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Category: Eat + Drink

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Cocktail recipes fit for a picnic

Say ‘see ya!’ to boring pre-mixes and RTDs, and hello to freshly-made cocktails at your next picnic. With the help of our friends at STYLD., a local Gold Coast business that specialises in indoor and outdoor dining, we’re sharing three cocktail recipes you can make at your next picnic.

Pink Gin & Tonic

Ingredients

  • 45ml Familiar Spirits Pink Gin (locally made on the Gold Coast)
  • 120ml tonic water
  • Fresh raspberries, to garnish
  • STYLD. goblet (in pink, of course)

Method

  1. Fill your STYLD. goblet with ice
  2. Pour over the gin and top with tonic water
  3. Gently stir to combine
  4. Garnish with fresh raspberries

Scan the QR code for a video explainer!

Passionfruit Colada

Ingredients

  • 75ml Mr. Consistent Pash Inn passionfruit mix
  • 45ml vodka
  • 30ml coconut cream
  • Pineapple wedge/skewer, to garnish
  • Your go-to STYLD. goblet

Method

  1. Add vodka, passionfruit mixer and coconut cream to a shaker with ice
  2. Shake until smooth and chilled
  3. Strain into your STYLD. Goblet
  4. Garnish with pineapple on a skewer

Scan the QR code for a video explainer!

Lychee Martini

Ingredients

  • 75ml Mr. Consistent Lychee Martini mix
  • 45ml vodka
  • Lychees, to garnish
  • Your favourite STYLD. goblet

Method

  1. Add the mixer and vodka to a shaker with ice
  2. Shake until chilled
  3. Strain into your STYLD. goblet
  4. Garnish with lychees on a skewer over the top

Scan the QR code for a video explainer!

The perfect picnic products…
    1. STYLD. Unbreakable Silicone Goblet, www.styld.net.au
    2. A cute picnic blanket, and these other picnic supplies
    3. STYLD. Chop (coming soon), www.styld.net.au
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The most scenic cafes on the Gold Coast

There’s no shortage of great coffee on the Gold Coast – but it hits differently when there’s a view involved. From oceanfront espressos to hinterland brews, these are some of the prettiest places to sip and stay awhile.

Black Dingo, Coolangatta

With its laid-back surfside energy and unbeatable ocean views, Black Dingo captures everything we love about Coolangatta. Pull up a stool overlooking the waves, order a flat white and a slice of their famous banana bread, and watch the beach crowd roll by.

Currumbin Valley Harvest, Currumbin Valley

A local secret turned destination café, Currumbin Valley Harvest feels like a deep breath of fresh air. Set among the greenery, along a trickling creek, this open-air spot serves up farm-to-table breakfasts, organic coffee and a little slice of hinterland calm that makes you forget the city’s just down the road.

Neptune Kiosk, Tallebudgera

Perched beside Talle Creek, Neptune Kiosk is all about simple pleasures – sunshine, salt air and good coffee. It’s the kind of place where sandy feet are welcome (sandy paws included) and breakfasts to go are encouraged, best enjoyed after a dip.

Tarte Beach House, Currumbin

Tarte Beach House has become the Gold Coast brunch spot – and for good reason. Sitting right on the creek’s cool blue water, it pairs chic coastal interiors with a menu that’s both indulgent and Instagram-ready (think lobster rolls, choc chip cookie skillets and seriously good pastries).

Dune Café, Palm Beach

A Palm Beach institution, Dune Café overlooks the calm waters of Currumbin Creek’s dog beach, making it the ultimate family-friendly breakfast spot. There’s plenty of space to spread out, a menu that nails the classics, and the kind of relaxed local energy that makes you want to linger just a little longer.

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The best pubs on the Gold Coast

When it comes to pubs, the Gold Coast might not give Sydney or Melbourne a run for their money – surf clubs are more our strong suit – but that doesn’t mean we’re short on character-filled watering holes. From historic hotels with stories to tell, to quirky themed pubs and country-style gems just a short drive away, there are plenty of spots worth raising a glass in.

Burleigh Town Hotel, Burleigh

If you thought James Street or Burleigh Hill were the only places to have fun in Burleigh, think again. Tucked out the back, by the M1, is the Burleigh Town Hotel – one of the best places on the Gold Coast to watch the big game, enjoy a good pub feed or just drink beers in the sunshine with your best mates.

P.S. Stick your head into the Sports Bar to check out the TV. Trust us.

www.burleightownhotel.com.au

Robina Pavilion, Robina

You’ve heard of the Burleigh Pavilion, and the Surfers Pavilion – but if you haven’t paid a visit to the Robina Pavilion yet, you’re missing out. Set on the tranquil waterways, the deck is dotted with lounges and umbrellas and the menu has something for everyone.

www.robinapavilion.com.au

Wallaby Hotel, Mudgeeraba

Step back in time (in the best way possible) at the Wallaby Hotel – a true local icon that’s been pouring beers and hosting good times since 1884. With live music cranking most weekends, hearty pub classics on the menu and an easy-going crowd, it’s the kind of spot where you instantly feel at home.

www.wallabyhotel.com.au

The Bearded Dragon, Tamborine

For a proper country pub experience without straying too far from the coast, the Bearded Dragon is hard to beat. Think sweeping mountain views, sprawling lawns perfect for a Sunday session, and hearty meals that hit the spot after a day exploring.

www.beardeddragon.com.au

D’Arcy Arms, Surfers Paradise

If you’re craving a slice of Ireland right here on the Coast, D’Arcy Arms has you covered. This Surfers Paradise institution serves up hearty pub grub with a Celtic twist, perfectly poured pints of Guinness and plenty of warm Irish hospitality.

www.darcyarms.com.au

The Cecil Hotel, Southport

A true Southport staple. Whether you’re stopping in for a post-work pint, catching the game on the big screens, or tucking into a pub classic with mates, this spot always delivers. Add in regular live music, icy cold drinks and a buzzing atmosphere, and you’ve got yourself one of the best hangs in the heart of the north end.

www.cecilhotel.com.au

Canungra Hotel, Canungra

Sitting pretty in the heart of the Scenic Rim, the Canungra Hotel is the kind of country pub that makes you want to linger all afternoon. Built in 1937, it’s full of old-school charm but still delivers on the essentials – icy cold beers, generous pub meals and a warm, friendly crowd.

www.canungrahotel.com.au

Rainbow Bay SLSC, Coolangatta

With unbeatable ocean views and some of the best sunsets on the coast, Rainbow Bay SLSC is the ultimate spot to kick back by the beach. Whether you’re grabbing a casual meal, enjoying an ice-cold drink after a swim, or catching up with mates on the deck, the sign on the roof is right: this is where you’d rather be.

www.rainbowbayslsc.com.au

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New Gold Coast restaurants to try this spring | 2025

Staying on top of the new Gold Coast restaurant openings is a full-time job – and one we take very, very seriously. We’ve hunted down, sipped and sampled the newest offerings and served them up right here, for you. Happy dining!

The House of Bamboo, Coolangatta

Blending tropical Asian eats with disco beats is no mean feat, but The House of Bamboo delivers in spades. They’ve transformed a basement space into a vibey izakaya unlike anything Cooly (or the Gold Coast, for that matter) has seen before. Our top picks? The char-grilled pineapple Tommy’s marg (need we say more?) and the Filipina-Colada – if you ask nicely, they’ll even show you how they make it. And for food, start with the miso corn and work your way up to the BYO (build your own) bao plate. The eggplant is unreal, too.

www.the-house-of-bamboo.com

Fire Baby, Southport

Get set for the ultimate ‘twofer’ – two dining concepts, one roof. Fire Baby set tongues wagging when it opened its doors early this month, slinging authentic woodfired Italian pizza (and more) for hungry Southport locals. But there’s more to come – Embar is the highly-anticipated second course, promising a charcoal-fired dining experience like no other.

www.instagram.com/firebabysouthport

Italia Moto Pizza, Helensvale

It’s one thing to serve up authentic, delicious pizza and gelato – doing it with Italian edge, and clear care factor, is what sets Italia Moto apart. Already a fast favourite amongst Helensvale locals, they offer more than great food – a visit to Italia Moto is an all-encompassing experience, complete with custom beverages, cool merch and even their own comic book series.

www.italiamoto.com

AKA Asiatique Dining & Bar, Paradise Point

Another win for the northern Gold Coast, AKA Asiatique delivers a bold take on modern Asian – think Ballina king prawns, steak tartare and watermelon sashimi. Opening in late July, they’ve had some time to find their footing and are more than ready to welcome the crowds this spring (and beyond).

www.akaparadisepoint.com.au

Both Espresso & Wine, Runaway Bay

Finally, an answer to the question, “Espresso or wine?”… Both! Whether you’re looking for somewhere to spend your Saturday night or Sunday morning, this cosy café-cum-wine-bar does it all – and it does it well. Since opening their doors in early August, they’re showing Runaway Bay locals that they can have it all.

www.bothespressoandwine.com.au

REOPENING: Mamasan, Broadbeach

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, this Broadbeach favourite will reopen its doors in mid-September with a fresh new design. Expect dark, moody interiors an intimate private dining room and a menu that introduces new East Asian elements (and the cult classics). Co-founder Lauren Duitsch says this new chapter offers an exciting opportunity for Mamasan to offer the kind of dining experience Gold Coasters, and visitors alike, are hungry for.

“When we first opened, the Gold Coast was really just finding its feet beyond casual dining,” says co-founder Lauren Duitsch. “There’s so much more diversity on menus now, thoughtful wine programs have become the norm rather than the exception, and venues are thinking about the entire experience, not just what’s on the plate.

“People want the whole story now, not just good food. They want to understand where produce comes from, the inspiration behind a dish, and why certain ingredients work together. We’re getting noticed beyond the coast now, which gives us confidence to push boundaries with flavours and concepts that might have felt too bold in the early days.”

www.bothespressoandwine.com.au

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Five ways to put your health first this spring

The days are warmer, the air lighter, and suddenly it’s that much easier to swap your evening scroll for an evening stroll. Spring is the season of renewal, which makes it the perfect time to shake off the winter blues and reset your wellness routines. From nourishing meals to mindful micro-rituals, here are five easy ways to put your health first this spring (that you might not have considered).

Nourish your body, from the inside out

In the colder months, comfort tends to win – hearty roasts, baked pasta and more ‘treat yourself’ moments than we’d like to admit. But as the temperature rises, so does our craving for fresher, lighter fuel. That’s where Sol Cleanse comes in. This Gold Coast business is best known for its organic juice cleanses and wholefood packs, but their new regenerative meat-based meals are what seriously impressed us.

We got to trial their Organic Meat Whole Food Pack, which features three days of smoothies, juices, salads and frozen main meals. We can officially confirm, it’s the easiest way to get your health back on track.

The first thing we noticed was the variety. So. Much. Colour. Opening the pack on a Monday instantly set us up for success – we found ourselves looking forward to the next day’s menu. The smoothies held up beautifully (the berry-based Shine was a standout), and the Radiant green juice tasted as fresh as if it had just been pressed.

Each salad was tastier than the day before, though lighter eaters might want to top them with extra protein. As for the dinners? Somehow, Sol Cleanse has managed to make frozen meals taste better than most freshly cooked ones. The Lamb Ragout deserves a special mention. If you’re looking to nourish your body with whole, seasonal food that requires zero prep, Sol Cleanse is a local go-to worth bookmarking. Plus, we love their ethos.

Start your day with an ocean swim

There’s something about diving into cool salty water that feels like a total body reset – like you’re literally washing your stresses and sleepiness away. An early swim in the ocean doesn’t just wake you up; it boosts circulation, clears the mind and floods your body with feel-good endorphins.

But if braving the surf before coffee feels a little too hardcore, you can still capture that “ocean dip” energy at home. Try finishing your morning shower with thirty seconds of cold water – it’s invigorating, improves lymphatic flow and gives you that same fresh-out-of-the-sea feeling without sandy toes.

For those wanting to take it further, visit an ice bath. With a little practice and some guided breathing, cold plunges can be the secret to balancing stress and sharpening focus.

Find a moment for meditation

Spring can be busy – social calendars pick up, work deadlines loom, and life gets noisy. Carving out just ten minutes a day for meditation or mindfulness can do wonders for your mental health.

But meditation doesn’t have to mean sitting in silence. If stillness isn’t your style, try a mindful walk where you tune into the sounds, colours and scents around you. Even mindful dishwashing – paying attention to the warm water and repetitive rhythm – can work as a reset for your nervous system.

And if you want something a little more immersive, sound baths have been popping up all over the Coast. Think crystal bowls, gentle gongs and vibrations that wash over you – it’s meditation for people who struggle to meditate.

Refresh your fitness routine

If your winter workouts have felt a little sluggish (or non-existent), spring is the perfect time to change it up. Instead of signing up for another gym membership, consider activities that double as both movement and play. Join a local tennis comp, try a stand-up paddleboarding session, or grab a friend for a sunrise hike. You’ll be surprised how quickly fitness goals fall into place when you’re having fun.

And for those who love a little tech-hack, spring is also the ideal time to explore “habit stacking” – like doing a five-minute resistance band circuit every time the kettle boils. Tiny bursts add up, and they slot seamlessly into your day.

Get back in the garden

Gardening ticks all the boxes: gentle movement, stress relief, fresh air, and the satisfaction of watching something grow. Even a few potted herbs on your balcony can give you that sense of connection to the season.

If you’re a budding green thumb who is looking to up your garden game, try planting edible flowers like nasturtiums or violas – they’re not only beautiful but can be sprinkled on salads for a spring-ready health boost.

Or start a compost bin; nourishing the soil is a surprisingly grounding activity and makes you think differently about food waste. And if you really want to make the most of spring’s ‘fresh start’ energy, consider a digital detox alongside your gardening sessions. Leaving your phone (and headphones) indoors while you potter outside is a small act of disconnection that creates a big sense of calm.

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