There are few things better on the Gold Coast than a perfectly put together coastal European-inspired venue overlooking the ocean in Kirra. Throw in the fact that said venue is named after a beloved family pup and that it has been created by the clever team behind Siblings (also in Kirra) and there’s nothing better.

Introducing Hanks. This sophisticated newbie is a delightful addition to the Southern Gold Coast’s growing dining scene, taking over the corner space on Musgrave Street in Kirra where Bread and Butter once lived.

Of which Hanks owners Peter, Tracey and TJ Cianci along with Jarrod Kyle are no strangers. All in all they have been the previous owners of Edgewater Dining and Fish Emporium and of course, current owners of Siblings Kirra. As usual, they’ve created something very special that we expect will become a firm favourite for everyone who has the pleasure of visiting.

Inside Hanks is a designer’s dream come true thanks to Zero9 and Space Cubed Design Studio with an absolutely stunning Sovrano marble bar as the centrepiece, low hanging pendant lights, windows on every side, an open kitchen and a private dining space you’ll want to book for every event for the rest of your life.

As we mentioned, all of this is just steps from the ocean creating the relaxed, seaside ambience you thought you’d only ever find in the Euro summer you’ve long been dreaming of (same).

The cuisine has been stamped as ‘coastal European’ which suits us just fine thank you very much and the team have created the menu around the concept of the table being the platter. Which means everything is for sharing and you get to sample more than you otherwise might. Lucky for you.

The menu is crafted around fresh ingredients, sourced daily including homemade pasta, sliced meats, fresh seafood and Tuscan Schiacciata bread. You’ll find dishes like ‘Cacio e Pepe’ arancini to start, small dishes like Crudo of Fraser Island scallops with finger lime dressing and Burrata with caramelised honey, fennel seed. Fresh handmade pasta dishes include Bay Lobster spaghetti with cherry tomato, chilli, garlic and lemon and Cavatelli with pork & fennel sausage, broccolini and pangrattato.

On the grill, there are Ballina king prawns with green garlic butter and lemon and Chargrilled spatchcock with nduja butter and charred lemon.

Desserts are all made in house too. Expect tasty bites like Pistachio Cannoli and Hanks New York Cheesecake plus liquid desserts like a Screwball Delight involving Peanut Butter Whiskey.

To sip, the Mango Margarita is a must and there are a further 29 specialty cocktails to make your way through too, with several incorporating locally distilled spirits such as Familiar Spirits and Six-Tricks.

Most importantly, via all of that aforementioned goodness, the team hopes to deliver the Gold Coast the same level of joy their boy Hank brought to them and though those are no doubt big shoes to fill, we think they’ve got it covered.

Now go. Treat yourself to some time at Hanks.

Where: 76 Musgrave Street, Coolangatta
When: Tuesday – Sunday, 12pm – late

Get excited lovers of exceptional sandwiches and Insta-worthy sips, there’s a new kid in town and you’ll want to make your way to Labrador quick smart to sample everything in sight.

It’s called Butter Bodega, a New York style bodega (convenience store) found on Marine Parade in Labrador and it’s serving up some very tasty takeaway treats as well as offering grocery store goodies for your one-stop shop pleasure.

The newbie is the work of husband and wife duo Ivan and Monique, lovers of great food and good style. Convenience stores run in the family with Ivan’s parents owning the 7/11 in the same space for the previous 20 years. Butter Bodega is unlike any convenience store you’ve ever seen before.

To start with, she’s a beauty. Glossy green tiles adorn the outside wall and inside it’s all black and white checked tiles, perfectly arranged shelves, a shiny silver basketball hoop and a photo wall with images of the spaces’ progress and one of Seinfeld which you’ll want to hear the story about next time you’re in. The interior was designed by Bridgette Ford and it’s everything you’d expect from a NYC-inspired store (but also better).

To eat there are sandwiches and as you may know, it can be tough to find a good sandwich on the Coast. Or it was, until now.

Butter Bodega boasts many mouthwatering flavours, and they change often, but on any given day you can expect combinations like Smoked Mortadella with cultured butter, Dijon mustard, provolone and mayonnaise on a milk bun or (wait for it) Black Truffle Squid Ink Salami with honey and cultured butter on a seeded baguette. There’s also a Bangalow Ham sandwich on a baguette and Spiced Beef Pastrami with Russian dressing, Swiss cheese, pickles, sauerkraut and jalapenos on New York Rye.

The sandwiches are made with the highest quality deli meats and the freshest of bread and they are the result of many months of trials at Ivan and Monique’s home.

There’s coffee, of course, served in New York lookalike cups that have been around since the 1960s. If you’re after something a little bit special why not try the Biscoff Latte, Pumpkin Space Matcha or a Strawberry Matcha?

Soon there’ll be the option to order school lunches for the kids and sandwich/cheese platters to be enjoyed on the waterfront just a few steps away.

The intention behind Butter Bodega was to create a warm and welcoming, family-owned grocery store and café and that is exactly what they’ve done. The passion and adoration for everything happening inside is obvious and it is indeed the perfect addition to the Northern Gold Coast’s culinary lineup.

Oh, and once a month there’s set to be an exclusive vintage designer popup store with pieces on offer that Monique herself has curated. It will be held within the bodega in a space called The Cold Room and there will be champagne. Keep an eye out on socials because tickets will be limited.

Good times all round. Get in there and check it out for yourself.

Where: Shop 15, 300 Marine Pde, Labrador
When: 6am to 2pm daily for coffee and sandwiches and 2pm to 7pm for groceries

Mermaid Beach has gotten a lot more colourful with the vibey addition of Sunnyboy to its culinary ranks. The newbie is the work of one of the Gold Coast’s most beloved creators in the foodie space, Andrew Whiting and it is exactly as delightful as you’d expect. And then some.

Found on the corner of Hedges Ave and Montana Ave where Café on Hedges once lived, Sunnyboy is marked by yellow striped umbrellas, splashes of colour and plenty of smiling faces enjoying glimpses of the ocean and tucking into some of the very best eats you’ll find on the Coast.

Sunnyboy is the sibling of Broady’s Elk Espresso a Gold Coast institution since 2011, much-loved by absolutely everyone. Before Elk Andrew owned fine dining venue Sparrow and Nobby Beach and his first venture Vintage Espresso was the favourite of Mermaid Beach locals from its very first day. In what he calls a full circle moment, Sunnyboy opening in Mermaid Beach has brought the Vintage coffee loving community back together to delight in a new, neighbourhood-centric space.

The idea behind Sunnyboy was to remind people of an era gone by in Mermaid Beach, long summers spent by the ocean without a care in the world. It’s a little bit retro with white Besser blocks and of course, the colour palette is a nod to the Sunnyboy ice blocks that we once couldn’t get enough of on a hot day.

In keeping with Elk, Sparrow and Vintage, the menu is filled with seasonal dishes that are both a feast for the eyes and the tastebuds. There’s Summer Fruit French Toast made with a crispy cornflake brioche and topped with plum compote, fresh peaches, cherries, honeyed macadamias, rock salt caramel gelato and coconut mousse. Yep.

Faves like Avo Toast and Stracciatella Toast grace the menu and then there are special dishes like a Sticky Pork Hoagie with plum sauce, roasted pork belly, miso butter, sesame fried eggs, rocket and fried shallots.

For lunch there are colour-filled salads, an array of exceptional burgers and an Open Steak Sandwich with rare eye fillet, horseradish, aioli, rocket, fried shallots, cured egg yolk, Chimichurri and herbs on toasted sourdough and you’ve never tasted anything like it in your life.

To drink there are all the kinds of coffee (made with Sunnyboy beans of course), tea, smoothies, pressed juices, milkshakes and booze of course. You may also sip on a Mimosa, Spritz or a Paloma (an elite selection) and for $49pp you can enjoy your choice of meal plus bottomless Mimosas for an hour, which is so great.

So obviously Sunnyboy is the new love of all our lives and perfectly timed to make the upcoming Gold Coast summer even more enjoyable. Cheers to that.

Where: 168 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
When: 7am until 2pm daily