Ah, ice cream, you dreamy, heaven-sent creation, you. A treat that transcends all ages, there’s no denying it is one of – if not *the* – most iconic summer foods going. And here on the GC, our (usually) balmy climate is more suited than most to indulge in (several) scoops of creamy, churned ice cream or gelato goodness any old time we please…

Which is just as well, with all of the fabulous Gelaterias and frozen dessert purveyors gracing our city. It’s a near full-time job trying to keep tabs on them all… and, side note – new dream profession unlocked.

Let’s dig in (y’know, with one of those adorably tiny, and mildly impractical ice cream spoons) to some of the best spots to cool off with a cup, cone, or even a fully-loaded sundae –stacked, sprinkled and swirled within an inch of its life. Who’s hungry?!

Rosé Gelateria
Artisanal gelato slinger Rosé Gelateria dons its telltale blush accents across two lush GC locations – Tedder Ave and Sanctuary Cove – which, in itself, is a pretty decent clue as to the boujee, boutique style approach at these pretty-in-pink creameries. Besides a delicious assortment of crafted ice creams, they pour some fantastic coffee, including an affogato that’ll knock your socks and/or crocks off (hopefully not ‘and’, though). The signature Rose flavour, which comes sprinkled with petals, is a treat for the peepers and the palette. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a prettier gelato fix on the Coast!
Where: Shop 39a, Masthead Way, Sanctuary Cove and Shop 6/19-21 Tedder Ave, Main Beach

Shiro Gelato & Snack
The concept of a friendly neighbourhood noshery specialising in snacks is one we can wholeheartedly get behind, and Shiro Gelato & Snack has your cravings covered with a Japanese take on all things to nibble, slurp, and lick. If it’s the lickable variety you’ve got your heart set on, house-made gelato flavours like Black Sesame, Matcha White Chocolate, Miso Caramel, and the vegan friendly Yuzu and Lemon flavour are all a common sight here. Take it to the next level and make it a Mochi-wrapped gelato scoop – served perfectly encased in the gelatinous Japanese dessert.
Where: 50 Nerang St, Southport

Pop’s Milk Bar
Think classic ‘50s milk bar vibes – vinyl booths, checkered floors, and a milkshake in hand. Maybe you’re sharing, maybe you’re not (we don’t judge). But this isn’t just any shake – it’s made with house-made gelato. And the flavours? Oh, they’re all yours. Nutella, Peanut Butter Chip, Bubble Gum, Berry Strawberry – whatever your heart desires, consider it scooped, blended, and served thick enough to make your straw work for it. Not in a milkshake mood? No stress. Get your gelato in a cup with mix-ins, sandwiched between cookies, drowned in hot fudge, or loaded into a banana split. Basically, if there’s a way to eat gelato, Pop’s is making it happen.
Where: Southport Park Shopping Centre, 163 Ferry Rd, Southport

Yo-Chi
With a line that stretches around the corner on the ‘reg (like, every single weekend) – locals have been going wild for Yo-Chi’s signature tangy and tantalising fro-yo goodness since the cult fave first swanned onto our scene in 2022. Now the proud owners of four GC locations in Broadbeach, Robina and Burleigh and Surfers, punters can get their probiotic fix in the most delicious of ways with a signature, soft serve style frozen yoghurt selection available on tap. The core range of year-round flavours are complemented by seasonal cameos, the majority of which are 98-percent fat-free… and 100-percent mouth-watering.
Where: 11/3240 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise, 89 Surf Parade, Broadbeach, 19 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina and Shop 4/27 Connor St, Burleigh Heads

Gelato Messina
We’ve been living the ‘cream’ ever since Gelato Messina returned to our shores, now slinging their famed flavours out of Surfers’ slick Paradise Centre precinct. The Messina name is one known for taking this gelato business seriously… everything from the dulce de leche to the gelato base – and even the chocolate – is made from scratch, down to their very own dairy farm to keep them plied with the creamiest jersey milk. There’s a reason that their… *checks notes* – literally every flavour – is what ice-cream dreams are made of.
Where: Paradise Centre, 2A Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Ciccio’s Pizza & Gelato
Not only do they serve a slice worth doughing over, but scoops of gelato. Melt-in-your-mouth (it won’t last long enough to melt in your cone) authentic Italiana gelati. Savour it plain and simple with a one or two-scoop cone, or take it on a freshly baked Sicilian brioche bun or a pizza?! What could be better? We’ll tell ya! It’s their traditional Italian Tartufo Di Pizzo made with hazelnut and chocolate gelato, with a melted chocolate centre, and coated in cocoa powder. Mamma mia, che buono!
Where: East Tower The Phoenician Building, Shop 10/104 Surf Parade, Broadbeach

The Gelato Shop
Cup, cone, or even sundaes – no matter your preferred method of consumption, Broadbeach’s The Gelato Shop has got you covered when it comes to all things chilled, sweet and creamy. The legendairy lineup of award-winning flavours includes the likes of Chunky Chocolate Cheesecake and Snickers gelato, a slew of fruit-based sorbets and decadent vegan options like Coffee Crunch or Peanut Butter. For an all-out indulgence, there’s locally made Warm Cookies & Gelato, Waffles and an array of fully stacked Sundaes.
Where: Shop 8 Aria building, Cnr Surf Parade & Albert Ave, Broadbeach

YOMG
Remember, the concept is ‘self-serve’, not ‘self-control’, so don’t be shocked when you have none of the latter after stepping inside this purple palace of frozen yogurt. YOMG–so good you have to say it ‘yo-my-goodness’–serves handcrafted frozen yogurt using fresh milk and farmers’ yogurt alongside shakes, burgers, wings and other bites. But today, we’re here for the creamy swirling goodness. Go wild with crumbly, bubbly, chewy, crunchy and drizzly toppings like brownie bite, boba bubbles, fresh fruit, jelly beans, crumbled biscuits and pistachio sauce (to name a few). Oh, and they do acai, too! Find them at Burleigh and Pac Fair!
Where: Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach Waters and 15 Connor St, Burleigh Heads

La Macelleria
A spot that’s a stickler for tradition, La Macelleria is kitted out with all the best Italian gelato-making gear. You can watch on as the crew whips up their artisanal, chilled confections daily… *drooling intensifies*. Wrap your lips around stalwart flavours like Bacio and Salted Caramel, gelato shakes and out-of-this-world affogato – for those who prefer their desserts to come with a kick. One taste, and your love for this place will be un-cone-ditional.
Where: 90 Markeri Street, Mermaid Waters

Village Gelato
Not only has the team at The Oxley brought us a gorg Nobby Beach hangout spot, but they’re also keeping us cool with delicious gelato. These guys are all about the good stuff – handcrafted gelato made with top-notch ingredients and a whole lotta love. Word to the wise, we highly recommend clocking early and ducking in for the Happy Hour scoops. Surely, the boss will understand.
Where: The Oxley, 2217 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

Gelato Gemelli
Every scoop of Gelato Gemelli’s creamy creations is made from scratch with imported equipment straight from Bologna, the heartland of gelato-making. No shortcuts, no pre-mixes – just proper Italian gelato crafted with love and precision. The signature scoop? The Pisellino – a heavenly blend of pistachio cream and white chocolate that’s worth melting for. Cones or cups aren’t your only choice here, you can also have your fave flavour served in their famous brioche gelato sandwich. Just stop – we may pass out from sheer excitement.
Where: The Oxley Atrium, 17 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach

Scoop Gelati
Here’s the scoop… if you’re in and around Burleigh and find yourself in the mood for gelato, sorbet or ice-cream shakes – do not pass go – head directly to Scoop Gelati. The hand-crafted, small-batch recipes include refreshing revelations like ANZAC Biscuit, Caramel Biscotto and Apple Crumble, all made fresh on-site. Got an ice cream connoisseur in your life? Their frozen cakes are a treat for the eyes and the tastebuds – perfect for every occasion, or ‘just because’ works too.
Where: 23 James Street, Burleigh Heads

Burleigh Gelato
Picture the scene: you find yourself in the southern end of town (wandering off of one of those world-class beaches, no doubt), when you’re hit with a hankering – not quite hunger – but you could most definitely eat. The answer is Burleigh Gelato! Now with a second location in Palm Beach, the array of flavours is enough to earn the affection of even the frostiest-at-heart. The cookie-inspired creations, such as M&M Cookie Dough gelato or Biscoff gelato are alone enough to get dessert fans swooning. They’re also handily available on major home delivery apps and open late — perfect for those late-night sugar cravings.
Where: 9 Connor Street, Burleigh Heads and 3/10 Palm Beach Ave, Palm Beach

Tango Gelato
Palm Beach’s turquoise sensation, Tango Gelato, serves up sweet scoops daily out of its Pavilions Shopping Centre location (now also in Kingscliff if you’re ever stranded across the border). The icy creations include inventive combos like Ginger & Dark Chocolate, Strawberry Cookies & Cream and Blackberry Sorbet – so if you think you’ve ‘been there, licked that’ when it comes to ice cream flavours, we’d suggest you pay them a visit to have your mind blown immediately. They also offer delivery, so if you’re lucky enough to live nearby, you can always opt to have the the ‘mind blown’ come to you (in your jim-jams, obvi).
Where: Pavilions Shopping Centre, 1102 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach and 80 Marine Parade, Kingscliff

Ottimo
What do you have if you take yourself a devoted Italian and then send him to study a diploma from the Gelato University of Carpigiani in Italy? You have Davide, the owner of Ottimo, of course! Promising superior gelato and coffee – rest assured, whatever flavour you settle on taking from this premium iced-goods purveyor is going to be the goods — it’s all made fresh and on-site daily, after all. Stroll in after an afternoon on the beach and let him and his friendly staff scoop you happy. And their signature ‘Sicily’ flavour, made with Mandarin Custard with Pistachio and Almond Caramel, sure does just that.
Where: Shop 18/52 Marine Parade, Coolangatta

Tamborine Mountain Gelato Co
Serving only the most authentic Italian gelato – the rainforest-studded surrounds of Tamborine’s mountainside community are the only reminder that you are, in fact, not strolling the streets of Sicily whilst sampling your delicious scoop of choice. At Tamborine Gelato, the iced goods are served old school – hidden behind the lids of a traditional Pozzetti gelato cabinet in the name of freshness. Seasonal, house-made flavours are rejigged every couple of days, with the chance to catch creamy creations like Vegan Mocha, Cookies and Caramel Swirl and Pistachio.
Where: 4/15-17 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain

Words by Chelsea Ipsen

Oh baked goods, why do you taunt us so. Taste sensations, tick. Better with butter, tick. Comforting when cold, tick, tick, tick. They’re almost too good to be true but, as demonstrated below, they are true and there are Gold Coast bakeries galore which is just fine by us.

Here’s a list of the top 16 bakeries within which you’ll find said exceptional baked treats and happy carb loading Coasties.

Custard Canteen
From 5:30am-2:30pm daily, Custard Canteen is known for cranking out absolute next-level Portuguese custard tarts, almond croissants, loaded muffins, the gooiest of cookies and various breakfast and lunch goods. Wash it all down nicely with a cup of their exceptional coffee.
Where: Tallebudgera Recreation Centre, Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach

The Pastry Emporium
Taking it up a notch from the good old-fashioned bakery, here you’ll find pastries baked to perfection with not a flake out of place by Adrian Graziloi. Think escargot pastries (aka, snail pastries) finished with apricot glaze, crushed pistachio and rock sugar and an array of pinky-raising single-serve cakesandtarts. The Pastry Emporium conjures up otherworldly cakes and desserts while also delivering necessities like delicious breads and coffee. If you moved in there, we wouldn’t judge you. Please invite us over.
Where: 4/28 Campbell St, Bundall

Bam Bam Bakehouse
Needing no introduction is Mermaid’s Bam Bam Bakehouse – creators of the most original baked treats the Gold Coast has ever seen and the absolute love of our lives if we’re honest. Known for creations such as Salted Caramel Eclairs and Ink Gin Choux Bomb, it’s another level of baked treat magic and everything tastes more delicious than you could possibly imagine.
Where: 2519 – 2521 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

Paddock Bakery
Hidden amdist a little garden oasis is Paddock Bakery, a cafe/garden wonderland in Miami cranking out insane baked goods. How about a Matcha NY Baked Cheesecake? Yah. Milo Croissant Rings are also a thing and their oozing choc chip cookies are the real deal. They have an impressive and ever-changing doughnut selection, and there’s always something new to blow your dessert loving mind.
Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami

Fosters Bakery
Fosters is a Nobby’s institution that has been serving up legendary classics all day, every day, for many a year. Their pies are some of the best around; we may be known to indulge in them for breakfast, lunch and dinner for many days running. Their vanilla slice, custard tarts and doughnuts are always a good idea. It’d be wise to treat their pie and doughnut selection as a checklist to try them all.
Where: 1/2227 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

Burleigh Baker
For the love of sourdough, this place is the goods. We’re partial to the olive sourdough because olives are life, but there are many varieties, all of which are the perfect addition to a warming soup and/or lathered with butter. Oh, and all their sourdough is of the organic and artisan varieties AND they make incredible cakes like a Raspberry and Pistachio with honey frosting and honey caramel drizzle. Two, please. Find them in Burleigh (obvs), but also Paradise Point!
Where: 13/50 James Street, Burleigh Heads and Shop 7/46 The Esplanade, Paradise Point

Fuel Bakehouse
Soooo many delicious things come out of this place you guys. We’re talking custard-filled, sprinkle-topped, meringue-crumbled, Nutella oozing (etc. etc.) doughnuts. Not just muffins, but cruffins. Your ol’reliable bacon and egg rolls, and some of the tastiest pies around town.  There are three Fuel Bakehouse locations (Currumbin, Burleigh and Cabarita), so you need not worry about missing out. And you absolutely don’t want to miss out.
Where: 44 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Waters, 39-45 Tweest Coast Rd, Cabarita and Shop 1/23 James St, Burleigh Heads

Coolangatta Pie Shop
Want to know what we pray for? Generously filled pies with flaky pastry that are available from an absolute institution 7 days a week. Turns out we don’t need to pray, as this already exists! The iconic Coolangatta Pie Shop has proudly served at the NSW and QLD border since 1964. There are also tasty sweet treats and we recommend the Macadamia Slice thingo because caramel is life.
Where: 50 Griffith St, Coolangatta

Dipcro Pastry
Dipcro (verb): means to dip a flaking-ly fabulous croissant into a silky smooth coffee. The result is usually a feeling of unadulterated pleasure. Not to state the obvious, but you find that feeling at Chevron Island’s Dipcro Pastry in endless supply. They’re a patisserie that specialises in the scrumptious art of all things pastry and puff. A Matcha Mochi Pastry Tart anyone? How about an Espresso Tiramisu Mille Feuille? Or the Hazelnut Praline Cromboloni?!! Okay, we have to stop there- we’re afraid you may die of a pastry-induced coma if we go on.
Where: 55 Thomas Dr, Chevron Island

Franquette
With a name like Franquette (pronounced Fraen-ket), a mind naturally conjures up images of all kinds of French-inspired splendour. And you’d be right on the baguette. Franquette is one of Mt Tamborine’s latest editions – a French bakery that was quickly beloved by locals and visitors alike. They’ve got more loaf varieties than you can poke a breadstick at and freshly prepared sandwiches and baguettes with THE most scrumptious fillings. Then there’s the sweet French pâtisserie- do we really need to convince you how good they are?
Where: 155 Long Road, Tamborine Mountain

Tarte Bakery + Beach House
If you reside on the Gold Coast and haven’t yet experienced, or worse, heard of Tarte Bakery (or their sister venue, Tarte Beach House), then we’ve found you at a bittersweet juncture. You get to make up for lost time! Let us enlighten you on what awaits. Cue the song: ‘Strawberries on muffins and bacon on bagels. Brown butter cookies and truffle cheese toasties. Golden croissants dipped in pistachio cream – these are a few of our favourite things (at Tarte). Thanks, Julie Andrews, for putting that so melodiously into words.
Where: 2 West Street, Burleigh Heads (Tarte Bakery) and Shop 1, 2-4 Thrower Drive, Currumbin (Tarte Beach House)

Well Bread & Pastry
If you’re looking for a down-to-earth bakery where you can grab yourself a well-poured coffee, some incredible pastries and breads and a space where you can catch up with a friend, then say hello to Well Bread & Pastry. It’s a euro-infused bakery with two locations in Palm Beach and Miami. All their sourdough is made using sustainable stone ground flour (and lots of love), and their coffee is made with Paradox beans. And just like their pies, their cabinets are always filled to the brim with drool-worthy croissants, pain au chocolats and biscuits galore. Cappuccino cheers to that!
Where: 6 Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach and 1934 Gold Coast Hwy, Miami

Bread Social
If you’re a fan of mouth-wateringly good, cooked-with-love baked treats (if you’re not, you’re lost in the wrong article), then you will have absolutely sampled the goods from The Bread Social – they’re an in-demand Northern NSW and Southern Queensland baked goods supply. If you’re visiting in person, you can find them at Tweed Heads, Byron Bay, Currumbin and the Isle of Capri. And when you are visiting, here’s your hit list: the Reuben sandwich, an extra large Custard Tart and a Cinnamon Scroll made with crème patisserie and dusted with cinnamon sugar & pinch of salt. We’ll see you rollin…out the door.
Where: 12A Bay St, Tweed Heads; 2 Queensbury Ave Currumbin Waters; 11 Ewingsdale Rd, Ewingsdale and 15-21 Via Roma Isle of Capri

Rise Bakery
Picture your next Sunday morning; a fresh spread of French pastries behold you, and mimosas (plural) are in place of your water (H2O is taking a day off). Life is splendorous. That’s Rise Bakery for you; a sanctuary where butter, sugar and flour rise together and are served in the form of lunettes, pain suisse, baguettes and croissants. Your only complication is deciding what to have next coffee or champagne? Sweet or savoury? Life’s hard…
Where: Shop C/ 4 Masthead Way, The Marine Village, Sanctuary Cove

GLUTEN FREE

Sacre Coeur Pâtisserie
If you’re a big flan of baked goods, but your dietaries aren’t typically down with the likes of cakes, croissants, and flaky treats – doughnut worry! Serving a fresh-baked selection of specialty pastries, cakes, pies, coffees and more, Sacre Coeur Patisserie is a plant-based bakehouse that prides itself on a healthier approach to typical Parisian fare with a range of refined sugar-free creations. Think pistachio croissants, peanut butter caramel scrolls and Mint and Matcha New York-style cheesecake! It’s hard to imagine how such scrumptious goodies could be aftermath-free!
Where: 158 Scarborough Street, Southport

Made with Love
It’s not often that vegans and pastries can walk hand in hand, but thanks to this Southport bakery, they can finally be able to make it down the aisle together. Made with Love ( and zero harm) is a god-sent for the plant-based peeps and dietary-restricted alike. On offer are Nutella and custard-laden doughnuts, danishes that will quickly vanish, sausage rolls and ham and cheese croissants (don’t ask questions; just devour and appreciate the outright wizardry).
Where: 19 Alicia Street, Southport

Words by Chelsea Ipsen