Maybe you are one of those sensible types who actually took it easy (or celebrated without the booze) just so you could start the new year fresh, invigorated, determined, and with a clear mind (we envy you, seriously).
Or perhaps you were forced to work New Year’s Eve and the hospitality family celebrations naturally happen after you rise on January 1st; mid-afternoon, voice hoarse and squinty-eyed from serving the heaving masses the night prior.
Regardless of your cause, this year New Year’s Day falls on a Friday, which means another loonnngg weekend. Hurrah! And who wants to be sitting at home on a Friday RDO?
So you’re not wandering around lost and confused in search of a coffee fix or fabulous feast to ring in the first day of 2016, we’ve done the research to recommend nine of our fave places open this New Year’s Day.
Bam Bam Bakehouse
If you’ve made it one of your New Year’s resolutions to up your breakfast boss ante, by working your way through 32 of the Gold Coast’s best breakfasts that you need in your life (LINK), we can think of no better way to start 2016 than at beautiful Bam Bam Bakehouse. Whether a savoury two-egg Nasi Goreng is your groove or you’re more a streaky bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast roll kinda guy or gal, the coffee is spot on, the outlook is leafy, and the lovingly-baked goods are beyond compare.
Where: 2519—2521 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Paradox Coffee Roasters
Tucked far enough away from the maddening Cavill Avenue holiday crowd on Surfers Paradise’s iconic golden mile, we love all the businesses residing within the slick complex—The 4217. But roast your own beans, and you have our ultimate respect. To start 2016 off with your best foot forward, the crew at Paradox Coffee Roasters are doing the hard yards on NYD keeping you caffeinated and your belly content. Did you know they are now open for dinner, Thursday to Saturday nights? Add it to your dining to-do list, kapeesh?
Where: The 4217, 7/10 Beach Road, Surfers Paradise
Espresso Moto
2015 was a solid year for the passionate team from Espresso Moto. With their custom motorbike workshop now operational, a little #bikeporn to go with your morning cup of joe is always a welcome addition. If you’ve not yet devoured one of the faithful Ground Lamb Sandwiches with gruyere cheese, red onion, aioli, and rosemary jam on a brioche bun, make it a New Year breakfast mission to get ‘er done.
Where: Shop 2/1389 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
Monsoon
Northern Gold Coasters, it’s unlikely you’ll want to travel far after a big night of celebrations so, lucky for you, crowd favourite Monsoon is open bright and early (6am—4pm) to help you crush those seedy spirits with a coffee-hit or delightfully greasy and carb-loaded big breakfast. Or for those determined to start their health-kick on day dot, try the corn fritters with avocado and poached egg.
Where: 6 Grice Avenue, Paradise Point
Rick Shores
Now this, our friends, is BIG NEWS. After a mad slog to the finish line, the team from Brisbane’s Longtime is finally ready to share their new baby with the world. Occupying the magnificent beachside space under Oskars, and opening for the very first time on New Year’s Day (from 11:30 am for lunch and dinner), Rick Shores is bringing modern and epically-crafted South East Asian fare to Burleigh Heads. All we can say is, you need to get down there. Stat. Welcome to the Goldy boys!
Where: Shop 3 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads
Tribeca NYC
So you might think we’ve been banging on about Tribeca NYC plenty lately, it’s true, we love these guys. They are awesome. Get your New Year off to a stellar start with finger-licking-good ribs, soft shell crab tacos, a grilled prawn chopped salad, and mighty fine burgers. Their espresso martinis rock our world too. And given there’s high chance others have the same idea as you this New Year’s Day, don’t forget to book!
Where: 58 Thomas Drive, Chevron Island
Mamasan
Let us guess. Mamasan was on your must-do list for 2015, but somehow the weeks between the Labour Day long weekend and Christmas simply evaporated this year (don’t they always?). Fortunately for you, Mamasan will be dishing up their famous pork baos and spicy KFC chicken dishes on New Year’s Day. So, if you don’t blow this month’s fun budget when shouting cocktail rounds the night prior, grab your lover or besties and start exercising that NY Resolution where you explore more of what the Gold Coast has to offer.
Where: Oracle Boulevard, Broadbeach
NightQuarter
Keep the festive good times rolling with a visit to Gold Coast’s hottest new market and event space. Helensvale’s NightQuarter is pulling through on New Year’s Day with their signature micro-restaurants, street food, and emerging designers markets in one neat upcycled shipping container village. With live music on January 1st from the likes of the talented Nattali Rize from Blue King Brown, Gold Coast local, The Lyrical, and Melbourne’s Seeka. Doors open 4—10pm. Go on, you know you want to!
Where: 1 Town Centre Drive, Helensvale
Miami Marketta
If travel is high on your list of priorities for 2016, a night out at Miami Marketta will help save on the price of a restaurant meal and start training your tastebuds for the assault of international culinary delights you can expect when you finally jump on that plane. Live music is always a highlight at the Marketta, and this New Year’s Day they’ve enlisted BluesCorp to get your toes a tapping. Doors open 5—10pm.
Where: 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami
When Brooke Darling is not travelling to far flung places or sailing around the world, she’s scouring the coast for the best ethnic food, new openings, and hidden gems, all in the name of research for Metropolist. She loves motorbike rides to the hinterland, learning (frustratingly) to surf, and will try any adventure sport at least once. Find her on Instagram @darlingisamrs
Photo Credit: Ariana Gillrie for Metropolist