The magical Miami wonderland that is Paddock Bakery can’t stop, won’t stop creating mouthwatering foodie masterpieces (and spaces to consume them in).

Just when we thought there couldn’t possibly be any more ways to impress us, everyone’s favourite leafy oasis goes and opens a sweet little, goodie-filled Milk Bar.

A big old louvered window swings skyward in the back corner of the garden so you can peek in over the bar and watch the magic unfold. It’s a nod to the milk bars of old and perfectly at home with glossy green tiles and understated copper adornments dotted about.

The space has been a few months in the making with Paddock’s owner Chloe taking the time to perfect the milkshake and smoothie flavours now available for your sipping pleasure.

And perfect them she did friends. As with everything Chloe and the team create, these are no ordinary milkshakes. They are blow-your-mind, how-is-this-even-possible milkshakes and please, allow us to elaborate.

First of all there’s the Coco Pops milkshake, which is made with, you guessed it, Coco Pops milk and decorated with Nutella and more crunchy Coco Pops. Then there’s the Cookie Monster made with vanilla bean milk and topped with Paddock’s famous cookies (be still our hearts).

The Doughnut Shake is doughnut-flavoured milk (see, mind blown) topped with a semi-sourdough doughnut bot and Paddock’s doughnut chips. Seriously, how.

The fun doesn’t stop there of course – there’s also Strawberries and Cream, S’mores and Salted Caramel flavours and each has a magical little Paddock twist.

If smoothies are more your thang, you may choose from five epic flavours of those guys including Acai, Banana, Mango and Coconut (YUM), Junky Monkey and the Greenie.

Chloe’s reasoning behind opening another incredible section was completing the brunch picture and the people of the Gold Coast are eternally grateful.

So, here’s what you need to do: once you arrive at Paddock, go inside and order at least three pastries (plus an extra to take home for later), head down to the Milk Bar and choose your milkshake then pull up a seat in the garden, kick back and give thanks that Paddock Bakery came into our lives.

Hallelujah. The end.

LOCATION: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami
HOURS: 7.30am to 2.30pm Thursday to Monday

Words and photos by Kirra Smith.

Imagine a life without caffeine. Horrible, right? How would one get through the day? Unthinkable. Let’s all take a moment to be grateful for caffeine.

Luckily, we locals need never think about a lack of caffeine ever in our lives because the Gold Coast has abundant options for exceptional brews.

One such neighbourhood forever capturing the imagination of coffee drinkers and lunch-goers is Burleigh. Be it a quick coffee catch-up or a grazing-style brunch with special people: you’re covered. Here’s a list of the twelve best spots to get your caffeine fix when you find yourself in one of the city’s favourite suburbs.

Bunlee Bun & Brew
Between munching down some epic rice paper rolls or a stacked-looking banh mi, we suggest you take a try of their cold drip coffee on tap here at BunLee. If you’ve ever had iced Vietnamese coffee — or cà phê đá, as it’s known — you’ll know how tasty it can be. It’s up to you what milk to splash into it, or if you prefer, just take it black: perfect for when you need to put that pep into your step.
Where: 2/26 James Street, Burleigh Heads

Dover’s Drop
Take an award-winning local barista, throw in some fantastic coffee from carbon-neutral roasters Locale Espresso, and place it conveniently just off Reedy Creek Road and you’re looking at the exact blueprint of Dover’s Drop, a prime industrial district coffee location in Burleigh. The perfect place to pull a pit stop when you’re going about your day, but be careful: their loungey outdoor space with beanbags may keep you longer than planned, not to mention their Sourdough Crumpets!
Where: 9 Dover Drive, Burleigh Heads

Magnolia Lane
A newbie to the bustling beachside locale of Burleigh, Magnolia Lane is sandwiched between the beach and the GC Highway, meaning whether you’re zipping about town or lounging beachside, these guys have you well and truly covered for your caffeine needs. The unwavering attention taken to dialling in their machine and weighing each and every shot of coffee shows right through from your first to last sip.
Where: 6/1863 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Crew
Aptly positioned in the heart of Burleigh Heads, this is the early morning post-workout/dip in the ocean hangout spot of the ages. Crew showcases Sunshine Coast Tim Adams specialty coffee with exceptional barista skills and a cheat meal-inducing menu you cannot say no to. Hinge all of this on one hell of a people-watching location, and you have a mighty fine place to slurp your morning cup of motivation.
Where: 3 Connor Street, Burleigh Heads

Sparrow Coffee Co.
Laidback and easy-going Sparrow offers you a prime opportunity to get yourself a quality coffee on the go with little fuss. With another three locations across the country and their roastery of choice being Allpress, you’re guaranteed a quality cuppa every time. It’s also the perfect spot to fuel up before a workout if you go to nearby Elevation Fitness or Jetts!
Where: 2/151 West Burleigh Road, Burleigh Heads

Tarte
Where do you even begin with a place that literally falls over itself with excellent house-made food, great-tasting coffee, and a great location to watch life go by. Chloe Watt‘s creation Tarte is one of the finest cafes on our coastline: period. Give yourself some slack and indulge in any one of their off-the-charts pastries/baked goods with a perfectly poured cup of coffee as dappled light from overhead trees sprays across the pavement of Burleigh Heads — our idea of bliss.
Where: 2 West Street, Burleigh Heads

Next Door Espresso
Touted as not your average coffee shop, this aesthetically pleasing venue is awash with white and is nearly always an afternoon suntrap that, to us, screams brunch with close friends. Northern Rivers’ Moonshine Roastery are the foundation of an always great-tasting coffee served in the cutest looking handmade clay cups. Be sure to bring your credit card, as adjacent homewares store St Barts is always worth a look in also!
Where: 24 Junction Road, Burleigh Heads

Commune Espresso
A kickstarter in the Burleigh coffee scene, Commune Espresso has been around for as long as we can remember, and in this chasm of lost time, they’ve been serving up some of the tastiest brews around. The space itself is epic, complete with lots of outdoor relaxing areas and a ping pong table to use up that caffeine-induced energy. They also make their own almond milk; that’s how dedicated they are to delicious coffee.
Where: 1844 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

Canteen Coffee & Kitchen
A firm favourite in the coffee game, Canteen has been lauded as one of Australia’s premier espresso bars. They brew their own blends, sourcing in-season beans and roasting fresh daily on demand. They offer a Signature Espresso Blend with notes of chocolate, berries, toffee and spice and Single Origins, which change weekly. They certainly know their stuff, highly recommended.
Where: 23 Park Avenue, Burleigh Heads

Nook Espresso
So good they’ve got two locations in Burleigh; Nook offers little spaces with a big passion for coffee. They’ve been slinging tasty brews since 2008, and for this, the local community loves them! Nook offers a smooth cuppa that’s consistently delicious, and the crew are stoked and always smiling to be involved in your morning coffee routine. Plus, if you head to their beachside location, you can sip away whilst overlooking world-famous surf.
Where: Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads and Stocklands Burleigh Heads

Quest Coffee Roasters
The smell wafting out of Quest alone should draw you in and, once you’re in, you may never want to leave. The space is half micro-roastery, half sitting-down-to-enjoy-your-coffee space, and it’s an absolute must-visit if you’re a lover of excellent brews. They roast premium Arabica beans on James Street, and if you’re in the market, you can purchase their green and roasted beans or a blend. Make sure you have a chat with the team; they love to discuss all things coffee.
Where: 20 James Street, Burleigh Heads

Seadog
The original Seadog emerged on the local coffee scene with a bang and is an actual hole in the wall, which was once an ATM. Stop by and let affable owner Brodie Green and his gang serve you up their very own roasts; one going by the name Sunrise Blend – with tasting notes of Milo! When they’re not actively supporting charities with free coffee giveaways, you’ll find them at their second venue beside Burleigh Bowls Club, eternally bathed in sunshine and salt air. Two great locations for coffee in Burleigh!
Where: 50 James St, Burleigh Heads or Burleigh Bowls Club — entrance via Memorial Park

Words by Alex Mitchenson.

In what might just be the most perfect start to any week in the history of weeks, the team behind Gold Coast favourites Bam Bam Bakehouse and Cubby Bakehouse (love y’all) have opened a new venue and we are happy dancing all over the place.

Its called Custard Canteen (another winner in the name department) and as of right now, it can be found at Talle Creek within the Recreation Centre complex and oh yes friends, it’s the goods.

You won’t miss the newbie, red and white striped flags are dotted throughout the expansive garden area and of course there will be heavenly scents wafting out from within.

Pull up a seat on one of the two outdoor decks, under said umbrellas or lay out a picnic rug and kick back on the grass with your furry mate (or your regular mate). There are flowers and plants everywhere and it’s a little garden oasis complete with some of the very best eats around.

Let’s discuss those shall we. Now as you’d know, if you’ve ever had the pleasure of sampling any of the teams’ other goodies (if you haven’t, are you even a Gold Coaster) they’re the very best around. A WHOLE LOT of research goes into every single thing Ben, Ursula and their crew create to ensure consistent perfection.

Which is exactly what you’re going to experience at Custard Canteen, particularly in the form of their hero product, Portuguese Tarts. Heaven on Earth you guys.

So they’re layers of crisp, pastry encasing warm, sweet love-of-our-lives custard that kind of explodes in your mouth when you bite into it. In the most amazing possible way obviously.

Besides those, there are Almond Croissant Tarts, which are indeed tart versions of their famous Almond Croissants and gooey, melty cookies that are the love of our lives also.

If you’re in the market for a savoury something, there’s a whole menu for that too. From the Butter Boy (their little mascot) Benny with streaky bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise on a puff pastry parcel to their (also famous) Prawn Po Boy with crispy buttermilk prawns, salad things and remoulade on a milk hoagie, it’s all delightful.

Oh and there’s also exceptional Bacon and Egg Rolls and a must-try French Toast Toastie which is a sourdough Monte Cristo with ham, Swiss cheese, maple and cinnamon sugar. Plus burgers and a hot dog and all your favourite roll-off-the-sand treats.

So basically all you need to do is frolic in Talle Creek, pop over for some goodies, rinse and repeat. Best time ever.

Custard Canteen, what are you waiting for Gold Coasters?

LOCATION: Tallebudgera Recreation Centre, Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
HOURS: Daily 6.30am until 2.30pm

Words and photos by Kirra Smith