Main Beach Pavilion Main Beach | Must Do Gold Coast

A highlight of Main Beach is a visit to the heritage listed old bathing pavilion, Pavilion 34 built in 1934, located beachside on MacArthur Parade in Hollindale Park beside Southport Surf Club – the Gold Coast’s first club dating back to 1936. These days Main Beach Pavilion has been reincarnated as a casual beach café complete with an enticing menu for hungry beach goers.

The Pavilion has retained much of its historical charm, with the old male and female change pavilions still in use, plus historical photos and retro touches everywhere you look. Complementing the fabulous old photos is an equally fabulous old couch in the annex outside the change rooms.

In the air-conditioned dining room you’ll find plenty of standard and bar style table seating in a room adorned with retro décor, a few barrels and more fascinating news clippings. For sun-seeking diners, there are alfresco seating options with a view of the waves just out the Pavilion’s front door.

A popular spot for morning coffee goers, the Pavilion offers a premium quality espresso blend of full-bodied, Italian style coffee with a rich and warm chocolate flavour care of Merlo roasters. As they sling out the special brews, the accommodating and hard-working baristas of this wonderful place always greet you with a smile.

For those on the run with their coffee, the selection of fresh cabinet treats including toasted croissants and house-made muffins, are popular.

Early openers and beach goers also flock to the Pavilion for breakfast fare served from 6am, choosing from an extensive menu of traditional Australian favourites including the famous Nippers bacon and egg on toasted sour Vienna, healthy options of fresh fruit salad with granola and açaí bowls, and heartier options like the Pavilion Big Breakfast complete with pork sausage pattie. The Pavilions famous burger combos are lunch time favourites as are the seafood options, like the grilled barramundi burger, the calamari salad and of course the iconic seafood basket.

Probably the most sought-after snack items are of course ice creams and the Pavilion keep its freezers stocked full of all the classic favourites. It’s fun to check out all the old black and white ice cream ads of times past overlooking today’s tasty treats. Along with all the coffee, tea and milkshake variations you might want, there is also a popular selection of superfood smoothies to sample, from the banana-mango-passion-pine Bahama to the kiwi-kale-mango-pine Evergreen or even the strawberry-peach Helena, you can’t go wrong.