Here’s a slice-by-slice guide to the Gold Coast’s best pizza
Franc Jrs, Coolangatta and Nobby Beach: Pizza lovers flock from near and far for Franc Jrs’ legendary Detroit-style deep-dish and classic round pies. The Red Stripe Detroit lands at your table blistering hot, layered with molten cheese, rich tomato sauce, oregano, stracciatella, pecorino, a parmesan crown and fresh basil and parsley. Heat-seekers can’t go past the Beesting, topped with fior di latte, pepperoni, oregano and a fiery drizzle of hot honey. Note: due to a recent fire, Franc Jrs in Coolangatta is currently closed, with a pop-up venue operating next door until the team can reopen.
Bar Evelyn, Coolangatta: Occupying an unassuming nook along Surf Parade in Coolangatta, the moody and intimate wine-centric pizza bar delivers a succinct menu of snacks, handmade pastas and, of course, pizzas. It’s a hard choice between the pork and pickled pepper pizza, the potato and taleggio, and the spicy bolognese pizza finished with jalapeno and pineapple. Whichever you choose, just be sure to leave room for the tiramisu.
Lenny Pizzeria & Bar, Mudgeeraba: Lenny Pizzeria & Bar is a laid-back local favourite, famed for wood-fired pizzas made with dough slow-fermented for 72 hours. Inventive toppings like Aleppo-spiced lamb and chilli kale make it a go-to for a relaxed night of great food and warm village charm. Credited for breathing new life into Mudgeeraba’s dining scene, Lenny’s is booked to capacity almost nightly so best get in early if you want to nab a spot.
Cadillac Supper Club, Palm Beach: This moody supper club is the younger sibling to Bar Evelyn, and is all about pizza, pasta, cocktails, wine and good times. The pizza list is short but strong, with five mouth-watering choices. Go for the salami and hot honey, and don’t forget a side of ranch to dip those crisp, airy crusts.
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Goccia, Mermaid Beach: Since 2017, Goccia Italian Pizzeria has been serving crisp, thin-based woodfired pizzas and fresh Italian recipes, all crafted with a focus on quality and consistency. Pair your pick – like the Bosco with mozzarella, porcini, blue cheese and prosciutto – with a boutique Italian wine or beer, and you’re in la dolce vita. Note: Goccia will soon be closing its doors to make way for The Alfred development in Mermaid Beach. Be sure to check Goccia’s socials before venturing out!
Crispy Italian Bar, Burleigh Heads: Burleigh Heads’ Crispy Italian Bar brings a slice of Italy’s laid-back charm to the coast, thanks to founders Matteo Tricarico and Riccardo Proserpio. Their philosophy is simple – serve honest, flavoursome food made with fresh ingredients and plenty of heart. The woodfired pizzas are the star, from the fiery Diavola with hot salami and Calabrian chilli to the indulgent Vulcano with prosciutto di parma, ‘nduja and stracciatella – best enjoyed with an aperitivo as the sun sets.
Ciccio’s Pizza and Gelato, Broadbeach: Ciccio’s Pizza and Gelato in Southport is a cosy 60-seat pizzeria led by award-winning Sicilian chef Emanuele Malara. Watch pizzas with high-fermentation, easy-to-digest dough come to life in the open kitchen, topped with classic or gourmet flavours, and pair them perfectly with Italian wines or house-made gelato. Bellissimo.
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Sogno Italiano, Mermaid Waters and Burleigh Waters: Since opening in Mermaid Waters, Sogno Italiano has won over locals with its woodfired pizzas, earning a loyal following and packed tables night after night. Now, owners Sushil and Prajwol Maharjan have expanded to Burleigh Waters, where a gleaming woodfired oven takes centre stage, turning out blistered, perfectly crisp bases topped with fresh, flavour-packed ingredients.
Justin Lane, Burleigh Heads: One of the pioneers of the GC pizza scene, Justin Lane has been dishing up its famed sourdough bases for over a decade – each loaded with winning combos like pepperoni with arrabbiata, caramelised onion, mozzarella, fior di latte and goats cheese, and the standout zucchini and confit garlic creation. Dine in for a rooftop pizza party or swing by the highway-side takeaway window for pizza perfection on the go.
Arlo’s Pizzeria, Chevron Island: Arlo’s Pizzeria is a small family-owned Italian spot on Chevron Island, created by Paul and Jo-Anne Ramunno. Their hand-shaped sourdough bases are crisp, light and topped with just the right amount of flavour – from rich pomodoro classics to inventive weekly specials. BYO a bottle and let the dough masters do their thing.
Balboa Italian, Palm Beach: Of an evening, Palm Beach locals are often met with the mesmerising aroma of delicious hand-rolled dough bases dressed with cheeses, garlic and cured meats all bubbling away in the woodfired oven. Served alongside its extensive menu of authentic Italian fare, Balboa offers a mouth-watering selection of rosse (red) and bianche (white) based pizzas. Our pick? The Vesuvio – sopressa piccante, gorgonzola, onion and mozzarella.
Cucina Vivo, Broadbeach: Cucina Vivo at The Star Gold Coast channels Italy’s rich food culture in a sleek, Amalfi-inspired setting. Its woodfired oven is the heart of the venue, firing up blistered beauties like San Daniele prosciutto with tomato, rocket and whipped buffalo mozzarella. Ask the team about Fabio’s pizza – an always-changing seasonal specialty from Cucina Vivo’s pizzaiolo chef.
Gemellini, Gemelli, Roy’s by Gemelli and Papa Rolly’s: If you’re talking pizza on the Gold Coast, it’s hard to go past the Gemelli group of restaurants. Steeped in Italian heritage, each venue serves its own take on woodfired pizza, crowned with authentic, time-honoured flavour combinations. Whether you’re in Broadbeach (Gemelli) or Carrara (Papa Rolly’s), you’re never far from a Gemelli family pizza.
Aviary Rooftop Bar, Southport: Perched high above Southport, Aviary serves up an extensive line-up of woodfired pizzas to please both purists and adventurous eaters. There’s everything from a classic Margherita to the Rick & Morty (shaved mortadella, burrata, pistachio, basil pesto and truffle potato chips) and the Samurai Sensei topped with katsu chicken and curry sauce, Kewpie, fried shallots, pickled ginger and furikake.
The Deli by Pepe, Palm Beach: This deli-meets-restaurant concept is a haven for traditional, soul-warming Italian food. The pizzas here are simple and authentic, topped with freshly sliced cured meats and cheeses straight from the deli cabinet, before being blistered in the traditional Italian woodfired oven. Pair your pizza with an Italian red, and a rocket and pear salad, and you’re all set.
Rossa Pizzeria + Bar, Southport: On the ground floor of the new TRYP by Wyndham Southport Gold Coast on Meron Street, Rossa Pizzeria serves an extensive menu of more than 20 different pizzas, fired to perfection in an authentic Italian oven. Toppings range from burrata, mortadella, pistachio and olive oil to the Roberto with fried eggplant, basil and ricotta, and the vibrant Gialla with yellow tomato, confit cherry tomato, stracciatella and pesto. You can even jazz up your order with a ricotta-filled crust.
Double Zero, Ashmore and Robina: Specialising in authentic Italian food made with love, these two sister venues exude rustic charm and a warm, welcoming vibe. The state-of-the-art pizza ovens turn out a moreish range of pizzas that strike the perfect balance between crispness and chew. Want to learn their secrets? Double Zero also hosts hands-on pizza masterclasses for those keen to perfect their own dough, sauce and topping game.
T’amero, Burleigh Waters: Tucked in the backstreets of Burleigh, Tamero serves wood-fired pizzas that capture the heart of Italy. Settle in under the festoon lights and pull apart local favourites like truffle-kissed Tartufi or the zucchini-prawn pizza with fetta, garlic, lemon and parsley.
Burleigh Pavilion, Burleigh Heads: Fact – pizzas are best enjoyed with beachfront views. Seaside sipping spot The Burleigh Pav slings a delicious array of woodfired delights, from the Capricciosa with pomodoro, fior di latte, smoked ham, mushroom, artichokes and olives, to the Salmon Bianca with smoked salmon, fior di latte, dill, spinach, horseradish cream, lemon and capers.
Mr PP’s, Southport: Mr P.P.’s Deli and Rooftop brings the pizza party to Southport’s CBD with a multi-level mix of deli charm and rooftop vibes. Bite into the Veggie Patch with roasted pumpkin, the fiery Buffalo chicken with jalapenos, or the rich roast lamb with balsamic figs – all best paired with a negroni and city views.
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