Ever since whispers broke of Coolangatta’s casual new pizza and pasta bar, locals have been salivating in anticipation. Now that it is open, the beachside locale does not disappoint. Little Cooly delivers an all-day dining menu that showcases local produce, with the likes of Tweed River prawns and Bangalow bacon alongside a delightful selection of crafted cocktails and a seriously stacked wine list. Start your feast with a serve of stuffed arancini before attempting the impossible – pizza or pasta? The pizzas are built upon a hand-stretched 11-inch base and jam-packed with creative topping combinations such as the Queenslander pizza, which is loaded with pork, pineapple, fetta and charred corn, and the Snapper Rocks pizza featuring fresh Tweed River prawns, mango, cashews and avo. The egg pasta is handmade in house with a choice of either spaghetti, fettuccine, fusilli or gnocchi with an array of sauces including The Bilinga (slow-roasted chicken, crispy pancetta, cream and egg yolk) or, for a serious starvation, there’s The Wipeout, which is a double portion of pasta served with sautéed Tweed River prawns, Bangalow pork, spicy chorizo, Spanish onion and cherry tomatoes tossed through a house-made Napoli sauce. If you simply cannot decide (we don’t blame you), the One Pan Wonders combine elements of both to create some kind of majestic pizza/pasta bake hybrid (yum!) that is 100 percent food coma material. The Carb-loader with pepperoni, mushroom, grilled capsicum and anchovy fillets topped with grilled cheese has earned plenty of culinary kudos but there’s also a meat-free version that is equally as delicious.

If all that decision making has left you parched, Little Cooly offers an extensive selection of wine (100-plus bottles) that will satiate your thirst. The cocktail list is conveniently sectioned into categories for easy perusing starting with the Spritz Me Up, Signature Sips and Little Cooly Classics and if beer is your beverage of choice, give the venue’s own Little Cooly Dry and Little Cooly Ginger Cider a try. As for the vibe, Little Cooly boasts that kind of beachside casual cool that isn’t too cool that you can’t stop by for a bite and a beer post-surf, wine and dine a date or bring the whole crew (little ones included) for a long-overdue catch-up. If you relish the thought of being joyously stuffed full of pizza, pasta and cocktails, go ahead and book a table at Little Cooly.

Roll over to our Stumble Guide for opening times and booking details.