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The recap – 20 of 2022's best new Gold Coast restaurants, bars and cafes you need to try
Food & Drink

The recap – 20 of 2022’s best new Gold Coast restaurants, bars and cafes you need to try

23 Jun 2022

Can you believe we’re approaching the halfway point of 2022? We know, it’s wild to think about, but that’s what happens when you’ve been too busy enjoying all of the exciting things happening in and around the Gold Coast! So far the year has seen some pretty massive openings from a Michelin-starred chef as well the emergence of some exciting new local eateries and a few hidden haunts – each adding something special to the city’s culinary melting pot. Before we blink and it’s Christmas, we thought we’d take a minute to look back at the year so far and reflect on some of the best openings of 2022 … more

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Rise Bakery brings bubbles and French-inspired baked goods to Sanctuary Cove
Food & Drink

Rise Bakery brings bubbles and French-inspired baked goods to Sanctuary Cove

04 Jun 2022

After a long, long hiatus, the first wave of post-Covid international holiday snaps has begun to filter onto our Instagram feeds, igniting a serious case of wanderlust. If you too are daydreaming of a sun-soaked sojourn to the south of France, we have something that might fill the void – Sanctuary Cove has welcomed a French-inspired artisan boulangerie and salon de thé (tea room) that feels like it would be right at home along Boulevard de la Croisette in Cannes. Here's everything you need to know about this northern newcomer ... more

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Seaside sips – get your day off to a sensational start with breakfast by the ocean at Castaway Coffee Bar
Food & Drink

Seaside sips – get your day off to a sensational start with breakfast by the ocean at Castaway Coffee Bar

13 Apr 2022

It's often thought that a city's economic health could be determined by the number of cranes dotted along the coastline. If that's the barometer, the Gold Coast is thriving. Arguably one of the most significant projects coming to life along The Esplanade at Surfers Paradise is Ocean by Meriton. Soaring 76 levels, it's certainly one of the tallest and most impressive. As construction begins to wrap up, we've got our first taste of the retail tenants – it's called Castaway Coffee Bar, a wholesome cafe slinging organic coffee and nourishing nosh. more

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Burleigh's dreamy new tea room and noshery brings spiked iced-tea and brunch bites
Food & Drink

Burleigh’s dreamy new tea room and noshery brings spiked iced-tea and brunch bites

03 Apr 2022

When it comes to dining out on the Gold Coast, we're spoilt for choice. So much so, that we often find ourselves plagued with indecision when it comes to that all-important question of where to go. Add into the mix a couple of varying dietary requirements and you've got yourself quite the conundrum. If you're in the mood for something new, something exciting, something different – say hello to Butlers Tea Room + Noshery. more

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Sweet treats, sudsy sips and smoky eats – where to taste test some of Logan's most lip-smacking fare
Food & Drink

Sweet treats, sudsy sips and smoky eats – where to taste test some of Logan’s most lip-smacking fare

30 Mar 2022

Sometimes when you've lived in a city for so long, it can feel like you've wined and dined at every establishment, had your morning cuppa at every corner cafe or had one too many late-night HSP from that trusty kebab shop. If you want to broaden your horizons both from a culinarily and geographical perspective, then we think you should hop in the car and drive to a city not so far away – Logan. Brimming with mouth-watering fare from almost every country you can think of, this epicurean melting pot is worth diving into. Here are some top-notch spots for when you plan on embarking on a self-curated Logan food trail … more

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Santa Barbara Specialty Coffee brings top-notch brews and towering toasties to Hope Island
Food & Drink

Santa Barbara Specialty Coffee brings top-notch brews and towering toasties to Hope Island

09 Mar 2022

When it comes to coffee, it's a non-negotiable part of our morning. When we're not drinking it, we're thinking about drinking it and have been known to plan alternative routes that incorporate pit-stops at our fave cafes to ensure we can procure our much-needed pick-me-up. If you find yourself in or around Santa Barbara in Hope Island with a hankering for a cuppa, take a detour via Santa Barbara Specialty Coffee on Pinnaroo Street – you'll be glad you did. more

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Immune-boosting juices and nourishing nosh – say hello to the brand-new Nobbys Shack
Food & Drink

Immune-boosting juices and nourishing nosh – say hello to the brand-new Nobbys Shack

21 Jan 2022

The Nobby Beach strip has evolved a lot over the years. One mainstay, however, has been the ever-popular The Shack Superfood Cafe, which always had a steady stream of people in and out slurping freshly made juices and acai bowls. When the long-standing juice bar suddenly closed, people wondered what went wrong. Thankfully, this story is not one of endings, but rather, new beginnings. Say hello to Nobbys Shack, your new old faithful. more

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Satisfy your thirst for adventure and excellent coffee at Burleigh's new cafe/lifestyle destination Outerbound
Food & Drink

Satisfy your thirst for adventure and excellent coffee at Burleigh’s new cafe/lifestyle destination Outerbound

15 Jan 2022

Plenty of things are out of our control right now. One thing we can determine with absolute certainty, however, is our morning coffee. And when it comes to that particular ritual, we will not compromise on quality. If coffee is a non-negotiable part of your day, detour via Burleigh's new cafe/lifestyle destination, Outerbound, on Kortum Drive. The new hub is here to fuel your thirst for adventure while quelling your craving for caffeine and wholesome snacks. more

The Locals Next week:

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The year in review: the trends and tastes that consumed the Gold Coast in 2021
Food & Drink

The year in review: the trends and tastes that consumed the Gold Coast in 2021

22 Dec 2021

Well, 2021, it's been a time. We'd be lying if we said it was all sunshine, lollipops and rainbows, but despite it all, some pretty amazing things happened here on the Gold Coast. The year that was witnessed the Gold Coast's dining scene evolve in interesting ways, from bars and pool clubs to the influx of sip-from-the-source breweries and the return of the not-so-humble sandwich. Before we close the book on this year, we thought we'd take a quick skip down memory lane and commemorate some notable happenings and spotlight some of the pieces that resonated with you, our dear readers, the most … more

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The round up: the biggest foodie openings of the year
Food & Drink

The round up: the biggest foodie openings of the year

16 Dec 2021

Well, we made it. The year's end is imminent and that's got us feeling more than a little nostalgic. Despite intermittent lockdowns and dining restrictions, the Gold Coast's dining scene continued to flourish. New eateries popped up with surprising regularity, from sophisticated tipple temples to sandwich bars, a bounty of beach bars and pool-side sip spots, it's been a big year! We've compiled a list of stand-outs from the past 12 months. While not an exhaustive selection, it's a snapshot of the diverse array of arrivals we had the privilege of checking out this year. more

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Switchfoot at Rainbow Bay is an ode to surfing, quality coffee and community
Food & Drink

Switchfoot at Rainbow Bay is an ode to surfing, quality coffee and community

27 Oct 2021

We don't think we're being biased when we say that Rainbow Bay is a pretty magical part of the world. Three people who agree wholeheartedly are Mitch, Sarah and Katie – the trio who operate the beachside suburb's brand-new coffee slinger, Switchfoot. If excellent coffee, chilled vibes and crumpets sound like a recipe for your ideal morning, read on for all of the delightful details ... more

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Kylie's Cupcakery expands to a new home and opens a dedicated gluten-free cafe
Food & Drink

Kylie’s Cupcakery expands to a new home and opens a dedicated gluten-free cafe

13 Oct 2021

If you have a soft spot for sweets and big love for burgers, we have some exciting news. Having outgrown its original space on Lavelle Street in Nerang, the much-loved Kylie's Cupcakery has moved to a brand-new pastel-hued home, a stone's throw from its original location. The mouth-watering new cupcakery is nestled on Nerang Street, and is dishing up an expanded menu of eats alongside next-level sweet treats. Read on for all of the mouth-watering details ... more

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Brews, bites and good vibes abound at The Ranchero – the new home of Morena Espresso
Food & Drink

Brews, bites and good vibes abound at The Ranchero – the new home of Morena Espresso

12 Oct 2021

If you're a Gold Coast local with a penchant for live music, it's pretty likely that you've found yourself grooving away at Mo's Desert Clubhouse on more than a couple of late-night occasions. The Burleigh Heads-based live music locale serves up myriad events each weekend, from vintage markets to local music shows and even the occasional wedding, all with Mo's signature rainbow flair. Well, now it is also host to an equally colour-drenched Gold Coast venue, Morena Espresso's newest outpost. Say hello to Morena at Mo's! more

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Sink your teeth into pizza and pasta at Varsity Lakes' brand-new bistro Oscar Italia
Food & Drink

Sink your teeth into pizza and pasta at Varsity Lakes’ brand-new bistro Oscar Italia

16 Sep 2021

Keeping occupied during various COVID-related lockdowns has manifested in some pretty unlikely hobbies to pass time (focaccia, anyone?). For Leisa and her husband Shaun, who found themselves separated by border closures for nine long months, they passed the time apart by planning a restaurant they hoped to open one day. As it turns out, they were pretty good at it – so when the restrictions lifted and the pair were (finally) reunited, they had all of the necessary building blocks in place to turn their hypothetical plans into a reality. The only thing that was missing was the perfect location, and as luck would have it, the perfect place was right in front of their eyes. Varsity Lakes, say hello to Oscar Italia ... more

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Wine and cheese – yes please! Wrap your mitts around a gourmet toastie from Mermaid's newbie Cheese Me Baby
Food & Drink

Wine and cheese – yes please! Wrap your mitts around a gourmet toastie from Mermaid’s newbie Cheese Me Baby

31 Aug 2021

A mantra we Gold Coasters tend to live by, particularly as we head towards the steamy months, is that happiness is best served melted. And that's precisely what you'll find at Cheese Me Baby in Mermaid Beach – gooey, melty happiness in sandwich form. Sitting pretty on the corner of the Gold Coast Highway and Tamborine Street, in the same complex that also houses Poké Poké, Goccia Italian and Som Tam Gai, the converted container kitchen has transformed a previously underutilised grassy knoll into a vibin' coffee slinger. Let's be honest, they had us at wine and cheese but there's plenty more to love about this nifty newcomer ...  more

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Get acquainted with Main Beach's new neighbourhood eatery – The Local Tedder Avenue
Food & Drink

Get acquainted with Main Beach’s new neighbourhood eatery – The Local Tedder Avenue

25 Aug 2021

Tedder Avenue in Main Beach has long been the heart and soul of the beachside suburb, with quaint cafes, boutiques and bars dotted along the street. There’s a strong sense of community with locals stopping for a yarn, friendly waves from across the road and neighborhood catch-ups over coffee. Long-time locals Natalie and Mark Perry have long had their peepers peeled for a space along the popular promenade. Finally one has popped up that ticked all of their boxes – say hello to the couple's community oriented locale The Local Tedder Avenue … more

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Sip coffee, eat B&E rolls and be grateful at Burleigh's new eatery Magnolia Lane
Food & Drink

Sip coffee, eat B&E rolls and be grateful at Burleigh’s new eatery Magnolia Lane

11 Aug 2021

Eagle-eyed travellers along the Gold Coast Highway may have spied a fresh lick of paint and some pretty new breeze blocks framing the high-profile site cornering First Avenue in Burleigh Heads. That, friends, is Magnolia Lane and it's here to inject a hearty dose of caffeine and gratitude into your day. The casual new eatery opened its doors just prior to the Gold Coast's recent week-long lockdown but is now open to sit-down patrons. more

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Stick a fork into a stack of souffle pancakes at Palm Beach's Raijin
Food & Drink

Stick a fork into a stack of souffle pancakes at Palm Beach’s Raijin

05 Aug 2021

You've probably heard the expression 'as flat as a pancake', which makes sense based on our current understanding of pancakes being, well, flat. Raijin in Palm Beach is here to flip this notion on its head with its ridiculously fluffy and puffy souffle pancakes. The pillowy soft spheres are made-to-order and take a minimum of 20 minutes to make – so settle in, order a coffee and prepare your tastebuds for a treat. more

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Well Bread & Pastry brings French patisserie vibes to Palm Beach
Food & Drink

Well Bread & Pastry brings French patisserie vibes to Palm Beach

27 Jul 2021

When it comes to bread and baked goods in general, not all are created equal. Whilst some can leave you feeling sluggish, others utilise a slow fermentation over 18 to 36 hours using a base of live cultures – the end result is easy-to-digest bread that is jam-packed full of nutrients and beneficial microbes for your gut. Sitting firmly at the latter end of the bread spectrum is Palm Beach's newest (and prettiest) bakehouse Well Bread & Pastry. The French-style artisan bakery is ideally positioned within the Pavilions precinct and specialises in sensational sourdough, pastries, pies and perfectly brewed coffee. more