Tamborine Mountain’s misty scenery, lush rainforests, and picturesque waterfalls are just the beginning of what this gorgeous country town offers. Nestled within the Scenic Rim’s pristine hinterland, it’s a gourmet wonderland of breakfast nooks, coffee hotspots, top-notch restaurants, and after-dark eateries.
Whether it’s a leisurely meander through the snaking streets or a full-blown culinary experience perched high in the hills, Tamborine Mountain dishes out a smorgasbord of culinary favourites that includes local produce, tasting trails, and artisan chefs. These are the best restaurants and cafes on Tamborine Mountain to elevate your next hinterland trip in 2025.
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Best Tamborine Mountain Cafes
Best Tamborine Mountain Restaurants
Tamborine Mountain Cafes
Franquette Bakery
157 Long Road, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
‘Franquette’ translates to ‘without any fuss’—and this quaint Tamborine bakery and cafe doesn’t disappoint. The brainchild of Jérôme Favier, the France-born artisan baker previously of Burleigh Bakery, Franquette slings up a no-frills selection of gourmet breads, flaky pastries, and loaded deli-style sandwiches.
The star of the show? The French onion toastie, a soul-nourishing melange of caramelised onion, Gruyère cheese, and chives that hits like a warm hug. To Franquette and its many delights, we say “oui oui”.
Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation
64 Alpine Terrace, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Image Credit: Tamborine Mt Coffee Plantation | Instagram
Catching rays in the crisp Mountain air is hard to beat. Add a piping hot brew at Tamborine Mountain Coffee Plantation, and it’s near impossible. With an on-site roastery (available for tours) and house-made delicacies featuring locally sourced produce on the pass, the Coffee Plantation is the perfect pitstop for both brunch and lunch.
The menu includes everything from the much-loved brekkie quesadilla to our personal favourite, a Japanese rice bowl loaded with karaage chicken, edamame, wakame, and okonomiyaki. Prefer an evening feed? Head in from 3pm on Friday or Saturday for a ‘Plantation After Dark’ experience—takeaway pizzas and burgers that include the hefty ‘Juicy Boi’, a two-patty monster that might send you into a food coma.
Wild Plum Kitchen
140 Long Road, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Bundling up the pooch for a day at Tamborine Mountain? Head straight to Wild Plum Kitchen. This doggo-friendly hotspot plates up some of the best cakes, salads, and health foods in the area. Wild Plum is a family-run cafe that locals say is one of the best on the Mountain—and it’s conveniently located in Gallery Walk, Tamborine’s famous strip of artisan stores and eateries.
Drop in for some early-morning French toast or pop in later for wholesome options like the halloumi burger or house-made pies. And, yes, there are more than a few cheeky desserts hiding in the cabinet—we promise we won’t judge if you top off your ‘healthy’ brunch with a slice or two of berry cheesecake.
Picnic Real Food Bar
46 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Image Credit: Picnic Real Food Bar | Instagram
Trick yourself into thinking you really do have a home among the gum trees with a late breakfast or long lunch at Picnic Real Food Bar. Cuddled up inside North Stores, a sustainably designed retail precinct, Picnic is bordered by a handful of boutique stores like pottery workshop Potta Studio. Its drinks menu includes cold-pressed juices, a selection of natural Australian wine, craft beer, Witches Falls cider, organic kombucha, and velvety coffee from micro-roastery Reuben Hills.
Taste your way around seasonal produce like salads and house-baked pastries or take your chosen dishes away in a picnic box ready for a waterfall adventure. We recommend the charcuterie board, an oversized selection of cured meats, cheeses, house-pickled vegetables and relishes, olives, sourdough, and fresh fruit.
Spice of Life Cafe & Deli
28 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Spice of Life is a Tamborine institution. We know, we know—‘institution’ is an overused word, but this iconic cafe has been supplying Tambo locals with caffeine since 2005. Housed in a vintage two-storey building (think warm timber interiors and a grey weatherboard façade), it’s equally popular with tourists, slinging up everything from cafe classics to local jams and novelty gifts.
Pull up a seat inside or at one of the many al fresco tables and check out the menu. Expect a solid selection of gluten-free and veggie offerings—chilli scramble with chorizo, creamy quinoa porridge—leavened with hearty dishes like the pulled pork Mexican bowl and Reuben sandwich on rye. Finish off your visit with a Black Forest tort (yes, it’s authentically German) and an espresso on Chiasso beans.
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Tamborine Diner
12 Main Western Road, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
This one’s for fans of the 50s, American-style—Elvis and Harleys and burgers so big you’ll have trouble picking them up. Oh, and cheese. Lots of cheese. Tamborine Diner nails the ‘classic diner’ vibe right down to the classic tunes and red-and-white booths, and that alone makes it worth a visit.
The menu does feature its fair share of veggie offerings, but, if we’re being honest, you don’t come here to eat clean. Leave restraint at the door and dive face-first into dishes like the Yankeeeee Filthy Burger, the Elvis Dog (foot-long, stuffed to the brim, and served in a bed of chips), or some truly intimidating loaded fries. You could add some caffeine to the mix … but you’ve come this far, so you may as well go all in with a chonk-sized ‘Dinashake’ (exactly what it sounds like).
Tamborine is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For health reasons, limit yourself to one visit a day—the risk of rolling back down the Mountain is real.
Elevation Cafe
20 Main Western Road, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Previously based beside IGA Mount Tamborine, Elevation Cafe’s new home between Tamborine Diner and El Burro Cantina has a delightful ‘hidden nook ambience’. With a dining space split between the sidewalk, the main bar, and a plant-draped courtyard bathed in soft daylight, this is one good-looking cafe.
Of course, you don’t just come here for the vibes. Expect a traditional cafe menu, elevated by seasonal ingredients and seriously decent portion sizes. (Sorry. Sorry. We couldn’t help ourselves.) If you’re in the mood for a particularly good feed, go the steak burger plus a coffee brewed on Toby’s Estate beans.
NaMoo Cafe
157 Long Road, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Huddled next to Franquette is NaMoo, a Korean fusion eatery that adds a little heat to Tamborine’s dining scene. Yes, there are the usual cafe suspects—bacon and eggs, nachos, BLTs—but owner Young Nam and his wife also plate up Korean-influenced dishes like K-style spicy fried chicken and the wildly popular Korean beef burger. (Keep an eye out for the lunch specials too.)
Feel like something lighter? Combine a house-made scone or two with an espresso and a wander along Gallery Walk or drive to nearby Witherby Crescent. Even great food tastes better with 180-degree views of the Gold Coast.
Tree House Cafe & Bar
142 Long Rd, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Head just past the roundabout at the end of Gallery Walk and you’ll find yourself outside Tree House, a sprawling orange cafe that’s half-hidden among the trees. And, trust us, that’s a blessing if you’re visiting Gallery Walk on the weekends. Step away from the crowds, perch yourself on the verandah, and settle in for some all-day breakfast.
Speaking of breakfast: the menu here is impressively broad, ranging from poached eggs with Russian sauce to Buddha bowls and lamb burgers with apple and blue cheese. If you don’t mind a cheeky hit of gluten, grab either the Reuben or Cajun chicken toastie—both go down well with a crisp Tamborine morning and a cup of bean juice.
Tamborine Mountain Restaurants
Pethers Rainforest Retreat
28B Geissmann St, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Image Credit: Pethers Rainforest Retreat | Instagram
Our top pick for fine dining on Tamborine Mountain goes to a once-hidden gem—but hidden no more. The refreshed Pethers restaurant is headed up by talented head chef Alex Fee and to say it's exceptional is an understatement. The lean, eight-dish menu is focused on hyper-local produce, constantly evolving to showcase fresh seasonal ingredients.
Current standout dishes include the treacle-cured salmon—an exquisitely plated entrée that balances ginger gel with radish and pickled beetroot—and the grilled eye fillet, which might just be one of the best cold-weather dishes on the Mountain. Oh, and the panna cotta, made with house-harvested avocados, is simply sublime.
With an intimate 11 tables inside the restaurant, the culinary team are able to craft a personalised dining experience for each diner, with alternative options available for those with dietary requirements (with notice given). And the pricing, you ask? The exquisite three-course menu will set you back just $89 per person. What are you waiting for? Book here.
Main St. Provedore
11 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Image Credit: Main St. Provedore | Instagram
Fine dining is done differently on Tamborine Mountain. And with Main St. Provedore’s intimate locale, immaculate evening dishes, and impressive wine selection, you’d be forgiven for forgetting that, by day, the crew transform the lot into a pastry and espresso bar.
Led by Head Chef Brenden Schutz, Main St. dishes up a tailored experience throughout Friday and Saturday evenings with five-course dinner events for up to 16 people. Alternatively, head in from 8am Tuesday to Saturday for quality coffee, house-baked breads, and Euro-style sandwiches. It’s official: Main St. Provedore is, hands down, the best restaurant on Tamborine for day-meets-night culinary affairs. Keep an eye on their website for their regular gourmet events.
El Burro Cantina
20 Main Western Road, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Got the kind of craving that only a gluten-free Mexican fiesta can satisfy? We know just the place. The perfect pit stop after a hike to Curtis Falls, El Burro Cantina is the authentic Mexican restaurant of your Tamborine Mountain-loving dreams and it's also conveniently 100% gluten-free. Gobble up favourites like jalapeño poppers and hot sauce-dunked wings or build your own tacos.
The mains are the Mexican staples you’d expect—think sizzling fajitas, chilli con carne accompanied by a sprawl of chips and guacamole, and some of the most impressive nachos we’ve ever seen. (Seriously: come with an empty belly. These things are big.) El Burro is Tamborine’s best Mexican restaurant—and maybe one of the Gold Coast’s too. Bonus points: try one of six homemade hot sauces, ranging from mild to ‘yikes, my tongue!’.
Trattoria MKIII
15 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Trattoria MKIII is Tamborine’s answer to authentic Italian. Located on Main Street, it’s lined with dimly lit booths built for aperitivi, antipasti, and long boozy dinners. Pair pasta and pizza with Italian wines or sip-worthy cocktails at this industrial chic Italian-American trattoria and bar.
Taste your way around crispy arancini, buttery house-made gnocchi, and more fresh pasta dishes than you could poke a loaf of garlic bread at. While you’re at it, check out dessert specials like pistachio and rosewater panna cotta with Turkish delight ice cream. Two, thanks. And that's not all—Trattoria MKIII is also open from 7am, seven days a week for all your top-tier espresso needs.
Mana Souvlaki
11 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Between Main St. Provedore and Tamborine Mountain Pizza (the takeaway-only sibling to Trattoria MKIII), newcomer Mana Souvlaki has set up shop. This laidback Hellenic restaurant evokes the sun-soaked beaches and balmy breezes of coastal Greece with a traditional aesthetic that includes some pretty gorgeous murals.
Speaking of traditional: if you’re a souvlaki fiend, this is the place to get your mitts around a chip-stuffed, tzatziki-smothered pita. Fillings include chicken, halloumi, prawn—and, of course, grass-fed lamb. Add on meze and glika (desserts) for a full-fledged meal, or tuck into heavyweight dishes like kalamaki, octopodi, and lamb cutlets grilled Cyprus-style. Tamborine’s mists and mountain nights might not seem like the natural home for Hellenic cuisine, but, trust us, Mana Souvlaki is worth your time.
Fox & Hounds Country Inn
7 Elevation Drive, Wongawallan QLD 4210
Get whisked away to an authentic English pub at Fox & Hounds Country Inn. Set at the base of Tamborine Mountain in Wongawallan, this bustling restaurant literally had its interior transported all the way from Britain’s West Sussex. Grab a Guinness and make yourself at home in either George’s (English) Bar or Paddy’s (Irish) Bar—each one sporting memorabilia, open fireside seating, and eyecatchers like a classic London telephone booth.
You’ll be visiting the best English-styled restaurant on the Mountain, so it’d be rude not to try a toad in the hole, beef-and-Guinness pie, or weekend roast with a mandatory Yorkshire pudding. To score a table, book ahead. You’ve been warned.
Cauldron Distillery
89–123 Hartley Road, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
We can’t not include a distillery in our roundup of Tamborine Mountain's best restaurants and cafes, because, after all, wineries and distilleries are the backbone of this mountain town. Cauldron Distillery has made a name for itself in the gin world, winning awards left, right and centre for its craft gins. If you’re a gin aficionado, you may want to start your visit off with a paddle featuring Cauldron’s three core-range gins.
Of course, you’ll want some nibbles to go with your drinks, and Cauldron delivers. Snack on loaded cheese boards and dips with lavash bread on Monday and Tuesday, or visit during the rest of the week for a full dining experience that includes eats like gin-cured salmon croquettes, chorizo and halloumi skewers, burgers and nachos. With live music playing on Saturdays and Sundays, this is the spot to set up shop under a shady umbrella and settle in for a lengthy afternoon session—it might be best to plan ahead and book somewhere to stay the night.
Hickory
Entry via Griffith Street, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
For a next-level smokehouse experience, head to Tamborine Mountain’s own Southern-style restaurant, Hickory. Renowned for its succulent selection of slow-cooked meats and wings, this dimly lit eatery dishes up crowd-pleasers like eight-hour-smoked pork ribs (feat. lashings of homemade BBQ sauce) and 14-hour-melt-in-your-mouth hickory-smoked brisket. Head in for feast platters, palette-cleansing desserts, and noteworthy cocktails from Wednesday to Sunday. Bookings are essential.
Leaf Japanese Restaurant & Bar
13 Main Western Road, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
There’s something particularly magical about chowing down freshly made dumplings on a cool winter’s night. Just as magical is stumbling upon a quaint hidden gem for an impressively flavour-packed feast. A favourite among locals, Leaf Japanese Restaurant & Bar is, without a doubt, the best Japanese restaurant on Mount Tamborine.
Delight your senses with authentic bento boxes, fresh nori rolls, and fluffy bao buns before finishing off with matcha and black sesame ice creams. With vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, Leaf is a must-visit on your trip to Tamborine Mountain. Book ahead to save your seat.
St Bernards Hotel
101 Alpine Terrace, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Overlooking Guanaba Gorge, St Bernards Hotel is a quintessential hinterland restaurant. With sweeping views of the Gold Coast cityscape and Moreton Bay, this 110-year-old establishment delivers traditional pub fare (think lamb rump and rib fillet burgers) with a dash of the international (like lamb koftas and Singapore beef stir fry).
Yes, the food is good—but, if we’re honest, the biggest draw is the eponymous pooches. Cooper and Norman are the hotel’s two jowly mascots, and they might just be the cutest Saint Bernards you’ve ever seen. Add on the breathtaking views, and you’ve got our pick for the best pub-style restaurant in Tamborine Mountain.
Saint Marthe Brasserie
13 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
Saint Marthe is the latest in a series of fine dining restaurants in the same location (The Wolf, and, before that, Three Little Pigs). Named after the patron saint of servants and cooks, it’s French fare from the folks behind El Burro Cantina, and it’s good. Don’t stress, though—there are no white tablecloths, the wines are mostly pronounceable, and the vibe’s light and airy.
The name of the game here is perfectly cooked protein plus sides (veggies, frites, or crusty French bread). Our personal favourite: the double-patty burger with Swiss cheese and house pickles, which is moreish enough that no-one will judge you for choosing it over the wine–butter mussels or Gruyère cheese souffle. Still got room? The lavender ice cream might just be calling your name.
Bailey’s Irish Bar & Restaurant
2 Main Street, Tamborine Mountain QLD 4272
When Clancy’s Irish Bar and Restaurant closed in 2021, Tamborine lost one of its icons. Almost, anyway. Tina Bailey and her family stepped in to keep the Mountain’s Irish spirit alive, resurrecting the hugely popular venue as Bailey’s Iris Bar & Restaurant. Outside, beer-garden-esque seating gazes into towering stands of rainforest; step through the front door, and you’ve left subtropical Queensland for the cold hills of Ireland.
We’re talking varnished timber, dim lighting, and dark beer set to an occasionally live Irish soundtrack. And, yes, the food matches the vibe. Get stuck into cold-weather favourites like beef-and-Guiness pie and Irish stew and soda bread (our personal pick)—they go down especially well with a pint of house cider. If your heart says ‘trip to Ireland’ but your bank balance says ‘nope’, Bailey’s is the perfect compromise.
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- The Best Gold Coast Restaurants
Main image credit: Franquette Bakery | Instagram
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