Johnny Omeros brings Mediterranean magic to Isle of Capri.
Johnny Omeros brings Mediterranean magic to Isle of Capri.
We hear Europe’s summer is officially off the charts, but if you’d rather skip the heatwave and the long-haul flight, we’ve found the next best thing on an island much closer to home.
After more than 30 years in hospitality, Johnny Omeros has opened the doors to his namesake restaurant at Capri on Via Roma, taking over the former Isla Dining space.
Drawn to the laidback village feel and tight-knit local community, Johnny says he wanted to create a place where great food and good company come together. Throw in those dreamy marina views, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for long lunches that somehow roll into dinner.
Inside, the venue is warm and welcoming, while outside is where you’ll want to linger, soaking up the sparkling waterfront scene with a cocktail in hand. Seating around 140 guests, it’s equally suited to date nights, family feasts, celebrations or simply pretending you’re dining somewhere along the Mediterranean coast.
Leading the kitchen is Head Chef Sejun Kim, serving up a menu inspired by Mediterranean and Greek flavours with an emphasis on fresh seafood, quality produce and generous plates made for sharing.
Let’s dive straight in.
The Seafood Platter arrives piled high with oysters (natural, Kilpatrick and Mornay), fresh and barbecued prawns, calamari, baby octopus, smoked salmon, Moreton Bay bugs, mussels and scallops. Warning – conversations will stop when this is brought to the table.
Other show stoppers include Live Mudcrabs; Greek-style, grilled with shallots, garlic, oregano and lemon butter, or the Chilli Plum version, finished with the restaurant’s homemade sweet chilli plum sauce. Feeling even fancier? Order the lobster your way; grilled whole, swimming in creamy Mornay or served chilled in a fresh lobster salad.
Not all heroes wear shells though. The Steak Frites has quickly become one of the venue’s biggest hits, pairing a perfectly cooked 300g Black Angus Riverina sirloin with crisp shoestring fries for a simple classic done exceptionally well.
Can’t decide whether to order seafood or meat? If you’re anything like us, you’ll order both. Eye Fillet, Bugs and Prawns is the ideal dish for the one-of-everything diner.
Of course, no Euro escape is complete without something refreshing to sip. Enter the Capri Garden, a botanical blend of gin, sake, fresh mint, basil, cucumber and citrus, finished with fragrant rosemary oil. It’s fresh, zesty and tastes like summer.
Whether you’re chasing a family feast, sunset cocktails with the crew or simply craving a little Mediterranean escape, Johnny Omeros on Capri is serving Euro summer vibes all winter long.
Where: 15–21 Via Roma, Isle of Capri, Surfers Paradise
When: Mon–Sat 12-30pm until late
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Liam McDonald
Cold weather, hot venues.
Winter has officially settled in, and let’s be real, leaving the house now requires a strong dose of motivation. Luckily, the Gold Coast’s latest wave of openings is making it a whole lot easier to throw off the doona and seize the day.
From juice bars and cookie counters to rooftop sips and smokehouses, June proves the Gold Coast dining scene is not hibernating, and neither should you.
From the team behind Fire Baby and Ember, Hicksy’s Cafe is part of the new Hicksville, a big and bold hospitality precinct on Hicks Street in Southport. By day, Hicksy’s Cafe offers up specialty Bear Bones coffee, fresh pastries and stacked sandwiches with standouts including the Fire Baby Porchetta Roll, Brisket Boss and Pesto Mushroom Melt. Cancel your meal prep, these sandwiches are next level.
Where: 11 Hicks Street, Southport
Burleigh favourite The Fruit Shop has opened a second location, bringing its famous fresh juices, real acai and colourful smoothie bowls to Tugun. Owned by Ashlee Rana-Smith and Bailey Haigh, the family-run business continues a legacy dating back to the 1970s with its brilliant beachside snacks made with real fruit and no additives. Consider it your new go-to for a post-surf juice or acai fix.
Where: 4/467 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
Surfers Paradise has a new locale for long lunches. Taking over the former Hyde Paradiso site, Valentina Restaurant + Bar pairs Mediterranean-inspired feasts with sweeping ocean views and cocktails created alongside the team behind Maybe Sammy. Expect share plates, fresh seafood, handmade pasta and standout spritzes, all served in a breezy coastal setting inspired by Barcelona and the Amalfi Coast. It might just make you cancel your Euro summer plans.
Where: Level 2, Peppers Soul, 8 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
After a four-month Mediterranean-inspired makeover, Cooly Breeze Rooftop Restaurant & Bar has reopened bringing elevated coastal style and a refined new menu, crafted by owner and Executive Chef Marcondes Almeida Neto – the culinary mastermind behind fellow Cooly kingpins Black Dingo and La Stradina. Whether you’re chasing sunset spritzes, long lunches or just sweeping ocean views, this refreshed favourite is officially back and better than ever.
Where: Beachcomber International Resort, Level 13/122 Griffith Street, Coolangatta
Part of the new hospitality precinct on Hicks Street, Hicksville’s Smokehouse & Backyard Bar is bringing serious smokehouse energy to Southport, serving 16-hour brisket, sticky ribs, smoked chorizo and stacked BBQ buns. Expect low-and-slow meats, share plates like the Pitmaster’s Plate, and a strong drinks list heavy on bourbon, whiskey and local brews. Perfect for post-work knock-offs or weekend feasts.
Where: 11 Hicks Street, Southport
From the team behind Pasture & Co, Fletcher’s Pantry & Espresso is Tallebudgera’s newest neighbourhood cafe, bringing specialty coffee, artisan breads and freshly baked goods to the former Woodbox site on Tallebudgera Creek Road. Designed with a nod to the building’s old-school charm, it’s set to become the local go-to for slow mornings and community catch-ups.
Where: 33 Tallebudgera Creek Rd, Burleigh
Broadbeach has officially entered the cookie chat with Brooki Bakehouse landing on Surf Parade as the brand’s first full-scale Gold Coast store. The Brisbane-born cult bakery, famous for its viral New York-style cookies, brings thick, gooey, over-the-top treats like Milk Choc-Chip, Biscoff, Red Velvet and Oreo Cheesecake, plus rich brownies, cupcakes and show-stopping cakes. Open 10am–10pm, it’s your new excuse to make every day a cheat day.
Where: 88 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Southport’s cafe scene just levelled up with No Name Lane 4215 opening at RDX Lumina, bringing the cult Broadbeach brand’s signature style to a futuristic new space. Chef Liam Dove is serving up Aussie brunch brilliance like Chilli Scramble and Raspberry Lemon Pancakes, while coffee is as top-notch as ever. The headline act though is the split cup, offering two different sips in one cup, so you no longer have to choose between coffee or matcha, you can have both!
Where: T0.3, 23 Nexus Way, Southport
Words by Lisette Drew
Valentina Restaurant + Bar serves Mediterranean feasts and ocean views.
The Gold Coast’s love affair with long lunches, ocean views and exceptional cocktails just got a little more serious.
Taking over the iconic beachfront space formerly occupied by Hyde Paradiso, Valentina Restaurant + Bar has opened, bringing a slice of Mediterranean sunshine to Surfers Paradise. And if that wasn’t enough to get your tastebuds tingling, the drinks menu has been crafted alongside the legends behind Maybe Sammy, one of the world’s most celebrated bars.
Yes please.
Perched on Level 2 of Peppers Soul, Valentina is the first Queensland venue from Table For, Accor’s dedicated food and beverage group, the team responsible for a string of acclaimed Sydney venues including Flaminia, Bar Allora and El Vista.
Inspired by the warmth, hospitality and effortless charm of coastal destinations like Barcelona, the Amalfi Coast and Andalusia, Valentina has been designed as the kind of place where one cocktail turns into three, lunch becomes dinner and nobody’s in any hurry to leave.
And honestly, with 180-degree ocean views stretching across the coastline, can you blame them?
The Mediterranean-inspired menu has been created under the guidance of Executive Chef Rosy Scatigna and brought to life by Head Chef Chantelle Richard-Preston and her all-female kitchen team. Expect vibrant, produce-driven dishes designed for sharing, grazing and lingering.
To start, there are Pacific oysters with vermouth mignonette, Byron Bay tuna crudo with mandarin and chilli, creamy taramasalata finished with dill and warm focaccia served with sesame and garlic butter. Then come the playful crowd-pleasers, including Valentina’s take on a filet-o-fish with tarragon tartar, chicken fritto with Calabrese dip and beef skewers with yoghurt aioli.
For something a little more substantial, you’ll find king prawn orzo with basil, linguine tossed through macadamia pesto and pecorino, free-range harissa chicken with smoked eggplant and market fish with puttanesca sauce. There’s also a 300-gram Angus scotch fillet for those who believe every good meal should involve steak.
Of course, no Mediterranean escape would be complete without a cocktail in hand.
The beverage offering leans heavily into aperitivo culture, with a dedicated spritz menu featuring everything from classic Venezianos and limoncello spritzes to rosé and strawberry spritzes and lychee-spiked creations. Signature cocktails bring a little extra personality, with highlights including an olive sour finished with extra virgin olive oil, a passionfruit and jalapeño margarita and a coconut and thyme highball.
For those choosing to skip the booze, there’s also a thoughtfully curated zero-alcohol selection using Lyre’s spirits.
Beyond the food and drinks, Valentina is shaping up as a destination rather than just a restaurant. Weekend bottomless long lunches are already on the agenda, alongside a regular music program featuring local DJs and Latin-inspired sounds designed to complement the venue’s coastal European energy.
The spacious venue offers both indoor dining and an outdoor terrace overlooking the ocean, accommodating up to 130 seated guests and as many as 250 standing for private events and celebrations.
In short, it’s bringing together three of the Gold Coast’s favourite things: incredible food, world-class cocktails and spectacular views.
Which means our social calendars may have just found their newest obsession.
When: Wednesday – Sunday for Lunch: 12pm – 2:30pm, Aperitivo: 4pm – 6pm and Dinner: 5pm – 10pm
Where: Level 2, Peppers Soul, 8 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
Words by Belinda Symons
New restaurants, who dis?
If there’s one thing the Gold Coast is going to do, it’s deliver on good food, and this year is shaping up very nicely. From slick new dining destinations to laidback eateries serving up seriously good plates, the restaurant scene has welcomed a wave of fresh faces we’re already obsessed with. Whether you’re planning your next date night, long lunch or spontaneous midweek outing, here’s every restaurant that we’ve covered so far this year.
Surfers Paradise has a new locale for long lunches. Taking over the former Hyde Paradiso site, Valentina Restaurant + Bar pairs Mediterranean-inspired feasts with sweeping ocean views and cocktails created alongside the team behind Maybe Sammy. Expect share plates, fresh seafood, handmade pasta and standout spritzes, all served in a breezy coastal setting inspired by Barcelona and the Amalfi Coast. It might just make you cancel your Euro summer plans.
Where: Level 2, Peppers Soul, 8 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
After a four-month Mediterranean-inspired makeover, Cooly Breeze Rooftop Restaurant & Bar has reopened bringing elevated coastal style and a refined new menu, crafted by owner and Executive Chef Marcondes Almeida Neto – the culinary mastermind behind fellow Cooly kingpins Black Dingo and La Stradina. Whether you’re chasing sunset spritzes, long lunches or just sweeping ocean views, this refreshed favourite is officially back and better than ever.
Where: Beachcomber International Resort, Level 13/122 Griffith Street, Coolangatta
Part of the new hospitality precinct on Hicks Street, Hicksville’s Smokehouse & Backyard Bar is bringing serious smokehouse energy to Southport, serving 16-hour brisket, sticky ribs, smoked chorizo and stacked BBQ buns. Expect low-and-slow meats, share plates like the Pitmaster’s Plate, and a strong drinks list heavy on bourbon, whiskey and local brews. Perfect for post-work knock-offs or weekend feasts.
Where: 11 Hicks Street, Southport
Nobby Beach has scored a little slice of Europe with the arrival of La Vie, the cosy wine bar and cafe from three French friends missing the rituals of home. Bringing South of France energy to Chairlift Avenue, the intimate space serves up crêpes, loaded charcuterie boards, European wines and cocktails made for long, lingering afternoons.
Where: Chairlift Avenue, Nobby Beach
Burleigh nights just got a little moodier with the arrival of SHŌTŌ, the new Japanese bar from Etsu founder Nathan Horwood. Taking over the former Kin space, the dark and buzzing venue pairs yakitori, handrolls and robata skewers with smoky cocktails and serious Tokyo backstreet vibes.
Where: 1730 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads
Southport’s beloved Italian has had a glow-up with the return of JAFA, now serving a refreshed slice of La Dolce Vita. Reopened under owner Roshan with chef Manoj, the space blends cosy neighbourhood warmth with polished timber tones, and a new menu featuring vodka rigatoni, twelve-hour beef ragu and hot honey pepperoni pizza. Suddenly Southport feels a little more Italian holiday than weekday dinner.
Where: Shop7, 253 Ferry Road Southport
A proper British pub has arrived in the heart of Surfers, with Artesian Hospitality officially opening the doors to Fig ’n’ Fox. Spanning two levels, the venue serves up all the pub classics you’d expect, from fish and chips to bangers and mash and hearty Sunday roasts. Inside, you’ll find warm timber finishes, cosy booth seating and plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces for long lunches and after-work pints.
Downstairs, Timmy’s Tea Room brings a grungier edge, with live music, pool tables, electronic darts, a dance floor and a cheeky basement bar atmosphere that’s already earning a loyal following.
Where: 2 Elkhorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
Helensvale’s cult favourite Italia Moto has officially levelled up, trading takeaway-only queues for a full dine-in Italian garden experience. The new space feels like a rustic European escape, with olive trees, citrus groves and fairy-lit tables setting the scene for long lunches and easy dinners. Alongside the signature woodfired pizzas and gelato, the menu now features burrata, gnocchi al ragù, calamari fritti and seafood-packed frutti di mare.
Where: 104 Helensvale Road, Helensvale
Hidden down a Burleigh laneway and already buzzing with locals, The Laneway is bringing cosy wine bar energy, carb-loaded comfort food and cocktails worth cancelling plans for. Taking over the old JFK Woodfired Kitchen & Bar space, the new spot from the team behind The Arc serves up truffle arancini, creamy pastas, loaded pizzas and crispy pork belly that absolutely steals the show.
Where: 37a Tallebudgera Creek Road, Burleigh Heads
Modern Japanese meets traditional technique at this family-run izakaya, where Aya Amemiya leads the kitchen alongside daughter Dianna front-of-house. Head chef Dai Nakata draws on Kyoto roots and years across Osaka and Tokyo, shaping a menu of share-style dishes. Expect standouts like shiso prawn toast, sushi pizza and slow-braised kakuni pork, alongside vegetarian heroes. The space is warm and intimate, with cocktails like the matcha martini keeping things lively.
Where: Shop 12, 2563 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
This takeaway pasta bar by chefs Rodrigo Abranches and Stefano Mondonico brings Italian classics into a fast food format. Choose from handmade pasta, then build your bowl with sauces like Napoli, pesto or creamy rose, and finish with toppings from vegetables to prawns or slow-cooked beef. There are also house favourites like Bolognese and chilli prawn if decision fatigue hits. With just 15 seats, it’s designed for quick, quality dining, plus gluten-free, vegan and lactose-free options to suit all.
Where: Shop 3/ 1132 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
The Melbourne-born burger and froyo brand lands at The Pines with a bright, social space built for casual hangs. The menu covers premium Angus beef burgers, plant-based options and loaded fries, alongside thick shakes and rotating specials. The real drawcard is the self-serve frozen yoghurt bar, with changing flavours and a generous toppings station. Designed for everything from post-beach refuels to family dinners, it’s a community-focused spot that leans into fun, flexibility and crowd-pleasing combinations.
Where: The Pines Shopping Centre, Shop 69, Corner Guineas Creek Road, K P McGrath Dr, Elanora
Texas-style barbecue gets a takeaway twist at this Southport newcomer, where brisket is smoked low and slow for 14 hours before landing in grab-and-go meals. Run by father-son duo Ivan and Edward Nunez, the menu focuses on smoked meats like brisket, pulled pork and flame-grilled chicken, paired with sides including waffle fries, mac and cheese and jalapeño bites. Meals can be built as bowls or loaded plates, with a range of house-made sauces bringing that full Southern flavour.
Where: Shop 1c/82 Marine Parade, Southport
From hospitality veterans Jackie and May Cheng, Jade Room brings a design-led take on Chinese dining to Robina. The moody, mid-century-inspired space sets the tone for a menu that blends traditional Cantonese flavours with modern yum cha. Highlights include truffle dumplings, beef ho fun and a signature Peking duck carved tableside. Larger plates like mud crab and XO pipi are built for sharing, while a dedicated cocktail list, including a lychee martini, will round out the evening in style.
Where: The Kitchens, 19 Robina Town Centre Drive, Robina Town Centre, Robina
Broadbeach favourite Rumi expands into Surfers with a larger, more dramatic space that reflects its Persian roots. The menu focuses on traditional dishes made for sharing, from saffron chicken and kebabs to slow-cooked lamb shank and beef ribs. Banquets are a key feature, designed for groups, alongside fresh salads, dips and house-baked bread. Interiors lean bold with rich colours and ambient lighting, while desserts like kunefe and cocktails such as the 1001 Nights level up the experience.
Where: 3240 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
Sunset sips just got a upgrade at Bar Bruto in Casuarina. This Euro-style wine bar is made for date night, girls night or any night that starts with one glass and ends with a bottle. The menu celebrates Spanish tapas and Euro-inspired small plates designed for sharing while the wine list is small but mighty too, with a focus on natural drops. It’s late-night Barcelona vibes just over the border.
Where: Shop 3/480 Casuarina Way, Casuarina
Carb lovers rejoice! Sicily by Fratello is serving pasta, pizza and all the Italian comfort your stretchy pants can handle. Think fresh handmade pasta, wood-fired pizzas, Aperol spritzes and Nutella gnocchi that should probably be illegal. It’s warm, welcoming and made for long lunches that turn into dinners. Arrive hungry, order too much and roll out happily planning your next visit.
Where: 193 Gemvale Road, Mudgeeraba
Hidden in Byron Bays’s industrial estate, Attaboy Pizza is all about really good pizza without needing to venture into the busy town centre. The brainchild of the crew behind Ciao Mate! and You Beauty, this casual takeaway joint is slinging New York slices for lunch, and full 13-inch rounds and Detroit deep dish for dinner with three-day fermented dough and toppings like Byron Hawaiian and Spicy Pepperoni that don’t mess around. It’s pizza night done right.
Where: 4/20 Bayshore Drive, Byron Bay
If Euro summer isn’t on your calendar this year, don’t stress! La Stradina has you covered. Tucked down a Cooly laneway, La Stradina lets candlelit tables and spinning vinyl set the tone. Mediterranean morsels like Moreton Bay bug skewers, Blue Fin tuna rice cakes, and homemade rigatoni are just the beginning of a moreish menu. Settle in with a signature cocktail and you’ll be saying “Euro, who?”
Where: 16 Griffith St, Coolangatta
Rowdy Ranch Steakhouse is raising the steaks and the roof in Surfers Paradise. Think smoky brisket, a show-stopping 1kg Tomahawk Steak, and wings that deserve their own fan club. There’s a mechanical bull daring you to hold on, a d-floor for line dancing and a stage for live country music straight outta Nashville. It’s boot-scooting, bucking-bull fun for both family get-togethers and full-throttle nights out. Saddle up!
Where: 3/15 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Chicken tonight? Don’t mind if we do! The Salty Chook is spinning golden birds in Rainbow Bay and serving pure post-surf satisfaction. Think free-range rotisserie chook with crackly skin, Nashville hot burgers that bring the heat, and chippies dusted in extra chicken salt (obviously). It’s nostalgic with no-fuss, where sandy feet and salt-of-the-earth souls are always welcome.
Where: 13 Ward Street Coolangatta
Tedder Avenue’s newest Italian stallion is here to wow. Bar Ricci in Main Beach is serving coastal Italian glamour with limoncello buttered barramundi, blue swimmer crab pasta, and arancini that’ll steal your heart. Think Aperol Spritz like Amalfi, Michelin-worthy mains and a wine list that’s world-class. With breezy terraces, private rooms and service as stylish as the interiors, Bar Ricci is perfect for long lunches, intimate dinners or Italian family feasts.
Where: 20 Tedder Avenue, Main Beach
Spice up your life at SABA Kitchen in Surfers Paradise! Tucked inside Hotel Jardin, this pan-Asian hotspot serves bold, flavour-packed dishes designed for sharing (or not, if the game-farm duck breast steals your heart, and it will). Think sashimi kissed with yuzu, smoky robata-grilled skewers, and Mooloolaba prawns in XO coconut sauce, all washed down with cocktails that sparkle as much as the food. Sleek, intimate and unpretentious, SABA is where long lunches turn into late-night feasts.
Where: Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre, 3240 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
Fish and chips, anyone? Red Hot Cod in Burleigh Heads just levelled up with tropical alfresco dining, a breezy bar and all Bali-inspired. Tuck into their famous golden, crispy fish, snapper poke bowls and new satay sticks that pair perfectly with coconut margaritas or Red Hot Cod Lager. Run by local legends Simon, Buffie, and daughter Mila, it’s where post-surf feeds turn into long lunches and holiday mode kicks in even if you’re just on a lunch break.
Where: 1716 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
Look at MOI now! Mad Over Italian has opened its second venue, bringing its much-loved Italian comfort food to Emerald Lakes. After winning fans in Hope Island, this family-friendly fave is serving up woodfired pizzas, classic pastas and vino-fuelled good times in a dreamy “Little Europe” setting. Satisfy midweek carb cravings with long lunches by the water and date nights that end in tiramisu. Casual, cosy and completely irresistible, this is one opening Emerald Lakes is already mad about.
Where: 3030 The Boulevard, Carrara
Seoul food incoming! Pacific Fair has gone all out with Seoul Garden’s all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and hot pot experience. Think sizzling grills, endless meats, bubbling broths and neon-lit vibes made for group hangs. You and your crew can sizzle and slurp your way through premium cuts, banchan galore and comfort classics. Come hungry, leave very happy.
Where: Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, 32 Hooker Blvd, Broadbeach Waters
Words by Lisette Drew
