FARINA & Co.

If a European bakery, cafe and pasta bar had a lovechild, FARINA & Co. might be it. 

Coming to us from the talented crew behind Italian institutions Sofia’s and Luna’s in Broadbeach, FARINA & Co. is about as close as you can get to authentic Italian without jumping on a flight.

Nestled in Alcove, an ultra-chic boutique retail space in the heart of Southport, FARINA (translating to ‘flour’ in Italian) is light and bright with tiled floors, hanging chandeliers, an open kitchen so you can watch the chefs at work and marbled benchtops—basically the kind of space where you want to spend many an hour whiling away the time, croissant and coffee in hand. 

A European bakery and cafe at heart, FARINA & Co. also doubles as a pasta bar serving fresh, handmade pasta all day, which you can also purchase to take home. So yes, you’ll be able to buy Sofia’s iconic spicy tomato paccheri to feast at home. 

The Euro-inspired breakfast menu puts unique twists on classics you know and love, but we recommend you leave room for a post-breakfast pastry. Made onsite daily by FARINA's dedicated pastry chef, buttery croissants, delicate lemon meringue tarts and decadent coffee and caramel tarts are just a small sample of FARINA’s impressive array of pastries. Oh, and make sure to try FARINA's signature twice-baked almond croissant with housemade almond frangipane.

Now,  onto lunch. Breakfast staples (with Euro twists, of course) star alongside fresh handmade pastas, warming soup, hearty salads, focaccia and paninis. Our top picks? The funghi on toast is a tantalising combination of porcini, mushroom and king mushrooms served with cream tarragon sauce and a poached egg, while the baked eggs with spicy tomato and basil sauce and Farina's focaccia is also sublime.

On the pasta front you really can do no wrong but the Moreton Bay bug linguine with housemade fettucine, pan-kissed tomatoes and white wine is a standout.

FARINA really pulls out all the stops when it comes to their focaccia and paninis; they're as authentic as they come. The mortadella panini with stracciatella, pistachio mortadella, green olives, mustard and honey dressing is one we'll keep coming back for again and again. And again. And of course, you can also purchase the homemade focaccia that your panini is made on. 

Pair your meal with a coffee made on Allpress A.R.T roast, a fresh juice or FARINA's signature hot chocolate which is a levelled-up version unlike anything we've tried. Think: rich hot chocolate served with a housemade marshmallow rim and a scoop of vanilla gelato.

Owner Henry Hunt and Executive Chef Dan Paulman say they are excited to dive into a new venture; their third venue in under four years, no less. “We’ve wanted to create a breakfast offering for a long time and we’re really excited to bring something new to the Gold Coast,” says Hunt.

Open from 6am to 3pm daily, FARINA & Co. will soon be available for venue hire and private events with capacity for 100 standing and 70-80 seated guests. 

FARINA & Co. officially opens Friday 5 July. 

Image Credit: FARINA & Co. | Clayten Fowler Photography