A Healthy Food Lover’s Guide to the Gold Coast
The Gold Coast is not all flash and touristy, there is a vibrant natural, new age community to be discovered.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the emerging health food scene. While we normally do a lot of self-catering on holidays, I also like to sample the local fare. I had done my research and had a few places on my hit list. They did not disappoint.
Here are my top 5 foodie spots on the Gold Coast where you can be assured of a healthy meal.
Madame Tojo’s Coffee Palace
The Naughty Naturopath Mum and I had morning tea at this eclectic little cafe in Chirn Park. I had a delectable gluten-free nectarine cake and a huge pot of chai. Alisha had a vegan, salted caramel and walnut tart and a green smoothie. That little scoop of ice-cream and choccy shards was a nice luxurious treat!
The food is amazing, the vibe is funky and the service friendly. They didn’t even mind too much that we were so busy chatting we forgot to pay! Don’t worry, we went back later and settled up.
eclectic vibe
fabulous food
If you go: Madame Tojos ♥ 23 Musgrave Ave Chirnpark ♥ 07 5532 2874 ♥ website ♥ facebook
Mandala Organic Arts Cafe
The next stop on our girl’s day out was Mandalas! Many of you had suggested this one to me and Alisha and I caught up with the beautiful Kirri from Kirri White Coaching. This place is just so cool – it has a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
The food is organic, vegan and/or raw. They even have a probiotic bar where the kombucha is on tap. Now, that is something you don’t see everyday! We sat outside in the permaculture garden, surrounded by lavender and herbs.
The food was beautiful and made fresh to order. I had a raw, vegan pizza, salad and a green-grape kombucha. Alisha had vegan bean nachos and a strawberry kombucha and Kirri had coconut icecream and a coconut !
happy day
funky vibe
If you go: Mandala ♥ 4/2558 Gold Coast Hwy Mermaid Beach ♥ 07 5679 1762 ♥ website ♥ facebook
The Cardamom Pod
This place was so great, I went twice! The decor is funky and electic, the service friendly and the food is gourmet vegetarian. All meals are in a hot or cold buffet and you just choose which combination you would like.
The Natural New Age Dad and I had a lunch date where we feasted on tofu rice paper rolls and salads. We had a big pot of chai (they even make it the real way and brew it on the stove) and a raw, apricot power ball for afters.
Later on in the week, I met up with Vanessa from Superfood for Kidz for dinner with our kids. We had vegetable curries and rice, salads, koftas, spinach and ricotta filos and samosas. I couldn’t fit in dessert, but took home a slice of raw, vegan pumpkin pie for the next day. The kids loved their sago puddings and raw chocolate mousse. Yum.
fresh, vibrant, vegetarian food
funky decor
If you go: The Cardamom Pod ♥ 1/2685 Gold Coast Highway Broadbeach ♥ 0452 218 108 ♥ website ♥ facebook
Giri Kana Cafe
In the quieter suburb of Southport, you will find this cute little cafe. The food is organic, raw, gluten-free vegetarian or vegan. We met up with friends for a spot of afternoon tea.
I simply had to try the raw, passionfruit cheesecake (I did share) with my pot of chai. The rest of them had chocolate honey cake, carrot cake buttons and vege burgers. It was all delicious and freshly made on the premises. The atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly and was full of locals enjoying the atmosphere.
luscious raw passionfruit cheesecake
funky and modern
If you go: Giri Kana Cafe ♥ Gold Coast Hwy, Southport ♥ 07 5591 3555 ♥ website ♥ facebook
Govinda’s
A cheap, healthy meal in the heart of Surfer’s Paradise? Yes it is possible! The Natural New Age Dad and I enjoyed a ‘monk’s bowl’ at $7 a piece. The monk’s bowl is your choice of curry and your choice of brown or white rice, topped with a kofta and spicy tomato relish from a hot buffet. The curry was delicious – maybe a bit heavy on the potato for me, but delicious all the same. We were so full, we couldn’t sample the raw desserts, but they looked so good.
I love the fact that these restaurants are a charity organization and every meal you buy helps out someone in need. The vibe is super friendly and relaxed. The atmosphere is not as great as I would have liked as it is in a corner of a shopping centre, but the food and value for money would make us return!
monk’s bowl
cheap and cheerful
If you go: Govindas ♥ 3120 Surfers Paradise Boulevard Surfers Paradise ♥ 07 5538 3788 ♥ website ♥ facebook
They are my top five picks for healthy food on the Gold Coast! Did you notice they were all vegetarian? I didn’t miss the meat, they were fabulous!
Do you have any other places you like to visit on the Gold Coast for healthy food?
I am a bit crazy like a coconut about dem coconuts! All your wonderful pics and write ups are willing me to go on a little food tour of my own x
You should! Such wonderful food by such great people. Lots of love in that food. x
The Goldie is only an hours drive for me so I am loving this list Sonia! Much appreciated.
oh but you live in healthy food paradise!
Oh my, I’m re-living my food that day and looking forward to going to the rest of the places on that list. Beautiful post Sonia – so well put together x
thanks honey… it was the most fabulous day I have had in ages!
From Earth and Water!!
The top of James St, around the corner, in Burleigh.
Raw food kitchen, the food is DEVINE!
Makes my mouth water just thinking of the lavender almonds or the tacos, and the
Snickers desert is a must……… mmmmmmmmmmmmm……..
And how about the Magic Apple along the Gold Coast Highway in Burleigh.
Good to know Lea ! I saw those, but didn’t have time to stop and eat! Next time!
Awesome post Sonia so beautifully put together. All my favourite places to eat in one post. You should write book of touring great places to eat – next time you will have to come for longer do we can explore more places and more catch ups
What a fab idea hey? I wonder if someone would pay me to travel around Australia and eat and write about it??? That would be my ideal job!! xx
That all looks amazing Sonia!
thanks Wendy… I had fun eating my way around the Goldie!
We loved the Cardomom Pod too! And Govindas…we used to go there in Sydney when we were young and poor! You got dinner and a movie for twenty bucks in the Cross…it was a bit dodgy in the movie room though, lol!
They are fab – I used to go to one when I lived in Perth when I was young and poor too!!
Ooooohh I’ve been meaning to check out Mandala for ages, I’ve heard such great reports. It’s an hour and a half from here but looks soooo worth it. And since Conscious Cafe in Byron closed I’ve got a hole in my life that needs filling… I think a day trip is in order! xo
Jules – you will not be disappointed – it is amazing !! Come on a Sunday and check out all the great markets around the place too! 🙂
Wish I was there!
Have you been for a holiday? Perhaps a trip to QLD to visit us is in order?
Love this. You found so many fantastic places! Now to plan that trip….
thanks Bianca! The Gold Coast is a great place for a holiday… the hinterland is wonderful too and lots of great markets!
Oooooh LOVE Govinda’s! The food is so deliciously tasty!!! You have definitely inspired me to head for the Goldie again soon! Actually, maybe tomorrow!! Wonder if they are open on Anzac Day??? Just discovered your site, what a treasure trove. Thanks for the great work!
Hi Leanne – thanks for the kind words! Check out their webpage or facebook page, they might have it listed somewhere!
Last month i was in Gold Coast for a business trip and have done the breakfast in Madam Tojo Coffee Palace. This is really a great coffee palace and breakfast is best ever. If i go again in Gold coast then i will also go here.
It is super funky!! I love it 🙂
Don’t forget Govinda’s in James St Burleigh Heads. This is my absolute fav. Most of the Vege is organically grown on their farm in Murwillumbah. Meals are $7-$13.
Hello, I’ll be staying at the circle on cavil in surfers paradise for two weeks at the end of feb, is there any raw/organic cafe’s walking distance that you may know of? Or somewhere they might make green juice/smoothies ??
Thank you x
Hi Belinda – I just was in this area over Xmas. I did not see a juice bar as such right in Surfers but I could have easily missed it!
Hi! I just arrived to Gold Coast and I planed to stay for two years! Thanks for this list, but I was trying to found some healthy/vegan/ organic store, where to buy, vegan mayo, vegan cheese, nutritional yeast, because I lived in Canada and there the supermarkets have a vegan section but here I can’t find anything! Please help!!! Thank you !!
Hi Ignacio, You will find Wray Organics supermarket will have these items. 🙂
For 3 years I’ve kept this in my reading list. Finally coming back to the Gold Coast on holidays with the kids. Can’t wait to check out some of these places mandala sounds good. Our kids LOVE kombucha
Oh that’s awesome Kareen!! I wrote it quite a few years ago now – I will have to update it as there are some more cool places now. I visited Mandala again this month and it’s still yummy!!