Baked
The mesmerising aroma of freshly baked bread, croissants and pastries will be filling the air around Tweed later this year when Baked opens its barnyard-style doors. The exciting new bakery and patisserie is the latest venture from PLB Group, the team behind Osteria in Casuarina, Taverna in Kingscliff and The Bombay Cricketers Club at Salt. Baked will form part of PLB’s newly opened Ancora wedding venue, which is nestled on Tweed Heads’ Wharf Street overlooking the pristine Terranora Creek. The fit-out is currently underway, with the venue set to feature a pastry room encased by a glass viewing window, as well as outdoor tables and a grassed picnic area with uninterrupted views over the water. Tweed’s Ground Control coffee will be supplying the caffeine, which will be accompanied by a modern cafe menu driven by Northern Rivers produce. As for the baked goods, expect everything from flaky croissants to sweet and savoury pastries, sourdough bread and plenty more. Keep your eyes peeled – we’ll have all of the details and a sneak peek inside closer to the opening of Baked this December.

Taco Bell
World-famous Mexican-inspired chain Taco Bell is coming to the Gold Coast! Works are currently underway on the former Oporto premises opposite Robina Town Centre (next to the service station) to bring the coast’s first Taco Bell to life. While no exact opening date has been confirmed, we’re told the chain will be slinging the Mexican goodness in time for summer. Expect a Cali-style vibe with classic menu items like burritos, quesadillas, and soft and crunchy tacos, as well as icons like the Crunchwrap Supreme, Cheesy Gordita Crunch, Stacked Nachos Supreme and Cantina Fresco Bowls. Taco Bell’s first Gold Coast restaurant signals another step forward in its Queensland foray, having opened the doors to its first Brisbane store in Annerley last year. We’ll have more details for you closer to the opening.

Taboo Tiki
The team behind hidden Broadbeach haunt Aloha Bar & Dining and burger joint Smashed Burgers have embarked on a new tiki-style bar in the heart of Surfers Paradise. Taboo Tiki will be located on Orchid Avenue (below Hollywood Showgirls, just for a point of reference), taking over the vacant space that was previously occupied by bar 19 Orchid. Think of Taboo Tiki as a bigger, grown-up version of Aloha. Like its Broadbeach sibling, Taboo Tiki will offer a menu of Hawaiian and pan-Asian eats, which will be served until 3:00 am to keep the late-night snackers (very) happy. Behind the bar there will be plenty of fun, vibrant, tiki-style cocktails, plus local beers and spirits. Taboo Tiki is expected to open around late September – we’ll keep you posted once the doors open.

Bam Bam Bakehouse
The owners of Mermaid’s Bam Bam Bakehouse, Tallebudgera Creek’s Neptune Kiosk and the soon-to-open Cubby Bakehouse in Chinderah have opened a temporary pop-up space at Tallebudgera Creek, which will eventually become a new cafe. Ben and Ursula Watts have taken over the cafe that is nestled at the front of the Tallebudgera Recreation Centre – but it’s early days yet. At the moment it’s operating as a pop-up serving a seven-item menu with simple-but-tasty delights like bacon and egg rolls, as well as coffee and pastries. Works on a new fit-out will commence later this year to give the site a new Bam Bam-esque identity, with the yet-to-be-named daytime hang expected to open in its full capacity this summer. It’s older-yet-smaller sibling Neptune Kiosk will continue to sling pastries, cookies and coffee from beneath the surf club on the creek front. We’ll give you a look inside once the pop-up space turns permanent later this year.