The Collective in Palm Beach only opened Boxing Day but already it has become a firm favourite on the Gold Coast social scene.

Now the venue has launched a build your own banquet menu to showcase the best from each restaurant and allow you more time to chat.

The new menu, incorporating food from all five of the exceptional restaurants, is jam packed with the best options from each because sometimes it’s just to hard to choose.

Luckily, with the introduction of the banquet menu, you can try a variety of small to large dishes and desserts for $40, $55 or $70 per person.

Small plates range from Pork Belly Nuggets to Hoison Duck Bao while medium plates include Singapore Chilli Crab, Tacos and Chorizo Balls to name a few.

Moving on to large plates (because, why not) choose from Gourmet Pizzas, Pan Seared Snapper Fillet and Souvlakis among many other options.

Once you’re done with all that, it’s dessert time – Nutella Pannacotta perhaps?

Available to groups of four people or more, the banquet is the perfect way to enjoy a variety of dishes and make sure you don’t miss a minute of catching up with your mates.

HOURS: 7am to 12am daily

LOCATION: 1128 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Words and photos by Kirra Smith

Over the past couple of years Palm Beach (or Palmy as it’s affectionately known) has been transformed into the Coast’s king of cool.

With new bars and eateries filling every unoccupied space, quiet(er) beaches and some of the best boutique shopping around, Palmy is moving on up in the world.

As is customary, we’ve compiled a list of the top 17 reasons locals love the place.

Watson Bloom
A sweet coffee spot underneath Sable Palm Beach, Watson Bloom is serving up exceptional brews along with plenty of plant-based treats including raw goodies and banana bread made in-house plus pastries and never-ending good vibes. Pop in for an early morning brew and a chat.
Where: Sable Palm Beach, 2/1073 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Patty Smiths
The newest burger crew around are Patty Smiths who are serving up VERY tasty burgers, made with hand-pressed patties along with loaded fries, some of the most epic thickshakes around and just general deliciousness everywhere honestly. Perfect for beachside dinners or if you feel like something yummy but can’t be bothered cooking (us, always).
Where: Shop 15A Pavilions Shopping Centre, 6 Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach

Las Palmas
Overlooking the ocean with the perfect pastel palette, Las Palmas is bringing Latin America to Palm Beach with a share-style menu, made up of mouthwatering flavours and a fresh cocktail list to match. Head in there for a Sunday arvo session or long lunch with your loves. It’ll be your new summer fave for sure.
Where: Level 1, 1097 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

The Scottish Prince
Tucked away, all moody low-lit with wild times written all over it, The Scottish Prince, sister venue of The Cambus Wallace and is one of the best drinking holes we have here on the Coast. It’s primarily a whisky bar boasting over 300 varieties of the tasty tipple plus a perfectly complementary menu including charcuterie boards, meatballs, Scotch Fillets, fish and chips and the like. All the very best things. Get in.
Where: 1176 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Sisterhood Coffee
Sisterhood brings community-inspired good vibes to the people of Palmy. It’s the work of two local gals who are serving up impressive brunch dishes made with local produce and some of the yummiest there is. Sisterhood is bringing the coffee culture back down to earth, not charging for milks that aren’t of the full cream variety and are generally creating something pretty lovely down south Palmy way. Highly recommend.
Where: 1099 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Farmers Markets
The Gold Coast is home to many an impressive farmers market and one of our absolute favourites can be found in Palmy on Saturday mornings. From 6am at Palm Beach Currumbin High School you’ll find fresh local produce, artisan foods, specialty coffee, epic doughnuts, flowers, dog treats, the lot. The perfect way to spend a weekend morning.
Where: Thrower Drive, Palm Beach

Frida Sol
Margaritas and Mexi-eats are some of our favourite things and happily, they’re on offer at Palmy’s delightful upstairs space, Frida Sol. There’s a chilli margarita that’ll knock your socks off and if you perch outside on the deck, a balmy ocean breeze – the combination of which will remind you exactly why you live on the Gold Coast. The perfect time.
Where: Level 1, 1176 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

The Collective
No doubt you’ve already set foot inside The Collective more than once and why wouldn’t you with five restaurants to choose from? Open for lunch and dinner, you can stay all day and, as it’s a communal dining setting, you’re bound to make some new friends along the way. So, if you’re in the mood for pizza and tacos, head to The Collective, order both and wash it all down with a cocktail at the rooftop bar.
Where: 1128 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Barefoot Barista
Barefoot have been a Palmy favourite since they swung open their doors in 2011. They offer the kind of nourishing, healthy homestyle eats you’d expect when you visit your fanciest friend for breaky. Think house-smoked Miso Cured Salmon and Wellbeing Porridge packed with goodness. The crew at Barefoot also serve a mean coffee, one of the best on the Coast in fact and you, friends, can purchase the tasty single origins beans to make your own.
Where: 10 Palm Beach Avenue, Palm Beach

Strange Days
Calling lovers of all things vintage, there’s a new kid in town and you’re going to want to head in there to peruse the goodies ASAP. The entire store has a bit of a rock ‘n roll, western vibe, reminiscent of owner Sylvie’s (enviable) style and you’ll find everything from clothes, vintage records, a few homewares, posters and the like. It’s all been carefully sourced and is in very good condition.
Where: 1/1142 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

The Pirate Park
Those with little ones will attest to the fact that the Pirate Park is up there with the best on the Coast. Located right near the water, the park far exceeds anything you ever got to play on as a kid with a pirate ship stuck in the sand and upended wine barrels perfect for all day climbing. If you don’t have any babes, Dune Café is close by as is the sparkling ocean and a dog beach on Currumbin Creek that’s always good for a laugh.
Where: 945 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach (on the left before the Currumbin Creek bridge)

White Bohemian
It’s every local boho babe’s dream come true. Opened in 2013, White Bohemian stocks all your favourite hippy-esque labels including Byron Bay labels SPELL and Arnhem and locals like Mahiya and Lokoa. It’s possibly the only place on the Coast gals can go to stock up on the bohemian trend that has literally taken over the world. There’s homewares too so, you know, prepare to spend up.
Where: Cnr Seventh Avenue and Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Balboa Italian
It goes without saying that if you’ve ever driven through Palm Beach, you’ve definitely laid eyes on Balboa Italian. The beautifully appointed double-storey brick building is in a class of its own serving classic Italian dishes with modern interpretations and the freshest of flavours. It’s worth a visit just to experience the fitout, complete with overhead Vespa and exposed brick walls. The cocktails are unique and the wine selection varied. It’s all good to be honest, get down there.
Where:1069 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Espresso Moto
It’s a cafe crossed with a motorbike workshop and the home of the best banana smoothies on the Gold Coast. That’s right, the best. There is not a single thing not to love about Espresso Moto from their very delicious breakfast goods (the brekky burritos are the bomb), to their use of All Press coffee and the ever-friendly staff who always say g’day. There’s also a communal dog bed and the beach is right around the corner. So yeah, it’s the best.
Where: 1389 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Suga
A somewhat secret cocktail bar, tucked away on the Gold Coast Hwy, Suga specialises in rum and good times and if you’re keen on either or both of those you should absolutely get down there. They have an impressive cocktail menu plus plenty of epic wines (pet nats, yes please) and beers so no matter what, you’re gonna love it.
Where: 1142 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Ritual Yoga & Pilates
Found upstairs in a sunlit space oozing chill vibes is Ritual Yoga & Pilates. Owned by sisters Rose and Sophie, Ritual is only a couple of years old but has already become a favourite amongst both Palm Beach locals and those who reside in surrounding suburbs. If you’re in need of some rest and relaxation (or a solid sweat session), Ritual is calling your name.
Where: 9b Palm Beach Avenue, Palm Beach

Highline
One of Palmy’s sweetest coffee spots is Highline, a stunning little space decked out in pastel hues and serving up some of the very best coffee on the Coast. The menu is the goods too, boasting fresh, locally sourced produce-filled dishes like jaffles, ferment bowls and even a life-changing apple pie. Great.
Where: 5/1132 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Words by Kirra Smith

As of Sunday March 10th, Blush is the new black on the Gold Coast so get excited gals, this one’s for you.

The Collective in Palm Beach will, on Sunday afternoons, launch Blush Sundays, their brand new Sunday afternoon drinking session that you will not want to miss.

The reasons for this are three-fold. Well, probably more like ten-fold but these are our favourites ones.

Firstly, Blush Sundays will comprise of three hours of free-flowing Rosé and Sprizters from 3pm until 6pm. Every Sunday. Oh and the cost of getting involved in this incredible time – just $35 per person. So there’s that.

They say all you need to do is saunter up to the bar and shout ‘blush me baby’ and the cracking Collective bartenders will sort a sister out. Which is probably a reason to attend in itself.

Secondly, Blush Sundays will be held on the rooftop at The Collective, overlooking the pretty Palmy sea and with the stunning sunset sparkling in the background. Vibes are always high up there plus you get to dress up in your loveliest frock and frolic with your girl gang. So there’s that too.

Thirdly, after drinking free-flowing anything for three hours, one is obviously going to be hungry and SURPRISE, The Collective has that covered too. With five fab foodie venues to choose from you can satisfy Mexican, Italian, Japanese, American and Asian cravings, all in the one spot.

Plus, you’ll no doubt meet some sweet new pals (us) and take many an Insta-snap to add to your collection (also us). Oh and there’s a DJ spinning tunes all afternoon too.

Book a table every Sunday from 3pm or simply stroll up to the bar and get involved.

You’re sure to be tickled pink. Ha.

Seeya there.

LOCATION: The Collective Palm Beach, 1128 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
HOURS: 3pm until 6pm Sundays

Words by Kirra Smith