If there is one thing that lets you know you have made it in this world, it is the ability to book out an entire venue for you and your friends to enjoy with nobody else around. Especially if that venue is one of the prettiest you’ve ever laid eyes on and overlooking the ocean at our very own Burleigh Heads.

Well friends, you guessed it, the time has arrived. Thanks to the current state of the world (not a thing we ever thought we’d say), we’ve all made it because it is now possible to hire out Burleigh Pavilion’s absolutely magical Beach Bar for you and nine friends and have absolutely nobody else there.

No doubt you’ve experienced the good time that is the Pav on a Sunday afternoon, absolutely packed with revellers sipping in the sunshine, taking selfies with the sparkly ocean in the background and generally just being stoked to be alive. It’s fun but what’s even better is doing all of those things without pesky strangers rubbing up against you. Unless that’s your thing, no judgement here.

ANYWAY. The point is, this is potentially a once in a lifetime opportunity to live your very best life and you should absolutely take it while you can.

One of the very best parts is, it’s affordable and you get to both eat and drink delicious, delicious things.

For $150 per person you get oysters and champagne on arrival, then fresh prawns followed by Caprese Salad, Proscuitto Di Parma, Braised Lamb Shoulder, Roast Pumpkin Salad and Warm Apple Tart. A drinks package is all-inclusive so that’s amazing.

You know what else is amazing? Seeing your friends after months apart and making it the absolute best reunion it could possibly be, overlooking the ocean in Burleigh Heads with nobody else around.

Sounds perfect to us.

Get on it quickly, you never know how long it will be until things change again.

For more details and to book, email [email protected]

LOCATION:  Burleigh Pavilion, Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads

Words by Kirra Smith. Photos by Amanda Hibbard.

Imagine a life without caffeine. Horrible, right? How would one get through the day? Unthinkable. Let’s all take a moment to be grateful for caffeine.

Luckily, we locals need never think about a lack of caffeine ever in our lives because the Gold Coast has abundant options for exceptional brews.

One such neighbourhood forever capturing the imagination of coffee drinkers and lunch-goers is Burleigh. Be it a quick coffee catch-up or a grazing-style brunch with special people: you’re covered. Here’s a list of the twelve best spots to get your caffeine fix when you find yourself in one of the city’s favourite suburbs.

Bunlee Bun & Brew
Between munching down some epic rice paper rolls or a stacked-looking banh mi, we suggest you take a try of their cold drip coffee on tap here at BunLee. If you’ve ever had iced Vietnamese coffee — or cà phê đá, as it’s known — you’ll know how tasty it can be. It’s up to you what milk to splash into it, or if you prefer, just take it black: perfect for when you need to put that pep into your step.
Where: 2/26 James Street, Burleigh Heads

Dover’s Drop
Take an award-winning local barista, throw in some fantastic coffee from carbon-neutral roasters Locale Espresso, and place it conveniently just off Reedy Creek Road and you’re looking at the exact blueprint of Dover’s Drop, a prime industrial district coffee location in Burleigh. The perfect place to pull a pit stop when you’re going about your day, but be careful: their loungey outdoor space with beanbags may keep you longer than planned, not to mention their Sourdough Crumpets!
Where: 9 Dover Drive, Burleigh Heads

Magnolia Lane
A newbie to the bustling beachside locale of Burleigh, Magnolia Lane is sandwiched between the beach and the GC Highway, meaning whether you’re zipping about town or lounging beachside, these guys have you well and truly covered for your caffeine needs. The unwavering attention taken to dialling in their machine and weighing each and every shot of coffee shows right through from your first to last sip.
Where: 6/1863 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Crew
Aptly positioned in the heart of Burleigh Heads, this is the early morning post-workout/dip in the ocean hangout spot of the ages. Crew showcases Sunshine Coast Tim Adams specialty coffee with exceptional barista skills and a cheat meal-inducing menu you cannot say no to. Hinge all of this on one hell of a people-watching location, and you have a mighty fine place to slurp your morning cup of motivation.
Where: 3 Connor Street, Burleigh Heads

Sparrow Coffee Co.
Laidback and easy-going Sparrow offers you a prime opportunity to get yourself a quality coffee on the go with little fuss. With another three locations across the country and their roastery of choice being Allpress, you’re guaranteed a quality cuppa every time. It’s also the perfect spot to fuel up before a workout if you go to nearby Elevation Fitness or Jetts!
Where: 2/151 West Burleigh Road, Burleigh Heads

Tarte
Where do you even begin with a place that literally falls over itself with excellent house-made food, great-tasting coffee, and a great location to watch life go by. Chloe Watt‘s creation Tarte is one of the finest cafes on our coastline: period. Give yourself some slack and indulge in any one of their off-the-charts pastries/baked goods with a perfectly poured cup of coffee as dappled light from overhead trees sprays across the pavement of Burleigh Heads — our idea of bliss.
Where: 2 West Street, Burleigh Heads

Next Door Espresso
Touted as not your average coffee shop, this aesthetically pleasing venue is awash with white and is nearly always an afternoon suntrap that, to us, screams brunch with close friends. Northern Rivers’ Moonshine Roastery are the foundation of an always great-tasting coffee served in the cutest looking handmade clay cups. Be sure to bring your credit card, as adjacent homewares store St Barts is always worth a look in also!
Where: 24 Junction Road, Burleigh Heads

Commune Espresso
A kickstarter in the Burleigh coffee scene, Commune Espresso has been around for as long as we can remember, and in this chasm of lost time, they’ve been serving up some of the tastiest brews around. The space itself is epic, complete with lots of outdoor relaxing areas and a ping pong table to use up that caffeine-induced energy. They also make their own almond milk; that’s how dedicated they are to delicious coffee.
Where: 1844 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Canteen Coffee & Kitchen
A firm favourite in the coffee game, Canteen has been lauded as one of Australia’s premier espresso bars. They brew their own blends, sourcing in-season beans and roasting fresh daily on demand. They offer a Signature Espresso Blend with notes of chocolate, berries, toffee and spice and Single Origins, which change weekly. They certainly know their stuff, highly recommended.
Where: 23 Park Avenue, Burleigh Heads

Nook Espresso
So good they’ve got two locations in Burleigh; Nook offers little spaces with a big passion for coffee. They’ve been slinging tasty brews since 2008, and for this, the local community loves them! Nook offers a smooth cuppa that’s consistently delicious, and the crew are stoked and always smiling to be involved in your morning coffee routine. Plus, if you head to their beachside location, you can sip away whilst overlooking world-famous surf.
Where: Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads and Stocklands Burleigh Heads

Quest Coffee Roasters
The smell wafting out of Quest alone should draw you in and, once you’re in, you may never want to leave. The space is half micro-roastery, half sitting-down-to-enjoy-your-coffee space, and it’s an absolute must-visit if you’re a lover of excellent brews. They roast premium Arabica beans on James Street, and if you’re in the market, you can purchase their green and roasted beans or a blend. Make sure you have a chat with the team; they love to discuss all things coffee.
Where: 20 James Street, Burleigh Heads

Seadog
The original Seadog emerged on the local coffee scene with a bang and is an actual hole in the wall, which was once an ATM. Stop by and let affable owner Brodie Green and his gang serve you up their very own roasts; one going by the name Sunrise Blend – with tasting notes of Milo! When they’re not actively supporting charities with free coffee giveaways, you’ll find them at their second venue beside Burleigh Bowls Club, eternally bathed in sunshine and salt air. Two great locations for coffee in Burleigh!
Where: 50 James St, Burleigh Heads or Burleigh Bowls Club — entrance via Memorial Park

Words by Alex Mitchenson.

It’s no secret that coffee is the magical elixir that ensures a long and happy life and without it, we would really have no reason to get up in the morning and without a reason to get up in the morning we’d have no brunch squad, no reason to wear our activewear, no pics to upload to Instagram, no nothing friends.

So you see, life giving elixir. The reason for that ramble is this; Nook Espresso, who we believe may be the very ones who started the Gold Coast’s coffee culture uprising have a sparkly new space in Burleigh Heads and we are here to discuss it.

Hopefully you’ve already sampled the smooth, perfectly caffeinated brews the crew at Nook are pumping out on the daily but if not, you’re really missing out.

The new space can be found at Stockland Burleigh Heads, where the old space also lived, but with a sparkly new lease on life that you’re going to want to check out the next time you’re in need of a cuppa (so tomorrow).

Found at the front of the centre, looking out over a plant-filled seating area where a sweet new pizza place (by the same crew) will soon open, Nook is all glossy white tiles and their signature aqua accents offset by a few copper feature pieces.

It all comes together with a fresh, feel-good vibe perfectly befitting of the 11 year old biz. Which is due, in large part to owners Marcus Wilkins and Paola Pearse who are two of the chattiest, always-stoked-to-see-you folks around.

Not to mention everyone else who whips up tasty brews behind both the Stocklands Nook counter and the one on the beach at Burleigh Heads. Legends the lot of them.

The beans are Byron Bay locals, Nook has been using the same delicious blend for all these years and that is because it is the goods. Big fans.

Eats-wise, you may indulge in simple but delicious brunch-style takeaway treats like ham and cheese croissants (perfect for when you drank three whiskey’s the night before while watching THAT GoT episode – you feel?) plus Acai bowls, raisin toast, Bircher muesli, banana bread, all the good things.

There are also cold-pressed juices, made fresh in-house, smoothies and milkshakes (HOW GOOD ARE MILKSHAKES), in case coffee is not your thing. Poor you.

So, if a smiling face and (more importantly) a life-giving elixir in a shiny new Burleigh space is something you need in your life, pop down to say g’day to the good people at Nook Espresso.

We’ll probably also be there. Every day, forever.

Love you coffee.

LOCATION: Stockland Burleigh Heads, West Burleigh Rd, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: 6am until 4.30pm

Words and photos by Kirra Smith