Tarte Beach House has been a dream of owner Chloe Watts’ for over a decade. As the former owner-operator of Paddock Bakery before moving on to open the much-loved Tarte Bakery & Cafe in 2020, you could say that Chloe has been pretty instrumental in fuelling our obsession with elevated baked goods, but also raising the culinary bar on the Gold Coast. Her latest project, Tarte Beach House, is her magnum opus. An incredible two-level space nestled on what she believes is one of the coast’s last remaining iconic sites. “This has been a dream spot for ten years,” Chloe says. It was her mum that gave Chloe the push to ask the existing restaurant’s owner if they would be interested in selling, and, as fate would have it, she was. After amalgamating the entire site, Chloe and her team set to work on completely transforming every square centimetre of the space with Chloe’s signature Hamptons-meets-Paris aesthetic. Scattered throughout the venue you’ll find remnants of Chloe’s travels and appreciation for antiques that each have their own story to tell. The feature light shades on the lower balcony, for example, are 100-year-old umbrellas from a beach in France, while the counter was an old pharmacy table, once upon a time.

If there’s one thing we’ve learnt about Chloe it’s that she’s an absolute perfectionist, and she doesn’t do things by halves (okay, so technically that’s two things). The ground level replicates the casual walk-in-off-the-beach style we’re familiar with from Burleigh, with a menu slinging Tarte’s New York-style bagels, burritos, juices, pastries and coffee, which can be enjoyed on the sand or a picnic rug. Upstairs is where Chloe has really upped the ante with the 100-seat restaurant delivering a more refined offering. Among the all-day menu you will spy dishes such as a zingy citrus-cured salmon with whipped creme fraiche with wedges of fresh orange and grapefruit drizzled with parsley oil and citrus dressing, alongside a seriously impressive lobster roll that’s loaded with southern rock lobster (not bay lobster disguised as lobster, as you’ll sometimes find on menus). The crab linguine is set to be another fave, filled with local spanner crab, confit tomato, garlic and chilli with olive oil, white wine and parsley. In true Tarte style, Chloe has gone to great lengths to be as sustainable as possible, ensuring that only the best quality ingredients make its way to a plate. “I’m so passionate about food,” Chloe says. So while it has undoubtedly added another layer of complexity to the logistics, it was important to Chloe to ensure that everyone has access to this incredible produce. While drinks can often be an afterthought, at Tarte Beach House, they’re anything but. You’ll find Parallel Roasters on pour alongside a seriously impressive Parisian-style hot chocolate that includes three different types of chocolate and a house-made torched marshmallow balancing on top. Chloe’s personal favourite is the creme brulee, which contains creme anglaise with a crisp layer of torched sugar. Tarte Beach House is also fully licensed, so if you fancy a daytime tipple, there’s a tightly curated clutch of bubbles, wines and cocktails to choose from. Chloe has grand plans to venture into evenings with a supper club on the cards for the (hopefully) not-too-distant future, but for now, things are firmly focussed on daytime.

Tarte Beach House officially opens on Thursday August 10. Head to our Stumble Guide for opening times.