All right be honest, when was the last time you made it south of the legendary Talle Creek? We Gold Coasters are creatures of habit and we’re kindaaaa guilty of not venturing too far from the familiarity of our own suburbs so you know that means two things… 1. There’s a whole city of gems waiting for you to explore and 2. The locals know what’s up which is why we’ve done some snooping around Tugun to find out their favourite hang outs so you can just go and lap up the good times.

Nestled at the southern end of the Gold Coast, Tugun (or Tuges, as the locals say) as a beachside village is sleepy no more, meshing laid-back vibes with a vibrant community spirit and we are here for it. It’s a slice of paradise that locals love for its stunning shoreline, thriving foodie scene, and unique mix of boutique shopping and wellness hotspots. Here’s why Tugun holds a special place in the hearts of Gold Coasters.

Something to sip and snack
The foodie culture down here is something else, to get the day going Niche & Co has long reigned the Southern GC as THE place to your caffeine and brekky fix to nourish the bod before you start your day – if a quick bite is more your speed then The Fox’s Pantry has pastries aplenty as well as other bits and bobs like gifts and groceries to keep you going. Okay so this one might not be your usual kind of coffee haunt but Made Barber & Barista have brought us the combo we didn’t even know we needed – pop down to grab your morning brew and leave with a sharp new cut, two birds one coffee!

When seaside it’s mandatory to treat yourself to a spot of lunch and beach walk – well in our book, anyway. Sticky Rice is the home of some of the GC’s best Thai dishes – if you haven’t tried their Street BBQ Chicken, do it immediately. If little bites are what you’re looking for Lucia Tapas’ coastal cool and Spanish style tapas are a must-try, bonus points if you can get there for tapas and drinks happy hour Wednesday through Sunday because cozzie lives guys, we’re here for value for money honey.

Who said daytime has to have all the fun? When the suns away the margs will play or something like that and as luck would have it, Backbone Bar have them well covered. Crack open a tinnie or watch your fresh draught pour from the tap and kick back with their signature Asian-fusion eats. Perfect for catching up with mates or kickstarting your night out.

Shop (local) ‘til you drop
Tugun might be small but their retail offering is absolutely mighty, Tugun Fruit & Flowers is a family owned gem that is known not just for the freshest produce in town, but for their killer acai bowls – a summer staple if you ask us – grab your groceries, a smoothie (go on, you’ve earned it) and treat yourself to their selection of seasonal blooms for the ultimate act of *self care*.

For those bigger shops, Tugun Market Co has a bit of everything so you can stock up the pantry with all of your favourite things – they’ve even got a dedicated fromagerie and since cheese is the way to our hearts you know we’re all about it – if you’re lacking in the cooking inspo department then worry not because these local legends have an epic selection of recipes from Lemon Asparagus Risotto to Veggie Soups to get the creative juices flowing.

So Cornerstone Stores is more than just a shopping destination, they’re basically a hub of all things boutique shopping, artisan cafes and wellness with curated must-haves and even its own Pilates studio! Its ultra-aesthetic vibe is what first caught our attention but the collection of goodies you won’t find at any old store kept us coming back – think of it as a modern-day village within a village.

Keep it clean
The locals down here have a rep for embracing sustainable living so you best believe we trusted them when we heard Consciously Clean is THE place to grab all the eco-friendly staples and low-tox products so we can all live cleaner lives, grab your bottles and fill up with refillable household items and bespoke gifts to treat yourself or someone you love.

Community and culture
Chances are you’ve already been to something mega fun at the faithful Tom Atkin Hall, the cultural heartbeat of Tugun, it’s been around since the 1960’s and locals are a big fan. They host everything from crafty workshops to theatre and line dancing, so  hosting everything from art workshops to yoga classes. It’s the go-to spot for locals who love connecting, creating and sharing in the Arts. There’s always a load of fun things on the schedule so check it out and try something different for the first time in a long time!

Tugun Bowls Club is where community spirit meets laid-back fun. Tucked away in the backstreets, this clubhouse offers more than just bowls, but Barefoot Sundays are a local fave. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon on the greens with friends and family, soaking up the coastal vibes.

Words by Jacqueline Bojanowski

There’s just something about a market and we challenge you to find a human who wouldn’t rather stock up for the week at an uber-fresh and friendly market, rather than a grocery chain store. This is precisely why we got all the feels when we recently visited Tugun Market Co. Servicing the community from pantry to plate, they specialise in fresh produce, high-quality butcher meats, gourmet foods, health foods, organic products, vegan products, stunning blooms and gorgeous gifty style homewares. They also have a cafe serving delish Campos coffee with outdoor dining and an area for kids to frolic, and most importantly, there’s a fromagerie. Which is cheese. Which is life. This means it has officially secured a place on our regular shopping itinerary  – and trust us, it’ll be on yours too.

With a view to change up the food shopping experience, Tugun Market Co. was created to offer a point of differentiation to the larger supermarkets, delivering a unique and enjoyable food shopping journey. It’s a destination for local produce and products, where you can also stock up on everyday staple groceries, grab a coffee and a bite to eat, and enjoy browsing an amazing range of, well, everything. And we’re proud to report that this space has succeeded on every level, including that iconic wall proclaiming “accidentally went shopping on an empty stomach and now I’m the proud owner of aisle 3” and omg WE CAN RELATE.

Staunch believers that simplicity is always the best option, you’ll get nothing but the absolute best quality here. That goes for the look and feel too, thanks to Alexa Nice (brand and interior), Inspired Built and 77Architecture with the beautiful white subway-style walls, wooden herringbone-esk floors and modern monochrome accents. Oh and it’s a family business and seriously, is that not the cheese on the cracker because we will eternally embrace the #supportlocal movement.

Speaking of cheese and crackers, this is your one-stop-shop for all your cheese and platter essentials coz seriously, who wants to cook on a Friday night and the answer is absolutely no-one. Their fromagerie is the stuff dreams are made of and we don’t actually know where to look first. While you’re there, do yourself a favour and stock up on their Heavenly Nacho Dip which is guaranteed to get any party started and yes, we speak from experience.

The new butcher section will get carnivores’ hearts a ‘flutter, and may we recommend the Parmesan Entrusted Pork Chops and Rolled Lamb Roast with their tender, juicy flavoursome yumminess. A special shoutout also goes to their Free-Range Roast Chicken coz who doesn’t love a succulent chook (besides our vegetarian and vegan mates who side note, are also well and truly catered to here).

There’s a beautiful spread of gifts and homewares for that perfect last-minute (but-doesn’t-look-last-minute) gift, with everything from dried flowers to photo frames, wooden paddleboards, candles, coasters and basically anything with a beautiful raw, rustic and natural vibe. And by gift, we also mean gifting ourselves coz we’re worth it.

Once you’ve shopped all the fresh fruit, herbs, meat, platter goodies, health foods, organic products and home pretties, strike up a chat with the super friendly staff. They have all the tips, from how to store your herbs to lock in long-term flavour, to the therapeutic qualities in, well, pretty much all their products. And if you’re STILL not sold, these guys support Currumbin Wildlife Hospital with fresh fruit and veg for the rescued wildlife and seriously, if this doesn’t push your buttons, nothing will.

So do yourself a favour and pop into this mecca of all things fresh and fabulous but warning, you will leave with WAY more than what’s on your shopping list. But no judgement, coz we did too.

Where: 499 Gold Coast Highway, Tugun
When: 6am – 8pm Monday – Sunday

Words by Bianca Trathen.

When we hear the word “vine”, we are overcome with excitement and the reason is two-fold. Firstly, we can confirm that any sort of vine-vibed greenery gets a vigorous nod of approval from us. And secondly, our favourite thing in life a) grows on said vine and b) even rhymes with vine…and yep, you’re right here with us. So when there were whispers of Currumbin housing a new wine bar aptly called “Little Vine Room”, our heart-eyed emoji-mode was activated…and our enthusiasm was certainly not misplaced!

Now we’re not superficial, but let’s talk aesthetics first because this indoor/outdoor venue is a looker! Occupying an intimate space, she’s decked out in delicious deep green and apricot hues and is the stuff dreams are made of. There’s a show-stopping evergreen marble bar with sage green subway tiles underneath, lush arch cabinetry behind the bar, and a statement wall with tropical leaf wallpaper and overhanging vine-esk greenery (appropriate). Indoors seating features delicious green leather and gold-based stools, and twinning sets of suede velvet green stools along the indoor bar, and the indoor/outdoor bar serving windows. Throw in a funky cosy booth (#dibs) and some terrazzo floor tiles, and you’re in wine bar heaven.

It may be a dream come true for us, but it’s an actual dream-turned-reality for passionate (and downright lovely) owners Amanda Sawtell and Mark Newman. Their incredible vision and meticulous planning have culminated in a truly beautiful space, perfect for a girly catch-up, drinks with your other half, or a private function to remember. Enlisting Retail Collective to bring their interior concept to life and Tonic Projects to lead the build, Team Little Vine Room have produced a home run.

There are more key players to note here, including the talented Jayden Ross who was in charge of the food menu, and esteemed cocktail kween and local icon Breeana Erica curating the beverage list. So what can we expect to nom and sip and we honestly thought you’d never ask. With gourmet Toasties, Jaffles, Cheese and Charcuterie Plates, plus other delectable small bites, we’re sold. The Fungie Jaffle grabbed our attention, with mixed mushroom sautéed in champagne and cheesy béchamel, finished with parmigiano Reggiano. We’re also fangirling over the Chicken, Leek and Truffle Terrine with city larder’s chicken and crisp baguette… and our love affair with truffle just keeps on keeping on.

We can’t go past a good Cheese Plate because who can, and this one is loaded with Riverine Buffalo Blue from Victoria, sheep’s cheese Valdivieso Manchego from Spain, Cloth-Ashed Cheddar from Victoria, plus there’s a selection of cured meats by Salumi Australia. Now there’s only one thing that could make this better (W.I.N.E) and whattyaknow, there’s plenty of that. To accentuate the flavours of the cheeses, we’re partial to the La Crema Monterey Chardonnay from California, and the Nick Spencer Gundagai Light Dry Red from Gundagai in New South Wales. But wait, we just saw some cocktails being delivered to the next table and we are NOT leaving without a round of those!

First up we’ll have a Your Old Flame with 1800 Coconut Tequila, Sofi Blood Orange Aperitivo, fresh lime juice, and house made chilli syrup. Then an Espresso Martini with vodka, Kalua and fresh espresso topped with ‘LVR’ in cocoa powder… and actually, make that two rounds.

And just when you think this place can’t get any better, it does because the gorgeous Amanda will be introducing a special cocktail and toastie, with proceeds of each donated to their not-for-profit organisation, Love Thy Neighbour. Set up during the devastating recent floods, their mission is to help local communities in need and like we needed another drawcard but…wow.

So get on down to Little Vine Room, the Goldilocks of Gold Coast bars. Everything from the fit out, to the menu, to the infallible customer service, is ‘just right’.

Where: 27-31 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin Waters
When: 10am to 10pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, 10am – 3pm Tuesday, 2pm – 10pm Saturday & Sunday

Words by Bianca Trathen.