Tugun has won itself a tapas bar fit for all your summer sessions.
Tugun has won itself a tapas bar fit for all your summer sessions.
We have to give it to our European cousins over there on the old continent. If there is one thing they can do well, it’s getting up close and personal with incredible food, losing themselves in deep conversation and seemingly having a tomorrow-doesn’t-matter kind of attitude. One country that fits this demeanour without any hassle is Spain, particularly the enigmatic and culinary-driven northern part of the country — namely the Basque country. If you’ve paid a visit to the area, you’ll know that the region’s food, wine, and personality is a true one-off: a place you’ll always be sad to leave.
And well folks, it looks like a Gold Coast hospitality aficionado has thought our southern suburb of Tugun could do with a sprinkle of this gastronomic pedigree, alongside a slice of Spanish character for good measure. And this is the very essence of the Coast’s eye-catching newcomer, LUCIA.
Oli Frost has already brought us Burleigh’s ode to Mediterranean cuisine, Maman, admired Vietnamese fused speakeasy bar, Naami, as well as Surfers Paradise’s burger joint, Milky Lane. With the desirable southern Gold Coast in his sights, he and his team have transformed the space formerly occupied by The Craft House and created a venue that oozes Spanish charm at every turn. Mild olive green and soft crimson walls punctuate the main dining space with its cluster of low-down wooden tables and two darker banquettes at either side of the room. Black lantern-style lights give off glowy light illuminating the spattering of framed art deco-style posters. Just like any humble cantina, the attention is on bringing people close together in a fun and intimate manner where people can dig into food, slurp drinks and wave their hands to emphasise each and every point they are making. It’s the European way, after all.
However, the highlight has to be the enchanting courtyard area to the rear, which has some serious Sunday session potential. Warm terracotta hues and abundant bougainvillea flowers with small olive trees frame this picturesque wine sipping and tapas grazing arena to a tee. With the potential to seat up to one hundred people and with whispers of live music, this should be a stunning space for summer merriments.
Across the menu, care is taken to incorporate the Basque country’s gift to the world of food: pintxos. Plates of these tiny bite-sized pieces would usually garnish the tops of bars in the old country here; however, you’re given the opportunity to order as many as you want and have them served to you. Delectable bites such as Quail Egg and Jamon or Tiger Prawn and Tomato Basilico will come served up on crispy pieces of bread. Diners will also discover more tapas inspired eats and more share style plates like classic Papas Bravas with a small collection of Bocadillos (sandwiches), and for a table of four, you cannot go past the Paella De La Casa crammed full of king prawns, mussels, chicken, peas and roasted capsicum. Overall, the menu is a rustic and authentic representation of northern Spain, with some 20+ different pickled vegetables across all of the plates.
No venue of this nature would be complete without a spellbinding cocktail list. Luckily for us, expert mixologist Bree Erica has been brought in by Oli to ensure the drinks lineup is nothing short of stellar. The focus has been on bright, fresh and summery flavours with sips like the Let That Man Go offering up white rum with mango and coconut, and the Bella Spritzer is a fizzy concoction of vodka, rhubarb and lychee you can’t miss out on. And no love has been lost for one of Spain’s greatest drinks; the affable and traditional Sangria is brought lovingly to life with classic ingredients with a sprinkle of local fresh fruit. There’s care taken with a handful of delicious European and Australian wines and a star-studded array of nine different local, national, and international beers on tap.
Because northern Spain and the rest of Europe is still off the cards at the moment, we suggest you take in Tugun’s newest San Fermin and Basque country-inspired eatery when you have the chance. There’s excellent food and atmosphere in spades — and not a single bull running down the street insight.
When: Wednesday – Friday 4pm — late and Weekends noon — late
Where: 1/445 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
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
When you find yourself forced to take a closer look at things in life, you can be treated to sensory experiences and surprises that you weren’t even aware existed. A near-perfect example of this — and pride of place slap bang in the middle of Burleigh Heads James Street, no less — is Naami.
From first observation, you’d be in the right frame of mind to assume Burleigh has scored itself another splendid little recess churning out some incredible eats. And it has.
The rustic garage-styled shop front is sure to satisfy your Vietnamese desires with Banh Mi, Spring Rolls and Pho — all to go. The bare minimalistic décor is brought to life by polished concrete floors, neutral hues, and a parked up scrambler style motorcycle, which couldn’t look more at home than on the bustling side streets of Hanoi, Vietnam.
But this isn’t where your attention should be. Although the food served up here is nothing short of astonishing and packed full of authentic flavour, if you let your eyes do some wandering, you might notice a rather large door loitering in the corner. Give it a push, and into Naami bar you go…
Curiosity once did kill the cat, but in this instance, you’re rewarded with Burleigh’s newest speakeasy-style evening haunt. Inspired by a motorcycle trip of Vietnam, owners Ollie Frost and his dad Geoffrey decided the exotic and distinct culture of Vietnam’s back alley bar culture was called for on the Gold Coast. And we couldn’t agree more. The pair are no strangers to hospitality either owning neighbouring Mediterranean hotspot Maman and Surfers Paradise’s burger nirvana, Milky Lane.
Cocktail maestro Breeana Erica, who has cut her teeth composing cocktail lists at multiple venues around the Coast, (including Maggie Choo & The Roosevelt Lounge) is heading up the venue. When it comes to aligning flavours and uniting liquids, this young lady has got it squared right away. With 11 inventive and Asian inspired Signature Cocktails, there will be no room for boredom here. Breeana muses, “The cocktail list reflects a diverse range of flavours and spirits which will ultimately create talking points; we’re hoping for people to sit and enjoy their drinks and create exciting conversations over them”.
No doubt they will. The ‘Pav Is Mine‘ is a tip of the cap to a classic pavlova, but with lashings of vanilla vodka, butterscotch schnapps and a one-of-a-kind passionfruit smoke bubble you just have to see. Or perhaps a ‘Pho-Groni’ is more your thing, especially if your usual tipple is a classic negroni? The bar takes a savoury collaborative gin from Fortune Distillery and Noosa restaurant Sum Yung Guys, Campari, adds a house vermouth blend before finishing with a Port cask finished cardamon tincture. If multifaceted savours are your thing, and you want drinks that challenge your thinking as much as your tastebuds, then you’re in for a treat here.
The overall décor of the venue invites you to grab a drink, sit down, slow up, and chill out. There’s no sense of urgency here. Should you grab some food in the front shop, also feel free to bring it into the bar to have alongside one of their delectable drinks offerings — after all, this is how things are done in South East Asia!
With plans to bring DJs in on specific nights and hold themed evenings and events, Naami plans to be that sultry backstreet bar (and eats) you never knew you needed in your life.
Where: 4/57 James St, Burleigh Heads
Hours: Thursday-Sunday, 5pm — 12am
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
Summer is so close we can almost taste it Gold Coasters and with it comes balmy days filled with good food, refreshing sips and even better company. Then rinse and repeat every single day for three months.
There’s no doubt it’s going to be one of the best on record after the year we’ve had and what makes it even more exciting is brand new venues to enjoy all of the above in.
The latest of which is absolutely oozing summer vibes while also (kinda) making up for the lack of European holidays we’ve experienced this year.
It’s called Maman (meaning Mum) Kitchen & Bar and it opened a few weeks ago on James Street in Burleigh Heads for all of your Mediterranean feasting pleasure. And what a pleasure it is.
It’s the work of a couple of local lads whose names you’ve no doubt heard – Oli Frost, founder of The Grass is Greener Music Festival and part owner of Surfers’ burger bar Milky Lane and Ironman Matt Poole along with Oli’s Mum and Aunt, Karen and Elizabeth Fines, who are both exceptional Chefs.
Inside you’ll find a space made up of all-white everything, coastal chic at its finest, with pops of colour courtesy of Byron Bay artist Jai Vasicek’s wall-length murals and hand-painted ceramics. All of which we would love to transfer to our house right this second.
Maman can be accessed through an arched alleyway entrance in Justin Lane and we love a little outside-the-box thinking.
Now let’s discuss the menu because every single dish is one you’re going to want to sample starting with small plates like Moussaka of eggplant with seared scallops, taramasalata, tomato and fennel salsa (stop it) and Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare with preserved lemon, green olive salsa and Jerusalem artichoke crisps to name just a couple of magic treats.
Next up, there are larger plates like Lamb Kofte with hommus, cacik, Israeli salad and Turkish pide, Chermoula crusted tuna, Moroccan eggplant, tomato and coriander salsa.
Taste sensations the lot of them.
For dessert, a Fine Apple Tart with salted caramel sauce and vanilla bean ice cream perhaps? Yes.
To drink you may sip on signature cocktails like the Maman Spritz with watermelon reduction, ruby red grapefruit, cherry tincture and Prosecco and the Wake Up with Tromba Blanco Tequila, jalapeno pepper, fresh citrus and orange curacao.
Of course, you’ll probably want to sample every single one, as is the almost-summer way.
It’s delightful all round honestly and the absolute perfect addition to the Burleigh Heads dining scene.
Let’s get summer started right now shall we?
Meet you Maman Kitchen & Bar.
LOCATION: 49 James Street, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: 5pm until late Wednesday to Friday and 12pm until late Saturday and Sunday
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
