Paradox Coffee Roasters takes up the iconic 4217 building, straddling both sides of the central walkway. With its soaring ceilings and exposed brickwork accented by wood and brass, it’s reminiscent of stylish eateries in Sydney’s Alexandria or Melbourne’s Collins Street morphed with Masterchef Kitchen. The venue is imposing, a chic modern warehouse suitable for a...

“No ego by name, no ego by nature.” This is not only the mantra for one of our most unassuming coffee shops, but also its name: Noego Coffee. Hidden away in an industrial area of Ormeau, Noego Coffee is a secret hideaway for some, a totally undiscovered secret to others. With the Gold Coast’s café...

One of the benefits of living in a tourist destination is being around after the day-trippers have gone home. Finally, when buses and boats have pulled away, carrying their camera-toting guests, we are left with the locale that we love, the reason that we settled there in the first place. That’s exactly how we feel...

When we think of a getaway on the Sunshine Coast, there are many attractions in the region worth searching out. From the gleaming sands of Fraser Island to the bountiful Mary Valley and the rolling hills of Maleny and Montville, there’s a diversity of beauty, history and cultural activity happening all over the Sunshine Coast,...

When a new café pops up on the Gold Coast dining scene there’s a buzz of excitement, especially when it’s from a reputable owner, such as Chloe Watts, former owner of Paddock Bakery. Opening the doors of Tarte Bakery & Café in August 2020, she has every reason to be proud of her masterpiece. In...

Every tribe has its favourite places, and nowhere is that more evident than at Morena Espresso. ‘Morena’, meaning ‘brunette’ in Spanish and ‘good morning’ in Maori reflects the Latin-Kiwi heritage of its owners Bel Pesantes and Stefan Bradley. Situated on an ‘awkward’ corner of the Gold Coast Highway in Mermaid Beach, you could almost miss...

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness, and nowhere more so than in a tourist town. It’s a place where you need to be ‘in the know’ when it comes to dining. For example, brekkie can be a buffet at the local hotel, bacon and eggs down the tourist strip or, if you...

NOTE: In 2023, Izakaya Midori gained new owners. … It takes courage to open a ‘destination’ restaurant, one so out of the way that diners must ‘seek to find’ it. Without walk-by foot traffic, destination restaurants depend on reputation and recommendation, other diners spreading the word about great food and service. Izakaya Midori is one...

For a culturally ‘mish mash’ dish, ramen is unrivalled in its ability to gain fans. Talk ramen and its converts will espouse the beauty of their favourite bowl, not to mention their preferred ramen house. Among its lovers is former Japanese professional rugby player Hiroshi Takeyama, whose dream of opening a ramen restaurant in his...

It’s always fascinating to find out the story behind a restaurant – how the owners came to be here, the concept they envisaged and how that translates into the restaurant’s menu and daily life. No journey is more interesting than that of Kemuri’s owners, Hiroyuki Okubo and his wife Yuki. After coming to Australia twenty...