Neighbourhood noshery Bar Leo drops a delicious new autumn menu
Nestled on Panitz Street in Sorrento, Bar Leo is, without a doubt, one of the Gold Coast’s best hidden gems. The neighbourhood noshery, which is approaching its first birthday, has been gaining some serious momentum of late, spurred by a tasty new Mediterranean-inspired menu. Start with a serve of the venue’s freshly made focaccia while you pick at a plate of charcuterie and peruse the expertly curated wine list. You’ll find some familiar faves such as the wagyu rump cap alongside some exciting new dishes including a seriously pretty sashimi, a new take on the venue’s octopus with potato and steak tartare. If you’re yet to discover Bar Leo or it’s been a minute in between wines, we reckon this is the sign you’ve been waiting for to book a table.
Experience La Bella Cellar’s elevated new autumn menu
In case you missed the memo, Burleigh’s beautiful La Bella Cellar has reopened with a fresh focus on fine dining. Although the term ‘fine dining’ can conjure notions of stuffiness, let’s get one thing clear – La Bella Cellar is the opposite of that. Spirited and lively, the tiny space reverberates with music and animated conversations. Led by hatted-chef Raffaele, the new autumn iteration has said goodbye to some of our favourites (gone but never forgotten), but welcomed a whole new selection to try. Diners can expect dishes such as lobster bisque, spicy jerk chicken and beef tartare among the new selections. Keep your peepers peeled for details of an upcoming supper club, or jump over here to book a table.
Feast on a fried-chicken Benny and Japanese omelettes at Double Barrel Kitchen in Mermaid
It’s officially sayonara summer and konnichiwa to autumn. Checking out all of the new seasonal spreads is undoubtedly one of our favourite things about the turn of the season, and Double Barrel Kitchen in Mermaid is never one to disappoint. This autumn, Jess and the team have upped the ante with a delightfully decadent southern fried-chicken benne slathered with chipotle hollandaise, a Japanese omelette stuffed with noodles and drizzled with yakisoba sauce, and the ever-popular poached-pear porridge. Meanwhile, over at its sibling restaurant, Double Barrel Kitchen & Bar at Benowa is luring breakfast and brunch lovers with sourdough trout crumpets, chilli crab scramble and, of course, it’s famous savoury mince, which has popped up again due to repeated requests from customers (us).
Treat your taste buds to carrot-cake oats and hot-honey chicken at Elk Espresso
When it comes to seasonal spreads, Elk Espresso never ceases to amaze with their inventive (and utterly delicious) creations. This time around, the culinary wizards have created some naughty-but-nice carrot-cake oats, an almost-too-pretty-to-eat rhubarb vanilla panna cotta with pandan yoghurt, but the real show-stopper this season is undoubtedly the hot-honey chicken on corn bread with Sriracha butter. If you’re drooling already (same), get your keister to Elk Espresso, stat!
Dive in to The Bedroom’s new $500,000 renovation complete with bottle service and a giant ball pit
A bar with a pool-sized ball pit? You read right. The Bedroom has been a stalwart on the Glitter Strip’s club scene for years, backdropping hazy, wild nights out. Now, the iconic venue has unveiled a $500,000 renovation including a giant ball pit, full-time female bathroom attendant and complete new interior fit out. While the ball pit technically isn’t new, it’s been supercharged in size and now requires a ladder to access it. You can get your makeup touched up and, for extra-special occasions, like Saturday, you can ball out with bottle service and VIP areas that have previously hosted A-listers including sprinting legend Usain Bolt, super-selling pop star Justin Bieber, actor Josh Hartnett, DJ Calvin Harris and – as Artesian Hospitality managing partner Matt Keegan describes it – just about “anyone who has ever been on Geordie Shore or Love Island”. The venue is hosting an invitation-only launch party this Saturday March 9, but will be open to the public after that.
Don your finest green attire and get ready for St Patrick’s Day celebrations at Surfers Paradise’s oldest Irish pub
If ever there was a perfectly valid reason to down a pint of Guinness (or two) at midday on a Friday, this is it! D’arcy Arms, aka Surfers Paradise’s oldest Irish Pub, is kicking of the St Patty’s Day fun on Friday March 15 with live performances by Gallie, continuing on Saturday March 16 with a stellar lineup including Mark Butler & Claddagh and the Gold Coast Pipe Band, leading up to the big day on Sunday March 17. Sunday’s festivities feature more entertainment, including the Carolan Academy of Irish Dance and special guests Salliana 7. Amidst the entertainment, you can indulge in Irish snacks such as battered sausage with curry sauce or heartier fare such as beef and Guinness pies. Manager Janene Porter promises it will be the best St Patrick’s Day event yet.
Hop into Easter with cake decorating, cupcakes and hot-cross buns at The Oasis
Let’s just all agree that calories don’t count over Easter. Now we’ve got that settled you can unleash your inner Nigella (or Gordon, just without the profanity perhaps) at Madison’s Café & Patisserie’s famous Easter cake decorating class on March 28! There will be fresh hot-cross buns, bunny biscuits and cakes to dress, decorate and ice as you sip wine and snack on nibbles. For the little ones, there’s Easter cupcake decorating on March 27 and 28 at 2:00 pm. The kids decorating class is $15 per child, and you can guarantee they’ll be leaving on a sugar high afterwards! If you’re after something fun and free to do these school holidays, Bakers Delight invites you to decorate your own hot-cross bun from 10:00 am to midday on Monday March 25 and Tuesday March 26. Meet on the ground floor in front of Bakers Delight.
Celebrate Easter with a delightfully decadent chocolate-themed high tea at Imperial Hotel
It’s true what they say, not all chocolate is created equal. This Easter, you are invited to embark upon an unforgettable chocolate-filled feast at Imperial Hotel. The limited-edition Valrhona chocolate-themed high tea promises a captivating fusion of flavours, from meticulously crafted sweet delicacies to savoury delights. If you’re not familiar with the premium Valrhona brand of chocolate, allow us. The story begins in the small town of Tain-L’Hermitage, a wine-growing region near Lyon, France. Since 1922, Valrhona, short for “Vallee du Rhone” (Rhone Valley), has continued to inspire throngs worldwide with its award-winning and sustainably produced chocolate for generations to enjoy. As the founder famously said, “Life is too short for subpar chocolate.” And we tend to agree. Bookings for the high tea are $99 per person and are taken through Le Jardin and are available between Friday March 29 and Sunday April 28. Book now.
Devour baked goods from Burleigh’s new Fuel Bakehouse
Late last year, cruffin connoisseurs and doughnut devotees let out an excited welp at the news that Fuel Bakehouse was opening a third location in James Street Burleigh Heads. Joining outposts at Currumbin Creek Road and in Cabarita, Fuel Bakehouse’s hole-in-the-wall Burleigh spot has transformed the former Subway into a new satellite store slinging all of your current Fuel favourites, including its famed doughnuts, savoury pies, cruffins, muffins, breakfasts, lunches, salads and sandwiches. You’ll also find Social Espresso’s beans flowing through the coffee machine, giving you that much-needed pep in your step. Fuel Bakehouse Burleigh Heads is now open!
