Is Mermaid Beach Becoming The Gold Coast’s Coolest Pocket?

If you think Mermaid Beach is already having a moment, it’s about to get even better.

The suburb that once sat somewhere between Broadbeach’s high-energy and Miami’s laid-back surf culture is evolving into one of the Gold Coast’s most interesting lifestyle pockets, not through oversized development or tourist-heavy attractions, but through a quieter shift towards better hospitality, more thoughtful design, and a stronger sense of community.

The new era of coastal living

Mermaid Beach is a suburb that has become increasingly popular among locals chasing a more walkable coastal lifestyle, somewhere that balances beachside living with good food, thoughtful design, convenience, and a warm neighbourhood feel.

You can feel it in the rhythm of the area now. Morning coffee queues spilling onto footpaths at cafes like House of Hälsa or Sunnyboy Espresso, wine bars like Moustache or Cantina filling up mid-week, boutique wellness spaces like Soak Bathhouse opening beside long-standing local businesses. Mermaid Beach still feels coastal and relaxed, just far more refined than it did a few years ago. Now, a major new lifestyle precinct is set to arrive in the middle of it all.

The new Mermaid Beach lifestyle hub

Replacing the former Mermaid Beach Shopping Village on the Gold Coast Highway, The Alfred by DANKAV will introduce a mix of luxury residences, hospitality venues, and boutique retail designed to feel connected to the existing fabric of the suburb, rather than operating as another standalone apartment development.

Landscaped laneways, shaded courtyards, open-air dining, and pedestrian-friendly spaces are all part of the vision, reflecting the elevated direction Mermaid Beach is already naturally moving towards.

Mid-century made modern

Connection and convenience

The Alfred also sits directly opposite the future Mermaid Beach South light rail station, which will eventually connect residents through Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and Southport, adding another layer of accessibility to one of the coast’s fastest-evolving pockets.

Slated to open in 2027, it’s a project that seamlessly builds on DANKAV’s success with The Oxley 1823 nearby, a precinct that helped establish a more lifestyle-led approach to development in this part of the Gold Coast. Stage one sold out to locals, Stage 2 is being released shortly.

Right now, Mermaid Beach feels like the Gold Coast suburb everyone is watching, and we are right there with them.

Imagery: Supplied (The Alfred by DANKAV artist impressions)