Is your dining to-do list so wildly out of control that you don’t know where it begins and ends anymore? We hear ya!
With time precious and competition fierce, let us guide you in the direction of five awesome new joints to hit this weekend. You’re welcome.
Rockleigh Café | Coolangatta
Named after the family’s NSW dairy farm, Coolangatta’s new Rockleigh Café has an extra spesh connection to the land, green produce and farm-fresh product, with all dishes lovingly prepared with a distinct home-made feel. Cruising along Griffith Street, keep your eyes peeled for the welcoming white façade and step inside for a cosy, dark wood and pressed-metal lined farmhouse interior, plus winter warming brunch selections including crumpets, porridge with poached fruit, baked goodies, free-range burgers, and soul-satisfying soups. You’ll be glad you did.
Where: 112 Griffith Street, Coolangatta
Cardamom Pod | Brickworks Centre
Okay, so we know Gold Coast’s veggies and vegans are alllll over this news, but in case you missed the memo, a few weeks back Cardamom Pod opened a second eatery in a lovely sun-drenched space in Southport’s Brickworks Centre. Not only is Cardamom Pod leading the charge bringing healthy, conscious living to the masses, they are making edible artwork out of their signature acai bowls, peanut butter and jelly smoothie bowls, raw desserts… basically everything on the menu. Yep, you guessed correctly, Cardamom Pod’s incredible vegan and vegetarian breakfasts are finally available seven days a week. Amen.
Where: 3/3 Brolga Avenue, Brickworks Centre, Southport
Pier | Marina Mirage
Before you northerners throw your hands in the air and cry “this joint ain’t so new anymore”, this shout out is for the benefit of Metropolist’s southern readers. If you don’t venture up to Marina Mirage on the reg, you may not know about Pier, a stellar recent addition to the waterfront restaurant line up. With its breezy outlook over the bobbing yachts and Broadwater, a slick Euro-Scandi designer interior, and sunny terraced seating, come for the champagne cocktails and stay for the fresh seafood, wood-fired pizzas, arancini, roast lamb shoulder, and fanciful desserts. Date night, anyone?
Where: Marina Mirage Shopping Plaza, Main Beach
Double Barrel Kitchen | Mermaid Waters
A new addition to Mermaid Waters, Double Barrel Kitchen’s co-owner Jess is a long-time Gold Coast gal who knows her way around the hospo scene. She’s lived out every woman’s designer day dreams upon bringing her Pinterest boards to life, styling her space with ageing wood beams, exposed globes, tarnished heavy chains, and plenty of greenery. Jess has realised another dream too, and that’s making squishy Chinese baos a meal that can be enjoyed at any time of the day or night. For lucky Mermaid Waters residents, Double Barrel is the kinda neighbourhood café we’d all love to have within walking distance from home. For the rest of us, the Supreme Roasters coffee and one-of-a-kind breakfast baos are totes worthy of the drive into the ‘burbs.
Where: Waterways Village Shopping Centre, 4/64 Karbunya Street, Mermaid Waters
Brady’s | Surfers Paradise
Consider yourself a fish and chip connoisseur? Well, folks, waste no time and get down to Brady’s, a smashing new challenger for the best fish and chips on the Gold Coast title. There’s no inferior imports or frozen produce to be found anywhere on the menu, only the finest locally-sourced fish, succulent seafood, and hand-cut chips. With a UK-born and prestigiously trained chef at the helm, once you’ve tried Brady’s we reckon there’s no turning back; best served wrapped in paper and devoured with sand between your toes. No GPS is required either, just point your wheels in the direction of Surfers Paradise’s towering beacon, the Q1 Hotel, and you’ll be in fish and chip heaven.
Where: 9 Hamilton Avenue, ground floor arcade of Q1 Hotel, Surfers Paradise
Still hungry? Why not hit up the Gold Coast’s very best new openings of 2016 (so far).
Photo Credit: Hayley Williamson and Brooke Darling for Metropolist