Coffee makes the world go round, fact. Without it we would all just stay asleep and never worry about another responsibility again. Sounds kinda nice really but it’s absolutely not feasible and so, we are very thankful for coffee and in turn, coffee shops.

Excitingly there’s a new one of those up Helensvale way and it sounds like a pretty good time. It’s called Funnybone Coffee and it can be found within the local community’s multi-million dollar The Surrounds Leisure Centre serving up beloved Blackboard Coffee and a menu filled with taste sensations.

The newbie is the latest venture of Gold Coast coffee connoisseur Damian Swan who opened Tugun fave Good Day Coffee four years ago.

The idea behind Funnybone was to create a community meeting spot where everyone feels welcome, serving up everything from breakfast on-the-go to lunch with friends or a quick coffee on the way to work.

Kitted out with handcrafted timber communal dining tables, cosy nooks and overlooking the grassy expanses of one of the best playgrounds in the area, Buckler Park, Funnybone is perfect for the whole family.

To eat you’ll find all your favourite staples made using good quality, locally sourced produce including sourdough from Pixel Bakery in Molendinar and delicious sweets from Bes Kitchen.

There’s a delicious range of toasties, breakfast burritos and fresh pastries plus homemade cookies in changing flavours.

If you haven’t yet had the pleasure of visiting Helensvale’s impressive The Surrounds Leisure Centre, be warned that you’re in for a good time. There you’ll find a suite of premium amenities including a lap pool, private multi-purpose room, a fully equipped gymnasium, and change facilities plus plenty of stunning open green spaces.

Head up to check it out and grab yourself some goodies from Funnybone Coffee while you’re at it.

Guaranteed good times await.

LOCATION: The Surrounds Leisure Centre, 6 Emerald Drive, Helensvale
HOURS: Open seven days from 6am

The Gold Coast foodie scene has been a place of profound change and transitions in recent years. We may be bias, but we think our café culture is very much in line — if not surpassing — our southern neighbours.

And with it, we have variety: from gorgeous beachside espresso drop-ins to laid-back chic industrial spaces which effortlessly ooze coolness. We reckon anyone from the big cities that have visited in recent times has likely left feeling a tad jealous — so they should, right?!

The northern end of the Gold Coast has been no exception to this building momentum of late, with venues regularly setting the bar high with only the best coffee and premium café dishes. So, when it’s time to break the fast, and you find yourself at the northern end of town, we’ve kindly compiled a rundown of the best places, where we implore you to make that happen. Enjoy!

Funnybone Coffee
From the owner of cult coffee stop, Good Day Coffee in Tugun comes this reasonably new addition to the Helensvale circuit. Aesthetically from the outside, this open café space screams minimalistic eye-catching vibes that will make leaving this spot rather tricky, especially when the staples are yummy Acai Bowls, Coconut Porridge and Eggs Benedict of both the regular and vegan variety.
Where: 2 Laurel Drive, Helensvale 

Daark Espresso
The ever-admired Chirn Park (just north of Southport) is a little hive of foodie goodness that the northern side of the Coast was certainly due. Daark Espresso sets the bar high, from its uber-friendly staff to its sumptuous breakfast menu littered with favourites like the dessert-for-breakfast Panna Cotta boasting peach, mango, & coconut with a crunchy granola & seasonal fruits. Ohh and make sure not to make plans for the rest of the day because their lunch menu will make you want to stay!
Where: 2/41 Musgrave Avenue, Labrador

WavyBone
Chirn Park has gone and done it again with a café that looks like it has just waved goodbye and walked itself out of a Melbourne laneway; it hasn’t though, it’s just the ultra-vibrant WavyBone, of course! The Wavy B & E Roll is a winner and goes down a treat with a perfectly poured Blackboard Coffee, one of the Gold Coast’s original coffee roasteries. Throw into this mix a turntable forever pumping out sweet rhythms and a chance to grab yourself some dashing WavyBone branded apparel: we think you’ve likely found your next favourite breakfast hangout.
Where: 1/36 Musgrave Avenue, Southport

Anchor Bouy Café & Bar
The aptly named Anchor Bouy is where you are guaranteed some finely poured Elixir coffee and a great breakfast menu, all whilst you stare lovingly at the array of boats in the marina and wish to yourself you lived at Sanctuary Cove. One dish you MUST try is the Breakfast Bruschetta. It’s to die for with your choice of bacon or house smoked salmon, avocado, cherry tomatoes, poached eggs all served on top of lightly toasted sourdough and drizzled with hollandaise.
Where: The Marine Village, Masthead Way, Hope Island

Substance Espresso
Can we just say, how good is a seasonal menu? It keeps things interesting and fresh in our eyes! And with that in mind, the team at Substance Espresso has their menu hinge on seasonality, with specials aplenty and the added acceptance that dessert for breakfast is a bonafide thing. Oh and to top it all off, the barista’s there accept nothing but consistently good coffee, which means the first drop of golden liquid is as good as the last. We’ll meet you there!
Where: Shop 2/10/12 Lae Drive, Runaway Bay

Bear Boy Espresso
Coffee is well and truly the ultimate focus at Bear Boy Espresso. Speciality blends coming from Market Lane in Melbourne are regularly featured with the added addition of pour-over and batch brew as well as your standard espresso-style coffees. Caffeine aside, the venue is a feast for the eyes and somehow more reminiscent of Northern Europe than Queensland. The menu brags some usual flavoursome suspects as well as a dedicated section to the little ones. We can’t go past their self-proclaimed ‘OG’ the Big Bear Benny. A crispy potato waffle, two poached pggs, house hollandaise with sautéed greens and your choice of garlic thyme mushroom, smoked bacon, pulled pork, or smoked salmon. The options are endless!
Where:  Shop 66/502 Hope Island Road, Helensvale

Cross + Feather
Situated on one of the forever-bustling little streets of Paradise Point, Cross + Feather dishes up all your favourites with quirky little spins. And because breakfast is for champions, the team at Cross + Feather generously serve it all day. We cannot recommend enough the Crossed Avo which includes fresh avocado, heritage tomatoes, Persian fetta, purple basil salsa verde, native dukkah, smoked green tea salt on a sprouted wheat sourdough. YUM!
Where: 2 Grice Avenue, Paradise Point

Words by Alex Mitcheson.

Hello friends, we’ve ventured to the northern Gold Coast to bring you news of a sweet little newbie we absolutely think you should visit at the earliest available opportunity.

It’s called Café Sofi and it can be found in Helensvale within brand new ($4 million) leisure centre, The Surrounds.

Café Sofi is now the official meeting space within the stunning new precinct, set within lush gardens and with views across the grassy surrounds.

Owners and husband and wife duo Tony and Sophie Whitely have created a lovely little family-friendly environment bringing a welcoming vibe you may have come across at View Café Hinze Dam, the venue they’ve owned and operated for the past five years.

The newbie will offer all of your breakfast and lunch favourites with a few unique flavours thrown in for good measure.

For breakfast we’re quite partial to the Purple Bagel (obviously) with roasted beetroot hommus, a poached free range egg, fried haloumi, field mushrooms, pistachio dukkah and rocket on a lightly toasted bagel. YUM.

At lunchtime we would like to sample the Chicken and Bacon Burger and maybe the Homemade thin crust pizza please.

The menu also includes staples like fresh organic sourdough toast, free-range eggs, homemade hollandaise sauce, and tangy tomato relish and features everything from egg and bacon rolls to a post-workout protein hit.

A fully stocked cabinet display is filled with fresh salad concoctions, wholesome breakfast cups, and colourful wraps provide a healthy, delicious meal on the go.

The kiddies will be happy too with an extensive menu just for them including scoop ice cream and lollies to be inhaled while playing at the adjacent park.

Obviously having the park close by means you can kick back and relax (read: consume copious amounts of coffee) for a little while longer while the little ones are entertained.

Sounds like heaven to us and we don’t even have kids.

Pop in and try it for yourself.

LOCATION: 6 Emerald Drive, Helensvale
HOURS: Daily from 8am to 3pm