If you love good food, The Brickworks is one of Southport’s most rewarding places to spend a morning. This open-air precinct on Ferry Road blends a gourmet fresh-food market with cafes, eateries and lifestyle stores — so you can eat, shop and linger all in one spot.
Here’s a local guide to dining at The Brickworks: where to eat, the best plant-based options, and everything you need to plan your visit.
What is The Brickworks?
The Brickworks is a single-level lifestyle and gourmet food destination on Ferry Road, Southport, sitting between Southport and Burleigh Heads and just a few minutes from Surfers Paradise.
At just over 15,000sqm, it’s anchored by a fresh-food market and home to around 50 specialty stores — fresh produce, eateries, homewares, furniture and boutique retail. It’s equal parts weekly grocery run and weekend day out.
Unlike a typical shopping centre, The Brickworks leans into a relaxed, open-air feel. Timber, greenery and natural light make it the sort of place you slow down in — which is exactly why it’s become such a well-loved spot for coffee and a leisurely meal.
Where to eat at The Brickworks
From a quick coffee to a long, lazy brunch, the precinct covers every kind of craving. Here’s how the main eateries compare.
| Eatery | Cuisine | Best for | Plant-based? | Approx. per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Cardamom Pod | Vegetarian & vegan | Plant-based breakfast, brunch & lunch | Fully plant-based kitchen | $15–25 |
| Salt Cafe Bar | Modern Australian | All-day dining, open-air seating | Some options | $18–35 |
| Pearl & Ash | Cafe & gourmet | Coffee, desserts and brunch plates | Some options | $18–30 |
| Quench Juice Bar | Juices & smoothies | Fresh juice and healthy grab-and-go | Plant-friendly | $8–16 |
| Le Bon Choix | Bakery & patisserie | Pastries, artisan bread and coffee | Some options | $6–18 |
For fully plant-based food, The Cardamom Pod is the standout — and it’s a genuine Gold Coast institution for vegetarian and vegan dining.
The Cardamom Pod: plant-based dining at The Brickworks
Tucked into the precinct on Brolga Avenue, The Cardamom Pod has been serving clean, colourful, plant-powered food since 2016.
The menu spans vibrant acai bowls, viral pancakes, savoury plates and hearty lunch dishes — all made in a fully plant-based kitchen, with a cow-milk option for your coffee if you prefer. It’s an easy, feel-good stop whether you’re here for breakfast or a mid-shop refuel.
The cafe also carries a genuine sense of purpose. Everything is cooked in the spirit of prasadam — the Indian tradition of preparing food as an offering of love — which is part of why it has earned such a loyal following over the years. It’s a small, feel-good ritual in the middle of a busy shopping precinct.
Browse the full plant-based menu at The Cardamom Pod, take a look through our vegan food gallery, or find us and book a table at The Brickworks in Southport. Treating someone? A Cardamom Pod gift voucher is always a good idea.
Beyond food: markets and gourmet shopping
Part of what makes The Brickworks special is everything around the eateries. The Ferry Road Market is the beating heart of the precinct, with a popular deli, bakery and fresh produce under one roof.
- Fresh-food market — deli, bakery and seasonal produce for the weekly shop.
- Boutique wine & craft beer — independent labels and local brews.
- Homewares & furniture — design and interiors inspiration.
- Coffee & grab-and-go — for the days you’re just passing through.
It’s the kind of place where a quick coffee turns into a morning of browsing — grab pastries from the bakery, a plant-based bowl for lunch, and a bottle of something local on the way out.
What makes The Brickworks worth the trip
Plenty of Gold Coast suburbs have a good cafe or two. What sets The Brickworks apart is the way everything sits together — you can eat well, do the weekly shop and pick up something special for the home without moving your car.
It’s become a genuine community hub for Southport locals, and an easy detour for anyone travelling between Surfers Paradise and Burleigh. Foodies come for the market and the coffee; families come for the relaxed, open-air feel; and plant-based diners come for one of the best vegetarian kitchens on the coast.
Visiting The Brickworks, Ferry Road
- Location: Ferry Road, Southport QLD 4215 — around 5km from Surfers Paradise.
- Parking: on-site parking makes it easy to visit for a meal or a full grocery shop.
- Best time to go: mornings are relaxed; weekends are livelier from mid-morning.
- Plant-based hours: The Cardamom Pod is open 8am–3pm, 7 days (kitchen closes 2:30pm).
You can see the full list of tenants and current eateries on the official Brickworks Ferry Rd food & drink directory before you visit.
The perfect Brickworks morning
If you’re visiting for the first time, here’s an easy plan. Start with a plant-based breakfast and coffee at The Cardamom Pod, then wander the Ferry Road Market while the precinct is still quiet.
Pick up fresh produce and a loaf from the bakery, browse the homewares stores, and grab a cold-pressed juice for the road. It’s a genuinely feel-good morning — good food, good coffee and everything you need in one relaxed, walkable spot.
Frequently asked questions
Where is The Brickworks in Southport?
The Brickworks is a lifestyle and gourmet food precinct on Ferry Road in Southport, on the Gold Coast, roughly 5km from Surfers Paradise. It brings together fresh-food markets, cafes, eateries and homewares stores in one open-air centre.
What food is available at The Brickworks?
The Brickworks offers everything from a fresh-food market and deli to bakeries, coffee, juice bars and sit-down cafes. Plant-based diners are well catered for at The Cardamom Pod, a fully plant-based kitchen within the precinct.
Is there a vegan cafe at The Brickworks?
Yes. The Cardamom Pod is a long-running plant-based cafe at The Brickworks, serving vegan and vegetarian breakfast, brunch and lunch, plus plant-milk coffee, seven days a week from 8am to 3pm.
Is there parking at The Brickworks Ferry Road?
Yes, The Brickworks has on-site parking, making it easy to visit for a coffee, a meal or a gourmet grocery shop.
What are The Cardamom Pod’s opening hours at The Brickworks?
The Cardamom Pod is open 8:00am to 3:00pm, seven days a week, with the kitchen closing at 2:30pm. You can book a table by phone or text.
Keep exploring Southport
Planning your food day out? Read our guides to the best vegan breakfast on the Gold Coast and where to brunch in Southport for more plant-based inspiration.