They don't call it Paradise for nothing!
They don't call it Paradise for nothing!
Our ‘northerners’ on the GC are a fiercely patriotic bunch, long determined for their neck of the woods to get the cool cred normally reserved for the other end of town. Paradise Point is one particularly notable spot where there is much to see and do whether you’re after a family-friendly day out, caffeine hit, an eats spot for date night or a liquid lunch (or actual lunch, although we’re partial to the former) with your gal pals.
Here are a handful of reasons why locals love Paradise Point.
Burleigh Baker
Northern GC folk who were fans of Burleigh Baker (in Burleigh – who’d have thunk it…) were high fiving each other when the Paradise Point sister popped up. With a passion for crafting artisan sourdough bread and brewing excellent Handsome brand coffee, the cafe menu is based around the bread (obvs), with freshly made dishes sourced from the best ingredients. Carbs, come at us.
Where: Shop 7/46 The Esplanade, Paradise Point
Jonez on Ephraim
Dr Jones, Jones, calling Dr Jones…. No there is no doctor but there is a Michelin Star Chef, Gary Jones. So expect a fine-dining haven offering up the finest seasonal ingredients, fresh fish and classical French cuisine. We’re ordering Duck Liver Parfait with sourdough and marinated figs, Quail Porchetta and for dessert, Scroppino; prosecco and vodka lemon sorbet (hells yeah. Can we have seconds…and thirds…and… you get the point).
Where: Ephraim Island, Paradise Point
Paradise Point Parklands
Undeniably one of the GC’s most breathtaking park areas, it’s an absolute must-see. Overlooking the beautiful Broadwater, pack a picnic, throw a snag on the barbie and let the kids entertain themselves for hours in the large playground areas. There are open grassed spaces perfect for a game of cricket, and the walking trail will get your heart-rate up while you take in the million-dollar views… quite literally with views of some Sovereign Island homes.
Where: The Esplanade, Paradise Point
Sweet Bambino
This hole-in-the-wall is a newer player on the Paradise Point eats and coffee scene, and an instant hit from day dot. With a fit-out that screams modern chic (think polished concrete floors, rustic grey walls, foliage for a pop of greenery and moody lighting for days), her it-girl vibes are only rivaled by the coffee and delish counter food selection.
Where: 1/46 The Esplanade, Paradise Point
Mano’s Italian
It’s been a winner with locals for years for a darn good reason. The fresh, hearty Italian food at Mano’s is first class, as is the service and welcoming ambience. Menu highlights include the impressive range of pastas (I die), steak and seafood dishes, not to mention their delish daily specials. They’re fully licenced because what even is pasta without wine?
Where: 40 The Esplanade, Paradise Point
Plant-Based Eatz
Formerly Plant-Based Café, there are no surprises what sort of cuisine this little pearler dishes up. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and featuring arguably the best vegan food around town (and hey, competition is fierce in this space), expect a nosh-up of vegan versions of crowd favourites like poke bowls, burgers, nachos, tacos, wraps, epic sides, juices, smoothies, coffee and more.
Where: 1/2 Grice Ave, Paradise Point
Paradise Point Bowls Club
You get all the trimmings you’d expect from a bowls club here; live entertainment, hearty eats, wallet-friendly drinks and warm, friendly smiles. Bowls, Brews & Chews kicks off every Sunday from noon where you can get a game of bowls, platter for 4, 3L beer tower or 3L cocktail tower (say what?!) from only $85! Oh and there’s a courtesy bus. Which you’ll obvs need.
Where: 22 Thrush Ave, Paradise Point
Buoy Oh Buoy
This nautical-themed northern gem is equal parts cute and cool, founded by lovely local lass Kelly Kohler. We’re ordering a Scram-Bowl every day of the week with scrambled eggs, charred cherry tomatoes, avocado, rocket, pesto dressing and sourdough. And adding haloumi coz, haloumi! To finish, are you treating yo-self to a freshly baked pastry for the road? Oh Buoy you are!
Where: Shop 8/27 Falkinder Ave, Paradise Point
Jabiru Island Park
Everything you need is right here including stunning water views, electric barbecues, sheltered picnic tables, large shade trees, fishing platform, sheltered swimming closure, boat ramp and toilet facilities. Take the walkway under the bridge to Phil Hill Environmental Park, or stroll along the boardwalks for a look at the natural habitat from stunning viewing vantage points. Yes please!
Where: Jabiru Island Park, Oxley Dr, Paradise Point
Cross + Feather
Serving up finger lickin’ good brekkies (and dinners Thursday to Saturday), this one is a must. The chow is first class, as is the friendly and attentive service you’ll get every time. And, there’s just something universally cool about the FOOD wall art piece which sets the tone from the get-go…locals, you know what we’re talking about. Don’t even get us started on the cocktails…. #bookanuber
Where: 2/2 Grice Ave, Paradise Point
Words by Bianca Trathen.
The plant-based life is one that has gained huge momentum over the past little while with dedicated eateries popping up all over the place and many people adopting more of a green way of life.
The Gold Coast has joined in on the fun, becoming home to a few vegetarian venues that we the people have welcomed with open arms.
The most recent of which is Plant Based Café, found in Paradise Point on Grice Ave and next door to Cross and Feather, it opened late last year and it’s been quite the delight ever since.
Owners Airi Kanazawa and Ali Imz noticed a need for more plant-based spots on the northern end of the Coast and so, as many aspiring change-makers do, decided to change that right up.
Now plant-based eater or not, you’re going to want to sample the absolutely stunning eats on offer here. Created by both Airi, Ali and former Masterchef contestant Christina Laker heading up the kitchen, every single dish is a delight to behold and yes, packed with flavour too.
For breakfast there are dishes like Nutella Pancakes with house-made Nutella poured over three layers of fluffy, vanilla pancakes and finished with organic coconut ice cream, blueberry compote, fresh seasonal fruits and peanuts and that is one dish you’re going to remember for a long time.
If you’re more of a savoury fan, the Zucchini and Corn Fritter Stack is next-level with a stack of low-fat, baked fritters served with tomato relish, smashed avocado and a lightly-dressed petite salad. So tasty and perfectly presented too.
There’s also a Buddha Bowl, Matcha Tea Mochi Pancakes and a Dukkha Mushroom Medley to name a few more delicious dishes.
For lunch, there are burgers, tacos, pasta and Spiced Buffalo Cauliflower Wings which are one of our favourite things ever. The Chi-kin Burger is the go with a grilled chi-kin patty, housemade slaw, pickled gherkin and melted cheddar. All day please.
To drink there are smoothies of the Snickers Protein, Chocolate Mint and Blueberry Chia varieties plus an organic blend of coffee from Byron Bay Coffee Company, plus of course, cold pressed juice and kombucha.
The team are also aiming for a waste-free business, recycling everything daily and taking leftover food scraps to an animal shelter nearby. So that’s really great.
Do yourself a favour and get into Plant Based Café ASAP to taste some exceptional eats in a high vibe space that is doing good for not only the Gold Coast but the world.
We like.
LOCATION: 1/2 Grice Ave, Paradise Point
HOURS: Daily from 6am to 3pm
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
The northern end of the Gold Coast has seen a renaissance when it comes to finding places to grab a great coffee and devour some fantastic food. And whether you live towards this end of the Coast or not, it’s certainly something to be celebrated.
One such busy little suburb is Paradise Point. And as the name isn’t by chance, with lush open spaces and a marina that blows pleasant sea breezes along the bustling esplanade front, the area is bursting with a lively café scene. It’s the perfect place for two energetic café owners from Melbourne to open their first foray into the Gold Coast café scene with Sweet Bambino.
This hole-in-the-wall street-side space screams modern chic with a polished concrete floor, rustic grey walls, and low hanging light fittings; simply drawing you in further and further as you take stock of all the delicious counter food there is. How does a Ham and Cheese toastie prepared in French toast or a drool-worthy House-made Turkish Delight Cheesecake sound? There’s these and a whole lot more for the hungry who find their way to Sweet Bambino.
Owners Sylvia and Adam wanted their menu to appeal to everyone. All too often they have come across a menu where the options were a bit limited or stale, and this wasn’t going to fly at Sweet Bambino. Pick your way between a Bambino Pulled Pork Benny, or if you feel like something sweeter, their Hibiscus Poached Pear with Cinnamon Porridge. And they couldn’t forget about the little ones, as there’s even an entirely separate menu specially for kids.
Once you’ve got some serious flavour coming your way, then you’ll need an equally great tasting coffee to go with it. Burleigh Heads’ Social Espresso beans are being poured with pinpoint precision. Their house blend is the El Cucho roast, carrying notes of malt and caramel with beans ethically sourced from three different areas of Columbia.
If you feel like switching things up and giving the coffee a miss, fear not, as you can sip away at one of six cold-pressed juice combinations or perhaps a velvety smoothie like their Mango Tango. Which boasts mango, banana, ice cream, and milk. Because this combo is what dreams are made of.
You’ll find Sweet Bambino right beside the Esplanade North Park with attractive seating out the front. There are low-lying benches and bar top seating available for you to relax and let the busy town feel of Paradise Point wash over you as you enjoy the spoils from this newly opened café.
And if you don’t usually come to this part of the Coast, we highly recommend you look into changing that soon — you’re missing out.
Where: 1/46 The Esplanade, Paradise Point
Hours: Monday – Friday 5am – 2pm | Saturday – Sunday 6am – 3pm
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
We’ve got it on good authority that every brunch in the UK is a boozy one. We’re all for that obviously and it’s come to our attention that there simply aren’t enough boozy brunches in our lives.
Luckily, we’ve found a couple of lads who share our thoughts and they have come to the rescue. Said lads are Pete Jeary and Clark Lynn, a UK born pair who, in the last few days, opened brand new brunch spot Cross + Feather in Paradise Point and (you guessed it) they’re big fans of a tipple or two at brunch too.
Found on Grice Ave, just off the main drag in the delightful waterfront suburb, Cross + Feather is a pared back, intimate space all moody hues and hanging greenery and one of the very best pieces of art we’ve ever laid eyes on. You can choose to sit up at the bar and watch Pete make magic via cocktails and also gaze lovingly at the copper bar or, outside on the street to people watch and soak up that (very necessary right now) ocean breeze.
As mentioned, Pete and Clark hail from the UK but more importantly, they met at much-loved (and really quite famous) restaurant Hawksmoor where Pete invented a cocktail called Shaky Pete’s Ginger Brew and dubbed it ‘a turbo-shandy for the discerning drinker’ which is still served there today, won a slew of high profile awards AND (most importantly) is now served right here on the Gold Coast. At Cross + Feather. Obviously.
It’s made with Beefeater Gin; blended with fresh lemon and house-made ginger syrup and topped with Roger’s Amber Ale and it is possibly the zestiest, most refreshing tipple there has even been. No exaggeration. Oh and 50 cents from each one ordered is donated to Act For Kids, charity dedicated to child abuse and neglect.
So there’s that. There’s also an entire breakfast cocktail menu including the new love of our lives, the Highland Breakfast Martini, made with Kamm and Sons English Aperitif, shaken with a generous teaspoon of Chef’s handmade marmalade and then lightly toasted with a splash of smoky scotch whisky. The smokiness is the winner here, offset perfectly by the sweet marmalade and a cocktail that might just change your life (and made you want to snuggle up by the fire someplace where it snows a lot). Bye.
Food-wise, the menu is refined breakfast slash brunch eats and all your favourites are on offer but don’t go thinking you’ll find any run-of-the-mill dishes here.
How does Champagne Infused Eggs Benedict sound? Epic, yes. Tastes even better. Let’s discuss the Mushroom Bruschetta though because who knew mushrooms could be so very tasty. Nobody, that’s who. Well, Chef John obviously. So it’s Toasted New York-style rye bread with rosemary and garlic roast field mushrooms, mushroom parfait, mushroom soil, shaved Gruyere, white truffle and egg yolk jam. One of the great breakfast dishes, sharp and tangy and mouthwateringly delicious.
For lunch, there’s a Kingfish Ceviche with sunrise lime, sea fennel, burnt mango, fermented cucumber and native botanicals and again, can we eat this every day please?
The Raw is also a good time with seasonal baby vegetables, apple-smoked coconut yoghurt, watermelon radish, leek ash and carab soil. Pretty as a picture and the perfect flavour combination.
We could go on but no doubt you’re hungry now and same.
Make it a priority to pay Paradise Point a visit and eat one of everything, washed down with a breakfast cocktail or two.
Boozy brunch is back, baby.
Bye.
LOCATION: 2/2 Grice Ave, Paradise Point
HOURS: 5.30am until 3pm daily
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
