Cancel your Euro summer plans! Haven, a new restaurant and beach club, is opening this month in Burleigh Heads and it’s set to be hotter than a Mediterranean heatwave.

Perched three floors above the pandanus-lined shoreline at the stunning new Mondrian Gold Coast (Australia’s very first, no less), Haven takes beach club vibes to new heights. Officially opening on the 5th June, thanks to the dream team at Ennismore and Vitale Property Group, Haven is where laidback luxe and coastal cool collide.

Designed by Sydney’s Alexander &CO., Haven spans a refined yet relaxed dining room, private cabanas, a full-service pool club and a sunset bar. With every space having its own personality, there’s always a new nook to explore.

Whether you’re brunching in your bikini or toasting at twilight, Haven was made to move with you and your crew. As the sun sets, the evening comes alive with a soundtrack of DJs, curated playlists and live performances.

But what really sets the bar sky-high, is the food.

The man behind the menu is none other than Executive Chef Aaron Teece, whose impressive dining hotspots include EST., Felix, Manly Pavilion and his own creative food studio, Studio Neon. He’s bringing serious star-chef credentials but with a distinctly grounded vibe.

Aaron said, “I want people to feel the season and the source with every bite, because when ingredients are respected, simplicity speaks loudest.”

Haven’s menus are anchored in our coastline, with seafood heroing from Cairns, the Sunshine Coast and Northern NSW, backed by prime paddock-to-plate meats and vibrant hinterland produce.

We recommend your culinary adventure starts with a seafood platter of ½ lobster, oysters, Australian Bay bug, Ballina king prawns, Tweed Coast spanner crab, fish crudo, marinated octopus, scallop crudo. Talk about catch of the day.

The woodfire grill at the heart of the kitchen isn’t just for show. Wood-fired scallop pie with crisp pastry and curry sauce, Lobster frites kissed with café de paris butter and the whopping 600g Westholme waygu bone in sirloin served with red wine jus are sure to fire up a cool evening.

You’ll want to make room for dessert too, with Woodfired Basque cheesecake and Signature Haven Pavlova.

The drinks list is nothing to sniff at, it’s to sip through long after the sun goes down. Expect crisp coastal wines and a seriously savvy cocktail list, from spicy margs to frozen Matcha Colada. For the agave lovers, there’s even a dedicated menu featuring tequila, mezcal, raicilla and bacanora, perfect for sipping poolside as the sun melts into the sea.

From sunny days to moonlit nights, Haven invites you to slow down and celebrate that everything you need is right here on the Gold Coast.

Where: Level 3, 3 First Ave, Burleigh Heads
When: Haven Restaurant & Bar, Monday-Friday: 11:30am – late, Saturday-Sunday: 11:00am – late
Haven Pool Club, Monday-Friday: 11:30am – late, Saturday-Sunday: 11:00am – late

Words by Lisette Drew

Is it just us, or do you also love Italian feasts that stretch from late morning into the golden hours of evening?

We have brunch, sure, but what about linner? Dunch? Italians seem to have perfected the art of combining all three in one delicious, leisurely day. We may not have the ideal word for it, but if that feeling could be captured in a single Gold Coast dining spot, it might just be LiTO.

Set to open this week on the ground floor of the newly launched Mondrian Gold Coast, the first Australian address for the globally renowned hotel brand, LiTO is an all-day restaurant where you can enjoy the warmth of Italian hospitality from a quiet morning espresso to aperitivo with friends at sunset.

Designed by Sydney-based Alexander &CO., LiTO’s interiors blend Mediterranean texture with modern Australian, including a semi-private chef’s table overlooking the wood-fired kitchen offering a more immersive experience. It’s as if the restaurant itself is inviting you to settle in.

We certainly don’t need an excuse with a menu like this.

At the helm of the kitchen is Italian-born Head Chef Andrea Morigi, who has created culinary magic at some of Merivale’s most beloved Sydney venues, including Uccello and Jimmy’s Falafels. At LiTO, Morigi brings his philosophy of life through food that is deeply rooted in Italian dining shaped by Queensland’s coastal produce.

“It’s about joy on the plate – handmade, wholehearted, relaxed. Like the kind of meal best shared among friends with something good in the glass,” Andrea said.

Mornings begin with Allpress coffee and Italian-accented breakfast offerings. Your post-surf feed never tasted better as you dive into Sicilian Poached Eggs with shaved lonza and tomato hollandaise on sourdough. Even the humble avo has been given the Italian twist with Spiced Avocado Bruschetta topped with stracciatella, pesto and crisp chilli.

Like a good ol’ Italian get together, lunch and dinner merge as one (Linner? Dunch? Still undecided), taking grazing to the next level. Share an oozy Byron Bay Burrata with compressed rockmelon and pistachio, or get saucy with Wood-fired Beef Meatballs made with westholme wagyu and topped with mozzarella.

Luxurious pastas will linger on your tongue and in your tummy like slow-cooked Lamb Ragu Saffron Pappardelle and Southern Rock Lobster Bucatini in a red shellfish sauce.

Fire it up with the Charcoaled-grilled T-bone 800gr wagyu cross MB 6-7+ “Bistecca” served with gold tomatoes and aged balsamic.

To keep the la dolce vita vibes vibing, the wine list is an evolving celebration of Australian and Italian producers, while a smart cocktail selection including classic spritzes and house aperitivos captures the spirit of both the Amalfi and the Australian coastlines. Cin cin to that!

And when in Rome — or in this case, LiTO — dessert from The Trolley is non-negotiable. A curated selection of sweet treats is wheeled tableside, offering a final flourish to your meal. Perhaps a zesty Italian meringue lemon tart, or a rich chocolate and hazelnut torte — each served with amaretto and coffee mascarpone cream, finished with a drizzle of coffee syrup. Now that’s amore.

Where: Ground Level, 3 First Ave, Burleigh Heads
When: Mon – Fri: Breakfast: 6:00am – 11:30am, all day dining: 11:30am – late
Sat-Sun: Breakfast: 6:00am – 11:00am, all day dining: 11:00am – late

Feeling a little ho-hum over your usual sweat sesh rotation? Or maybe your rickety rig has been feeling less like a temple and more like a ‘fixer upper’ of late?

Whether you revel in any reason to get the ole’ bod moving, or the thought of exercise bores you to your very core – having some exciting new options to throw in your trusty repertoire can never be a bad thing. So without further ado, here are 10 unique exercise experiences on the GC to try your hand at. Because, y’know, variety is the spice of life, and all that.

Aqua Sculpt
Pilates, but make it float. Aqua Sculpt has officially landed on the Gold Coast, bringing you a full-body workout like no other – on water! Set on JW Marriott’s iconic Saltwater Lagoon Pool, these 45-minute sessions fuse Pilates, balance and strength training on a floating platform.
Where: 158 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Retro Fit
Dust off those cowboy boots and bootscoot your way through a morning of country-inspired grooves, with a few cheeky pop throwbacks thrown in for good measure. Whether you’re a two-left-feet newbie or a seasoned grapevine pro, their friendly instructor will have you stepping in sync in no time.

Classes are held at The Junction in Burleigh Heads, with an onsite café for your pre- or post-class coffee fix. Expect plenty of laughs, moves you didn’t know you had in you, and a guaranteed good time. No partner, no prior experience, just bring your dancing shoes – Retro Fit will take care of the rest.
Where: 14 Junction Rd, Burleigh Heads

Lights Out and Dance
For the rhythmically challenged among us; if the chance get your groove on under the cover of pitch black darkness sounds a dream, get on down to Lights Out and Dance and ‘dance like nobody’s watching’ (literally). Get those endorphins flowing while you lose yourself to some sweet dance beats in what is basically the most unintimidating group setting you can get. The intuitive-style sessions are held in a dark room so you can work up a sweat shaking what your mama gave you without a care in the world; and have stacks of fun in the process. Post-workout glow, incoming!
Where: Broadbeach Cultural Centre, Hooker Blvd &, Sunshine Blvd, Broadbeach Waters and Runaway Bay Youth Centre, 379 Oxley Drive, Runaway Bay

Yoga Paws
No, we haven’t gone barking mad – Puppy Yoga is very much a thing… and yes, it’s exactly as amazing as it sounds. Stretch, reset, and snuggle some seriously cute pups at Yoga Paws’ fortnightly Puppy Yoga sessions in Miami. It’s all about moving through beginner-friendly poses while playful puppies roam, cuddle, and generally steal the show.

Bonus: it’s good for them too! These sessions help socialise the puppies in a calm, fun setting, building their confidence for future adventures. Breeds are kept a surprise, but one thing’s guaranteed: maximum cuteness.
Where: House of Motion: 1924 Gold Coast Hwy, Miami

Run Clubs
If your typical cardio rotation consists only of running away from your problems and jumping to conclusions, the various iterations of social run clubs that call the GC home will make a runner out of you yet. If you’re looking for a supportive environment where you can slide on in at snail’s pace without so much as a second glance, Parkrun is a perennial fave. With community events held weekly from Coomera through to Kirra, participants are welcome to walk, jog, run, or simply spectate. Or for a little extra incentive we’d recommend checking out clubs that strategically plan their routes around our fine assortment of local watering holes, such as Unfit Run Club.
Where: Assorted clubs/locations across the Gold Coast

Aerial yoga
If you’ve seen one tree pose, you’ve seen them all, right? Well, not necessarily… If you’re looking to shake up your usual stretch-and-breath sesh, Aerial yoga is where its at! Experience yoga from a whole new perspective, with an invigorating workout that involves performing poses gracefully suspended from a mix of hammock, silk and ring style contraptions. And the best part? You don’t even need to be a card-carrying yogi to get in on the fun! A variety of beginners classes mean people of all ages and abilities can learn the moves ‘on the fly’. Go on, why not give it a whirl!?
Where: Hapy Studio, 9/5 Traders Way, Currumbin

Therapy Fitness
When it comes to changing up the same ol’ workout grind, spin is hardly a revolutionary (geddit, heh) concept – but hear us out, because what we’re proposing is anything but your typical cycle class. At Therapy, Mermaid’s multi sensory fitness studio, the immersive ‘therapy’ sessions are all about boosting mental as well as physical wellbeing… and who doesn’t love a to-do list two-fer?! Combining music and movement, each of the fully integrated studio spaces have been optimised to get both the mind and the bod feeling fab. You’ll be glowing from the inside out in no time.
Where: Cnr Markeri St &, Southport Burleigh Rd Q Super Centre, Shop D2/D3, Mermaid Waters

POUND Fitness
Alright so remove any expectations you might have about what this entails and get excited for an extra fun time… because this workout ROCKS. Get ready to bliss out with ‘ya sticks out – fluro green drumsticks – that is, with the exhilarating full-body cardio jam session known simply as POUND. A rockstar-worthy workout that combines sweet beats with pilates inspired strength training and the sweat-dripping fun of drumming. What a time. Now this is the kind of exercise we could really ‘drum up’ some enthusiasm for! *ba dum tiss*.
Where: Various locations across the GC

She’s Spicy
If your idea of a good time involves spicy glutes, sunrise stretches and a post-sweat latte, She’s Spicy has you covered. Every Friday, their events are focussed on the pilates, coffee & connection. Free 5:30am beachside Pilates sessions at Mermaid Beach (right opposite Rafiki). Expect good vibes, easygoing moves for all levels, and a solid excuse to grab a coffee or go for a swim after class. BYO mat, bring your besties, and join the crew for your weekly dose of movement and mateship.
Where: Mermaid Beach, opposite Rafiki

Pole dancing
Does the thought of yet another yoga or pilates sesh low-key have you yawning? Why not step it up a notch and have a pole lot of fun challenging and contorting your core in ways you never even knew possible! Even if you’re not typically the flexy type; the pros behind some of our local studios promise there’s no previous experience or even coordination pre-requisites to give it a go! So really, we’ve got nothing to lose, and a whole lot of flexibility, and strength to gain. Sounds pretty badass to us.
Where: GCPOLEFIT, 87 Griffith St, Coolangatta and Rokh Fit Studio, Unit 2/19 Township Dr, Burleigh Heads

Words by Belinda Symons