Tarte Bakery & Cafe

The Verdict

Wander past Tarte Bakery & Cafe in Burleigh Heads and you'll immediately feel the collision of Parisian and New York style in the forward-facing tables that hug a grand, charcoal grey custom-built façade—typical of establishments found in NYC’s fashionable SoHo and West Village districts. Brass accents are scattered throughout, from vintage train luggage racks stacked with bread to the trim on the custom La Marzocco coffee machine. Other design elements worth lingering to appreciate include mid-century pendant lights shipped over from Amsterdam and the 100-year-old movie theatre counter repurposed as the cafe’s main display counter. The overall result is refined, elegant yet oh so welcoming.  

Tarte’s standout menu is unlike anything else in town and serves as a memoir of the owner’s international dining adventures over the past decade. Tarte’s range of French-inspired open-faced tartines include the vibrant spring tartine—sourdough generously loaded with all shades of green from shaved zucchini to edamame, avocado, asparagus, watermelon radish and mint. Or the deliciously layered sweet and savoury tartine with roasted grapes on a bed of whipped ricotta, topped with honey and pops of thyme. 

Food envy is guaranteed across the table, as you and your brunch pals tuck into plates of miso scrambled eggs sprinkled with fine grated parmesan and togarashi or the Bullseye Bang consisting of bacon, fried eggs, avo and house chilli sambal atop Tarte’s NYC Everything bagel. Speaking of bagels, Tarte has recently expanded to open up a sweet-as-can-be takeaway deli nook, slinging up New York-style bagels and sandwiches, stuffed to max with finger-lickingly good combos like smoked salmon and cream cheese and served with housemade potato crisps.

Luring crowds from all corners of the Coast, Tarte’s baked offerings are the ultimate mouth and eye candy. Peer through windows into the bakehouse where talented artisans produce treats worth travelling for. From their flaky, buttery tarts to the addictive cruller doughnut-hybrid—crispy on the outside with a soft centre—the hardest choice you’ll have to make is what goodies to dig into. The good folks at Tarte have been hard at work creating decadently naughty Christmas treats including gingerbread trees, roasted plum and custard tarts, cherry pies and Christmas spiced cookies with nougat. Stock up on their addictive Christmas treats and you’re sure to be on everyone’s nice list this year.

Image credit: Brooke Darling Photography