Best Family Restaurants in Surfers Paradise

Discover Surfers Paradise's best family restaurants, from teppanyaki theatrics to beachside breakfasts.

There's something about Surfers Paradise that pulls at the nostalgia strings of Aussie families. For generations, the stretch of golden coastline known as Surfers Paradise beach has been the destination for childhood memories – where parents once built sandcastles now watch their own children do the same, the skyline taller but the feeling unchanged.

The Surfers experience has evolved since the days when parents (now in their thirties and forties) were dragged along on family road trips of servo pies, no air conditioning, no iPads. The beachside town has transformed into a glittering metropolis of high-rises that balance touristy kitsch with genuine coastal charm, a family focused roster of events, and some really good tucker. Here's where to feed the family on your next Surfers Paradise adventure. 

Set on Budds Beach, away from the neon-lit main strip, Bumbles Cafe feels like you’re a guest in someone's eclectic living room. The leafy surrounds create an atmosphere where kids can be kids without parents having to compromise on getting a good coffee, and the ricotta hotcakes with honeycomb butter, fresh berries, and maple syrup have been known to create temporary peace treaties between warring siblings.

Kids love: For a special treat, Bumbles also does an adorable High Tea service. Multi-tiered stands arrive bearing house-made scones with jam and cream, delicate finger sandwiches, and petit fours.

Location: Bumbles Cafe, 19 River Drive, Surfers Paradise QLD 

Over at Palm Beach Custard Canteen is bright and airy with plenty of outdoor seating where sandy feet and wet swimmers are welcome. The bacon and egg rolls on house-made milk buns have developed a cult following among locals, and kids get to wander the adjacent grassy area while parents caffeinate in peace.

Kids love: The Portuguese custard tarts here are an entire destination to themselves. Crisp, flaky pastry shells filled with silky vanilla custard, caramelised to perfection on top.

Location: Custard Canteen, 1525 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach QLD 

If you're the type of parent who struggles with the cognitive dissonance of feeding your children doughnuts for breakfast, BSKT (pronounced "biscuit") in Mermaid Beach serves food that's good for you without missing out on flavour. Their Cocowhip is a vegan, fermented coconut soft-serve that somehow convinces children they're having dessert for breakfast while the acai bowls are vibrant and loaded with fresh fruit and house-made granola. The space itself is bright and breezy with a view of the ocean.

Kids love: BSKT's "Naughty Child" breakfast (free-range eggs, bacon, hash browns, and sourdough) proves that they understand the fundamental truth that sometimes kids just want normal food, executed well. 

Location: BSKT, 4 Lavarack Road, Mermaid Beach QLD 

Theme parks are typically gastronomic wastelands where food is an afterthought, but the super fun Jane's Rivertown Restaurant at Dreamworld bucks this tradition. Located in the Dreamworld Corroboree area, Jane's has a huge menu and serves classic Australian fare with genuine attention to the kids' menu.

Kids love: Dining alongside wildly life-like animal robots, including a python, talking parrot, a crocodile, and a cute family of monkeys. The giant, animatronic orangutan is a big hit.

Location: Jane's Rivertown Restaurant, Dreamworld, Coomera QLD 

Sometimes the best family meal is one where children periodically disappear to burn off energy. Southport Sharks members club (visitors welcome) houses multiple dining options alongside the massive supervised play area, Wobbegongs Kids Fun Zone. The bistro serves reliably good pub fare, ranging from a traditional Sunday roast with all the trimmings to a gorgeous seafood platter that shows off the bounty of local waters.

Kids love: Sunday visitors shouldn't miss the free LOL Crew kids show, featuring on-stage games, singing, puppets, and prizes.

Location: Southport Sharks, Corner Olsen and Musgrave Avenue, Southport QLD 

The Southport Yacht Club has been serving families since 1946 and its location on the Broadwater provides spectacular views. The menu features seafood that tastes like it was swimming that morning, allowing the quality of the ingredients to speak for itself. Their "Sailors" kids' menu avoids the typical frozen offerings, instead serving smaller portions of actual adult food like grilled fish, quality pasta, and proper mini steaks.

Kids love: On Saturdays at 8:30am or 12pm, children aged 7 to 17 can join in the FreeSail adventure program, an awesome one-hour introduction to sailing.

Location: The Southport Yacht Club, 1 MacArthur Parade, Main Beach QLD 

Koo Koo Teppanyaki flips the regular drama of eating out with kids by making the meal itself the performance. Here, chefs wield razor-sharp knives and spatulas with the dexterity of circus performers, flipping eggs into their hats and creating onion volcanoes that erupt in flames. The fried rice, made before your eyes, captures that perfect wok hei flavour that no home cook can quite replicate. Various proteins, from tender beef and chicken to fresh seafood, are cooked to order and served with house-made sauces that elevate the experience beyond the regular hibachi chain.

Kids love: Children are totally transfixed by the culinary pyrotechnics, and the special kids meal includes chicken, salad, rice, spring rolls, and veggies.

Location: Koo Koo Teppanyaki, 3120 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise QLD

Again the main draw here is the interactivity of the restaurant: there's something really satisfying about watching meat carved directly onto your plate, a spectacle Brazilian Flame Bar and Grill has turned into an art form. The concept is brilliantly simple: servers circulate with massive skewers of various meats, from perfectly medium-rare picanha (rump cap) to linguiça (Brazilian sausage). A two-sided card at each place setting: green for "bring me meat" and red for "mercy, please". They’re also one of the best buffet restaurants in Surfers Paradise, with fresh salads, black beans, and Brazilian cheese bread that's dangerously yummy.

Kids love: More adventurous families can sample kangaroo and crocodile, offering a taste of Australia's unique proteins. 

Location: Brazilian Flame Bar and Grill, Soul Boardwalk, 4 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise QLD

Miami Marketta is a great antidote to the constant negotiation of agreeing where to eat and what. The vibrant food hall houses multiple vendors under one roof, creating a choose-your-own-adventure dining experience where everyone gets exactly what they want. Long communal tables encourage conversation, while live music on select nights provides a fun ambiance.

Locals love: Food offerings span the globe, from authentic wood-fired pizzas and Spanish paella to Vietnamese banh mi and Middle Eastern shawarma. Dessert options are equally diverse, with gelato, churros, and artisanal doughnuts.

Location: Miami Marketta | 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami QLD 

Location is everything when travelling with children, specifically when it relates to proximity to food. Novotel Surfers Paradise places families within walking distance of the beach, restaurants, and attractions. The rooms are spacious, with configurations that work for various family sizes. The real draw is their breakfast buffet, where kids under 16 eat free when sharing a family room with their parents. This isn't a disappointing continental spread of dry pastries and mealy apples, but a proper morning feast with cook-to-order egg stations, fresh tropical fruit, and proper barista coffee.

Kids love: The resort style pool becomes command central for families, offering enough space that children can expend energy without totally taking over.

Location: Novotel Surfers Paradise, Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise QLD

Whether you're starting the day with Portuguese tarts, watching crocodile meat carved tableside, or letting the kids work up an appetite in the pool, Surfers Paradise gives families meals that respect both the practical realities of eating with children and anyone with working tastebuds.