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La Playa dishes up salty, summer vacay vibes with a Mediterranean menu and refreshing sips
Food & Drink

La Playa dishes up salty, summer vacay vibes with a Mediterranean menu and refreshing sips

The Gold Coast is more than a place to live – it's a lifestyle. Unlike our southern neighbours, generally speaking, we don’t wait until mid-morning to venture out for a strong coffee. We’re up with the sun and eat dinner before 9:00 pm. It's a Gold Coast thing. Whether you're new to town, just visiting or you've been here your whole life, one thing that never gets old is whiling away an afternoon with a cocktail in hand, getting lost in the perpetual motion of the ocean. The Gold Coast has an abundance of sublime sipping spots, but we have one more you should add to your go-to list – it’s called La Playa and it’s just opened in Surfers Paradise. Here’s everything you need to know … more

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Brisbane's cult-favourite Blue Tongue Pantry cafe heads south to open an outpost in Helensvale
Food & Drink

Brisbane’s cult-favourite Blue Tongue Pantry cafe heads south to open an outpost in Helensvale

Having won over Brisbane's bayside with specialty sips of the caffeinated kind and freshly baked morsels, the team behind Blue Tongue Pantry cafe has headed down the M1 to open a beautiful light-filled bakehouse and cafe in Helensvale. It's called Blue Tongue Bakery Cafe and it's here to fill your days with quality coffee, impossible-to-resist sweets, treats, beautiful baked goods and lunches to-go. Here's everything you need to know about this mouth-watering northern noshery ... more

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Sips in the sunshine – Local brings elevated pub-style nosh and a sun-drenched beer garden to Burleigh Heads
Food & Drink

Sips in the sunshine – Local brings elevated pub-style nosh and a sun-drenched beer garden to Burleigh Heads

When Harry's Steak Bistro & Bar closed in February, it left some pretty big shoes to fill – both literally and figuratively. The silver lining is that there's usually something pretty exciting waiting in the wings and this Friday October 7 we're getting our very first taste of that something – it's called Local and we're calling it now, it's going to slide right into your clutch of favourite sip spots like it's been there this whole time. Here's everything you need to know about the new beauty on the block ... more

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You do make friends with salad at the brand-new Tarte Market in Burleigh Heads
Food & Drink

You do make friends with salad at the brand-new Tarte Market in Burleigh Heads

When Tarte Bakery & Cafe first opened its doors in 2020, it was the culmination of many years of planning from Chloe Watts, who, after traversing the globe, aimed to bring the best (and most delicious) parts of some of the most fabulous cities in the world right here to the Gold Coast. The end result melded a little bit of London with a hint of Paris and a dusting of West Village New York to create a worldly wonderland of rustic baked goods, handmade sweet treats, mouth-watering brunch bites and specialty coffee. Fast-forward two years and Chloe is at it again, only this time, instead of sweet treats, it's salad. Yes, you read right, salad. It's time to explore Tarte's healthy side with Tarte Market.   more

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Paradise Centre
Food & Drink

Goodbye late-night kebabs, hello beachside tacos and Thai – Paradise Centre is bringing a foodie mecca to Surfers 

Despite its reputation as a glitzy strip by the beach, Surfers Paradise is quickly becoming one of the Gold Coast's premier dining precincts. Gone are the days when famished beach-goers needed to rely on questionable fish and chips to fuel their day in the waves, as Paradise Centre is set to open a bustling dining precinct by the beach. This impressive expansion will bring exciting new surf and lifestyle retailers to compliment the already popular beachside haunt. Whether you're a sun-soaked tourist seeking a bite or a local ready to find your new favourite place to catch up with pals, Paradise Centre will be the perfect place for you. Here's everything you can expect to eat, see and experience when the expansion opens on Friday September 9. more

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Wrap your mitts around a Philly cheesesteak sandwich from Junior's Deli
Food & Drink

Wrap your mitts around a Philly cheesesteak sandwich from Junior’s Deli

There are some culinary creations that make us go weak at the knees. You know the ones – the kind that make your mouth involuntarily start salivating and eyes glisten in anticipation of that first glorious bite. For us, a grilled cheese toastie with just the right amount of ooze and a ridiculously succulent Philly cheesesteak sandwich are well and truly up there on the impossible-to-resist list. If you too possess a penchant for sensational sandwiches and other such deli delights, go ahead and prepare thy taste buds for Junior's Deli in Mudgeeraba – it's a feast for all of your senses. more

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Sit and smell the roses at Parkwood's new florist cafe, Flower Studio
Food & Drink

Sit and smell the roses at Parkwood’s new florist cafe, Flower Studio

Flowers have a unique ability to communicate when words seem inadequate. They can simultaneously brighten someone's day, tell someone you're thinking of them, you fancy them, and even provide comfort in times of grief. Flowers make the world infinitely more beautiful. One flower studio in Parkwood has taken the age-old expression to sit and smell the roses literally by introducing a brand-new cafe nook and leafy alfresco area so you can do just that.  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

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

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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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

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

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

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

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

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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

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

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

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

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

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

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