Good coffee, great food and city vibes.
Good coffee, great food and city vibes.
Our sweet, sweet So-Po. There’s something we just love about Southport, maybe it’s the fact that they’ve got bulk bars and restaurants so hunger never has to enter our vocabulary again. Or maybe it’s how you can get a coffee hit and hit of golf done in half a day and then soak up those Broadwater views for the rest of it – shall we go on?
All we know is that there are so many goodies in this CBD gem we couldn’t list them all or you’d be here all day and we know you’re all about less reading and more eating (same). Here’s our round-up of local approved must-do’s!
The all-in-ones
The retailers in Southport get that you’re busy – it is the CBD after all – so time is of the essence and efficiency is the word over here. Brickworks Ferry Rd has everything from the Standard Market Co to get those dinner essentials or to make the perfect charcuterie board, ‘grammable acai bowls at Cardamom Pod and bites like Bird Royale because we’ve always got time for some cheeky chicken.
Upping the ante with a little bit of everything, Queen Street Village is just off the Smith St Motorway so you can pop in for the essentials from gourmet grocer Jones & Co IGA. No time to meal prep? Grab some Asian eats at Wu Kong with peckish plates to keep you going, or a classic pub feed from Queen’s Arms for your parmy fix. When all that eating has got you zonked, get your caffeine hit at Sens Coffee and pop into DENDY to catch the latest flicks and a moment of peace and quiet.
Now did we hear you say retail therapy? Enter: Australia Fair. With the big names in fashion all in one spot along with our biggest vice Kmart on the store list, say goodbye to your savings but hello to a fresh new look. Once you’ve shopped til you dropped it’s time to start your Tour-de-Food at Australia Fair Metro, think pho, dumplings and desserts by the dozen.
For bakery treats
With a name like Sacre Coeur Patisserie it’s no wonder these guys have mastered the art of French pastries so prepare to stock up on croissants in allll the flavours from pistachio to raspberry and everything in between.
No man is left behind at Made With Love who deliver on 100% vegan cakes, pies and pastries because you know what, a donut a day keeps the doctor away or something like that and why should our vegans not be part of the action.
Keeping with the Euro-bakery theme is FARINA & Co, pastries are made onsite daily with all the classics like lemon meringue tarts and buttery croissants but wait, it gets even better – they double as a pasta bar. Grazie!
Pumping out sensational Asian-inspired pastries, desserts and drinks, Delothor Patisserie is our kinda kryptonite!
For a coffee
Coffee addicts, Southport’s got you covered with experiences like SupermarCat Cat Café, which – you guessed it – comes with a side of kitty cuddles with your caffeine fix, it’s so good we won’t judge if you start purring along with your furry friends.
For the more traditional café vibe Humble Café might be humble by name but they’re big on variety from classic cold drips to matcha espresso.
Built on the tried-and-true premise that simple is best, everything about Herringbone Cafe is understated (in the best way) letting the true hero of the space – the food and coffee – take centre stage.
Eight Fifty Espresso boosts productivity and happiness, doling out weekday caffeine fixes from its sidewalk dwelling, sapphire green digs.
For a drink
You already know we’re partial to a cold beverage to round out the day but if you’re after a side of live music with that then Vinnies Dive is the only place to get your fix and an ice cold brew all in one. If you’re after pub vibes you can’t go past SOPO (previously known as RSL CLUB Southport).
Just across the tram line nothing says Southport more than a cocktail (or 5) on Mr PP’s rooftop, perched above Nerang Street so you can people watch til your hearts content. Keeping the rooftop vibes going strong, Aviary Rooftop at Southport Sharks have an epic cocktail menu that talks a big game and luckily for us, it doesn’t just live up to expectations – it’s even better.
Carafe Wine is an eco-conscious space offering top-notch wine from all the most renowned vino regions and zero-waste practices plus a unique menu of sharing boards.
For good eats
Hello foodies, thoughts we forgot about you? We could never! Getting the good times rolling is none other than Good Times Deli who have quickly become known as the home of sandwiches like no other – think Philly Cheesesteak and banger Bahn Mi.
Japanese eatery, KatsuCo, churns out iterations of its namesake dish – traditionally coated in crunchy panko crumb and slathered in curry sauce.
For those on-the-go looking for the ultimate grab-and-go, Shiro Gelato & Snack knows what’s up with a selection of Japanese market eats like housemade Onigiri to get your fueled up and ready to tackle the day and gelato to finish because there’s always room for a sweetie treatie.
If you’ve been having Euro summer FOMO you can find a taste of the Mediterranean at Como Kitchen & Bar or if there’s a little Italian in your stomach screaming for some arancini balls (or is it just us?) you can get a mozza at Mozza Mozza as well pasta served tableside from a cheese wheel.
Since we’re on a food journey around the world you’ll be happy to know that Southport is pretty much THE place to get your Korean BBQ fix – yep, we found and 6 smokin’ hot Korean BBQ spots on the GC and would you believe 5 of them call our humble CBD home. Yep, Southport officially has a license to grill.
Local attractions
So you’ve got your coffee and you’re looking to get at one with nature? Obviously, your next stop has to be Broadwater Parklands. It doesn’t matter if you’re just there for a hot girl walk or trying to find a way to keep your tribe occupied, the shared pathway makes it the ultimate for everyone whether you’re in your running era or just keen to take in the Broadwater views while you bike and play.
Fancy a bit more adventure we hear you say? We got you. Tee off for a full day of fun at Southport Golf Club so you can let your inner Tiger Woods run wild on the green. If land has got you feeling like a fish out of water then pop on over to the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre for a mermaid moment with things like group fitness classes – hello aqua aerobics – as well as Olympic length swimming pools for the pros and splash pads for the little tackers.
If a hands on approach to fun is more your vibe then entering a new dimension at Zero Latency is a must-do, the international juggernaut has given VR new life with games on games so you can immerse yourself in the madness. Sing your little lungs out without fear of judgment and enjoy yourself a lyric fuelled good time at Black8 Pool Hall. Test your relationships and put that brain to work with a prison break escape room at Escape Hunt or pick up a pistol at Southport’s very own – and the Coast’s safest – shooting range, The Shooting Centre.
Words by Jacqueline Bojanowski
Shiro Gelato & Snack is Southport’s new HQ of sweet and savoury Japanese small bites (and licks) you Japaneed to be acquainted with, like now, arigatou gozaimasu.
Perched just a hop skip and a yum from the G’s Southport tram stop, the conveniently positioned new venue is a #snaccident waiting to happen for lucky passersby. For owner Kei Okamoto, a well-placed location was the main priority when selecting the new spot for Shiro Gelato & Snack. His former experience dishing up street food style Japanese eats at markets, combined with head chef Shodai Kawakami’s ten-year culinary expertise is the ultimate matcha made in heaven.
The two-legged fuzzy ball mascot featured throughout the shop’s signage is your subliminal sign to leg it on in to discover the array of treats that await. The interior fit out was handled by the Shiro crew (what can’t they do), with a simply-appointed and welcoming space framed by classic crisp-white subway tiles – while the seductive glow of those house-made gelatos glisten from the cabinet beyond. The intimate, corridor style space offers limited casual seating to lick, sip and savour until the #hanger safely subsides.
For those not familiar with Japanese fare, you might be wondering just want you can expect from the Shiro Gelato & Snack menu. Think authentic light Japanese bites worthy of quashing the most serious of snack attacks (though, with a couple of Onirigi’s under the belt, you may still feel a lot like rolling on out of there).
The aforementioned savoury specialty Onigiri, is a popular Japanese rice ball lunch and snack dish, as tasty as it is convenient to nom on-the-go. The Shiro offering includes six signature flavours such as a classic salmon and takana, made with Japanese leafy green mustard pickles and spices promising a slightly spicy and tangy flavour. Though we also like the sound of the Negi Miso – Shallots, miso, citrus chilli paste a shal–lot.
For sweet tooths, curb your cravings by sinking your teeth into the beloved jelly-like, traditional Japanese sweet treat that is Warabi Mochi.
Though we’ll never miss an opportunity to gush about gelato (umm hello, we live for this), and the Shiro Gelato & Snack selection of Japanese flavours does not disappoint. Japanese eats enthusiasts will be soy into the Kinako – a roasted soybean flour flavour most commonly compared to peanut butter. Joined by yet more mouth watering contenders such as Black sesame, Matcha white chocolate, miso caramel, and the vegan friendly Yuzu and lemon flavour.
Can’t decide which sweet treat you’re in the mood for? Same. Might we suggest a thinly Mochi-wrapped (and/or topped!) gelato scoop for the ultimate best of both worlds action.
There’s no doubt lucky northern locals will bento-ver backwards to get their Shiro Gelato & Snack fix, while for everyone else this little Southport side quest is a tasty snackrifice well worth taking.
Where: 50 Nerang St, Southport
When: 11:30am–10pm daily
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Mathilde Bouby.
If you’re anything like us, narrowing down the slew of gourmet sando styles we’re spoiled with these days feels akin to picking a favourite cocktail… #computersaysno! From cold cut and cheese stuffed Italian subs to crispy Vietnamese Bahn Mi baguettes and NY style Reubens. And don’t even get us started on toasties! How do we even begin to choose? Well, get bready because Southport’s new one-stop-gourmet-sando-shop, Good Times Deli, is here to solve all our crust-based conundrums.
With everything from Nashville-style crispy Chicken Burgers to Reubens and wood-smoked Brisket Rolls gracing the menu, Southport’s latest is what sando dreams are made of. Bringing us the best sandwiches from around the globe under one satisfying roof, Good Times Deli is the bread-a-licious brainchild of a pair of blokes who share an entrepreneurial spirit and extensive hospo backgrounds. And basically, Southport’s sando – and by association, smoko – prospects have never looked better… or should we say bread-er.
Taking up residence on the fringe of Southport’s industrial hub in Bailey Crescent, the new grab-and-go style nosher is now tempting peckish passersbys with a selection of portable brekkie bites, gourmet smash burgers, and deli-style sandwiches and subs.
Owners Russell Maich and Chris Watson have long been hunting for a home for their latest venture, a casual-style sando haunt. Snapping up the corner tenancy, Russell and Chris were keen as mustard to add something new to the mix without straying too far from the site’s 30+ year history as an old-fashioned neighbourhood nosher. ‘We are staying true to that, but we have elevated the food and drinks while keeping the prices affordable and the meals large!’, they add.
We don’t know about you guys, but they’re ticking our boxes here.
When it comes to their latest endeavour, this pair of long-term chefs are putting their mortadella where their mouth is. Priding themselves on ‘putting maximum effort into the humble sandwich and burger’, the pair incorporate house-made components wherever possible. With everything from the glaze for the Bahn Mi to the supersized smash burger patties and sauces (hello, hot honey, our old friend #drool) all made on-site.
With CVs more stacked than their Aussie Burgers – if anyone can pull it off, it’s these guys. Cooking professionally from when they were but spritely teens, Russell who started in classical style restaurants, went on to helm kitchens across the UK, while Chris went from a 10 year stint in five star hotels to running some of the biggest surf clubs and pubs on the coast. At one time the duo also owned a ready-made meals company and food production facility. Talk about skills!
Taking all the culinary and biz expertise they’ve picked up along the way and channelling into their deli debut, we are beyond bready to get acquainted with everything the Good Times crew will be dishing up.
Serving an all-day eats menu, time is but a construct at this haus of deli-sh. If you’re feeling ravenous, wrap your laughing gear around a Reuben Sandwich, made with GT’s own thick cut beef brisket, corned in-house and topped with sauerkraut and American cheese – with a side of fries for max satisfacts. In the mood for something more brunch-y? The likes of the Deli Breaky Burger, made with cheese, crispy bacon and egg omelette, or the Corned Beef Hash, served with two fried eggs and tomato relish are ready and waiting to quell those cravings.
If you need a little thirst-quenching action, the espresso machine is pumping out the fresh brewed Merlo coffee daily. While signature, house-made iced coffee and iced Milo blends are on tap, ready to fuel your day in the most delicious ways. As far as our willpower is concerned – we’re officially toast here!
Where: 5/1 Bailey Cres, Southport
When: Monday–Friday, 5.30 am–2 pm, Saturday 7am–1 pm
Words by Kellie Leader
Images by Mathilde Bouby
