Get excited lovers of exceptional sandwiches and Insta-worthy sips, there’s a new kid in town and you’ll want to make your way to Labrador quick smart to sample everything in sight.

It’s called Butter Bodega, a New York style bodega (convenience store) found on Marine Parade in Labrador and it’s serving up some very tasty takeaway treats as well as offering grocery store goodies for your one-stop shop pleasure.

The newbie is the work of husband and wife duo Ivan and Monique, lovers of great food and good style. Convenience stores run in the family with Ivan’s parents owning the 7/11 in the same space for the previous 20 years. Butter Bodega is unlike any convenience store you’ve ever seen before.

To start with, she’s a beauty. Glossy green tiles adorn the outside wall and inside it’s all black and white checked tiles, perfectly arranged shelves, a shiny silver basketball hoop and a photo wall with images of the spaces’ progress and one of Seinfeld which you’ll want to hear the story about next time you’re in. The interior was designed by Bridgette Ford and it’s everything you’d expect from a NYC-inspired store (but also better).

To eat there are sandwiches and as you may know, it can be tough to find a good sandwich on the Coast. Or it was, until now.

Butter Bodega boasts many mouthwatering flavours, and they change often, but on any given day you can expect combinations like Smoked Mortadella with cultured butter, Dijon mustard, provolone and mayonnaise on a milk bun or (wait for it) Black Truffle Squid Ink Salami with honey and cultured butter on a seeded baguette. There’s also a Bangalow Ham sandwich on a baguette and Spiced Beef Pastrami with Russian dressing, Swiss cheese, pickles, sauerkraut and jalapenos on New York Rye.

The sandwiches are made with the highest quality deli meats and the freshest of bread and they are the result of many months of trials at Ivan and Monique’s home.

There’s coffee, of course, served in New York lookalike cups that have been around since the 1960s. If you’re after something a little bit special why not try the Biscoff Latte, Pumpkin Space Matcha or a Strawberry Matcha?

Soon there’ll be the option to order school lunches for the kids and sandwich/cheese platters to be enjoyed on the waterfront just a few steps away.

The intention behind Butter Bodega was to create a warm and welcoming, family-owned grocery store and café and that is exactly what they’ve done. The passion and adoration for everything happening inside is obvious and it is indeed the perfect addition to the Northern Gold Coast’s culinary lineup.

Oh, and once a month there’s set to be an exclusive vintage designer popup store with pieces on offer that Monique herself has curated. It will be held within the bodega in a space called The Cold Room and there will be champagne. Keep an eye out on socials because tickets will be limited.

Good times all round. Get in there and check it out for yourself.

Where: Shop 15, 300 Marine Pde, Labrador
When: 6am to 2pm daily for coffee and sandwiches and 2pm to 7pm for groceries

Ahhh Chirn Park, you’re the northern GC’s answer to Burleigh…minus the traffic and with an intimate village vibe. Embracing its increasingly trendy rep, Chirn Park is welcoming more and more cool/interesting/unique businesses to this once underrated neck of the woods.

Being the fans that we are, here are 10 reasons why locals…and not so local locals….are flocking to Chirn Park en masse!

Basque
As it stands, the humble cheesecake is a universally beloved sweet treat that few desserts can rival. And when it comes to rivalries, few can contend Basque’s heavenly cheesecakes. We’re fast approaching two years since this artisan bakehouse arrived in the north city burb, yet they’ve become a fast fixture on dessert plates of locals and passerbyers alike. They do many great things, but pairing cheesecake with champagne may just be their finest idea. Once savoured, you’ll forever be at the mercy of their scrumptious slices. You’ve been warned.
Where: 33b Musgrave Avenue, Southport

Walk Ins Welcome
This double-establishment beauty may just be the coolest hangout on the Gold Coast for tattoo fiends and ink dabblers alike. It’s a bar, adjoined to a tattoo studio by a flash art-lined corridor. The fit-out is like a retro time capsule with pinball machines, classic arcade games and walls filled with artwork and tattoo flash; a collection of the founder and his team’s work over the years. They have a cocktail menu that makes you want to work from top to bottom, coupled with Connect 4 and Jenga available for some light-hearted fun. The allure of yet another tattoo begins to brew once again…
Where: 3/37 Musgrave Avenue, Southport

Quan 55
‘Quan’ is Vietnamese for bar, so no prizes for guessing what this Chirn Park fave serves! Host and owner Wynn serves up the same food as she does at home, even using her mother-in-law’s treasured 20-year-old crock pot! Now that’s authenticity personified! It boasts fabulous food and cocktails and ambience galore, thanks to the awesome interior and never-ending rotation of bums on seats.
Where: 4/55 Brooke Avenue, Southport

Cruize Espresso
It was love at first sight when we spotted the adorable logo alone. With a beautiful soft colour palette, swoon-worthy serve-wear, phenom wall art (Jai Vasicek, we see you…everywhere) and the instagrammable “I love you a latte” neon sign, the menu is as delicious as the fit-out. Think modern brekkie and lunch dishes beautifully presented with pretty-as-a-picture floral garnish, epic coffee, and the friendliest service in the land.
Where: Shop 6/37 Musgrave Ave, Labrador

Little Barista Espresso Bar
Looking for a consistently high-quality caffeine hit, all day breakfast or lunch? Call off the search coz Little Barista delivers all of the above. Perched in arguably the most prominent corner position in Chirn Park, this rustic coastal gem is always buzzing. You can smell the glorious aroma of award-winning brews as you walk up the street, and don’t forget to bring Fido as pooches are welcomed with open arms.
Where: 3/39 Musgrave Ave, Labrador

ATTO
Serving up serious Seoul food (pun intended), ATTO is one of Gold Coast’s newest Korean Cuisine machines. They too have decided to call Chirn Park home…to all y’all Northern residents, we’re starting to get a little envious of you now. At ATTO, you’ll find authentic and elevated East Asian eats and stone cold Sapporo on tap- a fine duo indeed. Sink your teeth into their charcoal grilled free range pork jowl with enoki mushroom, garlic, chives, hot english mustard and soy jus or the crispy eggplant made with sweet n sour doenjang sauce, grapefruit, and sesame seeds….just some recs.
Where: Shop1/55 Brooke Ave, Southport

5B2F Bakehouse
If you’re mad for a bakery, and seriously who isn’t, step this way and tell us you’ve had better! When it’s brought to you by the renowned pastry chef extraordinaire, Moonsun Yoo, you know you’re in for a real treat– classic French pastries and artisan sourdough for days. One look in the cabinet filled with THE most spectacularly crafted baked goodies and you’re sold. Consider us buttered up.
Where: 55 Brooke Ave, Southport

Daark Espresso
It’s known for its exceptional coffee, and as a go-to for the professional brunching set (aka, well worth the queue) is Daark Espresso. The nosh is truly next level, from the Salmon and Feta Croquettes to the Southern Chicken Fried Waffles and everything in between; bagels, crumpets, acai bowls, you name it. Pull up a pew inside this rustic gem, or opt for a table outside on the wraparound balcony. Add a super buzzy vibe and friendly staff and you can why it’s a Chirn Park institution.
Where: 2/41 Musgrave Ave, Labrador

Ground & Sound
Perched at the end of a street-art adorned alley, lies this offbeat café-come-bar, a cosy space combining two of life’s greatest pleasures: music and coffee. By day, they serve up specialty single origin PNG caffeine. By night, a mix of entertainment including local live acts, stand up comedy, music trivia nights, and open mic action for your Sunday sesh pleasure. What a vibe!
Where: 6/23 Musgrave Ave, Chirn Park

Moss n Stone
Moss n Stone offers the freshest and most on-trend blooms, arriving in-store daily. Delivering to all areas of the Gold and Tweed Coast, there are flowers and foliage for all occasions and persuasions.  Also stocking an exquisite range of giftware, babywear and homewares, it’s your one stop shop for all things lovely, with a hint of uniqueness.
Where: Unit 4/41 Musgrave Ave, Chirn Park

Words by Chelsea Ipsen

Taiwan’s famous night markets are a feast for the senses, the streets abuzz with sizzling woks, bold flavours and the cheerful bustle of community. Lucky for us, we don’t need a plane ticket to experience it. Taiwan Tummy is bringing that same energy to Chirn Park, serving up authentic dishes that capture the heart of Taiwanese street food right here on the Gold Coast.

For owners Cynthia Leung and Jasper Tsai, Taiwan Tummy is more than just a business – it’s a way to share a piece of home. And for Jasper, it’s also the next chapter in his family’s culinary journey.

Jasper’s grandparents started out in 1968 with a humble street-side food cart in Taiwan, serving dishes that quickly gained a loyal following. Over time, that small venture grew into a beloved family restaurant, one that still serves up traditional flavours today. Now, Jasper is carrying that tradition forward, bringing the same dishes to a new community, one bento box at a time.

“Since moving to Australia with my family two years ago, I’ve been eager to bring these cherished Taiwanese flavours to the local community. I hope to share the taste of our tradition with everyone here on the Gold Coast.”

Jasper and Cynthia have created a space where tradition meets community. The lively atmosphere of Chirn Park makes it the perfect location, mirroring the bustling yet intimate feel of Taiwan’s best food spots.

The venue itself feels very much at home on the Gold Coast with a mix of natural textures and contemporary touches, with light timber, sleek white marble and tan leather accents. Cynthia, a graphic designer with an eye for detail, worked closely with builder Jaeho Lee to create a space where everyone feels welcome.

The menu is a celebration of Taiwan’s most beloved dishes, each one carrying the essence of a kitchen that has been perfecting its flavours for over five decades. Each recipe has been passed down through generations, ensuring that every bite holds the same depth of flavour that has kept Jasper’s family restaurant thriving in Taiwan.

Snacks and sides transport you straight to the streets of Taipei. Fill your boots and your belly with crispy popcorn chicken, fried fish cake, scallion pancake with egg and braised chicken wings. 

Tummy rumbling right now? Signature bento boxes will satisfy the hungriest of diners. From slow-braised pork to king oyster mushrooms with basil, there’s something for every craving. The Taiwanese deep-fried pork loin chop and deep-fried chicken Maryland are crunchy, juicy favourites, while the shredded chicken offers a lighter but equally flavourful option. These all come with rice and seasonal sides.

If it’s a refreshment you’re after, Taiwan Tummy serves up a taste of traditional beverages like homemade fresh apple tea and iced honey grass jelly.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Taiwanese cuisine or just discovering it for the first time, you’re sure to leave Taiwan Tummy with belly and heart full.

Where: 1/37 Musgrave, Ave, Labrador
When: Monday – Saturday 11am – 8pm

Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Mathilde Bouby