The details
Despite Barefoot’s sizeable following, owners Dean Hyland and Liz Ennis embraced the opportunity to relocate their flagship cafe, which is the long-standing older sibling to Burleigh’s Borough (Barista) and Mermaid’s Background (Barista). What was formerly the premises of a First National real estate office has now been completely transformed into Barefoot’s open, breezy and industrial-style new digs. While the change is well and truly welcomed, Dean and Liz have been careful in transferring the iconic cafe’s laid-back vibe and casual feel into the new space, with structural elements from the original premises like beams from the roof and the barn-style door recycled and worked into the rustic design of the new location. It’s still the same Barefoot we all know and love – it’s just grown up.
The food
Despite its fresh new identity, Barefoot’s heart and soul – its coffee and food – remains as it was, with a few new additions and regular weekend specials, all strongly driven by seasonal local produce. Don’t stress – the zucchini and haloumi fritters are still on the menu (phew), as is the crispy potato hash with bacon, poached eggs and mustard hollandaise. Brunch and lunch is a great vibe, with eye-popping dishes like the house salad with beetroot, black rice, fermented reds, purple kale, beetroot-cashew cheese and purple sweet potato crisps, as well as the 12-hour slow-cooked lamb salad with smoked-eggplant hommus. Keen for something hearty? Get your paws around the organic grass-fed beef burger with red jack cheddar, pickles, greens from Tyalgum, house chutney and mustard atop a toasted milk bun, or the gluten-free crusted schnitzel burger with house slaw. For a sneaky side dish, don’t look past the loaded vegan sweet potato fries topped with kale, broccoli and cauliflower rice, char-grilled corn salsa, avocado and lashings of sriracha cashew cheese, which just so happens to be paleo and free from gluten and dairy. If you’re on the go, the cabinet is brimming with healthy treats, fresh-baked muffins and rows upon rows of gluten-free and vegan-friendly slices.
The rest
Just like it was nine years ago, coffee is still king here. The espresso machines, perched on a cement-topped island bench, are the hero of Barefoot’s circa 130-seat space and pump out Gabriel coffee to the masses from 5:00 am every single day. The real coffee connoisseurs can sip on specialty filter roasts served as a batch brew, a cold brew or through the AeroPress, while non-coffee drinkers can enjoy everything from beetroot lattes to sticky masala chai teas, or choose from a colourful collection of plant-based smoothies. Sure, the new digs is impressive, but there is more to come – the outdoor seating is soon to expand onto the footpath, the side seating area will be covered off and draped in live greenery to create a dreamy setting that will eventually be hired out as an events space after hours.
Keen to make tracks to Barefoot 2.0? Jump to our Stumble Guide for opening hours, location and contact details.
