It may be home to the Gold Coast’s bustling business district but Southport can also boast a huge array of incredible eateries, culture and general good times.

We’ve rounded up 15 things locals love about the place and we reckon you might enjoy them too.

In no particular order, enjoy.

Southport Sharks
There is many a good time to be had at Southport Sharks including dining at one of the delicious dish-packed restaurants, drinking at Aviary Rooftop Bar overlooking the city, joining in on one of their classes at the Health + Fitness Centre or getting involved in one of their many good time events. The possibilities are endless. It’s the perfect spot for a family event or take the crew for a Sunday afternoon session. Happy days no matter what.
Where: Olsen Avenue and Musgrave Avenue, Southport

Southport Yacht Club
Waterfront dining is the name of the game at Southport Yacht Club with two venues to choose from and stunning scenes from whichever you choose. You’re also welcome to just sit back and kick up your heels with a cold beverage or two while gazing lovingly at one of the many beautiful yachts in the marina. It’s one of the Coast’s best locations and you’re guaranteed to have a good time.
Where: 1 MacArthur Parade, Main Beach

Zero Latency
Zero Latency is a free-roam, virtual reality experience like no other. With up to eight players per game, you’ll have the BEST time fighting zombies, exploring mystical places and challenging your friends on space stations. All you need to do is put on the VR headset, strap into the backpack and pickup the controller. Get 10% off here. It really is so good.
Where: 34 Smith Street, Southport

Panezski Distillery
The Coast’s first vodka distillery opened in Southport a few short months ago and what a treat. The family-owned business are whipping up three types of vodka, two types of gin and even a couple of beers on the premises and you can pop in to grab a bottle to go, or you can sit down and enjoy a cocktail and a charcuterie board and spend a bit of time. Very cool. 
Where: Unit 7/55 Bailey Crescent, Southport

Vinnies Dive
Who doesn’t love a good dive bar. Particularly one that doubles as a live music venue and has a huge range of your favourite beers on offer (and some you may not have heard of). Head in there to discover some new music from both local and interstate bands and if you’re in the mood for a party, which we know you are, you can hire the space out for your next one.
Where: 44A Nerang Street, Southport 

Mr PP’s Deli & Rooftop Bar 
On the ground floor of the building you’ll find the deli section of the establishment, with an array of delicious meats and cheeses that will be brought together in platter form for your feasting pleasure. Upstairs, the rooftop bar boasts tasty cocktails, even more delicious eats and views across the city. It’s a real good time.
Where: 43 Nerang Street, Southport

Randy Wallhole
To put it bluntly, you haven’t lived until you’ve tasted a Randy Wallhole bagel. There are eight flavours to choose from which means you have multiple per day if you so choose. Go for the Pulled Bas first up, it’s got Smokey BBQ pulled beef, peri mayo and apple slaw. Wash it down with some of the best coffee on the Coast and be on your merry way.
Where: 4/21 Nind Street, Southport 

Boudoir Lounge
A newbie amongst the Southport bunch, Boudoir Lounge is the very best spot for a tasty brunch with the girls or simply a few cocktails after work. Found on Como Crescent, it quickly became the go to spot for those looking for some delicious eats, in a sweet setting and with unique sips of course. Inside there’s also a hair and beauty bar so you can get fabulous before you head out on the town. Perfect.
Where: 410/1 Como Crescent, Southport

Broadwater Parklands
Whether you’re four or 40, there’s tons of fun to be had at Broadwater Parklands. For starters, you can sit and stare out at the yachts you’ll never set foot on. Then, there’s the bouncy pillow (maybe don’t go on there without a child), a kiddies train, a water playground and weekly events from theatre shows to foodie markets. See, fun.
Where: Marine Parade, Southport

D Point Ten
Oh donuts, how we love you. D Point Ten can be found on Stevens Street and, in keeping with the general donut vibe, is a little hole in the wall space pumping out the freshest of donuts we may have ever excitedly shoved into our greedy mouths. In all the best flavours no less. Go the Ferrero Rocher for sure.
Where: 6/1 Stevens Street, Southport

Cardamon Pod
The delightful folk at Cardamon Pod are serving up delightful dishes with a focus on clean eating but of the prettiest variety. They offer vegan and gluten free options for breakfast and lunch with a side of organic coffee and vegan desserts. All very delicious and it’s very hard to stop at just one thing or not to post on your Instagram.
Where: Brickworks Centre, 3/3 Brolga Avenue, Southport

Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
Southport’s centre of swimming is something for all of us to be proud of. It’s as pretty as a collection of swimming pools can be and, as it was home to all the Commonwealth Games water activities, it’s world class. The architecture is sleek and there’s a training room featuring pits filled with foam for the divers to practice in.
Where: Marine Parade, Southport 

Escape Hunt
Imagine being wrongly accused of murder, chained to a wall and having to rely on your friends’ detective skills to free you. Who you gonna call? Welcome to Escape Hunt, Southport’s brain bending game guaranteed to test your problem solving skills like they’ve never been tested before. There’s a few scenarios you might be faced with, all of which involve solving a mystery with a set of intricate clues. It’s the most fun you can have inside a locked room. Make sure to take your smart friends. Grab 10% off here.
Where: 2/162 Scarborough Street, Southport

Brickworks Centre
Where to start. There are SO many excellent places to peruse at the Brickworks starting with Ferry Rd Market where you can nab yourself everything from beautiful flowers to the freshest breads, seafood and fruit and veggies galore. God it’s good. Within the Centre, there’s also stunning homewares, fashion and design stores and health and beauty services. Oh, there’s also always some really cool events.
Where: Ferry Road, Southport 

Words by Kirra Smith

Don’t you just love it when a new café comes to town?! Especially one which gives you all the right feels with its eats, sips, looks, and service, and boasts a couple of srsly successful ‘siblings’.

Well jump in your car, on the G, on your bike, or just grab a fluro orange e-bike off the side of the road – whatever it takes to get you to Sens Coffee QSV in Southport. New to the CBD and not to be confused with the other Sens Coffee Co in Como Crescent, Sens QSV (which stands for Queen Street Village) is already fast becoming a Japanese fusion favourite!

Taking up residence in Queen Street Village, this indoor / outdoor venue rocks a stunning Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic and no, we didn’t mean wasabi…although there is a lot of green #SameSameButDifferent. “Wabi” stands for “rustic simplicity” while “sabi” means “enjoying the imperfect”.

It’s a Japanese philosophy that’s been around for centuries and is basically like a big ole blend of industrial, minimalistic, elegant and understated goodness. With a colour palette of muted greys, taupes, deep olive-green hues and other earthy tones, it’s a winner winner Japanese dinner breakfast or lunch (soz, no dinner here).

Think mossy green panelled-leather wall seating and mossy green panelled wall light fixtures which are literally #MatchyMatchy #GreenWithEnvy.

Set against the industrial grey walls, raw wooden floors, timber tables and chairs, and black bar spotlighting on the ceiling, it’s a beautifully paired-back modern space.

Head Chef Yuta Hosokawa started his career as a chef in Toyko at various restaurants, including Restaurant Paul Bocuse, a Michelin star slinging French institution.

After relocating to Sydney for a few years and further refining his craft, Yuta moved to the GC in 2021.

He became Head Chef at the ever-popular GOYA Café (previously also called Sens Coffee), designing and tweaking the menu to perfection.

Now busier than ever, he’s still Head Chef at GOYA, as well as at Sens Coffee Co, and now Sens Coffee QSV and we’re totally exhausted just thinking about a day in the life of Yuta…

So what can you expect from the menu here? A whole lotta darn delicious local meets Japanese fare, that’s what.

The signature High Protein Chicken Rice isn’t just insanely tasty, but totally protein-packing-peeps friendly. Imagine sous vide chicken breast (we’re talking a whopping 54g of protein) with house made Szechuan hot chilli oil sauce, shallot, coriander, bok choy, and dark sauce on steamed jasmine rice.

Sens also do epic takes on the humble hot dog, and we’re loving the Chilli Prawn Dog sick, with Thai style chili prawns, sliced cabbage salad, shiso and shallots served in a warm fluffy milky bun.

Taking it back a notch to the breaky time-slot, start the day right with a Slow Cooked Beef Cheek Benny, loaded with 8 hours slow cooked beef cheek, pickled apple, mizuna, and yuzu hollandaise on sourdough with lemon zest.

Or, if you’re after something sweet, how about a Lotus Biscoff Croffle. For those unfamiliar, a croffle is the lovechild of a croissant and a waffle, and this one has lotus biscuit, almond crumble, crème Chantilly and chocolate ice cream.

Beverage-wise, Sens QSV’s signature fresh juices and smoothies look as good as they taste, and you can’t go wrong with your coffee of choice brewed with Campos beans.

In this stinking heat, we’re partial to an Iced Matcha Latte with UJI matcha from Kyoto, which is the bomb diggity of matcha. Prepared using the youngest tea leaves in Japan, we are loud and proud ageists when it comes to our matcha.

With coffee connoisseurs and foodies long travelling from far and wide to experience (the OG) Sens Coffee Co and GOYA Café goodness, LBH – Sens Coffee QSV was always destined for VIP status. Like, FR.

Where:  129 Queen Street, Southport
When: 7am – 3pm, Monday to Sunday

Words by Bianca Trathen.
Images by Brittany Kreskas.

PERMANENTLY CLOSED

Every now and again, we catch whispers of a brand new venue coming to town that makes us sit up, pay attention and perhaps even put our phones down #gasp (right after we’ve tagged our foodie BFFs), because it promises to bring a totally new experience unlike anything we have on offer. No need to make like it’s 2009 and change your status to ‘it’s complicated’ because Mermaid’s latest newcomer officially makes the question of ‘where to?’ very simple. All roads lead to TØKOH.

You might be forgiven for assuming it’s just another trendy dining destination to pop up in one of the Gold Coasts it-suburbs, but a name derived from the Indonesian word for ‘leader’ is the first hint TØKOH is on a mission to bring a unique experience to the GC eats scene. Taking up residence right in the heart of Mermaid’s bustling strip among culinary heavy-hitters Glenelg, Cantina and Bonita Bonita, you know they’re not messing around.

TØKOH not only addresses the distinct lack of Indonesian-style eats on the Coast, but also promises to reimagine the whole dining experience to something more reminiscent of an opulent, immersive dinner party. Consider us officially brushing up on our dinner party conversation topics (jks, where are all my millennials at *awkward silence intensifies*)

If you’re not already familiar with TØKOH’s owners Maddy Norton and Lachlan Cuskelly, you’ll certainly be well acquainted with their prior experience on the GC eats scene. Having previously worked out of iconic names like Commune and Etsu before going on to bring us much-loved destinations Suzy BBQ and Panchos Mexican, they’re bringing a whole new dream to life and it promises to be a space of ‘absurdity and pleasure’…*ahem* culinarily speaking, of course #notthatkindofplace.

Inspired by the duo’s cherished memories of gallivanting across the vibrant Gili islands, indulging in Jakarta’s colourful street cuisine, and hopping from one bar to another in Canggu, it’s clear they took their research very seriously #dedication. Combine that with a wealth of industry experience and you know our own little slice of Indo, GC style.

While we can all agree to leave the Bintang singlets at home, they are serving Bintang beers and even have a romantic little Bintang Bass bottle opener specially designated for cracking the top of Indo’s finest ale.

TØKOH boasts a bar that’s decidedly, not like the other bars. On arrival, it stands as a welcoming beacon at which to gather while the decision to eliminate conventional fixtures helps to achieve that notion by stripping away distractions – #lessismore. It’s got to be said the light above the bar is a masterpiece/ambience maker.

The inviting feel is continued throughout the selections with a communal table to create a space for authentic connections and that trademark dining party experience, and we have it on good authority Maddy is responsible for painting every inch of the warm textured walls. The addition of a playful yet elegant ‘disco vinyl red room’ will be a visual feast for the senses while no doubt doubling as excellent talking points if the conversation lulls. Plus the vinyl player and huge collection of vinyls will add the sounds.

Before we tease you too much (again, not that kind of place), we’re happy to confirm they’ve also goreng all out when it comes to the eats too. In fact, they’ve taken it a step further with many of their unique flavours and ingredients made on site, from the hot-like-a-sunrise house-made sambals right through to sodas and even crafting their own spirits #thatsonefancydinnerparty.

Chef Mario Georgiou heads a team bringing their respective experience from various Michelin star venues the world over, and bringing to life the TØKOH ethos that is celebration of super fresh local produce and a focus on flavor-forward food.

And starting the night with a cheeky serve of Sardines on crack with Crispy fried mustard seed marinated sardines, pickled cucumber dusted in Tokoh crack salt will undoubtedly deliver on the flavour-forward promise.

Follow it up with the likes of charcoal Chicken skewers with a seductive smoky chicken skin crumb or boujee fillet ‘o’ fish sandos (seriously the best) with Crispy fried coconut crumbed tuna, Pickled cucumber, Papaya slaw and now it’s really a (dinner) party.

For seafood fans, o-fish-al word on the street is the Aromatic Fish Head Curry with Snapper, Yellow curry sauce, Fried sambal matah and peanut mix is an unmissable masterpiece.

And when we start seeing all the tropical suspects like coconut, pandan, guava and pineapple gracing the cocktail menu, our eyes light up like a tourist during beachside happy hour. Either the Disco Spritzo with Orange, Peach nectar, Chrysanthemum or the Mango Cruiser with complete with Buttered brioche, Vanilla, Benzoin will surely taste like island vacay in a glass, but you should probably sample both just for good measure.

Zac & Kaden, the geniuses behind the bar are absolutely masters of their craft. Be sure to leave room for dessert because the Egg Nog Affogato is un.for.gettable!

So if it’s tantalising tropical-inspired fare and an indulgent, immersive experience that’s in order, come and TØKOH load off when the doors officially open on Saturday, because this is one dinner party that is guaranteed to be a bore-free zone.

Case in point, our night may or may not have ended with a round of Danger Margs. Ask for a round if you dare, but beware they’re not for the faint of heart!

When: Wednesday – Sunday from 5pm – late
Where: 2460 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

Words by Kellie Leader.