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Best New Restaurants on the Gold Coast (2026)
The Gold Coast dining scene has grown up, and we’re here to try it all. These are the best new restaurants on the Gold Coast to explore.
The best new restaurants on the Gold Coast right now are Valentina in Surfers Paradise, a waterfront Mediterranean dining room with an all-female kitchen, SHŌTŌ in Burleigh Heads, a yakitori and handroll spot from the Etsu Izakaya team, and La Stradina, Coolangatta’s Italian aperitivo bar. Here, our Brisbane editor covers the openings that have earned the Sitchu seal of approval.
The Best New Restaurants Gold Coast: July 2026
Valentina
Settle in for an afternoon of share plates at Surfers Paradise’s newest spot. Tuck into focaccia and oysters, sent to you straight from the all-female kitchen team, before diving into handmade pastas, fresh fish topped with puttanesca and Byron Bay tuna crudo.
The scene is set by the open-air dining room, decked out with terracotta walks and ceramic finishes, and completed with 180-degree views of the ocean.
Suburb: Surfers Paradise
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Best For: Date night, Outdoor dining, Waterfront, Long lunch
The Best New Gold Coast Restaurants: May 2026
SHŌTŌ
Dedicated to yakitori and handrolls, SHŌTŌ is the latest drop from the team over at Etsu Izakaya. Ideal for an evening of elevated snacks, starting with the likes of wagyu tartare and oysters, before grazing your way through sashimi and handrolls. Save a little space for robata King prawns and Australian Bay lobsters skewers.
Suburb: Burleigh Heads
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Japanese
Best For: Date night, Quick bite, Solo dining
The Best New Gold Coast Restaurants: February 2026
La Stradina
When you’re craving a slice of Euro summer, pop over to Griffith Street and take a seat at Coolangatta’s newest local, La Stradina. A sunset-hued palette sets the scene for bright, fresh cocktails, vinyl, share plates and an Australian-leaning wine list.
Stay for a couple of grilled bug skewers and an apertif or go the whole hog and settle in for bowls of house-made rigatoni, watermelon and feta salad and a glass of chianti.
Suburb: Coolangatta
Price Guide: $$
Cuisine: Italian
Best For: Date night, Late night, Weekend plans, Wine lovers
FAQs About the Best New Gold Coast Restaurants
The best new restaurants on the Gold Coast include Valentina, a waterfront Mediterranean restaurant in Surfers Paradise; SHŌTŌ, a modern Japanese yakitori and handroll spot in Burleigh Heads; and La Stradina, an Italian-inspired aperitivo bar on Griffith Street in Coolangatta. Each opening brings something distinct to the coast — from Valentina’s handmade pastas and 180-degree ocean views to SHŌTŌ’s robata-grilled skewers and La Stradina’s Euro-summer cocktails and share plates. All three have earned the Sitchu seal of approval.
Valentina in Surfers Paradise is the Gold Coast’s newest waterfront dining destination, offering 180-degree ocean views from its open-air dining room finished with terracotta walls and ceramic details. The menu, delivered by an all-female kitchen team, spans focaccia, oysters, handmade pastas, Byron Bay tuna crudo and fresh fish topped with puttanesca. Sitting in the mid-range price bracket, it’s best suited to date nights, long lunches and outdoor dining — ideal for anyone wanting Mediterranean share plates with a sea breeze.
SHŌTŌ is a modern Japanese restaurant in Burleigh Heads dedicated to yakitori and handrolls, opened by the team behind Etsu Izakaya. The menu is built for grazing: start with wagyu tartare and oysters, move through sashimi and handrolls, then finish with robata-grilled King prawns and Australian Bay lobster skewers. With a mid-range price guide, SHŌTŌ works equally well for date night, a quick bite or solo dining, making it one of the most versatile new openings on the Gold Coast.
Valentina in Surfers Paradise and SHŌTŌ in Burleigh Heads are the standout new date night restaurants on the Gold Coast. Valentina offers a romantic open-air setting with 180-degree ocean views and Mediterranean share plates, while SHŌTŌ delivers an intimate evening of elevated Japanese snacks, from wagyu tartare to robata-grilled seafood skewers. For pre- or post-dinner drinks, La Stradina in Coolangatta rounds out the evening with fresh cocktails and an Australian-leaning wine list in a vibrant, sunset-toned setting.
If your dinner plans are sorted now, thanks to our edit of the best new restaurants on the Gold Coast, lock in date night drinks next! Here are the newest bar openings on the GC. Making plans for the morning? These are the best beaches to hit when the sun rises.
