Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach sit right next to each other on the Gold Coast, and both have quietly built up a genuinely good cafe scene worth exploring for a plant-based brunch.
This guide covers where to go for a relaxed, vegan-friendly morning in this part of the coast.
It is an easy pairing, too — close enough together to wander between on foot, with the beach never far from wherever you end up sitting down.
Getting the timing right
Weekend mornings in this part of the coast can get genuinely busy, especially at the more popular spots, so a little timing goes a long way.
An early start, or a weekday visit if your schedule allows, tends to mean shorter waits and a more relaxed pace — part of the appeal of brunch here in the first place.
Why this stretch of coast suits a slow brunch
Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach share a relaxed, slightly more grown-up energy than the buzz of Surfers Paradise just up the road.
That makes them a genuinely pleasant pairing for a lazy weekend brunch — good coffee, a wander along the beach, and cafes that do not rush you out the door.
A brief note on the two suburbs
Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach blend into each other along the Gold Coast Highway, but each has a slightly different character worth knowing.
Broadbeach leans a little more polished, with the casino precinct and Kurrawa Park nearby, while Mermaid Beach keeps a quieter, more residential, village-like feel — both make for a pleasant morning, just with a slightly different atmosphere.
The Milkman’s Daughter
The Milkman’s Daughter in Mermaid Beach is a genuine standout — a vegetarian and vegan cafe known for top-notch coffee and a seriously lush fit-out.
The all-day menu leans into nourishing, thoughtfully built dishes, including a pesto scramble with cashew and basil, and vanilla turmeric custard pancakes with whipped lemon ricotta. It is open Wednesday to Sunday, 7:30am to 2pm.
Little Mermaid
Little Mermaid feels like a local hangout that has grown up alongside the suburb itself, parked on the corner of Sunbrite Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway.
The menu leans almost entirely vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free, with a sweep of fresh, vibrant dishes that suit a relaxed morning perfectly.
BSKT Café
BSKT Café, near Nobby Beach on the Mermaid Beach fringe, brings a wholefoods menu with a Mexican-influenced twist to the classic cafe format.
Options range from vegan huevos rancheros to Cocowhip-piled bowls, depending on what you are craving — a good example of how varied plant-based brunch has become on this stretch of coast.
What to order
A few dishes are worth prioritising across these cafes, regardless of which one you end up at.
- A pesto scramble or tofu scramble, for a savoury, protein-rich start.
- A smoothie bowl or nourish bowl, for something lighter and colourful.
- A proper coffee with your plant milk of choice — all three venues take this seriously.
- Something sweet to finish, if the menu allows — a good vegan brunch spot rarely skimps here.
Comparing your options
Each venue brings something a little different to a brunch outing — here is a rough guide to help you choose.
| Venue | Vibe | Best for | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Milkman’s Daughter | Lush, considered, coffee-focused | A proper sit-down brunch | Wed–Sun, 7:30am–2pm |
| Little Mermaid | Casual, local, relaxed | A laid-back everyday brunch | Check current hours |
| BSKT Café | Wholefoods, Mexican-leaning | Something a little different | Check current hours |
Making a morning of it
Given how close together these venues sit, it is easy to build a proper morning around them — a coffee at one spot, a walk along the beach, then brunch somewhere else entirely.
Weekday mornings tend to be quieter than weekends, worth keeping in mind if you would rather avoid a wait at any of the more popular spots.
Worth the drive north, too
If your exploring takes you further along the coast, The Cardamom Pod in Southport offers a different kind of plant-based brunch experience — a fully vegan menu inspired by Indian culinary traditions.
Browse our full plant-based menu, or see our guide to vegan-friendly dining across the whole Gold Coast for more suburb-by-suburb detail. For more on the area, Destination Gold Coast is a useful resource.
A relaxed way to start the day
Whichever spot you choose, brunch in Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach is really about the pace as much as the food — good coffee, a view of the ocean, and no reason to rush.
It is one of the more pleasant ways to spend a Gold Coast morning, plant-based or not.
Take your time, order a second coffee, and let the morning unfold at its own pace.
That, more than any single dish, is what makes brunch here genuinely worth coming back for.
See you at the next table over.
Parking and getting around
Both suburbs are reasonably walkable once you arrive, though parking can get tight around peak brunch hours, particularly on weekends.
Arriving a little earlier, or using rideshare for a busier Saturday morning, tends to make the whole outing considerably less stressful.
Either way, once you have found a park, everything worth seeing is within easy reach on foot.
A slow stroll between cafes is, honestly, half the fun of a morning here.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get vegan brunch in Mermaid Beach?
The Milkman’s Daughter, Little Mermaid and BSKT Café all serve genuinely good vegan and vegetarian brunch options in Mermaid Beach.
What is The Milkman’s Daughter known for?
A vegetarian and vegan cafe known for top-notch coffee and a lush fit-out, with dishes like a pesto scramble with cashew and basil, and vanilla turmeric custard pancakes.
Is Broadbeach good for vegan brunch too?
Broadbeach has a growing range of cafes with genuine plant-based options, making it an easy pairing with a Mermaid Beach brunch crawl given how close the two suburbs sit together.
What should I order at a plant-forward Mermaid Beach cafe?
Look for dishes built around fresh, wholefood ingredients — smoothie bowls, vegan scrambles and nourish bowls tend to be a strong indicator of a kitchen that takes plant-based seriously.
Does The Cardamom Pod have a Broadbeach or Mermaid Beach location?
No — The Cardamom Pod is located in Southport, at The Brickworks. It is a straightforward drive north from Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach.
Keep exploring
For more, read our guides to the best vegan breakfast on the Gold Coast, where to brunch in Southport, and the best vegan eats in Burleigh Heads.
