The new Gold Coast cafes of 2020.
The new Gold Coast cafes of 2020.
Last week we shared all of the exciting restaurants that opened in 2020 and today we’re here to round up the cafes.
So without further ado, here’s every delightful newbie we had the pleasure of visiting last year and you should get pumped about it, there’s some epic ones.
My French Pastries
We always do a little happy dance when a new patisserie opens on the Gold Coast and especially when that new patisserie is filled with fancy French goodies that we could eat all day long. Which is exactly what’s happening at Robina’s My French Pastries. Perfect sweet treats.
Where: Robina Quays Shopping Centre, 5/361 Robina Parkway, Robina
Custard Canteen
The team behind Bam Bam Bakehouse and Cubby Bakehouse did it again with the opening of their newbie Custard Canteen. An exceptional Talle Creek newbie specialising in yes, Portugese custard tarts that are some of the most delicious things we’ve ever put in our mouths. Of course, they have a full brekky and lunch menu, coffees and other sweet treats and absolutely everything is life changing.
Where: Tallebudgera Recreation Centre, Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
Macro Kitchen
A new healthy eating hub moved into Burleigh Heads bringing tasty bowls, dishes high in nourishing goodness, protein, all the things. Macro Kitchen is simply perfect for our little Burls. They also offer healthy beverages and take-home meals, so you really need never cook or eat unhealthily again. Happy days.
Where: 2/1837 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads
Plant Based Cafe
Up Paradise Point way a healthy, new plant-based cafe opened much to the delight of locals and they are serving up some absolutely beautiful treats. Both in the taste sensation and Insta snap-worthy ways. Think perfectly put together açai bowls and avocado toast but like you’ve never seen them before. Coffee goodness by Byron Bay Coffee Co. and plenty of good vibes to go around.
Where: 1/2 Grice Avenue, Paradise Point
Bonnie’s Industrial Café
First cab off the rank after iso times was Bonnie’s Industrial Café in Ashmore. Bonnie and her team are serving up absolutely epic stacked burgers, 14-hour slow cooked meats, fresh salads and coffee to go. It’s café food, made amazing. Get involved.
Where: 2/26 Expo Court, Ashmore
Common Ground
A stunning space in Burleigh Heads was recreated to open as a stunning new brunch venue known as Common Ground. It’s the work of two local hospo legends Euan and Bella Lovell, part owners of Broady’s Fig + Frankies and their partner Matt Tranter and it’s very, very good. The menu is made up of beautiful plated eats, all with a little something special. You’re going to want to try it all, trust us.
Where: 2/2 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads
Burleigh Baker
Baked goods are life. Particularly those by the team at Burleigh Baker who have made the lives of Gold Coast locals better for many years. Everything from the very best pies, sourdough in so many amazing flavours (hello olive), custard tarts and the very best of croissants can be found at Burleigh Baker. They opened a new venue at Paradise Point recently and it’s every bit as good as the first. Right near the water too. Perfection.
Where: 6 Bruce Avenue, Paradise Point
Kylie’s Cupcakery
The Coast’s cult cupcakery opened a new store in Nerang and it instantly became one of the most popular spots around. For good reason too. Kylie is creating absolute masterpieces when it comes to cupcakes including flavours like The Unicorn, complete with edible glitter, Nerds, Turkish Delight and Lemon with Elderflower Buttercream. Yep. There’s also an incredible Unicorn Shake you’re going to want to sample. And take many Insta snaps of.
Where: 6 Lavelle Street, Nerang
D Point 10
The donut kings are absolutely taking over the Gold Coast and with good reason, they’re making some absolutely incredible flavours of donut. Think Gaytime, Oreo, Red Velvet and their latest creation, Caramilk. There’s minis and regular sized donuts and they’re all absolutely amazing. Get one of each just to be sure.
Where: A2/201 Varsity Parade, Varsity Lakes
The Backyard Cafe
The latest of the bunch is The Backyard Cafe, by the team behind Bine Beer Bar, Hideaway Kitchen and Bar and a few other venues you know and love. The newbie can be found at the site where The Yard once lived and it’s going to be both a cafe and a restaurant with pop up food trucks with lots of good old fashioned family and community vibes. This is a good one.
Where: 17 Lavarack Road, Nobby Beach
Parkway Coffee
Robina gained a pretty new brunch spot in the form of Parkway Coffee, by the gals at Third Base in Palm Beach and it comes with the same community feels, menu packed with goodness and of course, excellent coffee. Do yourself a favour and get on down to try it out.
Where: Robina Quays, 16b, 361 Robina Parkway, Robina
Tarte Bakery & Café
Something very special arrived in Burleigh in late August and if you haven’t already had the pleasure, stop reading and get down there right now. It’s Tarte Bakery & Café and it’s the work of former Paddock Bakery owner Chloe Watts. Filled with incredible baked treats, brunch dishes and exceptional coffee, it’s one of a kind and we’re in love.
Where: 2 West Street, Burleigh Heads
Stones Throw
While not a newbie, Stones Throw did move to a new location so that’s good enough for us. The crew that once called Burleigh home, packed up and headed on down to Currumbin to serve up their much-loved menu in a new garden oasis. Happy days for Currumbin locals.
Where: 9 Station Street, Currumbin
The Hunted Café
Venture out into the leafy oasis that is Bonogin and you’ll find cosy newbie The Hunted Café serving up tasty breakfast and lunch dishes, housemade baked goods and plenty of tranquillity. It’s owned by a local family so you can expect all the community hospitality too. A real treat, do yourself a favour and get out there.
Where: 555 Bonogin Road, Bonogin
Vanilla Lily
Coolangatta got a pretty new coffee spot in the form of Vanilla Lily, overlooking the ocean on Marine Parade. From the team at Café Kirra, the newbie has a menu packed with healthy, nourishing eats including dishes like a delightful Avo Toast and Acai bowls, plus a range of smoothies that are perfect for those extra balmy days we’re about to experience again. Head down and give them some love.
Where: Shop 2, 110 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Palm Springs Cafe
One of the Coast’s most beautiful venues opened in 2020 and if you haven’t already had the pleasure of visiting, we suggest you get down there quick smart. It’s called Palm Springs Cafe and it can be found on the corner of the Gold Coast Highway and Gardenia Grove boasting breakfast cocktails of the Margarita, Bloody Mary and Espresso Martini varieties and a nourishing, goodie-filled menu that’ll have you returning time and time again. Same.
Where: Cnr Gardenia Grove and Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads
Trio Café
Trio can be found inside Glow on Energy Circuit and it’s a beautiful, welcoming space decked out in lots of bright white. To eat, there’s brunch delights like Açai Bowls and crowd favourites Avocado Toast (with marinated feta, housemade dukkah and lemon oil thank you very much) and Bacon and Egg Rolls, plus a Chicken Ranch Salad if you want something a little lighter. At lunchtime, there are some absolutely stacked burgers including a Korean Fried Chicken Burger that might change your life.
Where: 10 Energy Circuit, Robina
Made
A sleek new space that’s both a barber and a barista in one, it’s a new Tugun spot you’re going to want to try ASAP. Brit and Josh have created a sweet community hub where you can pop in for a Moonshine brew and then get yourself a little trim (dudes only). There are baked goods by the team at Fuel Bakehouse too so it’s pretty much the best time you can have.
Where: 2B/417 Golden Four Drive, Tugun
Heartwood Espresso
Kirra’s newest addition is Heartwood Espresso, found right opposite the beach and boasting the perfect menu for when you’ve just rolled in off the sand and want something refreshing and also delicious to fill you up. Perfect for those spring days that just arrived.
Where: 2/74 Musgrave Street, Kirra
Stone Studio
Down Kingscliff way, a pottery studio slash café opened and it’s an absolute dream. Stone Studio is the work of two very passionate locals who wanted to allow people the opportunity to take some time out from their loves and create something special. Which is exactly what happens at any number of their workshops and classes. Combine that with a cuppa and some baked goodies and everything is golden. Do yourself a favour and head down there ASAP.
Where: 1/110 Marine Parade, Kingscliff
Oakberry Acai
Just in time for the heat, Oakberry Acai moved onto James Street serving up fresh, cold acai bowls and smoothies for the barefoot Burleigh Heads gang. Found on a corner space and with seating overlooking the street, it’s the perfect spot for people watching and consuming something refreshing after a day at the beach.
Where: 1/30 James Street, Burleigh Heads
Wavy Bone
From coffee cart to standalone café, Wavy Bone has transformed in 2020 and we are here for it. You can still expect the same five-star Blackboard Coffee but this time you can sit down in a sweet space to enjoy it, along with some mouthwatering baked treats and gourmet toasties. Wavy Bone can be found in Chirn Park which is a beautiful spot should you not be from around there.
Where: 1/36 Musgrave Avenue, Chirn Park
Liquid Dreams
A colourful new juice bar opened up down Coolangatta way not long ago and it’s the perfect place to get on the healthy eating (and drinking) train ahead of summer. There’ll you’ll find absolutely stacked acai bowls, a huge array of fresh juices, smoothies, watermelon cups, chia cups, all of the things. It’s all so very good for you and so very yummy. So good to refresh after a day in the sun too.
Where: Ward Street, Coolangatta
There you have it, a whole slew of goodness to sink your teeth into ASAP.
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
So it seems the best news of 2020 comes out of our very own Burleigh Heads and you guessed it, involves the very best of baked treats and a few familiar faces.
We’re talking about the opening of Tarte Bakery & Cafe, which is happening Wednesday August 19th and if there is one thing you absolutely must do this year, it’s head in there and eat absolutely everything.
Tarte is the stunning new baby of Gold Coast hospitality royalty Chloe Watts, former owner of Paddock Bakery and an absolute magician when it comes to creating a world-class venue. It can be found on a sunny corner block in the heart of Burleigh, where Vecchia Roma once lived and look, you won’t miss it, there’ll be hordes of people (socially distanced obviously) wanting to get in for the rest of time.
The space has been entirely redone with the front façade being pulled out and put back in again to create a Soho, West Village (NYC) vibe that’s perfectly at home amongst the surrounding greenery. It’s all cool whites and calming blues with a huge open window overlooking the street, perfect for that Parisian-inspired people watching we all love while sipping coffee and downing baked goodies.
As you’d expect from Chloe, the space is beautifully put together – an antique bench was brought in from a rural NSW movie theatre (circa 1940’s), the door handles are over 100 years old, a luggage rack from an old train holds the bread behind the counter and Chloe’s Dad built a bench seat at the back.
Our favourite detail are the little gold cups Chloe bought from a London flea market years ago when she first decided she wanted to open a café and has been saving for this very moment ever since. Oh and the fact that she (and her builder) hand-chiselled 5,000 tiny black tiles into the floor. A labour of love indeed.
We could go on but let’s chat eats shall we?
First things first, the sweet baked treats will absolutely blow your mind. Every single one of them.
A Gold Coast first is the Cookie Cup which is indeed a cup made out of cookie mixture and served with warm vanilla bean milk (cold in summer). Yep, that’s a (very amazing) thing.
There are also Chocolate Praline Tartes, Cannoli with whipped ricotta and choc chips, a Rhubarb Custard Tarte, the list goes on. Many of the items are vegan and some are gluten-free but all are absolutely mind-blowing. We’ll let you discover the rest for yourself.
In terms of cooked dishes, there are some life changers and you’re going to want to sample them all. Starting with the Turkish Eggs with whipped Greek yoghurt, two poached eggs and Turkish spiced butter and served with white sourdough. Chloe has wanted to put that one on her menu for a while now and we are so very happy she did. There’s also Miso Scramble, a packed Breakfast Burrito and BAGELS in many epic flavours.
You should also sample the Roasted Grape Tartine, the Toastie (best in the world) and Cauliflower Burger because they are all some of the tastiest things we’ve ever eaten, hands down.
Every dish on the menu is thoughtfully created and balanced with intricate flavours and look just really yummy honestly. Best get down there and try them all for yourself hey.
Tarte Bakery & Cafe is sweet and sophisticated, warm and welcoming and the absolute perfect addition to Burleigh’s dining scene.
Things are looking up Gold Coasters, how good.
LOCATION: 2 West Street, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: TBC
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
Nobody needs to tell you that summer has absolutely arrived on the Gold Coast in the last few days but since we have the floor, let us make it known, these stifling days are here to stay.
And since there’s no way to escape to say Southern California for a sweet little sojourn, a few clever local lads have brought Southern California to you via a sweet new eatery that’ll make you forget you’re melting every time you step outside.
It’s called Palm Springs Café and it is indeed reminiscent of the city found with the Coachella Valley, dotted with palm trees and known for it’s pastel hues and lowset mid-century modern architecture. It’s one of our absolute fave places in the world and so we are absolutely thrilled to introduce you to this newbie.
Found on a corner block between Burleigh Heads and Miami (a Queenslander previously occupied by Siam Orchid), Palm Springs Café is a fresh, double storey space all rendered whites with a cactus garden and peach umbrellas throughout the street-facing outdoor space.
Inside it’s an Insta-dream come true with arched windows, white tiled floors, terrazzo tabletops and splashes of pastel green. Famed photographer Slim Aarons’ poolside snaps line the walls and you’ll find a few more cacti throughout.
The coffee bar is a round-edged masterpiece, all layered and beautiful and begging to be touched. Round pendant lights hang in clusters from the ceiling and look, it’s aesthetically perfect if you ask us.
The idea behind the café is a little different from the norm, with said Southern Cali vibes taking over the menu too. Excitingly, there’ll be brunch cocktails on offer at all times and see, it won’t take much to forget that heat.
To eat, you’ll probably want to get involved in everything but let’s chat about a couple of dishes. The Cali Breakfast Burrito is a must with chorizo sausage, egg, cheddar cheese, avocado salsa, black beans and pickled jalapeno. Three please.
There’s also a Bacon and Egg Burger but not as you know it; with American bacon, fried egg, provolone cheese, potato hash and chipotle mayo on a milk bun. Yep. If bacons’ not your thing, there’s a halloumi version too.
Nourish Bowls are a good time too – there’s the Palms Wholesome Bowl with black bean hummus, brown rice, tomato salsa, house pickles, charred corn, avocado, a soft-boiled egg and mojo dressing. You can add teriyaki salmon to that too.
To drink, there’s Therefore Coffee, out of Tweed Heads (a very good drop), all of the alternative latte varieties, cold-pressed juices and of course, cocktails. Bloody Mary’s, an array of Margaritas and an Espresso Martini grace the menu, as well as pink gin and soda cans.
It’s perfect for a Sunday (or any) morning sip and honestly, it’s everything we Gold Coasters have been waiting for.
Palm Springs Café opens Friday 20th November and you should be very happy about it.
LOCATION: Cnr Gardenia Grove and Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads
HOURS: 6.30am until 2.30pm daily
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
Have you ever tasted something so good you’d be willing to line up for hours just to make it yours? If so, you’ll understand just how mouth-watering said thing must be and if not, read on.
Kylie’s Cupcakery began as a humble, at-home cupcake business within which the lady of the moment Kylie would create custom cupcake and regular cake orders for weddings, birthdays, Christmas, Easter and the like. But the thing is Gold Coasters, these cakes and cupcakes weren’t your usual run of the mill variety.
Nope, they were the kind that would be ordered in their hundreds every single day until the demand got so big that Kylie had to move into a standalone space and that friends, is the point of today’s tale.
The new space can be found on Lavelle Street in Nerang and if you’re not sure where that is, you can simply drive around until you see a huge line of people standing underneath a big pink sign. Every single day Kylie’s is open without fail.
Why? Because Kylie’s cupcakes are something very special. Not only are they absolutely beautiful to look at (and take Insta snaps of), they taste like sugary little clouds of goodness that you could eat five of before you even blinked.
Flavours change all the time but Kylie posts on socials to let you know what will be on offer that day. Not that it really matters, they’re all so, so tasty and you should absolutely buy one of each (at least).
So what flavours are we talking exactly? Well, how does Lemon with Elderflower Buttercream sound? Yep. Chocolate Banana Sunday maybe. Caramel Popcorn, Unicorn (complete with edible glitter), Chocolate Mocha with Merlo coffee, the list is endless and Kylie says she comes with up with ten new flavours a day that she doesn’t even have time to create.
There’s also a Unicorn Shake that is more a work of art than anything else.
While you’re there, you can grab yourself a coffee and sit outside in the sunshine to devour your cupcakes, or take them home to sample slowly (they last up to a week in the fridge).
As you’d imagine, Kylie has won countless awards for her creations and never fear, if you miss out on the goods, she’s planning on opening a second space sometime in the future. In Palmy would be great thanks Kylie.
What are you waiting for?
Head in for a sugar high of the very best kind.
LOCATION: 6 Lavelle St, Nerang
HOURS: Open from 10am Wednesday to Friday, 9am Saturday and 7am Sunday
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
