Food & Drink
There’s no guessing why this was our top news category. Much like us, you guys love all of the food, and all of the drinks. This year was crazy for the Gold Coast, with so many new cafes, restaurants and bars opening up across all corner of the city. Here’s what all you foodie folk liked best …

The Kitchens
This was big. Really big. From when news of the first round of retailers dropped, to when we lifted the lid on the entire line-up, to its official opening on November 3  – the Gold Coast when absolutely crazy for The Kitchens, and rightly so. The $160-million foodie playground is an entirely new concept and is responsible for bringing some pretty big names to town. Haven’t been to The Kitchens yet? Go, now.

Cheap Eats on the Gold Coast (1.0 and 2.0)
We all love a cheap feed. Actually, let’s put this into context – you all really love a cheap feed. It all started with our first Cheap Eats round-up, which followed with the second, aptly named Cheap Eats 2.0. Because we like you so much, we even spilled the beans on where your favourite chef’s go for cheap feeds – that was way fun. So, cooking can suck, we know. Though, armed with these handy lists, you can totally eat out (often) without breaking the bank. This story was a cracker – and you’re so welcome. Stay tuned for Cheap Eats 3.0 – it’s coming … but so is Christmas, so we’ll enlighten you in the new year.

The Gold Coast’s best beer gardens and outdoor bars
We’re pretty lucky here on the Gold Coast when it comes to the weather, which is why this beautiful city has boundless outdoor bar options. We put together a pretty tight list of a few of the best outdoor bars and watering holes – and it turns out you were all keen as mustard for a tipple (or three) in the sunshine. Glad we’re all on the same page. High-five for sunshine beers.

Jimmy Grants
So, in all the hype of The Kitchens news came the Jimmy Grants announcement that snowballed most of the city into a Greek food frenzy. Why, you say? Apart from bringing delicious ‘souvas’ brimming with slow-cooked meats, this was George Calombaris’ first restaurant outside of Melbourne. He chose the Gold Coast – he chose The Kitchens. What a coup. A tasty, meaty coup.

Harry’s Steak Bistro & Bar
Ahh, this was a good time – when Burleigh exploded into a French food frenzy, thanks to foodie genius Adam Haralampou, who is also behind the ever-popular Justin Lane. Specialising in Parisian steak frites, the impressive 150-seat Harry’s Steak Bistro & Bar showcases four cuts of beef on its menu, each cooked to your liking and served with bread, house-churned butter, salad and endless (yes, endless) frites.

Jimmy Wah’s
Jimmy is pretty darn fabulous. The Vietnamese eatery came to Burleigh’s shores in June, as the latest venture from Jake Cooley (formerly Social Eating House + Bar) and Shelly Greaves (the former owner of Verve in Broadbeach), and boy did you all love it. Understandably so, because Jimmy Wah’s manages to strike the perfect balance between salty, sweet and sour, a hallmark of Vietnamese cuisine. There is also a new summer menu, so now is the time to get board Jimmy Wah’s if you’re not already (you should be).

Eddie’s Grub House
When Eddie’s opened its doors in Coolangatta in January, we knew we were in for a good year ahead. Paying homage to blues, burgers and booze, the new Eddie’s Grub House came after the transformation of an old Indian restaurant into a dive bar for renegades and heartbreakers. It seems many of you are fans of blues, burgers and booze, and you really loved the cut of Eddie’s Grub House’s jib.

Little Mermaid opens in … Mermaid
In the space formerly occupied by Kiva Han and K Bar & Meze, Little Mermaid added a welcome coastal feel to the beachside suburb of Mermaid Beach – it’s one of those places where you can come for breakfast, head out for a surf and pop back a little later for a bite and a beer. You all loved reading about the cute white timber-clad establishment when it opened in March, and it’s been satisfying locals with eats, cocktails and chilled vibes ever since.

All-day breakfast on the Gold Coast
Everything from fancy sourdough to dippy eggs, delicious baked goods and whipped Nutella – we put together all of the best spots where you can get an all-day breakfast into one handy dandy list. We’re assuming you loved it because sometimes, just sometimes, you like to sleep in and eat breakfast at lunchtime. Or, if you’re like us, you just really love bacon, eggs and pancakes and want to be able to eat them at any time of day. Bacon and eggs for afternoon tea? We’ve all been there.

Society of Florida
The Gold Coast fell in love with Burleigh Social, so when we dropped the news that owners Jarrod Barnett, Ray Lich and Kane Gibson were opening another venue, we all (yes, us too) went a little batty. When the doors to Society of Florida opened in April, the hype was all-time. By day, it exudes the casual warmth of a neighbourhood cafe where you can bring your four-legged friend and sip an Allpress coffee in the sunshine but as the sun descends, it transforms into a delightfully unpretentious suburban wine bar.

Gentlefolk
So, Pacific Fair’s multi-million-dollar transformation brought a lot of big names and international retailers to our shores, the news of which fell on some pretty happy ears. There were also a few popular ‘best of’s’ in the mix. Here’s what got you most excited.

Sephora opens at Pacific Fair
We dropped the news in the beginning of the year that Sephora was coming, and the majority of the Gold Coast’s female population went into make-up induced frenzy. We had to wait a few painful months, but then in July the doors to Sephora’s first Queensland store opened at Pacific Fair – and it was mayhem. Actual mayhem. We were beyond excited to walk the isles filled to the brim with more than 30 different cosmetic lines you’ve only ever heard about in fairytales or seen on Instagram including Marc Jacobs Beauty, Kat Von D, Becca, and Nudestix … and yes, the hype still remains.

The Gold Coast’s best free and cheap activities
We love the weekends. We live for it. Though, sometimes we know that we have to live within our means – as much as we’d love to eat out more often than we should, buy unnecessary items and splurge on dessert, sometimes you’ve just got to pull on the reins a bit. We realised we (as in, you and us) were totally on the same page with our ‘be a baller on a budget’ round-up.

Uniqlo and H&M open at Pacific Fair
So, this one has your credit cards quivering with fear, but you didn’t care because, well – H&M is amazing. That’s why. The globally adored fast-fashion house opened its mammoth two-level store at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in May, brimming with fresh threads for men, women, kids and bubs. The new H&M opened in conjunction with Japanese fashion house Uniqlo– so there was pure excitement overload.

The Weekend Series: don’t go chasing waterfalls (or do)
Don’t listen to TLC – you certainly should go chasing waterfalls. We wanted to ensure you all would make the most of the warmer months by visiting some of the best swimming holes and waterfalls within road-trip distance … and that you did. If you didn’t tick many or any off the list, get back on the waterfall train this summer.

Pacific Fair welcomes Kit and Ace
So, Pacific Fair really turned up the heat with its swag of new retailers this year. There was a collective cheer of excitement when Vancouver-based retailer Kit and Ace brought its technical apparel, lifestyle products and accessories for men and women to the centre’s mix of international retailers.

Design
This year had everything from new property developments and pop-up hotels to exciting new design and homewares retailers ­– these are the stories that you, our readers, thought were the ones to take the cake.

Byron Bay Pop Up Hotel
Just when we thought we’d seen it all, Flash Camp dropped this Christmas cracker – a full-service pop-up hotel was coming Byron Bay for the holiday season. This was huge, because it’s pretty much the most amazing local holiday idea, ever. The pop-up (which is happening right NOW) features 60 fully furnished luxury flash tents sprawling an exclusive piece of land near Tallow Beach. Take us there, now.

Trader Trove opens in Miami
We’re going to go out on a limb here and say that you lot are homewares fanatics. Are we right? Well, we know we’re right because any homeware-related news is munched up very quickly. Including when Trader Trove opened on Christine Avenue in Miami, with its giant wooden doors opening up into a treasure chest of wares. Still haven’t been in there? Go, now. You won’t come out empty-handed though – that’s an official warning.

Australia Fair’s multi-million dollar facelift
We’re loving the ongoing rejuvenation of Southport, and we were all rather pumped to hear that Australia Fair, one of the Gold Coast’s longest-standing shopping centres, was getting a new lease on life with a multi-million-dollar upgrade that is set to further revitalise the Southport area, or #sopo as it’s affectionately known. The announcement came just as the exciting new dining precinct, Australia Fair Metro, was taking shape – you can read all the foodie news here.

Zara Home opens at Pacific Fair
Christmas came early for the homeware fiends among us, with the news marking the first store in Queensland for the renowned retailer’s home decor brand, which also incorporates Zara Home Kids. If the news alone was enough to get you excited,  just wait until you see the store for yourself. Take a deep breath before entering – you won’t know where to look first.

Sunland’s The Lakes
We’ve all been watching that vacant block of land along Bermuda Street in Mermaid Waters for years, and we’re loving that it’s in Sunland’s capable hands. Following the complete sell-out of 41 canal front homesites last year, Sunland Group launched its stunning new luxury housing collection, The Lakes Residences, in Mermaid Waters – it’s beyond amazing. We politely asked if we could ‘have’ one, but they wouldn’t budge. Either way, it wasn’t just us that loved them – you did too.

Honorable mentions
Your favourite The Locals were Kayla Hanna and Tom Angel.
You loved it when our Captured photographers snapped your fine selves at The 5 Shades of Stingray, the Low n Slow BBQ Championships and QT Gold Coast’s Sunset Affair.

So, there you have it. What a wonderful 2016 it’s been for the Gold Coast. We hope you have enjoyed reading The Weekend Edition as much as we have loved creating it for you! If you’re keen to check out what our pals in Brisbane have been up to this year, head over here.