Here on the Gold Coast, we truly are spoilt for choice when it comes to sublime sipping spots. Contrary to the old adage, we don’t believe that you can ever really have too much of a good thing – the more the merrier! If you agree, there’s a new player on the scene that you need to know about – it’s called La Playa and it occupies the prime corner space of Paradise Centre’s brand-new $40-million beachside dining precinct. Translating to mean ‘the beach’ in Spanish and Portuguese, La Playa is the latest from the culinary team that has previously brought us Pearl & Ash at Brickworks (now owned by a different group) and Elston Bar a little further along The Esplanade. Spacious, striking and inviting are words that immediately spring to mind when you step inside La Playa’s light-filled dining area. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the expansive Mediterranean-inspired menu walks the line between familiar and adventurous. Morning highlights include the flavourful Sharwarma Wrap, classic eggs Benne and the indulgent Baltic Avo Smash adorned in Persian fetta, baby capers, white sesame and sunflower seeds. From midday until late, diners can enjoy a medley of Mediterranean morsels such as saganaki, fresh oysters, king prawns and calamari fritti on a fresh citrus salad with segmented grapefruit and preserved-lemon mayo. More substantial bites include the spiced Moroccan chicken on a bed of quinoa tabbouleh with dill and yogurt, and a rich, chorizo-laden potato gnocchi. Pair your Mediterranean feast with a refreshing Pimm’s Cup, red or white sangria, or peruse the entire section of the menu that’s dedicated exclusively to martinis.