Burleigh Heads has absolutely come alive in the last couple of years with epic eateries and beachside bars popping up all over the place.

The locals are loving it, everybody else is talking about it and we are 100% on board the Burleigh’s the best train.

If there was one thing missing in a suburb filled with good vibes and even better people though, it was an eatery centred around a sense of community and here we are discussing the team of locals who have now taken up that space.

Burleigh Co-op opened their doors today (Monday March 4th) and the sweet little venue already has a huge following, which doesn’t surprise anyone in the least.

The newbie is the work of a gang of folks whose names you no doubt know, including the Hotel Miami crew, the legends at Granddad Jacks, the guys at Lost Boys Barbers, food extraordinaires Fingers and Bones Catering and Elki Blue Jewellery.

They’ve taken over the spot where much-loved Burleigh Social once lived after quickly seeing the hole it’s absence left for the hungry locals.

The bones of the building remain the same but the fitout is all sparkly and new with a whitewashed slash industrial vibe perfectly at home amongst the potted greenery, tangled trellises and a little bench style situation covered in vines.

Inside, glossy white tiles line the back wall, which is where you’ll see the chefs working their magic and you may sit inside to watch them do just that or outside in the prettiest of courtyards.

It’s relaxing, easy on the eye and, well, perfectly Burleigh.

The menu is also one of the best around with plenty of breakfast slash lunch dishes you’ve never laid eyes (or tastebuds) on before.

The Zucchini Waffles are a taste sensation with a sunny side egg (best name for a food-related thing), mixed shoots, chilli sour cream and Parmesan snow (also epic). It’s a big old dish that’ll satisfy you for a very long while.

The Brick Lane Bombay is spice-fried potatoes, flashed spinach, fried egg, coriander, spring onion and lime. You want to eat it just after reading that don’t you. One of the best brunch dishes in the world. Big call, no lie.

There’s also an array of bowls filled with fresh, nourishing goodness and while we’ll certainly be sampling all of them, first up we’d recommend the Green Papaya Salad because fresh hot smoked tofu, rice noodles, loads of herbs, peanuts, crispy shallots and Chili and lime dressing. All of the flavours.

Oh let’s also discuss the Falafel Fritters with pickled red cabbage and caraway seeds, turmeric cauliflower hummus, barley tabouli and a seeded cracker. Yep.

Every dish deserves a mention but we can’t give away all their secrets.

The coffee is by local faves Social Espresso so you know a sweet, smooth brew is on the cards and all the produce on offer is local because showcasing our stunning city is what Burleigh Co-op is all about.

From the owners to the eats, everything about the place is part of the community, co-operative vibe Burleigh knows and loves.

So, after all that, obviously the only thing left to do is get down to Hibiscus Haven and get involved in the goodness.

Happiest days.

Words and photos by Kirra Smith.

LOCATION: 2 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: 6am until 3pm daily

Oh hey Mermaid, long time no see, missed you. Seriously though, it’s been awhile since we discussed the happenings of the suburb with the prettiest name in the world (biased) but here we go.

Morena Espresso quietly opened their colourful doors last week adding to the rapidly growing creative scene Mermaid has going on.

The space, on the corner of the Gold Coast Highway and Cronulla Ave (where Hula Girl Espresso once lived) is stunning, filled with locally made goodies you may purchase while patiently (haha) waiting for your cup of caffeine.

Made of two levels, there’s plenty of spots for relaxing, including a bright pink couch, a communal table set up down the centre of the space and some little tables set amongst said purchasable goodies. Brands on offer include Drift Trading Co. candles, Ecua Andino Hats, Rustic Peppermint and Kippy Skateboards to name a few local legends.

Outside, an eye-catching mural has been painted by local artists Fa Bio and Barbara Farias Lama and it’s all Spanish animals and palm trees and a pretty brunette drinking a tasty cuppa. It’s one of the prettiest on the Coast.

Morena Espresso is the kind of place you can pop in for a quick takeaway coffee or pull up a spot and spend all day working (slash making a list of all the pretty things you want to buy).

Obviously, takeaway coffee is the name of the game and the beans on offer are Byron Bay’s Marvell St.

At the moment, eats are limited to a few raw treats but in the next week there’ll be an array of tasty toasties on offer as well as smoothies, acai bowls and more raw treats. All perfect for feeding your hungry self on the go.

Not only eats and espresso, Morena will soon play host to creative workshops including song writing and salsa dancing. There’ll also be art exhibitions by local artists and all of those sounds like a very good time to us.

Pop down and say hello to the people bringing a little bit more colour, and a little bit more caffeine to your day.

What would we do without them.

LOCATION: 2550 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
HOURS: 6am to 4pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 2pm Saturday

Words and photos by Kirra Smith

If there is a time that is more delightful than dining under the stars in a garden overflowing with greenery and your very best friends by your side, we are not aware of it.

Throw in a five-star feast and a BYO sips situation, call it a Supper Club and you’ve earned our undying love. Which is exactly what you always wanted at Burleigh Co-Op is it not?

As you may have guessed, the crew at everyone’s fave community café in Burleigh has created something new and we’re pretty sure you’re going to love it as much as we do.

So what is this new Supper Club we gush about? Well, it’s an intimate evening consisting of exceptional eats fresh from the farm, live music and a whole lot of good vibes.

A ticket will get you a five course feast, set by Burleigh Co-ops chef with the highest quality cuts of meat and fresh produce to accompany.

If you’ve had the pleasure of sampling the menu at Burleigh Co-op before, you’ll know it’s some of the best around and you’re in for a treat.

Supper Club will run every month and the menu will be kept secret until the night (or nights), which makes it even more fun.

It’s the work of the team behind Fingers and Bones Catering who create flavour-filled dishes that are both refined and some of the tastiest on the Gold Coast in the humble opinion of people who eat A LOT.

The BYO part is really great because you know what goes exceptionally well with a five-star feast of Fingers and Bones quality? Gin.

And you know where you can get five-star gin, made by local legends and just a short walk away from Burleigh Co-Op? Granddad Jack’s that’s where. Home of a few varieties of gin that we (of course) have tasted on several occasions and are very big fans of.

Excitingly, once you’ve finished up at the Supper Club, you can stroll on back to Granddad Jack’s for a few delightful cocktails to finish up the night.

So you see where the undying love for Supper Club comes from now right?

Oh and we forgot to say it’s on this weekend and there are still tickets for Saturday night.

You’re welcome, bye.

LOCATION: 2/2 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads
WHEN: Saturday October 19th from 6pm sharp.

Words and photos by Kirra Smith