Broadbeach on the Gold Coast offers a barefoot beach holiday combined with some of the Gold Coast’s best drinking and dining venues. Here is our guide to the very best of Broadbeach, including Broadbeach things to do, the best Broadbeach restaurants, where to stay and more.

Best Broadbeach hotels

Broadbeach epitomises the concept of barefoot luxury with an impressive array of classy accommodation options. Peppers Broadbeach is a self-contained, twin tower apartment complex located above dining venues which make it tempting to forget your accommodation has a kitchen. Sofitel Gold Coast has well appointed rooms with soft-as-a-cloud king size beds and friendly and attentive staff. Meriton Suites Broadbeach is an all suite hotel located a short stroll from the beach, with large balconies that are perfect for breakfast or evening drinks.

AVANI Broadbeach Gold Coast Residences sets itself apart by being the latest and sleekest addition to the local hotel scene. The upmarket all suite hotel is located a short stroll from the beach, with two appealing restaurants and large balconies that are perfect for breakfast or evening drinks. Across the highway, the refurbished The Star Gold Coast has ultra-luxe rooms, excellent in-house dining, multiple bars and a popular casino. If you want to splurge, The Darling offers all suite accommodation and some of the most luxurious rooms on the Gold Coast.

Best Broadbeach restaurants

While there is delicious dining to be found up and down the Gold Coast, you’ll find a lot of excellent restaurants in the one place at Broadbeach. For something laid back there is the Bavarian Bier Cafe where European beers, super-sized schnitzel and rollicking good times go hand in hand. Sophisticated diners will appreciate Moo Moo, a hip steak restaurant where more than 50 wines by the glass provide ample excuse for drinkers to corral themselves at the bar. The aged speciality beef here isn’t cheap but the quality justifies the high prices.

Mario’s serves fabulous Italian just like Mama used to make and has a lovely indoor/outdoor dining area and delightful staff who go out of their way to ensure everyone has a good time. Don’t miss the dishes featuring Queensland’s famous seafood. Across the road there is Social Eating House, a bar-cum-restaurant where people tend to drop in for a drink and end up staying all night. Meals are served tapas-style so order a mix of small and large plates and sit back and relax with a drink or two.

Drop into Kiyomi on the lobby level at The Star Gold Coast for Japanese inspired cocktails featuring shochu, sake and one of Japan’s favourite drinks, top shelf whisky. Shared plates and a touch of molecular magic make this restaurant a must for those who enjoy modern Japanese cuisine.

Flower posies peeking out of glass jars, quirky stencil art and eclectic, mismatched furniture give Elk Espresso at The Oasis Shopping Centre a hip yet homely touch. No Name Lane cafe at The Oracle is easy to find, just look for the long line of coffee lovers waiting for takeaways. If you are out to impress, Room 81 at the Sofitel Gold Coast has a nine course degustation menu with optional wine matching. Leave room for the iconic Valrhona Milk Chocolate Sphere dessert.

Broadbeach things to do

The Star Gold Coast offers entertainment galore, ranging from guitar duos to ABBA tribute shows, lavish touring productions and the chance to try your luck in the casino. Pacific Fair Shopping Centre has more than 400 shops, ranging from department stores to high-end designer boutiques. Level Up is a fun retro gaming arcade which offers a trip to the 80s with games like pinball and plenty of modern games as well. If your kids love saving up their tickets for prizes, the ones on offer here are superb with goodies like high end razor scooters on offer.

The Pink Flamingo Spiegelclub delivers an intoxicating blend of cabaret, burlesque and cirque right in the heart of Broadbeach. It’s cheeky and fun and turns into a happening nightclub after the show. Entry to the club is included in the cost of your ticket. On the first and third Sunday of every month, the Broadbeach Markets offer bespoke, handmade finds, quirky souvenirs and ocean views. The stretch of sand at Broadbeach may not be as famous as Surfers Paradise beach, but it is just as beautiful not to mention less crowded.

Disclosure: The writer visited Broadbeach for the first time as a teenager and loves this part of the Gold Coast just as much now as she did back then.

Looking for accommodation somewhere else on the Gold Coast? Read our reviews of Oaks Calypso Plaza, the Surfers Paradise Marriott, The Star Gold Coast, voco Gold Coast and the retro La Costa Motel. Or you can check out this Gold Coast accommodation roundup.