Rafiki

Rafiki sits on Hedges Avenue at Mermaid Beach, on the central Gold Coast near the beach. A much-loved cafe, it's become a genuine local favourite — the kind of welcoming, quality spot, with a relaxed beachside vibe, that draws a steady stream of regulars for good coffee and food.

The appeal is that combination of quality cafe fare, good coffee and a relaxed, characterful setting near the Mermaid Beach sand, ideal for a morning coffee, a leisurely brunch or a casual catch-up. The easygoing beachside mood pairs perfectly with a quality cafe, and Rafiki has clearly won over both locals and visitors.

With a 4.7 rating from more than 330 reviews, it's clearly hitting the mark. Menus, opening hours and offerings change with the seasons, and a popular cafe gets busy on weekend mornings, so it's worth checking current details before a special trip — though for a great coffee and a quality bite near the beach, it's often just a matter of dropping in and seeing why it's so well rated at Mermaid Beach.