Sucker for a sando? Rhetorical question. Specifically, the NY-style, pastrami and pickle stuffed variety frequenting delicatessens from Brooklyn to Manhattan – you know, the ones usually only found at the other end of a 20 hour red eye? *Cue major fomo*

Well, ‘donut’ despair, peckish folk, George’s Deli is here – and they come bearing delicious (suspiciously sub-shaped) gifts. Get your first look at the new, sandwich-slinging kid on Kingscliff’s block…

Bringing handmade donuts, coffee and cold-cut loaded subs to the coastal township’s beach-studded main drag – George’s signifies the delicious debut for double-threat chef power couple, Johnny Ang and his wife Jerrika. Rounding out the venue’s ragtag trio of Reuben-slinging chefs, the husband and wife team are joined by Johnny’s sister, a skilled chef in her own right, to keep the portable treat offering ticking along. Cripes – talk about kitchen chops, can you imagine the killer spread this lot would bung on at family dinner?

Doling out handheld bites to Marine Parade’s beachfront perambulators, the compact menu melds beverages and baked-goods infused with Filipino influences, with classic New York-inspired sandwiches. Inspired by her travels abroad, Jerrika was the driving force behind the deli fusion concept. First uncovering her appreciation for the delicatessen staple (and the unique and vibrant foodie culture, obviously) following a stint in the US to complete her apprenticeship.

The couple, who had their meet cute cheffing aboard a cruise ship, bonded over their shared passion for culinary innovation. Later embarking on an opportunity based in Casuarina, Johnny and Jerrika quickly caught feelings for the locale’s knockout looks, laidback vibe and people. They’re only human, right?

For their first ever culinary venture, the crew engaged the services of local experts Kobi Concepts and Coakers Building to handle the interior direction and fit out, respectively. Going for a cool, retro deli aesthetic (insert sparkly emoji – the millennial equivalent of jazz hands, here) peppered throughout George’s interior are rustic tiles, pops of red and an awning window that opens wide to the surf beyond. Basically, we predict this ultra-cute sando spot is set to be some pretty hot real estate among southern punters.

Originally hailing from the Philippines, the passionate foodies have also jumped at the chance to pay homage to their culinary heritage by incorporating nationally-beloved flavours from their homeland into their offering. Weaving in flavours seldom found in Australia, such as Ube, the distinctive purple yam, which you can get in Latte or house-made Donut form.

Mouth watering at the prospect of getting your mitts on those pillowy hand-crafted donuts? Well, hold on to your britches, Gold Coasters – ‘cuz we’ll really be ‘ruben’ it in as we unpack the rest of the menu.

To complement the unmissable Ube Donuts, the signature offering is centred around the short but sweet selection of signature toasties. Such as the La Cubano, made with pork ham, lechon, pickles and Swiss and the Ain’t Reuben toasties, which are both firmly in the #MustTry realm.

Be there, or be square, sandwich fans!

Where: Shop 3, 106 Marine Parade, Kingscliff
When: Monday-Thursday: 7:00am-2:00pm, Friday-Sunday: 7:00am-2:30pm
Instagram: @georges.kingscliff

Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Mathilde Bouby.

Are you the kind of person who skips right to the desserts page of a menu? Yep, well, you’re not alone. Taking tactical consideration of what sweet things can and will follow is a clever move by anyone’s standard. Luckily we are spoilt for choice with sweet treats and desserts on the Gold Coast.

Why not seek to fix that sweet craving you have? Here’s our list of the best places on the Gold Coast to grab a dessert, worthy of that extra time on the treadmill!

Tarte Bakery & Tarte Beach House
As if all self-control didn’t already tank at the mere sound of the word Tarte, our reigning pastry queen Chloe Watts went all out earlier this year to bestow upon us a knockout second site – Tarte Beach House #havemercy #we’reweak. The chic sister venue bringing Tarte’s trademark goodies to the banks of Currumbin’s picture-perfect creek, and in the process, blowing the bar previously set by our OG dessert darling out of the water.

We’d stop at ‘muffin’ to get our hands on the signature Crueller, or a Raspberry, Strawberry & White Chocolate Muffin Top, or.. okay basically everything they’re churning out. Which begs the question, can one ever have too much Tarte? We think no.
Where: 2 West Street, Burleigh Heads and 2 Thrower Dr, Currumbin

Oh My, Waffle
Make no mistake about it, if you find yourself in and around Burleigh Heads and are hit with a hankering for something sweet, head directly to Oh My, Waffle to have your mind (and calorie intake, lbh) blown –#ohsoworthit.

Prepare those ravenous, post-surf appetites to meet their match at the sight of some seriously loaded waffles and thick shakes. Though word to the wise – you may need to waddle home afterwards.
Where: Shop 6 / 1837 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads

My French Pastries
Husband and wife duo, Jen & Antonio Marchesi are the French maestros behind some mighty salivating goodies at this Robina bakery, and what these folks don’t know about sweet and crunchy European desserts frankly isn’t worth knowing!

Don’t delay. Head along for the shiniest looking caramel eclairs and the flakiest known pain au chocolats this side of the equator — Bon appétit!
Where: Shop 5/361 Robina Parkway, Robina

Custard Canteen
Is a breakfast dessert a thing? If it’s not, we’re officially calling it. And if you find yourself down by the ever-majestic Tallebudgera Creek dipping in its crystal clear waters, we suggest you hot foot it right away to Custard Canteen.

Get into some great coffee — and a bacon & egg burger to end all burgers — before rounding things off with one of their ooze-tastic cookies or the flakiest of Portugese Tarts. YUM!
Where: 1525 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Bam Bam Bakehouse
Inventive, indulgent, and darn tasty in every department: Bam Bam Bakehouse is the goods — period. The line of sweets and desserts are nothing short of mesmerising (even attracting the likes of Margot Robbie and Matt Preston).

With so many mouthwatering morsels on offer, attempting to choose only a couple of them is a challenging feat (as is not allowing ourselves to immediately to scarf down the lot).
Where: 2519 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach

D Point Ten
Bringing an exclusively sweets-based offering to the GC’s sea of swole and shredded rigs surely required a seismic leap of faith, but any sceptics are now eating humble pie thanks to D Point Ten’s growing donut empire.

These days, their dough-licious conquest of the Coast spans across three official outlets – Pacific Fair, Varsity Lakes and Hope Island – with northern residents now also able to get their hands on the seductive looking donuts at sando sister venue, Janus Deli.

The delectable flavour rotation includes the likes of Golden Gaytime, Ferrero, and S’mores, all of which keep us wanting more. Whip out a box of these bad boys at your next gathering, and watch how fast you become everyone’s bestest bud.
Where:  Hope Island, Varsity Lakes, Molendinar and Pacific Fair – Broadbeach Waters

Paddock Bakery
One of the Gold Coast’s game-changing cafes, the level of baked and sweet goods that these guys consistently punch out is utterly jaw-dropping.

If you haven’t treated yourself to several (hundred) coffee dates at one of the cutest mini-Queenslander’s gracing the GC… welcome, you must be new here?! To remedy this immediately, we suggest you get together some of your nearest and dearest and get in on some brunch action before you launch a full-scale attack on the cracker assortment of sweets.

Be sure to try the crowd-fave Biscoff Cheesecake Doughnut or their whopping 1kg Giant Cookie! (Remember, Mum says sharing is caring.)
Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads

Franquette
If you live in or around Tamborine, and haven’t yet wrapped your mitts (and tastebuds) around some Franquette… frankly, it’s time to re-evaluate your priorities (unless you’re gluten-free, obvi, in which case, commiserations).

Under the expert eye of master baker Jérôme Favier, Franquette (pronounced Fraen-ket) assuages hinterland hankerings with authentic French-style sweets, rolls and scrolls, and of course, the ever-crescent croissant.

They’ve teamed up with the Tamborine Mountain Gelato Co. gang to bring us ‘The Gelaffin’… a freshly baked cruffin loaded with small-batch gelato – aka the most glorious ice cream sandwich you’ve ever laid eyes upon. Officially our new favourite franken-food obsession for summer. Brain freeze (and bulk satisfaction) incoming.
Where: 1/159 Long Rd, Tamborine Mountain 

Basque
We’ve been giddy over Basque since the gorg new specialty bakehouse-cum-sippery sauntered into Chirn Park earlier this year, bearing mind-blowingly good cheesecake and French champagne. Umm, did we just become best friends?! Two of our very favourite modes of celebration under one chic roof – consider us, and our ‘coffee and cake catch up’ standards, spoiled forevermore.

Owners Laura and Zach Guertin devised the dreamy concept in answer to the age-old conundrum, ‘what should I bring?’ – and yeah, we can attest, one taste of Laura’s incredible creations and you’ll forget alll about the box of Favourites.

Luckily for the lot of us, we need not wait for a special occasion to partake in their signature Spanish Cheesecake and Champagne selection, with both available by the slice, and glass – any old time you please to cheese.
Where: 33b Musgrave Avenue, Chirn Park

My Favourite Baker
The very aptly named My Favourite Baker is one beloved among locals as a lifeline for incredible, last-minute cakes (that look and taste anything but).

The GC’s everyday cake heroes ‘crumb’ through with the (baked) goods – delivering same day turnaround on their delectable range of cakes and cupcakes almost every day of the year. Saving our bacon bakin’ from all kinds of sticky, special occasion situations, ‘logistical oversights’ and baking fails – with rave reviews, might we add. Phew! *backs slowly away from the packet mix*

Forgotten occasion? What forgotten occasion?

Only bulk brownie points to be found here (shhh.. it’ll be our little secret).
Where: 4/1 Inventory Ct, Arundel

Aux Fines Bouches
For devout pastry buffs (there’s an oxymoron in there somewhere – and hats off to anyone who manages to be buff, and a pastry enthusiast simultaneously) we do éclair, Aux Fines Bouches is the place to be.

This place is really not flaking around – run by decorated French pastry chef, Richard Le Deunff – locals in the know can’t get enough of the authentic, buttery baked-goods they’ve been doling out since 2019.

An unassuming space tucked away in Burleigh’s industrial outskirts, with a window where you can marvel at the culinary wizards whipping up the delectable works of art. Meticulously crafting tarts, cakes and custard-laden pastries Wednesday through Sunday, with a level of obsession matched only by that of our enthusiasm for consuming them.
Where: 2/43 Taree Street, Burleigh Heads

Cheeky Waffles
This naughty noshery has been getting sweet lovers hot under the collar since they burst onto Surfer’s nightlife strip, boasting a decadent and debaucherous range of genitalia-shaped desserts.. that also leave the sweet cravings totally satisfied.

The novelty (and priceless bants) of a choc-dipped coochie or pecker-shaped waffle might be too good to pass up, but don’t be tempted to write them off as a ‘one-time thing’. This place is the whole package, with the famously soft and fluffy waffles (described as ‘the best I’ve had’) the kind that keep lip-licking locals coming back for more.

Swing by and get yourself a ‘sugar daddy’ for happy endings all round.(in case you were wondering, no, we’ll never tire of writing about this place).
Where: 3189 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise

Madisons Cafe & Patisserie
A name that certainly needs no introduction among cake fans, alas no GC sweets list worth it’s salt sugar would dareth omit local mainstay, Madisons. The Broadbeach institution has long been hooking us up with our daily coffee and cake needs, with the sight of their specialty cakes becoming somewhat of a staple at our celebrations over the years.

The online ordering process is as dreamy as the buttercream (no phone call necessary, millennials rejoice) simply build your own from the options on offer – oh alright, make it a caramel mud + vanilla buttercream, since you asked (and smattering of gold dust, if you don’t mind.)
Where: Ground Floor, Oasis Shopping Centre, 12 Charles Avenue, Broadbeach

Dipcro
All hail the buttery king-of-pastries, the mighty croissant (controversial? We think not). Chevron’s debutant sweet-snackery, Dipcro delivers our sweet fix in the form of artisan baked goods like Cinnamon Buns, Croissants, Mille Feuille and Palmiers.

The venue’s namesake and signature item (a play on the words ‘Dip’ and ‘Croissant’– à la, ‘Dipcro’), invites us to take the blessed croissant to a whole new level – served with an array of signature toppings & fillings for your dunking pleasure. Oh if we must.
Where: 55 Thomas Drive, Chevron Island,

Captain’s Candy
The childhood rite of passage that was letting loose on the local pick and mix may merely live on as a fond, yet distant (albeit a little more distant than we care to admit) mem these days, but luckily us locals can venture to Captains Candy to fulfil even our most obscure candy cravings. The willy wonka-vibing wonderland inconspicuously tucked away in Ashmore’s outlet precinct, fully loaded with floor-to-wall goodies (including a hefty selection of international faves for our expat friends).

You need not *only* leave with a sugar rush, you can also stock the pantry with slightly more responsible provisions such as hot sauces, pickles, seasonings and rubs while you’re at it.

Whatever lolly your heart desires, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll find it here (even some formerly erased icons.. shout out green frogs and spearmint leaves).

Responsible adults to chaperone our candy expeditions, apply within.
Where: 12 Central Park Avenue, Ashmore

Words by Kellie Leader.

From swoon-worthy beaches to incredible breweries, everyone knows this glorious city of ours can be a bit of an overachiever. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll find some lesser-known, and downright delectable draw cards on offer – such as a bourgeoning, freshly-baked cookie scene courtesy of our stellar cohort of specialty baked goods purveyors.

And sure, while the concept of a ‘burgeoning cookie scene’ might be (mildly amusing) news for some, for true connoisseurs – scoping out and sampling these sweet morsels and their infinite iterations can be serious business. The ultimate, anytime treat that lands somewhere between snack and dessert, the humble cookie really does have it all: Portable. Portion-sized (theoretically). Satisfying. More flavours than you can dream of…

We could happily dedicate our days to munching our way through the finest cookies the Gold Coast alone has to offer, and never get bored. If this too sounds like your kinda bucket list, here’s some of the best cookie spots the GC has to offer – for your utmost snacking pleasure.

The Milkman’s Cookies
When two chirpy Gold Coast mates embarked on a quest to master the perfect cookie, it wasn’t long until the budding bakers had their eureka moment. Deciding to take a punt on hawking their sugary, secret weapon at the weekly HOTA Farmers’ Markets, the duo found colossal success – consistently selling out of their meticulously crafted wares, week in, week out. After finding fame among local sugar fiends, the next logical step for the duo was to branch into national distribution. And since we can now officially get out Milkman’s fix at locations like Harris Farm, it’s safe to say, mission successful on that front too, lads.
The one to munch: Biscoff White Choc – need we say more… (aside from ‘keep ‘em coming, please’)
Where: HOTA Markets at Bundall every Sunday, Alfred’s Apartment, Harris Farm Markets(QLD) and online.

Paddock
A cute and unassuming cottage tucked in a leafy backstreet of Burleigh – beyond Paddock’s slice-of-suburbia vibing picket fence, lies a spot famous for churning out some of the best baked goods in town. And whatever the state-of-the-art bakers kitchen is whipping up on any given day, we’re having. ‘We’re fully grown adults’, we remind ourselves, as we resist the urge to smoosh our entire face against built-in viewing window, gazing at the alchemists working their magic within. Instead, guide that kid-in-a-candy-store enthusiasm in the general direction of the cabinet, where you can make your selection between flaky pastries, buttery tarts and, of course, a selection of gooey, soft-baked cookies, stuffed within an inch of their lives.
The one to munch: The Triple Threat, a combo of Macadamia Cookie, Nutella Bombs & Salted Caramel has it all (and if you have to share, it also comes in a whopper 1KG version!).
Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads

Gold Coast Cookies
Currently in its GC bake-over era – from cafes, to Coles Express, seemingly everywhere we turn nowadays, we’re greeted by Gold Coast Cookies… and we’re not mad about it. From humble beginnings, hand-delivering cookies for free around the city, bringing buttery hand-baked joy in the first few months of the pandemic, to supplying to over 150 cafes nationwide in the space of a year – owner Christina’s pandemic hobby got out of hand, fast. These days, you can find the painstakingly developed recipes and flavour combo’s in stockists all over town (track them down via DM on socials while their new website is in the works).
The one to munch: The brand new Buena flavour, bursting with choc chips and topped with white chocolate hazelnut cream, has us enchanted. Bliss.
Where: Coles Express (QLD), select cafes and online

Currumbin Cookies
The signature treats on offer at Currumbin Cookies are truly something special. Delightfully different from others you’ll find on the Coast, what sets them apart is that they use a sourdough base for their sweet little parcels of perfection. The result is a light and fluffy crumb, crispy exterior and a more complex taste profile – yum! Another dough whisperer you can find at local markets.
The one to munch: Brown butter, chocolate and pecans – a delectable combo, eh?
Where: Burleigh Market and Palm Beach Farmers Market every Saturday

Custard Canteen
If you’ve ventured by Tallebudgera Creek in recent years (and if you haven’t… we have questions) then you’d most probably be familiar with the requisite Custard Canteen pit stop, convenient as it is downright delicious. Churning out all-day brunch staples and delightfully buttery treats daily, it’s little wonder that it fast became a fixture among creek dwellers. If it’s cookies you seek, the selection is here is second-to-none – after all, Custard comes courtesy of the original crew behind much-lauded Bam Bam Bakehouse and Cubby Bakehouse. With biscuit credentials like those, they certainly know how the cookie crumbles.
The one to munch: We’re hard pressed to go past the Salted Caramel White Choc— gooey, decadent and ohh so good.
Where: Tallebudgera Creek, 1525 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Tarte
When Gold Coasters have got sugar on the mind, the mental gymnastics of squeezing a Tarte side quest to into the schedule almost always follows. And luckily, for sweet treat fiends (well, maybe not our waistlines) that feat is easier than ever. These days, devotees of Tarte’s delicious wares can choose to get their fix at either Burleigh or Currumbin, thanks to a second, Parisian-inspired site that now fronts the suburb’s iconic creek. Helmed by pastry prodigy Chloe Watts, we have plenty to thank the game-changing bakehouse brand for – starting with the heaven-sent array of cookies emerging fresh from the oven daily. We defy anyone who can leave empty-handed.
The one to munch: Choc Brownie Cookie is truly elite-tier – soft and gooey on the inside, chewy cookie on the outside.
Where: 2 West Street, Burleigh Heads and Shop 1 2/4 Thrower Dr, Currumbin

Dough House Cookies
If you consider yourself a cookie connoisseur, prepare to blow your dough once you get a taste of the moorish treats that Bundall-based outfit, Dough House Cookies is delivering to the masses ( – literally, they ship Australia-wide #deadly). Their deluxe goodies are a common sight gracing the displays of coveted caffeine hot-spots across the coast – counting Blackboard Varisty, Elk Espresso, and Pasture & Co among its stockists. Which means you never have to venture far to get your fix when the hankering hits. Or, order online and have them sent direct to you (or gift to a loved one, if you’re feeling generous).
The one to munch: Red Velvet Oreo Nutella is a revelation and we will not hear otherwise.
Where: head to their site to find stockists or order online

Words by Kellie Leader.