Jafa brings top-notch pizza, boutique wines and neighbourhood vibes to Southport
Michael Hopkinson has worked the knives in some of the finest kitchens in the world, but the ex-Nobu Melbourne chef knew things would one day come full circle. He grew up in Southport and cut his teeth at the former Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove, before extending his culinary prowess across Paris, Melbourne and more recently Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. Last week, Michael and wife Rebecca opened the doors to Jafa, a quaint pizzeria and wine bar in Southport. Sure, SoPo may be a far cry from the foodie precincts of Michael’s past, but what he’s aiming to do with his humble eatery is bring quality food, great wine and a good dose of personality to the city’s northern end. There’s a void and he’s filling it – one delicious pizza at a time.
The details
If you live on the northern end of the Gold Coast, then you probably just exhaled a sigh of relief – and rightly so. There’s been a heck of a lot of action in the city’s southern suburbs of late, so places like Jafa are lovingly welcomed with open arms and hungry stomachs. The 50-seat eatery occupies the former Thai on Ferry premises (which shifted a few doors up) and has undergone a complete transformation to create Southport’s newest neighbourhood hang. Oh, and if you’re wondering about the name – Michael’s favourite restaurant in Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand always had a jar of Jaffa lollies at the front – but he’s a smart guy, knows that trademarking exists, and dropped the ‘f’ to make Jafa. There you go.
The food and drink
The humble eatery features an intentionally concise menu driven by quality produce. Pizza is the hero and it’s kept in its simplest form – it’s not authentic Italian as such, but Michael draws on the simplicity of the Italian way with uncomplicated flavours and minimal toppings. The hand-stretched bases are dressed with combinations like pepperoni, tomato and mozzarella, truffled mushrooms on a ricotta base with peas and thyme, and wagyu meatballs with mozzarella and zucchini, before being fired to perfection at around 360 degrees. If it’s a bar snack and wine you’re after, choose from smaller plates like chicken liver pate with cherry jam, pistachios and flat bread, a whiting sandwich with preserved-lemon aioli, or a fresh arrangement of heirloom tomatoes with goats cheese, fennel and basil. The menu, which will remain fairly fluid, also features larger plates like an eye fillet with truffle butter, and a kale, pesto and parmesan gnocchi. Those that appreciate quality wine will give a smile and nod to Jafa’s very approachable cellar list, which focuses mainly on lesser-known Australian wine producers and smaller boutique vineyards. Plus, you’ll find a tight selection of local, Kiwi and international beers.
The space
The Jafa space has been brought to life by Arran Woolams from Spaced Cubed (the talented gent behind a number of local fit-outs, who is also a co-owner of Mr PP’s and is about to open Last Night on Earth). Jafa is a far cry from its former state – it’s bright and fresh with timber features, soft olive tones and a fabulous marble-topped five-seater bar. The kitchen is completely open, so you’ll see Michael creating his magic in full view – he likes to keep an eye on his Jaffas (yes, there’s a jarful sitting on the bar).
Jump over to our Stumble Guide for Jafa’s opening hours, location and contact details.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.
