cafe
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

cafe
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

cafe
Pavement Whisper: Aperitivo Cafe & Panini Bar is coming soon to Currumbin
Food & Drink

Pavement Whisper: Aperitivo Cafe & Panini Bar is coming soon to Currumbin

26 Aug 2021

Winter is wrapping up for another year, which means that blissful days by the beach are just around the corner. Excitingly, so too is Aperitivo Cafe & Panini Bar, which is coming soon to Thrower Drive in Currumbin. The new Italian-style casual eatery will specialise in takeaway bites that are best enjoyed sprawled out by the water. Here's everything we know so far ... more

cafe
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

cafe
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

cafe
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

cafe
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

cafe
Get caffeinated at Paradise Point's brand-new coffee slinger Sweet Bambino
Food & Drink

Get caffeinated at Paradise Point’s brand-new coffee slinger Sweet Bambino

22 Jul 2021

Three-quarter strength flat white, extra-strong decaf, double macchiato – the list of coffee preferences is endless. One thing that all coffee drinkers can agree on, however, is the fact that not all coffee is created equal. If you find yourself in Paradise Point with a hankering for a little liquid motivation, make a pit-stop at Sweet Bambino. The super-cute new hole-in-the-wall cafe proves once and for all that good things do indeed come in small packages.  more

The Locals Next week:

cafe
Seek and you shall find Currumbin's hidden caffeine haven The Galleon 4223
Food & Drink

Seek and you shall find Currumbin’s hidden caffeine haven The Galleon 4223

08 Jul 2021

Every suburb has its hidden local gems and The Galleon 4223 is undoubtedly one of Currumbin's. Nestled in between a general store and a hairdresser, the neighbourhood cafe is the kind of place where you're greeted by name and coffee order. Having only been open for a couple of months, the nautical-themed coffee slinger has established itself as a firm favourite for locals, which is pretty fitting since its mantra is 'for the locals, by the locals'. more

cafe
Baby it's cold out – warm up with a Biscoff hot chocolate from Elk Espresso's new winter menu
Food & Drink

Baby it’s cold out – warm up with a Biscoff hot chocolate from Elk Espresso’s new winter menu

01 Jul 2021

It's been a pretty rough couple of days here on the Gold Coast, so we could probably all do with a hug right about now. Unfortunately in this new-world order, hugging is banned so we'll just have to settle for a Biscoff hot chocolate from Elk Espresso. Look, we're no scientists but we're pretty sure it delivers the same kind of endorphin rush but in a delightfully COVID-safe way. The sippable new creation is part of the Broadbeach-based institution's mouth-watering new winter menu, which is made for crisp mornings and warm days. Read on for all of the delicious details ... more

cafe
Satisfy your sweet tooth with a Croffle from Southport's Croffee
Food & Drink

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a Croffle from Southport’s Croffee

01 Jul 2021

Cronuts and cruffins, take a seat. Fellow sugar fiends, may we present the Croffle –  a glorious croissant/waffle hybrid that is guaranteed to spark joy. The decadent dessert or sometimes savoury snack starts with a base of buttery croissant dough before being cooked to crisp, golden perfection in a waffle iron and adorned with your choice of toppings. It's happiness, plain and simple.  more

cafe
I'll have what she's having – wrap your mitts around a next-level Reuben at Robina's new Milk Money Espresso
Food & Drink

I’ll have what she’s having – wrap your mitts around a next-level Reuben at Robina’s new Milk Money Espresso

30 Jun 2021

If you live or work in or around Robina and were looking for a reason to ditch your sad leftover salad or solo desk lunch, Milk Money Espresso is it. The new caffeine dispensary has completely transformed the former Serendipity cafe (at the base of the Space building) and is here to demolish those pesky pangs with loaded toasties and bowls brimming with deliciousness. Once you get a glimpse (and taste) of the goods, we reckon you're going to find every excuse to travel along Scottsdale Drive just so you can stop by. more

cafe
The round up: The Gold Coast's top kid-friendly restaurants
Food & Drink

The round up: The Gold Coast’s top kid-friendly restaurants

10 Jun 2021

Anyone with little humans in tow knows how challenging it can be to eat out at an actual restaurant. Sure, you will probably spend most of your meal trying to get your offspring to stop mashing miscellaneous food into the table, or making a speedy bee-line for the nearest exit, but you don't have to do the cooking or washing up so it's still a win. Whilst most restaurants do their best to accommodate tiny tribes with the addition of high chairs and kid's menus, some places have kid-friendly dining down to a fine art. To help make things a little easier on parents and carers, we've compiled a handy list of family-friendly restaurants and cafes that make eating out a breeze. Okay, maybe not a breeze, but breezier perhaps. more

cafe
Breakfast bowls and morning margs – Barefoot Barista strolls into Currumbin
Food & Drink

Breakfast bowls and morning margs – Barefoot Barista strolls into Currumbin

15 Apr 2021

If you've been kicking around the coast for a while and enjoy quality coffee and top-notch nosh, it's fairly likely you're already familiar with Barefoot Barista. Having opened their first cafe in Palm Beach back in 2009, owners Dean and Liz have gone on to establish a thriving nook in Burleigh Heads (2011), Mermaid Beach (2017), and now, Currumbin. The newest member of the family opened its doors two months ago and has already firmly entrenched itself as a local favourite. more

cafe
Hudson & Rosie's Table brings coffee and bites to Highland Park
Food & Drink

Hudson & Rosie’s Table brings coffee and bites to Highland Park

25 Mar 2021

Nestled within Highland Park Shopping Plaza on Alexander Drive, Hudson & Rosie's Table is dishing up a bounty of brews and chews from a bright, light and breezy new cafe. The pretty new eatery opened its doors on Friday March 19, much to the delight of eager locals who braved the wild weather to take a peek over the weekend. Here's what you need to know about Hudson & Rosie's Table ... more

cafe
Sip coffee and eat crumpets at the dreamy new-look Next Door Espresso in Tweed Heads
Food & Drink

Sip coffee and eat crumpets at the dreamy new-look Next Door Espresso in Tweed Heads

18 Feb 2021

If you've travelled along Dry Dock Road in Tweed Heads, chances are you caught a glimpse of Next Door Espresso's crisp-white facade (or the gigantic letters perched on the roof that spell out the sweetest word in the English language – COFFEE) and thought to yourself, 'one day, I will stop'. Friends, do yourself a favour and make today that day because the quaint cafe has undergone a seriously incredible transformation straight out of your Pinterest dreams. The stunning new space overlooking Terranora Creek is the perfect setting for beautiful breakfasts and caffeinated catch-ups.  more

cafe
Pretty Handsome brings cheap eats and dive-bar vibes to Burleigh Heads
Food & Drink

Pretty Handsome brings cheap eats and dive-bar vibes to Burleigh Heads

04 Feb 2021

As a general rule, anywhere that slings a quality burger and fries for $10 has our complete and undivided attention. Even more so if it happens to serve bloody Marys topped with crispy bacon and have posters of Biggie Smalls sitting pretty next to Nirvana and Slayer. If that sounds like your kind of vibe and you fancy a meal that doesn't cost a kidney, pull up a seat at Pretty Handsome. Formerly a takeaway joint on the corner of Christine Avenue and Lemana Lane in Burleigh Heads, the quaint coffee nook has expanded to the shop next door to deliver a cafe-by-day and dive-bar-by-night. more