PERMANENTLY CLOSED

If there’s one trend that we never want to end (besides the mum jean and the margarita), it’s the influx of breweries here on the Gold Coast. Our excitement doesn’t wane one iota when another ‘hops’ on the bandwagon, and this southern Gold Coast superstar (which lay dormant for over two years, but more on that later…) embodies why we’re bonkers for a brewery. Set in the postcode we know always delivers the cool, Burleigh Barrels Brewery, Distillery & Smokehouse is THE place to sink a ‘starch smoothie’, trading out the smoothie part for malt, hops and yeast (aka beer).

But don’t be fooled, it’s not just for the amber ale drinkers as the eats, carefully crafted wine list and cracking cocktails are shut-up-good…as is the fit-out. With a brewtiful chilled coastal beach meets industrial brewery ambience, this reimagined former tavern gives the right amount of ‘just came off the beach’ feels. And of course there is Burleigh coolness from pillar to post and we would expect nothing less from a watering hole in the 4220 postcode.

For beer loving mates Pat McCarthy and Peter Trimble, it all started during a European mate-cation and don’t all the best stories start like this?!  After visiting some Trappist breweries, staying in the odd beer-producing castle and sampling many of the secretively made local brews, they knew what they had to do. Back in Oz, they excitedly took the plunge and signed a lease…exactly three months prior to the pandemic. But, these eternal ‘hoptomists’ clung to their dream for 2 years, still paying rent and omg is this not the ultimate commitment to the cause. Fast forward to now and whoomp here it is; a coastal-cool brewery well worth the wait.

Featuring indoor seating, a private dining and function room, outdoor undercover dining (emphasis on the ‘undercover’ part right now and seriously, does anyone remember that big yellow thing in the sky?), a fully functioning brewery and a soon to be installed distillery. It’s proudly the only brewery/distillery on the Gold Coast which is fully licensed with a full-service kitchen (bravo!) cooking up a plethora of feeds infused with locally sourced ingredients. There is a core range of six beers brewed on the premises (under the careful eye of Head Brewer Chris), six rotating guest taps from other local breweries, wines by the bottle and glass (we’ll go the bottle thanks), and an extensive cocktail list. So much yes!

If you’re hungry (duh), Head Chef Meyjitte Boughnot has your back and your belly. The signature Beef Brisket with 200g of eight-hour slow cooked beef brisket and South Carolina Sauce will blow your mind….and your calorie intake but #worth it. Or perhaps the Truffle Burger with 200g grass-fed Angus Beef patty, truffle mayo, onion marmalade and roasted field mushrooms is more your jam? Maybe you’re channelling a snack and does anything satisfy more than a Bug Roll and we all know the answer to this. With crispy tempura-battered Moreton Bay Bug tail, lettuce, shredded tropical paw paw and chipotle mayo, we’ll take five thanks. And no, we’re not joking. Or, opt for something from the ribs, wings, salads, or authentic sourdough pizza selections. While we’re on the topic of pizza, do yourself a favour and grab a Nutella and Banana Pizza for dessert, smothered with Nutella and covered with fresh bananas and brown sugar, roasted until crisp and gooey and served with a side of vanilla ice cream.

But food shmood – let’s talk booze, starting with their beers and the Hill Vibes Session Lager (3.3% ABV) is a, well, vibe. A modern take on a traditional Munich Helles Lager, it’s enhanced with the addition of honey malt and the use of the noble hop; hallertrau mittelfruh, creating a palette-pleasing full-flavoured, mid-strength lush lager. Meanwhile, moving on to cocktails, and whaddya know – the most popular choice is the one and only Chilli Margarita. Coz Chilli.And.Margarita.

So ‘hop’ to it folks and eat, sleep, beer (and wine and cocktail…), repeat at Burleigh Barrels Brewery, Distillery & Smokehouse… the ‘pitcher’ perfect location for your next cruisy catch-up. 

Where: 3-4/105 West Burleigh Road, Burleigh Heads
When: 11.30am – 11pm Wednesday, 11.30am – 12am Thursday – Saturday, 11.30am – 10pm Sunday

Words by Bianca Trathen.

By now, most southern Gold Coast folk have enjoyed a tasty bite and/or a first-class caffeine hit from the Good Day Coffee crew. If you haven’t then ‘sip’ up and listen! Maybe it’s because Tugun is just that wee bit too far down the highway and if this is the case, sound the alarm friends coz crisis averted!

The GDC geniuses have officially expanded their imprint and our cups are filled with joy….and epic coffee. Taking over the Watson Bloom space, Palm Beach peeps are the lucky folk who’ve scored their very own Good Day Coffee, which is triggering in both good and bad ways. Good because it’s closer to our office (yas!), and not so good coz literally every other suburb is chanting “What about me?” Shannon Noel style.

Launching a business in this heavily congested space is no mean feat, but with founders like Leah Von Nida, Dan Ferris and Nate Miles, Good Day Palm Beach was always destined for greatness. Leah for one is certainly no stranger to the café caper, starting both Good Day Tugun and Good Garden in Coolangatta. So, it’s no surprise that there’s a bit of deja-brew going on here, and words cannot espresso our gratitude.

Rolling with the same catch cry as its sibling – ‘a friendly place for friendly people’ – this is definitely our kinda place. The sips, eats, and cool coastal vibes are all on fleek, making it the perfect addition to the Palmy café scene.

Serving up coffee, brekky, snacks, brunch, lunch and okay yeah, everything but dinner, it’s worthy of the hype. Head Barista James Garside makes a mean Blackboard coffee, proving that not all heroes wear capes #truedat. Sit outside in the fresh summer air and enjoy the likes of freshly toasted sandwiches (love us a good toastie!), croissants, and on-site baked cookies. Sure-fire crowd pleasers include the Avocado Toast with chilli flakes – served with or without goat’s fetta (umm, no brainer – with!), the Smoked Ham Toastie with ham, gruyere cheese, and onion jam, and the Roast Mushroom and Three Cheese Toastie coz one can never consume too much cheese.

Not a savoury fan? No wuckers, how about a slice of Raspberry and Pear Loaf, a Salted Cadbury Cookie, or a universal fave like Banana Bread. Not just any nana bread though, this like a version is gluten free and served with espresso butter and srsly, it’s the espresso butter for us. Sweet tooths can also get their nom on with the Apple Crumble Porridge, complete with rhubarb compote and please Sir, some more?

Another option for our vegetarian friends (and non-vegetarian coz LBR, why should they have all the fun?!) is the Pesto Pumpkin and Egg Smash served with house-made relish. De-Vine! Then, for the perfect ‘blend’ of F&B, pair your meal with a Blackboard coffee (obvs), or one of the three delicious vegan smoothies. Mug-nificent!

So, next time you need some time-out from the daily ‘grind’, remember – it’s always a good day at Good Day Palmy.

Where: 1073 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
When: 5am – 2pm, Monday – Sunday. Plus all public holidays 5am – 11am.

Words by Bianca Trathen.
Images by Carly King.

Over the past couple of years Palm Beach (or Palmy as it’s affectionately known) has well and truly been embracing it’s new found cool kid status.

While we can’t pinpoint the exact moment it officially transformed to ‘it’ suburb, lucky locals have been living large of late, with the emergence of all the beachside haunts to frolic between (though they do have to compete a little more for parking these days).

While in years gone by, the only thing reliably making Palmy a ‘must stop’ destination was a quiet-ish (albeit stunning) beach, and the high chance of catching a red on the way through. With an influx of laidback eateries, noteworthy restaurants, swanky bars and luxe boutiques popping up left right and centre, there’s never any shortage of things to do. These days, we can think of at least 17 epic reasons that make this buzzing suburb THE place to be.

Las Palmas
Overlooking the ocean with the perfect pastel palette, Las Palmas is bringing Latin America to Palm Beach with a share-style menu, made up of mouthwatering flavours and a fresh cocktail list to match. Head in there for a Sunday arvo session or long lunch with your loves. It’ll be your new summer fave for sure.
Where: Level 1, 1097 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

The Scottish Prince
Tucked away, all moody low-lit with wild times written all over it, The Scottish Prince, sister venue of The Cambus Wallace and is one of the best drinking holes we have here on the Coast. It’s primarily a whisky bar boasting over 300 varieties of the tasty tipple plus a perfectly complementary menu including Steak & Ale Pies, Scotch fillets, fish and chips and on Sunday nights, an authentic Taste of Scotland tasting menu. All the very best things. Get in.
Where: 1176 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Palm Beach Farmers Market
The Gold Coast is home to many an impressive farmers market and one of our absolute favourites can be found in Palmy on Saturday mornings. From 6am at Palm Beach Currumbin High School you’ll find fresh local produce, artisan foods, specialty coffee, epic doughnuts, flowers, dog treats, the lot. The perfect way to spend a weekend morning.
Where: Thrower Drive, Palm Beach

Frida Sol
Margaritas and Mexi-eats are some of our favourite things and happily, they’re on offer at Palmy’s delightful upstairs space, Frida Sol. There’s a chilli margarita that’ll knock your socks off and if you perch outside on the deck, a balmy ocean breeze – the combination of which will remind you exactly why you live on the Gold Coast. The perfect time.
Where: Level 1, 1176 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

The Pirate Park
Those with little ones will attest to the fact that the Pirate Park is up there with the best on the Coast. Located right near the water, the park far exceeds anything you ever got to play on as a kid with a pirate ship stuck in the sand and upended wine barrels perfect for all day climbing. If you don’t have any babes, Dune Café is close by as is the sparkling ocean and a dog beach on Currumbin Creek that’s always good for a laugh.
Where: 945 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach (on the left before the Currumbin Creek bridge)

The Collective
No doubt you’ve already set foot inside The Collective more than once and why wouldn’t you with five restaurants to choose from? Open for lunch and dinner, you can stay all day and, as it’s a communal dining setting, you’re bound to make some new friends along the way. So, if you’re in the mood for pizza and tacos, head to The Collective, order both and wash it all down with a cocktail at the rooftop bar.
Where: 1128 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

White Bohemian
It’s every local boho babe’s dream come true. Opened in 2013, White Bohemian stocks all your favourite hippy-esque labels including GD brand Kivari, Byron Bay cult-fave labels SPELL and Arnhem. These guys were one of the first to bring us the magic of the laid-back luxe aesthetic before the #boho trend took over the world (and our wallets), so we trust them and their epic curation of all things effortless style endlessly. There’s homewares too so, you know, prepare to spend up.
Where: Cnr Seventh Avenue and Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Balboa Italian
It goes without saying that if you’ve ever driven through Palm Beach, you’ve definitely laid eyes on Balboa Italian. The beautifully appointed double-storey brick building is in a class of its own serving classic Italian dishes with modern interpretations and the freshest of flavours. It’s worth a visit just to experience the fitout, complete with overhead Vespa and exposed brick walls. The cocktails are unique and the wine selection varied. It’s all good to be honest, get down there.
Where:1069 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Espresso Moto
It’s a cafe crossed with a motorbike workshop and the home of the best banana smoothies on the Gold Coast. That’s right, the best. There is not a single thing not to love about Espresso Moto from their very delicious breakfast goods (the brekky burritos are the bomb), to their use of Allpress coffee and the ever-friendly staff who always say g’day. There’s also a communal dog bed and the beach is right around the corner. So yeah, it’s the best.
Where: 1389 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Suga
A somewhat secret cocktail bar, tucked away on the Gold Coast Hwy, Suga specialises in rum and good times and if you’re keen on either or both of those you should absolutely get down there. They have an impressive cocktail menu plus plenty of epic wines (pet nats, yes please) and beers so no matter what, you’re gonna love it.
Where: 1142 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Good Day Coffee Palm Beach
Launching a cafe in a hip and happening suburb surrounded by competition stiffer than a morning espresso is not for the faint of heart – but ever since they branched out from their OG Tugun location late last year, locals and weary travellers alike have unanimously agreed it’s always a good day for Good Day Coffee Palm Beach. Friendly faces serving Blackboard coffee and other staples like pastries and goat’s fetta laden smashed avo toast – we could easily eat and drink here every day. The epitome of simple eats, and great coffee, done well.
Where: 1073 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Ritual Yoga & Pilates
Found upstairs in a sunlit space oozing chill vibes is Ritual Yoga & Pilates. Owned by sisters Rose and Sophie, Ritual is only a couple of years old but has already become a favourite amongst both Palm Beach locals and those who reside in surrounding suburbs. If you’re in need of some rest and relaxation (or a solid sweat session), Ritual is calling your name.
Where: 9b Palm Beach Avenue, Palm Beach

Palm Beach Ave
PBA is one of those gems that so quickly won our hearts that we seem to forget this pretty-in-pink art deco stunner is only relatively new to Palmy’s ever-growing strip of uber-cool beachside hangouts. One of those venues where it’s 10’s all round, the tropical luxe, chandelier-laden interiors have us swooning every time, and we can never seem to get enough of the knockout food and cocktails (no matter how much we regret it the next morning). Plus they do bottomless brunch, so, need we say more?
Where: 6 Palm Beach Avenue, Palm Beach

Tank Bar & Dining
We can never seem to talk about Tank without the urge to get, well… tanked, which is some fairly genius subliminal marketing if you ask us. In our defense, what else are we supposed to do in a cracking little craft beer bar? We’re certainly not there to lick stamps.

The 10 rotating craft beer taps offers a nice mix of local and international brews, and the laid-back vibes of a modern beach shack style bar a hops, skip and a jump from the ocean are pretty hard to beat. Plus, with two levels, there’s plenty of primo spots to perch up, catch the sea breeze and watch the GC Hwy go by.
Where: 1166 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach

Toro’s Pizza
As we’ve probably already well established by this point, us Gold Coasters are big suckers for a cute fit-out. It’s hard to tell if it’s the perfectly peachy-pink interiors, or the Italian aromas wafting from the kitchen that keep us coming back to Toro’s Pizza like moths to a flame. And spoiler alert: it’s definitely the latter, since there are few smells that compare to that of a freshly baked, still bubbling wood-fired pizza. Carbs, cheese, more cheese, and BYO – this place is what Italian dreams are made of.
Where: Shop 7/2 Eighth Ave, Palm Beach

Costa Taco
Overcoming the momentary temptation to leave this one out (in hopes of greedily keeping more of those highly coveted tables all for ourselves) – but no list about epic Palmy spots would be complete with such a glaring omission. Dishing up authentic Mexican eats, the menu is short but sweet, sticking only to their specialities with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients. Any day featuring beachside, street-style tacos like the zesty Birria Beef (complete with signature consommé to dip), and a coconut marg (because marg) is a very bueno day indeed.
Where: 1136 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Canvas Palm Beach
Who doesn’t love starting their day with a visit to their friendly local barista, with a leisurely peruse of some hand crafted homewares on the side #theperfectmorningdoesexist. And hey, if some of the latter – such as a candle that smells like bliss in a jar, or some cute ceramics – happen to come home with us along with a great cup of coffee, we’ll happily take the dopamine hit while we’re doing out bit to #supportsmall.

For Palmy locals the cute digs and delightful café fare are a definite draw card, but for parents the park proximity makes this spot unparalleled – along with the blissful moment’s peace and quiet babycino buys.

(And yes, we stopped being cool right around the same time we started caring about babycinos and where the good parks are.)
Where: Shop 3, Magnoli Building, 1338 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach

Words by Kellie Leader.