Rise Bakery opened in May 2022 in Sanctuary Cove, a boulangerie that brings a slice of French culture to the village through its classy French patisserie, bread and champagne. The work of French-born Chef Pâtissier Adrien Marcinowski with Chef Maxime Bournazel and Sandra Soufi (Front of House), the café was designed and built by Clui...

When we step across the threshold of Aperitivo Café & Panini Bar, we fall in love. How could we not! With its warm yellow-tiled counter as fresh and vibrant as a field of sunflowers, Aperitivo radiates sunshine. It’s brunchtime and we’re surrounded by smiles and the lilt of Italian conversation. The whole vibe is cheery...

One of our most beloved spots in the Northern Rivers region is Mavis’ Kitchen. Revisiting it, we are interested to see how its legacy is faring. Set in a beautiful Queenslander at the foot of Mt Warning, Mavis’ Kitchen was founded in 2007 by Peter Clarke and Charlie Ebell. Their original plan had been semi-retirement,...

Entering Blackboard Varsity you get the feels. It’s a chilled place where you feel comfortable. Some patrons are working on laptops, others sipping coffee or talking to friends. Staff smile and say hello in passing. It strikes me that this is a happy place, ‘inclusive’ in every way. ‘Good times daily in the heart of...

NOTE: Miu Coffee has been rebranded Royal Le Restaurant. Royal Le is a new sweet spot for Chirn Park locals. It’s a place where everyone is invited to gather, catch up over coffee or an interesting meal. The Gold Coast is made up of many communities, each with their own distinct vibe. Locals eat, drink...

There are few suburbs on the Gold Coast built to encourage a sense of community well-being, however Emerald Lakes is one of them. Oozing the charm of a modern European-inspired village, its centre is surrounded by a village, an 18-hole golf course and clubhouse, along with 13 kilometres of walking and bike tracks around a...

There were waves of anticipation among foodies when Brenda Fawdon and Sonja Drexler embarked on their latest project, North Stores. The venue comprises three buildings, an environmentally sustainable and architecturally designed food, art and nature hub in Main Street, North Tamborine. After three years of planning and development, North Stores finally opened in 2021. It...

It’s one thing to open a café in a ‘tried and true’ area, another completely to step outside the box and bring new life to a relatively untouched suburb. Hospitality veteran Kate Bennett has never trodden the well-worn pathway. From pubs and bars to cafés, Kate and her husband Graham have taken on challenges and...

It’s not often that someone opens a restaurant as a tribute, but that’s exactly what Green Olive Italian is. Only a year after their restaurant Garlic Clove Indian opened during Covid, ex-Versace and Kokum chef Merchant Sabir and his wife Dolly have opened their second venue, Green Olive Italian on the western side of Ormeau....

Sometimes you find great food in the most unexpected places. Kaffe Europa is exactly that. It’s a little taste of Europe in Nerang, a hidden gem in a suburb that’s often overlooked. Granted, Nerang is hardly the epicentre of haute cuisine. Too often its busiest restaurants are the takeaway joints around the Bunnings end of...