Where to find a sweet treat
Ever said ‘I’ll just have one bite’, then proceeded to eat the entirety of the dessert that you’d got ‘for the table’, all by yourself? Welcome – you’re in good company. Here on the Gold Coast, we love a sweet treat. And luckily, we have no shortage of them.
Whether you’re in need of a mid-week pick-me-up, a weekend indulgence, or just an excuse to eat dessert before dinner (no judgment here), we’ve rounded up the best places to satisfy your sweet cravings.
Warning: Sugar highs ahead.
Frozen yoghurt
At this point, fro-yo should be our city’s official dish – we’re obsessed. Cold, creamy and piled high with toppings (which, let’s be real, are the best part), there are so many reasons to love frozen yoghurt. And we kind of blame Yo-Chi for our love affair with it. At any given time, especially at their Burleigh store, you’ll find a line up of locals and tourists waiting patiently for their fro-yo fix. This chain has even played a pivotal role in a viral TikTok drama – that’s how you know they’ve made it.
Then, of course, there’s YOMG, the new kid on the block. Specialising in not only fro-yo, but also burgers, shakes and loaded fries at their Pacific Fair location, YOMG is giving Yo-Chi a run for their money. And who doesn’t love a bit of healthy (or, depending on your toppings, not so healthy) competition? For Gold Coast fro-yo fans, it’s a win-win.
Cookies
Chewy, chunky and (ideally) chocolate-loaded, cookies are proof that delicious things can come in small packages. Gold Coast Cookies is basically the underground queen of cookies, supplying cafes all over the Coast (and beyond) with their gloriously thick, gooey creations. Then there’s Currumbin Cookies, another local legend, sneaking their buttery, golden treats into cafes and popping up at the Burleigh Market, where resisting a cookie purchase is actually impossible. And, of course, no cookie crawl is complete without a stop at Bam Bam Bakehouse or its equally iconic sister spot, Custard Canteen – both of which serve up cookies so good they might just ruin all other cookies for you. Fair warning.
Ice cream
If you’re an ice cream purist, a word of warning: we’re going to use gelato and ice cream interchangeably from here on out. We know it’s not technically accurate, but it’s a sacrifice we’re willing to make in the interest of brevity – we have a LOT to get through. Here’s the scoop: if you’re looking to sample some of the world’s biggest names in ice cream, you can do that at either Gelato Messina or La Macelleria (both have Gold Coast locations). If you’re looking for a local fix, Burleigh Gelato is hard to beat – both for the creaminess of their ice cream and the variety of flavours. Still hungry for more? Check out our other go-to ice cream spots, right here.
Pastries
Prepare to enter carb heaven. We may be half a world away from Paris, but buttery perfection is the pastry standard here on the Gold Coast. And we’re proud of it. Bam Bam Bakehouse has long been the gold standard, with croissant combinations so good they’ve been known to cause happy tears (and pique the interest of a certain Masterchef judge). Over at Tarte Bakery, their dine-in breakfasts get a lot of love, but their pastry game is just as strong – think indulgent danishes, buttery tarts, and flaky treats that pair perfectly with your morning coffee. And if you find yourself up in the lush surroundings of Tamborine Mountain, Franquette is a must. This little slice of France serves up authentic, oh-so-buttery croissants and pastries that will have you contemplating a one-way ticket to Paris. Head here for more.
Waffles
If waffles are your love language, you’re in luck – the Gold Coast speaks it fluently. Pop’s Milk Bar serves up thick, golden waffles in a retro American diner setting. Then there’s Cheeky Waffle, where the name says it all – their playful, novelty-shaped waffles are just as fun to eat as they are to post on Instagram. For something a little different, Bubbo Dessert takes waffles to the next level with their iconic Hong Kong-style waffles. Picture a gyros, except the flatbread is a bubble waffle and the fillings are ice cream, fruit and brownies (so basically nothing like a gyros). And, of course, you can’t forget the classic Pancake Diner, because any place that serves waffles and pancakes deserves a permanent spot in your dessert rotation.
