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Fitness mavens, if you’re lurking around the southern end and NEED a new something-something for your activewear collection, this one is for you! Walk through the doors at Prae Store in the beautiful Cornerstone Stores precinct, and you’ll be whisked into a calming boutique lined with hand-selected active wear pieces from P.E. Nation, First Base and Nimble. Together with a range of teas, incense and natural skin care ranges; Prae Store stocks make up by Inika, serums and creams by Cedar + Stone and Edible Beauty, plus more. Not forgetting a wellness-focussed collection of fine jewellery and stones from By Charlotte and Violet Grey, respected for their therapeutic characteristics, and you’re practically gliding into an I-want-to-buy-everything dream. 

A scenic drive south across the NSW border is where you’ll find Taverna, and a slice of Santorini in the sleepy seaside village of Kingscliff. This adorable Greek-inspired eatery will spoil with saganaki-like haloumi, charred octopus with pickled vegetables, and 48-hour slow-cooked lamb; paired perfectly with salty ocean breezes. With its cute peppermint front door and crisp white interiors, you’ll wanna Instagram the heck out of everything. You have been warned. 

Burleigh Heads has another mouth-watering addition to add to its foodie portfolio with Sydney chef Alex Munoz Labart opening his first restaurant in the neighbourhood.   

If you prefer your fruit n veg without copious amounts of sprays and toxins, then you should make your way to Queensland’s only truly organic grower’s market, selling only the best quality produce. Did you know that organic fruit, vegetables and meat have 40 to 90% more antioxidants than commercially-grown food? Us neither, but that coupled with completely affordable prices is a good enough reason to visit Miami’s Organic Farmers Market. Some weekends you’ll find community stalls promoting environmental awareness and natural health practices. So, if you want to get a little more educated on our planet and our produce, pop down and spin a yarn with one of the stallholders. Held every Sunday morning at Miami State High School between 6am and 11:30am.

Held monthly on a Saturday afternoon, at The Green Marquee Twilight Eco Markets expect all the feel-good community vibes as you wander around market stalls adorned with handmade jewellery, recycled clothing, ceramics and vegan skincare; plus delish food trucks, live music to get you grooving, fresh produce from Ground Grocer, coffee and cakes from Pasture & Co., activities for the kids, plus local brewskies from Black Hops, Balter and Ink Gin for the adults. BYO picnic blanket is essential! 

In the 1980s, husband and wife team Vien and Thao started life in Australia as refugees. Today they are the faces behind Runaway Bay's popular Can Tho Kitchen and we’re so glad they chose to call the Gold Coast home. Sharing with us all the mind-blowing Vietnamese flavours we adore, like beef pho, rice paper rolls, and steaming wok and clay pot concoctions; all wrapped up in an energetic and colourful package.

Strategically located at the entrance to Currumbin’s fertile valley—meaning a shorter distance from source to market—this boutique farmers market is certain to become your mid-week ritual. Held every Thursday morning, at the Currumbin Community Markets you can fill your basket with organic fruits and vege, meats, jams and baked goods, then stay for the breezy live music, picnic blanket hangs and activities for the little tots. 

Since opening in early 2014, Bonita Bonita has been a runaway success, delivering some of the best Mexican on the Gold Coast. This is undoubtedly one of our fave restaurants in Mermaid Beach, and it’s all thanks to the tight-knit local team busting their beautiful backsides to bring us next-level foodie fare and ambiance. While we could go on forever, start with the crispy snapper tacos, ceviche, sweet pumpkin empanadas, Bonita Margaritas and tequila with a verdita chaser. The latter are best consumed next door at sexy BonBon Bar. Hola!

On the hunt for a super welcoming coworking space on the Gold Coast? Sometimes you just want to hang out in a spot that doesn’t make you quiver with fear if you accidentally drop a pen. Sure, working in absolute silence can be good for productivity, but you can do that at your own place. The Communal House always has the tunes cranking and comes pre-packaged with people to bounce ideas off across their 12 desks. 

Offering a few different class options from beginner, intermediate and reformer to HIIT and Met Con (metabolic conditioning) this compact Miami studio will help you on your way to a toned bod and refreshed mind in no time. Precision is a huge focus at Pilates and Co. and because of this your workout ensures you stay incredibly mindful as you concentrate on aligning your posture, lifting your pelvic floor, keeping your spine in neutral, lengthening your limbs and the timing of your breath. Complicated much? The smiling staff are superb at talking you through each step with the goal being inner control, and complete coordination of body and mind. Located upstairs of Kira & Kira on the Gold Coast Highway, Pilates & Co.’s introductory offer of four sessions for $80 is one not to be missed. 

If you’re on the hunt for some of the best breakfasts on the Gold Coast we recommend hunting down Mermaid Waters local gem, Double Barrel Kitchen. Get cosy with a cuppa surrounded by rustic décor and friendly baristas while tucking into a seasonally changing menu including the likes of hot smoked trout and zucchini fritters with a side of homemade melting moments cookies. 

Part of the Ground Currumbin collective in the Currumbin Valley Ecovillage, Pasture & Co. cafe offers numerous reasons to jump off the well trod path; think: kangaroos, cold pressed juices and a co-op farmer’s markets. And when you’re finished sipping hot chai and lounging over your scrambled tofu, you can head upstairs for a healing therapy like Shiatsu massage or Kinesiology. 

Another veteran among the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast, Ristorante Fellini has been operating, very successfully, for a staggering 20-plus years, so know you’re onto a winner. Located overlooking the water at stunning Marina Mirage, family run Fellini has every element of Italian cuisine absolutely perfected. From meticulously crafted pasta and stuffed zucchini flowers to fresh-off-the-boat seafood, traditional desserts and an extensive wine list. With a team of heavyweight restaurateurs, chefs and sommeliers, Fellini is one of the city’s most respected institutions and will no doubt be sticking around for another few decades yet. Date night, anyone?  

We all feel a little bit spesh when we walk into the historic ex-Southport ambulance station turned cafe and coworking hotspot. Oh, the things those walls would have seen. The creative community at Gold Coast's best coworking space, CoSPACES, has been growing since 2012 and now includes neighbouring building The Station, offering a huge lettable space including over 100 co-working desks, five meeting rooms, larger rooms for private functions, event spaces and a photography studio. 

The eclectic musings of 19 Karen Contemporary Art Gallery are a serious showstopper. Boasting around 100 artists and revolving exhibits, this arsty hub in Mermaid Beach showcases styles ranging from urban street art to Abstract and Surrealism.

With only six reformers, The Pilates Pad boasts an intimate setting where each session is tailored to your request with the instructors focussed on helping each individual achieve their goals from injury rehabilitation, to increasing strength and stability, staying active during a pregnancy or just for overall body tone, The Pilates Pad really benefits everyone. This is the kind of space where you will form friendships and feel part of a tight-knit family. With locations in both Nobby Beach and Varsity Lakes, there will almost always be a reformer free at this, one of the best Pilates studios on the Gold Coast. 

Tucked along the busy Gold Coast Highway in Mermaid Beach, you’d be forgiven for driving straight past Skull & Bones Espresso. Worth tracking down a car park or beating the pavement, the coffee here is consistently good, but make it exceptional with a milkshake sugar fix or one of their famous loaded gourmet bagels. 

These guys are legends among the northern coffee-lovin’ crowd, with their pocket-sized Ashmore barista bar having gained a loyal following over the last few years. Recently taking the next step to expand their empire (you should hear the plans they have on the drawing board!), First Fruits Speciality Coffee now has a buzzing cafe in Labrador that not only allows more space for a kitchen and full breakfast menu, but also their well-patronised barista, cupping and latte art workshops, plus scope to expand their in-house roastery. Hand sourcing coffee graded within the world's top 2% quality, including from Ethiopia, Kenya, Panama, Colombia and more; caffeine literally runs in their blood here and you can’t help but be immersed in their affectionate passion for the humble bean.

Upon walking into this Pilates studio you will be instantly transported to what feels like a Bali retreat; with whitewashed timber floors, a vertical garden wall, leather chairs and pouffes, the most beautiful lampshades, and the ocean lapping not too far away. The Body Method’s light wooden reformer carriages which you’ll melt into (and make you forget you are actually there to workout) also contribute to the comfortable, relaxing and luxurious vibe of this place. 

Their Instagram posts of adorable French bulldogs and pugs (All-Time Coffee are pooch friendly) and drool-inducing vegan-friendly doughnuts are enough to warrant a change from your tried and tested morning routine. These guys live up to their namesake, serving some of the best coffee in Mermaid Beach. If you want an epic doughnut treat, get in before noon or these doughy delights will have already walked out the door. If you’re more of a mid morning riser, we reckon you’ll be pretty stoked with their fun old faves of sweet and savoury toasties and jaffles.

Twenty-five minutes drive inland from Burleigh Heads, near the Bonogin Valley Bushland Park, you will stumble across the welcoming setting that is GrowCa. Signs warn of trotting horses on the roads ‘round this neck of the woods, and usually the only sounds to be heard are the chirp of birds and chatter of cafe goers. Pick up eco-friendly home supplies along with your velvety coffee and haloumi bagel breakfast. 

Emerald Lakes is a mini city within a city that oozes European charm and at the beating heart of this community is Cabukee. Loved for their welcoming smiles, zucchini fritters and coffee brewed every which way under the sun, quality cafe options are sparse in this pocket of the Coast, though the cool crew at Cabukee fills the gap nicely and is pooch-friendly to boot. 

Located next door to the hidden shop front of Iku Yakitori and a stone’s throw from Jimmy Wahs, Mr Hizola’s has found himself in great company—Burleigh Heads is seriously buzzing rn people. Walking along the popular foodie strip you can’t miss the eatery with its neon red sign and bright lanterns drawing customers in, and trust us, you won’t be disappointed if you happen to stumble upon this place.

Dedicated to all things babes and children, at Miami's monthly Hide & Seek Children's Market expect beautifully crafted clothing and accessories, decor, toys, furnishings, family photographers, doulas and oh so much more. Stallholders are handpicked, with an emphasis on those using quality materials and goods that are ethically produced. Adding to the whimsical family-friendly atmosphere at Hide & Seek, there will be yummy food trucks with eats for both the big and little kids, live music, story telling and kids crafts activities. #shopsmall  

Daymaker Espresso is a welcoming cafe on Miami’s high traffic Pacific Avenue. With added grunge factor courtesy of its past life as a workshop, local lads Dylan and Andrew have stripped back the space, uncovering ample workable goodness in the bones of this vintage corner block. With the design inspired by the materials they uncovered during the renovations, they’ve been crafty with recycled old Australian wood, exposed globes and rafters, strategically placed greenery, cement surfaces and industrial fixtures that complete the raw, industrial ambiance.

Indulge in some retail therapy at The Commons Casuarina boutique, Nikkou. The handiwork of uber stylish local lass Tiffany Cooper, Nikkou celebrates femininity through quality designer fashion, accessories and homewares. Perfect for the mindful, modern woman and her equally fashionable babe. Between white walls with blush pink accents, get your shop on and you’ll be divvying up your wardrobe space among Australian favourites and local up-and-comers who you really oughta know. Expect Zulu & Zephyr swimwear and winter knits, Brie Leon accessories, Velvet Canyon sunnies and luxe Estilo Emporio jumpsuits, to name a few. Love locally crafted ceramics, linen homewares or organic baby threads and toys? Scoot into this dreamy boutique and you’ll struggle to come out empty handed.

With the owners of Blackboard Coffee Roasters backing the cafe component of The Commons, you know you’re in for a treat. Proud residents to the area themselves, it is little wonder this team grabbed the opportunity to bring the breakfast dates and caffeinated liquid goods to their new local. All delivered with relaxed yet attentive service in a sun-drenched and texture-filled setting, Tucker has your all-day weekend brunching nosh covered. Think: healthy potato rosti benedict, Green Eggs served with poachies and seasonal greens, daily salads and more. Or, for lunch, Balter beer-battered Mahi Mahi and chips or rigantoni pasta with pan-fried local king and oyster mushrooms are early favourites. 

Hotel Miami is a Miami coworking pad with a retro interior. Looking to attract like-minded designers, artists, photographers, videographers and more, Hotel Miami offers a fully operational photography and video studio equipped with a bunch of lighting and microphone setups. Collaboration is at the heart of what Hotel Miami are doin’ and they’re not going anywhere anytime soon. Rent your hot desk from $29 per day, weekly for $119 or hire out air conditioned offices upstairs for a more permanent set up. This is one of the most accommodating coworking spaces on the Gold Coast that’s suited to workshops, events and even hosting a monthly shindig, First Fridays, showcasing a selected local artist—for free! 

Casuarina has a new home for craft beer lovers and carnivores—aptly named The Crafty Cow. Located within The Commons precinct, here you’ll find meats slow-cooking onsite in a competition-quality meat smoker…yes, the saliva-inducing smells waft for blocks. Come for the Carnivore Platter with 12-hour wood smoked brisket, pulled pork and smoked cransky served with housemade slaw and beer-battered chips. Or, wrap your mouth around the finger-licking smoked brisket sandwich, BBQ sliders or wings with blue cheese. 

If you’ve ever treated yourself to a long wine-fuelled lunch or perhaps splashed out on a fanciful weekend getaway, you can attest that Cabarita’s dreamy Halcyon House is the kinda place you wish you could shut off from reality and hide away forever. A recent addition to this whimsical beachside resort, while Halcyon Spa is not technically on the Gold Coast, it is absolutely worth the short jaunt south across the border if you’re looking for the ultimate day spa experience. Designed by the same creative hands behind the adjoining boutique hotel and Paper Daisy restaurant, Halcyon Spa is wrapped in crisp white stucco walls, with those signature breezeblocks and archways hiding relaxation areas and calming courtyards. Inside, you’ll find accents of Moroccan mosaics, honey timber floors, upholstered wallpaper and bespoke mismatched textiles and furnishings that somehow marrying together effortlessly. There’s also a Hammam-inspired domed steam room, where you can bliss out pre or post-treatment to maximise the rejuvenation experience

Quickly earning itself a cult following in Coolangatta, we reckon Francie’s pizzeria is one of the best Italian restaurants on the Gold Coast if you find yourself wandering around the southern end with a hunger you need to crush. With cool vibes, a laidback local clientele, hip staff and wood-fired neo-Neapolitan-style pizzas featuring cheeky names like Pears Brosnan and Cheese Louise (not to mention an entire vegan pizza menu!), Francie’s is unassuming but a total fan favourite.

The ‘best television in the world’ is what Coolangatta locals like to call their waterfront loungeroom view from the Rainbow Bay SLSC. Cold beers flow on tap, giant chicken parmis waft out of the kitchen and if you listen closely enough, tales of waves surfed past and present bounce from wall to wall in this iconic Coolangatta location. Order a schooner of local Balter beer, sit back and listen to some surfing tales told, both tall and true. A visit here is our top pick among the best things to do in Coolangatta.

Whether you’re on the run or have time to sit and relax, Griffith St Larder has your caffeine fix sorted. Order your takeaway through their sweet little side window or step inside to enjoy a smooth brew with beans from the local folks at Blackboard Coffee. The ideal brunch spot, try their ‘bread or bowl’ options or their famous Eggs Benny on a Hash Brown and curl up into a little food induced, brunch coma.

The long wait is over, folks. A vacant warehouse in the middle of a Burleigh Heads industrial estate has been converted into a bustling marketplace, packed with stalls dishing up more barbecue-inspired eats than you could possibly poke a fork at. Sounds like some kind of dream, huh? Wrong!

The gang from Byron have migrated north and brought with them their mouth-watering baked goods! Sitting just across the NSW border in Tweed Heads, The Bread Social offers up one of the most impressive pastry cabinets perhaps on the entire Coast. Choose from a crispy pork and fennel sausage roll, lemon myrtle meringue or a loaf of their insane sourdough and you’ll forget that you ever just popped in here for a coffee!

Sitting like a sweet little farmhouse in the middle of busy Griffith Street, Rockleigh Cafe is our top pick for breakfast in Coolangatta. Grab a table outside under the shady tree and order our favourite: a mixed confit of mushrooms with kale, goats curd, walnut crumb, pickled cucumber and salsa verde on sourdough. Are you picking up what we’re putting down? Good.

Date night, girl's night or dinner with the lads, fanciful Moo Moo is great for all occasions. Enjoy a cheese plate and oysters, then choose from their extensive list of wines or overlook Broadbeach’s Victoria Park while enjoying Moo Moo’s signature steak. If cocktails are your style, an Apple Vineyard Bellini or espresso caramel margarita is a must. Don’t leave Moo Moo without at least a bite of their house made chocolate honeycomb or choc fudge sundae. If you’re on the hunt for one of the best steak restaurants on the Gold Coast, well, you’ve found it. 

When you’re on the hunt for the best breakfasts in Southport, a trip to Chirn Park's Daark Espresso is totally worth an extra five minutes in the car. An institution among professional brunchers, Daark is always buzzing with coffee lovers chilling on the wrap-around deck. With attentive table service, speciality brews and delicious options from vanilla bean panna cotta to leg ham and parmesan croquettes or slow-cooked lamb and beetroot salads, there’s a lot to love about Daark. 

If you’re on the hunt for one of the best cafes in Southport and capital city quality coffee, the friendly team at Simple Coffee House is at your service. Located on the CBD’s main drag, this simple yet bustling cafe sells sweet and savoury treats and a small grocery line to kickstart your day. But you’re here for the smooth Toby’s Estate caffeinated brews, served every which way, and the regular line up of loyal locals ensures you’re in the right place. 

Since opening their doors in Bondi Beach way back in 2016, Milky Lane has already planted themselves firmly on many Sydneysider’s foodie hit lists. And now, Sydney's infamous burger joint has landed on the Gold Coast.

The arrival of Azure Spa & Fitness is another final piece of the puzzle in The Star Gold Coast’s staggering transformation. Quickly taking its place among the best day spas on the Gold Coast, step past the doors and be transported to a tranquil oasis. Choose from an indulgent treatment menu including luxe facials and massage to signature body treatments, manis and pedis, plus offerings just for the gents. With seven treatment rooms at the ready, guests are welcome to take advantage of the high-tech fitness room and sprawling resort pool to extend their experience.

A top choice among the best cafes in Southport, locals really do have something to be proud of in the CBD’s characterful Randy Wallhole. While the breakfast options are simple and seriously good value (think jaffles, loaded bagels, nourishing bowls and CocoPop iced lattes), this eclectic cafe—filled with retro couches, arcade games and paraphernalia—is an uber friendly local favourite that’s sure to brighten your Monday blues. 

Gotham is the latest (and hands down greatest) project of lauded restaurateurs Daniel and Ruggie Ridgeway. Well respected for their Mermaid Beach institution Little Truffle and the BiN family of tapas restaurants, Gotham Bar & Grill is seriously ambitious and unlike anything they’ve attempted before. 

Popular cafe spot Niche & Co. just keeps on getting better, with a fresh update to the walls with a splash of pink paint and pretty palms as well as a new seasonal menu on offer. This cute af cafe has all the superfoods sprinkled throughout every single dish. You will find beetroot smash on sourdough, poke bowls, haloumi burgers and vegan burritos, to name a few. The salted caramel acai bowl should not be a special, but added to the menu FOREVER, it’s that good. Okay, okay we know we should probably go for the green bowl, anything green is good, right? #Itsyournichetoo so get on down and get tasting and tagging ‘cause if it’s good enough for Sally Fitzgibbons (FYI she is the epitome of health) then it’s good enough for us. If you’re looking for one of the best cafes on the Gold Coast, well, you’ve found it! 

With no end in sight to the Coast’s new-found love for poke bowls, it makes total sense that sunny beach hangs, Kirra, were to gain its own dedicated poke bowl cafe. Inspired by the lush island archipelago of Hawaii, Kirra’s HiPoke brings a burst of summer to any day, and is all just a sandy-footed stroll from the seaside.

If you’re a Pilates fan, you’ll already be familiar with The Body Method brand, who boast one of the most attractive studios on the Coast. An organic expansion of their flagship studio in Tugun, this larger, even more magical new space hosts yoga, Barre, meditation, as well as Pilates and workshops (from pregnancy yoga to women’s wellness), and we’re so ready to sign up. Seriously, this dreamy, light-soaked space needs to be experienced to be believed, and it’ll be impossible to walk away from a class without slipping into a total Zen-like state of mind.

If there’s ever a venue that's iconic, it’s The Avenue, a GC institution in the heart of Surfers. From its origins in the 70s as one of Australia’s first nightclubs, it’s benefitted from a multi-million dollar refurb (and move across the road) to bring it back to the right side of modern (while all the good vibes remain). The Avenue's buzzing atmosphere guarantees you and the crew will have a fab afternoon, but not at the expense of genuinely good food: think an Italian-influenced, New York-style menu of oysters, entrees, gourmet burgers, charcuterie platters, pasta, steaks and salad, all washed down with plenty of drinks. Quintessential beachy Surfers Paradise feels!

Got a weakness for seafood? Beeline to Surfers Paradise's esplanade where you’ll find Seascape Restaurant & Bar. Sprawling over three levels, including a breezy rooftop bar, nabbing a prime possie with uninterrupted Pacific Ocean vistas won’t be too difficult. Go casual with a generous seafood platter in the bistro, or frock up for a divine seafood spread starting with fresh cuts of sashimi, seared Alaskan scallops with truffled white bean puree, to brag-worthy Pernod Bouillabaisse bursting with mussels, prawns and Moreton Bay bugs. When in Queensland, right?

With poke bowls taking the world by storm, it was only a matter of time before the Gold Coast caught onto the trend and gained its own dedicated poke bowl restaurant. Like a Hawaiian or Caribbean Island marooned in Mermaid Beach, Póke Póke is a vibrant and utterly unique eatery that’s open for brunch through dinner with a chill crowd and funky tunes bringing the positive vibes.   

It’s true, cheese lovers, the southern Gold Coast has just gained its very own European-style cellar and fromagarie—with a freakin’ walk-in cheese room. Hurrah! Quince is the super sweet edible offering in boutique retail precinct Cornerstone Stores. Grab an African woven basket and fill it with boozy delights from a selection of both European-sourced and organic, biodynamic Australian wines (including the hard-to-get range from Delinquente), Husk Distillery Ink Gin and rums, and Strange Love tonics. Or, plan your gourmet picnic or dinner party with deli pastas (hello, Per Tutti!)), sauces, mustards, oils, olives and cured meats. But it’s the walk-in fromagarie that’s making us weak in the knees. Imported from France, Italy and Spain you can pick up the creamy Cremeux de Bourgogne and the Crottin D’Antan which pairs perfectly with a Savvy B. Or wait ‘til they cut into the 36-kilogram wheel of Gran Moravia Italian Parmesan… Or just buy one of everything, we won’t judge. 

Pops of pink, loads of white, nude wood and cute pendant lights above the sunny window nook make this place totally Pinnable. But there’s so much more to this gem than the interior. Easily one of the best hairdressers on the Gold Coast, Kerri and her team at Zanzi Hairdressing are pros at delivering perfectly primed cuts and colours. With a holistic approach to hairdressing, eco-friendly Zanzi is part of the Sustainable Salons program, where 95% of salon waste is carefully recycled. Zanzi has also eliminated the need for unnecessary paper (there are iPads instead of magazines!) and exclusively uses organic OWAY products that are free from toxic chemicals, while still providing a quality treatment without comprising the health of the hair, client and environment. You'll find Zanzi Hairdressing in the stunning Cornerstone Stores precinct in Currumbin-Tugun.

We’re calling it now… Stable Coffee & Kitchen is one of the most atheistically stunning cafes we’ve seen open its doors on the Coast, ever. We’re crushing on Stable’s blush pink stone-top island table—which will no doubt become the bucket-list Instagram backdrop for many breakfast dates—retractable floor to ceiling windows, courtyard seating, oak wood accents, artwork by Claudio Kirac, and a unique cement breakfast bar which adjoins the barista station and is lined with custom built stools by Martin Johnston. With ex-Gwinganna health retreat executive chef Stacey Tarleton heading up the kitchen, almost everything is made in house from the jams to sauces and creams, and the real-food menu is simply brilliant. We tucked into the Overnight Oats with rhubarb and burnt orange yoghurt, the Raw Tuna plate with quinoa and salted labne, plus the Potato Hash with poached eggs and miso cashew cream. If these are not some of the best breakfasts to grace the Gold Coast, we will eat our words. 

Holey Moley, the cult-like chip-and-putt that’s taken the country by storm has finally arrived on the Gold Coast and we've never been more excited to grab a set of clubs. Holey Moley is an 18-hole crazy AF mini golf course that's joined Surfers Paradise’s Circle on Cavill precinct, along with a new and improved bowling alley, karaoke, The Caddyshack cocktail bar and two state-of-the-art escape rooms. Yep, this freakin’ awesome golf company is teaming up with Strike Bowling to create the ultimate all-in-one entertainment hub, and let’s just say the kidult in us is pumped!

Ally Chow serves up incredible pan-Asian fare in Nobby Beach. Dishing up share-style plates, you’ll find a mix of Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese flavours across the menu. 

Cornerstone Stores is a labour of love for a family of long-time locals, who’ve held onto this Gold Coast Highway-side block for the last four years while they planned their build. Among the gorge stores there's Stable Coffee & Kitchen; a new yoga, Pilates and meditation centre by The Body Method; Quince Fromagerie (with a freakin’ walk-in cheese room); organic hairdresser Zanzi Hair; indoor plants by The Borrowed Nursery, Essence of Beauty; Little Loves babyswear; plus curated lifestyle boutiques Kind Curations and Prae Store. 

Husk Distillers, a humble Northern Rivers NSW family-owned and operated business, once happily serviced their market out of a backyard shed on their fertile cane and cattle farm. Exploding in popularity thanks to their iconic Ink Gin brand, they're Australia’s first paddock to bottle Agricole rum distillery, which means it’s made from freshly crushed sugar cane juice, instead of molasses. 

Fu Manchu Oriental Kitchen on Surfers Paradise’s Chevron Island has a true Asian fusion menu that morphs from devout traditions to dishes with a European twist. Hiding behind an unassuming London shop front-style facade, Fu Manchu is totally where we want to hang on our next date night, with a dark and moody supper club-ish interior that lends itself to getting cosy and just a lil’ bit boozy. Our tip? Fu Manchu’s Singapore chilli crab and sticky Asian beef short ribs are life changing. 

Absolutely brimming with Japanese soul food, Okazu offers convenient meals to go and casual dining indoors in their cosy space with ample people watching views. Equal parts authentic and god damn cute, these guys are serious about offering you a laid back Japanese, yet totally GC, experience. With their signature ‘you make miso happy’ neon sign and rustic seating nooks, you’ll be grinning ear to ear each and every time you step foot into this place.

A recent addition to Tweed’s busy Kennedy Drive thoroughfare, this diamond in the semi industrial rough is what immediate locals have long been craving. For the rest of us, a short jaunt across the border is totally worth it for this hip corner cafe with raw industrial vibes, a whimsical feature flower arrangement by Gather Store, personalised service and some of the best new breakfasts we’ve devoured this year. Start with Hymn’s smooth caffeinated brew using Melbourne’s St Ali beans or an Insta-worthy Mermaid Latte by local supplier Nutra Organics. Before moving onto the egg and bacon Hawker Roll with roti, apple sauce and house made condensed milk mayo or the nek-level Here Fishy Fishy with gin-cured salmon, potato salad, walnuts and poachies. Yep, you’re going to love this southern gem.  

Boasting one of the most beautiful and spacious salons on the Coast, contemporary art gallery at the rear and a dedicated dude’s corner with a fulltime barber, you could say Maverick Hair & Art Space has got it all going on.