers 40 different flavours plus elaborate gelato cakes and five new specials each week.
At Messina, the thought has always been, “how was gelato made 100 years ago?” With this in mind, you can rest assured that there are no colourings, flavourings, preservatives, or pastes. Everything is lovingly made in-house, and it tastes so good that the kids will never know they are eating healthy ice cream!
Maple syrup with bacon, blueberry pancake batter, caramel gelato smashed with white chocolate potato chips? Which flavour will you try first?
The southern Gold Coast is packed with accommodation options that let you self-cater, but nothing beats dining out with your kids when on holiday. Sitting around a table chatting about all the fun you had during the day – these moments are when treasured memories are cemented.
Food is a big part of life and memories of food are powerful. Celebrate a birthday, share fun times together, engage in conversation and you’ll remember it forever. Don’t just opt for any old restaurant with the kids. Choose somewhere special you know you’ll all love!
