A pub so good even Queenie would approve.
A pub so good even Queenie would approve.
In case you missed it, an icon is back among us thanks to the relaunch of The Queen’s Arms Hotel and on behalf of everyone that’s been looking for a delicious pub feed in Southport – thank you.
Once royalty on the hospo scene, The Queen’s Arms Hotel is back with a highly requested second wind, thanks to the team at the Good Times Pub Group breathing new life into the old favourite and it’s about time we say.
You might not know this about us (you definitely do) but we are partial to a good pub, there’s just something about the thought of a parmi and pint that really gets us going so luckily for us, the schnitty-shaped hole in our tum is ready to be filled, right in the heart of our beloved SoPo.
Located in the newly opened Queen Street Village Precinct, it’s finally giving the people of Southport (and the Gold Coast) what they want – a ripper pub in our humble CBD.
Whether you live local or find yourself there for work, trust us when we say we’ve found THE spot for a bite and some brews (or bubbles if you fancy).
The modern Australian menu is perfectly complimented by the sleek fit out, with exposed brick and beautifully refined finishes to bring a hint of an industrial feel and it really is brew-tiful.
If you’re just popping for a cheeky bev and a little bite, you’ll have the time of your life truffling through their myriad of snacks and shares like tuna tacos, truffle chips (we’ll take two serves, thanks) and taster platters with bits of their most-loved menu items like the bourbon kilpatrick oysters, lamb ribs and pulled pork.
On the burrata-obsessed train? I mean, who isn’t? Prepare to meet your new true love, the blistered tomato and burrata salad which you’d be rude not to pair with the garlic cob loaf for something a little extra.
All your pub favourites are also on the menu of course, along with new spins on the classics like their coral trout, served battered or grilled, to level up your fish and chips game.
If you like big burgers and you cannot lie, the QA understood the assignment because their hand crafted burgers are so big you’ll need two hands to get around them – literally – think classics like the faithful Chicken Burger and The QLD’R if you’ve rolled in extra hungry.
Just here for the beer garden? We don’t blame you. When it’s in full swing it’s the perfect spot to perch up outside with a pot of ice cold beer and catch the action of your fav sports live and loud on the giant screen – we’re getting thirsty just thinking about it.
Speaking of icons, we’re pretty sure even Margot Robbie can’t get enough of The Queen’s Arms. Okay, we might be stretching a little (see: a lot) with that one but her Papa Salt Gin is happy to call it home, which feels like pretty much the same thing if you ask us.
Doors open from 10am daily so you can get your fix and a feed all day every day. If you haven’t already, now’s the time to re-acquaint yourself with an old favourite.
Where: Queen Street Village,133 Queen St, Southport
When: Daily from 10am – 12am
Words by Jacqueline Bojanowski.
From sizzling, hibachi-style bulgogi beef (served straight from the grill #drool), to sticky and Crispy Fried Chicken as-if teleported straight from the streets of Seoul – lately it seems Gold Coasters can’t get enough of the lip-smacking flavours of Korea. Which is why you’ll be extra delighted to join us in giving a very (spicy kimchi-sized) warm welcome to ATTO Korean Cuisine, the new elevated East Asian eats darling for Chirn Park.
Lucky duck northern residents can officially tuck into banchan specialties of House kimchi, served alongside sensational mains such as Kohlrabi-infused kingfish sashimi and Char-grilled baby snapper served with ginger and fermented chilli… before finishing the delectable experience with Mango Bingsu, a traditional dessert served with lashings of Dulce de Leche.
Offering a modern showcase of Korean cuisine, ATTO’s elegant approach to the cuisine is one our foodie scene has been crying out for. Hot on the heels of Pac Fair’s NeNe Chicken and the arrival of Robina’s new KBBQ haunt, Hwaro92 – ATTO’s addition to our roster rounds out a rather delectable trifecta of Korean-style noshers we’ve scored of late. There’s absolutely no denying the cuisine is currently having its moment in the sun – and who among us isn’t here for the GC officially entering its Korean eats era?
While Chirn Park’s latest addition is a particular triumph for owner Yongsul Lee, the road to seeing his long-held dream realised hasn’t always been a ‘wok’ in the park. But with dishes like the katsu prawn stuffed Atto prawn burger to wrap the laughing gear around, we can all agree it is one worth celebrating (several times over).
Showcasing exceptional eats from his homeland Monday–Saturday, ATTO Korean Cuisine aims to marry traditional, cornerstone dishes of Yongsul’s childhood, with contemporary takes ‘that everyone can enjoy easily and deliciously’.
Yongsul, a civil engineer in a past life, has certainly never been one to shy away from a challenge – making the mammoth move across the Pacific to Sydney some 20 years ago. Rather serendipitously for Yongsul (and now our tums) it was this sea change of epic proportions that uncovered his love of food, after getting his start down south as a kitchen hand.
Working his way up the ranks in the decades that followed, Yongsul worked in respected kitchens across the country from Spice Temple (Sydney) to local darlings like Etsu, where he was Head Chef and Rick Shores, where he was Sous Chef.
For his restaurant debut, Yongsul opted to set up shop in Chirn Park’s up-and-coming eats scene – charmed by the locale’s chic yet cosy atmosphere. Joining the community’s small but mighty culinary cohort – Atto shares a ‘hood with two of 2023’s stellar additions, Walk-ins Welcome and our new fave cheesecake purveyor, Basque.
Yongsul’s long held dream to deliver a modern Korean establishment has come to life in the funky, 40-pax warehouse-vibing venue, tucked off the suburb’s Brooke Ave stretch. Surrounded in moody greys, the space packs in a surprising amount of warmth – from the eclectic furnishings to homely touches like the traditional Korean folk paintings adorning the walls.
The proof of course, is in the pudding, with a menu where mouth-watering signatures like the LA Galbi – a Hibachi grilled Black Angus beef short rib, served with spring onion salad and spicy ssamjang sauce, mingle with mains like the Bossam, a sticky-soy Braised Pork Belly.
So really, the only question here should be, not if (or even when) – but how soon you can swing by and say “annyeong” (or hello, works too) to ATTO. Our recommendation would be to go ahead and skip the socks though, because they’re bound to be knocked off anyway.
Where: Shop1/55 Brooke Ave, Southport
When: Monday-Wednesday 5pm-9pm, Thursday-Saturday 11:30am-2:30pm and 5pm-9:30pm.
Words by Kellie Leader.
Images by Mathilde Bouby.
If you’re a regular visitor to the abundant farmers markets we have around the Coast, you’ll know all about the great produce the leagues of green-fingered souls bring before us to enjoy. Plump fruit and vibrantly coloured vegetables galore. And if you’re the type of person to purposely go to these markets on an empty stomach in the hopes of grabbing a tasty bite, you may well have acquainted yourself with Cheese Me Baby.
Deliciously decadent cheese toasties on a whole other level. If you know, you know — and if you don’t, you should change that pronto. Now, you can taste their fare outside of the weekend markets as they’ve opened a fabulous street-side eatery within the bustling Mermaid Beach Village complex.
The small size venue comes across as the love child of a Basque country pintxos bar with an edgy inner-city bar you might find in Melbourne. Repurposed wood is used throughout with dark, dramatic feature walls and carefully selected European antiques, adding to the feel you’ve taken a step inside somewhere quite removed from Mermaid Beach. There’s a scattering of stools inside, but the ample-sized sitting space with added hanging plants outside is the perfect spot to enjoy what’s on offer.
The entire ethos behind the venue is to give customers surprising but straightforward food that is entirely local with beaming warmth behind every dish — that simple. Cheese is the mainstay with an array of toasties featuring delicious produce such as mixed mushrooms, slow-roasted pork belly whilst pairing up their signature 3 cheese blend toasty with a house-made tomato soup. Pixel Bakehouse is supplying the breads and cheeses are coming from as close by as Nimbin Valley and as far afield as Spain. Be assured if you’re a strong advocate of cheese; this may very well be your idea of heaven.
Tartines, or deconstructed sandwiches, will feature other exemplary flavours like scorched figs or fresh strawberries and toasted hazelnuts. Attention to detail is poured into every humble dish here at Cheese Me Baby. After all, their motto is we butter right to the edges. — Now ya talkin’.
For those who feel like coming down on the weekend and slowly grazing through the morning or afternoon, you’ll be smitten with their breakfast and cheese boards. Should the call of the beach be too strong to resist, then grabbing their picnic box with a plethora of mouth-watering small goods is also an option.
With regard to drinks, Social Espresso is poured from 6am most mornings right through until the early afternoon. For those deserving of something stronger, you’ll come across a tightly put together (from our new Nobby’s friends at Somm Wine) — but extremely pleasing — wine offering. With moniker styles like Prosecco, Provence rosé, and Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir — put simply, you’re spoilt for choice.
Having opened to a stampede of hungry and muchly satisfied customers last weekend, the venue has already settled into their Mermaid Beach Village spot quite comfortably. People are encouraged to come to chill on the grass out the front, or even park up your pushbike, while you and your friends mingle over toasties, cheese and wine!
Insider tip: do yourself a favour and watch out for further Sunday sessions and upcoming evening services.
On Saturday the 28th of August, the guys are throwing their official opening night with the talented Gold Coast tattooist/artist Daniel Pap, as he displays his latest and unseen collection. This homegrown creative will be hosted by This Is Art as they launch their exciting new Art Series. After studying fine art in Brisbane, Daniel has spent his time absorbed in his craft, which has given him his unique and removed style.
Local duo Buff Girls will be providing the soundtrack for the evening in the form of vinyl, and a fully licensed bar and limited menu will be available for the night. So do yourself a favour and clear your social calendar.
Where: The Pod, Mermaid Beach Village, 2375 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
Hours: 6am – 3pm, Tuesday — Sunday
Words by Alex Mitcheson.
Keen to channel your inner movie buff and check out the latest blockbuster flicks? Perhaps you’re arty and prefer international films from arthouse and foreign productions? Or, maybe you just want to take the kids somewhere we’re they’ll actually sit still for a couple of hours these school holidays? All roads lead to one destination… and that’s the new Dendy Cinema in Southport’s Queen Street Village. Cue the popcorn emojis!!!!
In case you haven’t driven through Southport for a while, Dendy and Queen Street Village call the old Southport Hospital site home in this $550 million re-development project. The Gold Coast was chosen as the location of Australia’s newest Dendy as it has demonstrated a growing artistic maturity bolstered by a thriving film industry and local appetite for global cinema and discerning programming.
Dendy Southport boasts 11 stylish cinemas with a stunning foyer to relax before or after your film. The second-best thing about Dendy (we’ll get to the first in a moment…) is the broad range of curated content, with something for everyone from the highly commercialised Hollywood-star-infused flick, to family films, and award-winning movies and film festivals. The Dendy Arts program encompasses the very best theatre, opera, ballet and world art events captured for the big screen. Ooooh so cultured!
Now it’s time to talk and draw your attention to Dendy’s numero uno drawcard – each and every cinema is fully licensed!!! Not just one or two, ALL.OF.THEM! That means no more paying a premium price for the privilege of sipping on a sav while you enjoy a movie and really, that’s all the motivation we need. While you’re at the candy bar stocking up on all your cinema essentials, grab yourself a world-famous handmade Dendy choc top with premium ice cream, coz every movie day is cheat day.
There is an unprecedented number of major films either showing or scheduled for release and we are pumped!
Right now you can catch Elvis, Top Gun Maverick, Minions The Rise of Gru, and the Buzz Lightyear origin story – Lightyear. From Thursday July 6th get a healthy dose of Hemsworth in Thor: Love and Thunder, from Thursday 21st July global best-seller Where The Crawdads Sing co-produced by Reese Witherspoon will kick off, and Dr Who Fans rejoice with a double feature: Dr Who and the Daleks (1965) and Daleks’ Invasion Earth 2150 A.D (1966) showing from Sunday 10th July.
Dendy Arts will be screening National Theatre Live’s award-winning play, Prima Facie from Saturday 23rd July – 27th of July. The Met’s Live in HD Turandot opera is playing from 9th July until 13th July and Exhibition on Screen’s documentary, Canaletto & the Art of Venice, will air on July 16th, 17th and 20th. We feel important just thinking about attending these screenings.
To celebrate the school holidays, you can catch the latest family films for just $11 (until 10th July). While we’re talking about the kidlets, every Thursday at 10am you can catch REEL BUBS sessions for $11 (under 5s are free), when the cinema is a wee bit quieter. There’s also Budget Tue$days, Senior Wednesdays, and Student Thursdays with $9 tickets. Winning!
The Queen Street Village is serviced by the G:Link light rail with the Nerang Street station on the doorstep, as well as car parking accessed from Nerang and Queen Streets (currently only Nerang Street access open). And watch this space peeps because to complement Dendy, a range of restaurants and food outlets will soon be opening along with a children’s playground, IGA supermarket, chemist and health and beauty services. Translation, it’s shaping up to be our CBD’s stylish new one-stop-shop for all things entertainment, culture and convenience. Woo-hoo!
Where: Queen Street Village, Nerang Street, Southport
When: Daily sessions
Words by Bianca Trathen.
