Scott Imlach has the midas touch when it comes to opening venues locals love and he’s about try his hand again with the opening of Nightjar, a dive bar in Burleigh Heads.

We chat to the man who brought you Barchino, Nobby’s Arc, Bine Bar & Dining, Hideaway Kitchen & Bar and Soho Place about what it takes to create these gems and what we can expect from the Burleigh newbie.

How long have you been a Gold Coast local?
Probably 12 or 13 years now. I was in Melbourne for a year before I came here and in London for 10 years before that.

What made you decide to open your first venue here?
I was just looking to open a business of my own when we got Barchino. I always worked in big companies and came across Barchino, I liked the location and the fact it was a locals’ place and I really wanted that. There was no such thing as bars back in those days, about 12 years ago, so I thought I’d give restaurants a go. I opened Freshly Stacked in Broadbeach next (a burger restaurant) then Nobbys Arc, Bine, Hideaway and Soho after that.

Where do you come up with ideas?
I travel a lot and pick up ideas for little bars, I always take lots of photos and get a picture in my head and run with it. I love coming up with unique ideas that haven’t been done before. I look at magazines throughout the world and keep in contact with friends overseas to see what’s hot and what’s not. When I find an idea I just go after it.

Why do you think people love what you do so much?
I think it’s because our venues are a bit more laid back; they’re not up really up market. We look for the right staff to manage each venue and my Managers are all really friendly and like working for a small business. I try to keep my them all pretty reasonably priced and I also try to make people feel welcome – Bine for instance is a very local bar, I definitely try to create that local feel.

What can we expect from Nightjar? 
Nightjar is an unusual bar design I saw in the States. It’s an idea I’ve always had in the back of my head but it was never really my style. I’m doing it anyway obviously. It’s going to be a dive bar – we’ve teamed up with Sailor Jerry and used quite a bit of their artwork. Everyone on the Coast is starting to ban tattoos but we’re not doing that. It’s very casual, just walk straight in off the beach, wear whatever you like. It’s going to have a real locals feel about it. We’ve gone for that really grungy vibe, let your hair down and away you go. There’ll be live music, a good range of cocktails and the fitout is very bespoke, Steampunk 1950’s American tattoo art-style. We should be open early October.

Why did you decide to open up the Coast’s first small bar?
I’ve always wanted to do bars and I think the Coast is lacking good ones. Personally I like to go have a drink but I don’t really like going to pubs. I prefer to go to a smaller venue where you can meet local people and have a drink with them. I wanted somewhere I could go myself that’s why I decided to just do it.

What do you think about our rapidly expanding hospitality scene?
I think it’s good; everyone’s coming up with new ideas at the moment and really going the extra mile. We’re catching up to the big cities now. The suburbs are starting to boom and I think that has a lot to do with people being able to walk to restaurants. The Coast is just getting better and better with a lot more options and it’s going to keep growing.

Do you have any other plans in the pipeline?
I wouldn’t mind opening a restaurant in Brisbane, probably another Hideaway. I’d like to do that in next 12 months. I’ve been scared of the big cities previously but now I think with the way Hideaway is going, it’s good enough to hit the Brisbane market. After that I think I’ll stop.

Best piece of life advice you’ve ever received?
Back yourself. Have faith in yourself and don’t doubt your ideas but be flexible. Give anything a go once and don’t be afraid.

Being a Gold Coast local we have to ask your favourites…
Café: Honey Bee and Saint in Mermaid Beach
Restaurant: I like Gemellini at Nobby’s Beach
Beach: You can’t go past Burleigh
Weekend hang: I go to Cambus Wallace a lot but if I’m just chilling out I go down to Byron Bay

If we had to fabricate a fact about the Gold Coast, it would be that Miami is the smallest suburb in our seaside city. Where does it begin and end? Nobody knows. Something you do know though, is that size does not maketh the suburb and little Miami is definitely growing in one very important way – the opening of cool coffee joints way.

Lengthy introductions aside, we do speak the truth, Daymaker Espresso opened very recently and it will indeed make your day.

The sleek new space can be found on Pacific Ave next to the Pacific Ave Fruit and Meat Market and what a space it is.

Dark, moody (same) and minimalistic (not same), it’s all wooden furniture, benches and panels with black metal seating, a polished concrete floor, overhanging greenery and a concrete feature wall with even more greenery. So pretty much all our favourite things rolled into one.

An impressive coffee bar is also made with polished concrete and apparently it’s one huge piece just built right in there. People and their cleverness hey.

The coffee is the goods, brought to you all the way from Hawthorne in Melbourne, where all the coffee-obsessed kids can be found.

Owners Dylan and Andrew, who you will have seen in your PREVIOUS favourite coffee shops, are quite obviously coffee connoisseurs so they chose their absolute fave, which nobody else on the Coast is serving. Praise the coffee Gods.

At the moment you can grab yourself some small food goodies like croissants and various other baked thangs from Burleigh Baker and soon enough there’ll be a full breakfast and lunch menu.

Which will, food lovers, fully cater to everyone from the vegans to the meat lovers and be a small, seasonal menu that we are very excited about.

Happy days Miami folk. And the rest of you to be honest, well worth a little trip to taste that delicious, delicious coffee.

LOCATION: 44 Pacific Ave, Miami
HOURS: From 5.30am to 12pm daily (until the food arrives)

Words and photos by Kirra Smith

A couple of weeks ago we brought you the happy news that Daymaker Espresso had opened it’s industrial-style doors in Miami and here’s some more to make your day (#sorrynotsorry).

As of a few short days ago, the local legends introduced their impressive food menu and it was well worth the (really quite short) wait.

Offering breakfast and lunch dishes, ALL of which cater for all of you (from vegans to carnivores) it’s a concept quite new to the Coast and one that will definitely delight your tastebuds no matter your dining persuasion.

Owners Dylan and Andrew have created a menu we’ve deemed ‘choose your own adventure’ because every dish has both a vegan and non-vegan option and of course, extras can be added to flesh things out (haha).

ANYWAY. Here are the three dishes we strongly encourage you to devour.

The Rosti
So potato rosti is one of the greatest things there is and Daymaker’s version is even better that. It’s served with confit tomatoes, spiced avocado mousse, grilled asparagus with a poached egg and hollandaise or no egg and vegan hollandaise if that’s your jam. An all time brekky favourite.

Everyday Avo
It’s anything but an everyday occurrence in your life believe us. Made with crushed avo on sourdough and topped with fresh watercress, pickled shallots, sliced radish and extra virgin olive oil. Hello new love of your life.

Beetroot Salad
A lunchtime dish that is indeed a salad, but not as you know it. It’s got mixed leaves, avo and beetroot puree, pickled shallots, almond feta(!) and a house vinaigrette. A combination for the ages kids.

While, of course, there are many a delicious dishes to sample, start with these guys because you may just be overwhelmed by choice upon spying the menu.

Brunch time.

LOCATION: 44 Pacific Ave, Miami
HOURS: From 5.30am to 3pm daily

Words and photos by Kirra Smith