Chanoyu Japanese infused cafe
NOTE: In July 2023, Chanoyu moved to a new location in 56 Nerang St., Nerang. It’s the Matcha chocolate ganache tart that gives it away – a pretty little pie case filled with two shades of green chocolate filling… “Oh my! There’s real talent here,” we think. “I wonder who’s in the kitchen?” There’s something […]
Dine at Cabukee on our own Italian Riviera
There are few suburbs on the Gold Coast built to encourage a sense of community well-being, however Emerald Lakes is one of them. Oozing the charm of a modern European-inspired village, its centre is surrounded by a village, an 18-hole golf course and clubhouse, along with 13 kilometres of walking and bike tracks around a […]
Black Lime Café
While ‘Location, location, location’ is the big catch cry to success, there are some local favourites that have achieved modest success by going against the norm, choosing venues in hidden pockets of suburbia. There, they provide service to locals who previously had no food outlets nearby. That’s how it is with Black Lime Café. Tucked […]
The Oak Café
Somehow, every time we visit Mudgeeraba we fall in love again. It’s because little things count. A greeting from wait staff or a friendly smile from the open kitchen, water immediately brought to the table, a bowl of water for someone’s dog… it all adds up to make a village. The Oak Café, Mudgeeraba’s latest […]
La Barrita
“How come we’ve never been here before?” We shake our heads as we walk away from La Barrita, impressed. Nestled in between Fins and Bombay Cricketers Club in Salt Village, La Barrita opened in December 2017, slipping quietly onto the tail end of the ‘Mexican wave’ of coastal openings. While the opening of some restaurants […]
Mockingbird Cafe
Every so often you meet someone whose enthusiasm is the driving force of an establishment. So strong, in fact, that it’s like a magnetic field, drawing you into its energy. At Mockingbird Café, Kingscliff, that force is Jo Jackson. We’d first met Jo at her very successful restaurant, Signature Dish in Varsity, where she not […]
Le Vintage Boutique Cafe
Cute as a button, Le Vintage Boutique Cafe transforms a rather ordinary corner store into a chic little boutique hybrid business. Whether you want to pick up staple food items such as bread and milk, coffee or the morning’s paper, or stop for a meal with friends, if you live on the western side of […]
All-Time Coffee
I didn’t know the rules. That the honest truth, pure and simple. Frankly, I was pretty oblivious to the new world of donut frenzy. Stores ordered to stop trading because the queue for donuts was causing traffic jams? Yes, this scenario exists even in the world of vegans, just as prevalent, in fact, as it […]
Dune Cafe
The Dune Café is a bit of a secret. Located in one of the most beautiful spots on the Coast, it’s well frequented by southern Gold Coasters, but apart from that, many other people don’t know of its existence. Bit of a shame, really, because a trip to Palm Beach Parklands’ Dune Café reminds you […]
Bumbles Café
Bumbles, on Budd’s Beach, is only a short walk from Surfers, but it could be miles away. There’s a relaxed sleepy feel to this riverside suburb. Even the cars drive slower on the flip side to the surf beach. It was a top spot for Kate Madison to open a café in 2000, following her […]