Red Hot Cod levels up with tropical dining, bars and breezy vibes.
Red Hot Cod levels up with tropical dining, bars and breezy vibes.
Burleigh locals don’t need an introduction to Red Hot Cod. For nearly a decade, it’s fuelled post-surf feeds, lazy beach days and late-afternoon cravings, quietly cementing itself as a true neighbourhood hero. Since opening in 2016, the much-loved fish and chippery has been woven into the fabric of Burleigh, and now, after a fresh makeover and expansion, it’s stepped into its next era. Bigger, breezier and infused with a laid-back, Bali-inspired glow, the new look finally matches the bold, crave-worthy flavours locals have been obsessed with for years.
Still serving up the same golden, crispy (and award-winning) fish that made it what it is today, a bona fide local legend with a fan club that stretches far beyond Burleigh, from interstate road-trippers to big-name international visitors, Red Hot Cod has simply expanded the experience. The breezy, straight-off-the-footpath favourite now includes a tropical alfresco dining area, bar and beer garden that’ll snap you into holiday mode faster than a Piña Colada on a sun lounger.
Think Bali in Burleigh. There’s lush greenery, warm timber tones and that laidback, island-style atmosphere where sandy feet, post-swim hair and sun-kissed noses are not only welcome, they’re encouraged. It’s effortlessly cool, yet still the kind of place where everyone feels welcome, whether you’re rolling in straight from the beach, meeting friends for a relaxed dinner, or settling in for cocktails and people-watching.
At the helm are long-time Burleigh locals Simon and Buffie Scott, whose hospitality experience spans decades (and continents). It’s also very much a family affair, with daughter Mila playing a major role across both the kitchen and front of house and being hands-on throughout the recent extension. The reno brief was simple: keep what locals love, elevate the rest. And they’ve nailed it. This is still your go-to for proper fish and chips, only now it’s served in a tropical paradise…well, it feels that way.
The menu is a choose-your-own-adventure layout. You can keep it classic with cod, snapper (highly recommended), flake or Tassie salmon – battered, grilled or crumbed – served with a scoop of chips (or salad) and tartare. Or you can branch out with a fresh poke bowl, or a vibrant superfood bowl, topped with tofu, chicken, grilled salmon, snapper, coconut beef, or salt-and-pepper prawns.
Longing for your next trip to Bali? Their flavour-packed Gado-Gado, nasi goreng and Bali satay chicken sticks are the next best thing. While Red Hot Cod has been quietly nailing its Bali-inspired fare for years they’ve finally got a backdrop to match what’s coming out of the kitchen.
Burgers? Of course. From fish fillet and snapper to curried lentil and chickpea, there’s something for everyone. Proof that Red Hot Cod isn’t just for seafood lovers, but for groups with wildly different cravings. Add a coconut margarita or Red Hot Cod Lager on tap, and you’ve got yourself one hell of an afternoon by the beach.
What really sets the place apart, though, is its spirit. The team runs like a well-oiled machine, all smiles, all welcome, creating the kind of atmosphere where strangers become table neighbours and “quick lunch” effortlessly turns into afternoon beers. It’s also not uncommon to find yourself rubbing shoulders with Bali industry legends or top athletes passing through the Gold Coast, all drawn in by the food, the atmosphere and the undeniable pull of this local icon.
If you haven’t yet experienced this award-winning spot in the heart of Burleigh, consider this your perfect excuse to head there ASAP. Trust us, you won’t be disappointed. And if you’re a regular – see you there!
Where: 1716 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
When: 11am – 8pm Sunday – Thursday, 11am – 8.30pm Friday – Saturday
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
Images by Liam McDonald
Burleigh’s Mohr Cafe and Deli is dishing up the goods.
Just when we thought Hibiscus Haven couldn’t squeeze in another standout spot, Burleigh’s block of cool makes room and gives us Mohr.
Say hello to Mohr Cafe and Deli, the fresh face on Hibiscus Haven serving food so good you’ll want to text your group chat about it right now.
Run by husband-and-wife team Rob and Eden Mohr, this cafe has been a dream of these hospo wizards for some time. With more than two decades refining their craft on land and super yachts, the Mohrs know what makes a plate sing. They’re not cutting corners on anything, not the produce, not the prep, and definitely not venue, which they helped build with their own hands.
White and bright outside, inside, you’ll find that effortless coastal aesthetic Burleigh does best with exposed textured walls and warm timbers that create a calm spot to sip, snack and secretly people-watch.
Now let’s talk food because Mohr’s all-day menu is an all-star lineup.
Dip into Turkish Eggs perfectly poached and served with coconut labne, smoked tomato, cucumber, carrot pickle & charred bread.
The Shakshuka Scramble is (dare we say) moreish… with charred eggplant, peppers, tomato chilli salsa & charred bread. Chef’s hot tip is to add brisket.
A croque monsieur is a classic fave with ham and gruyere, fried eggs, cheese sauce, green pea chef salad and parmesan.
Lunch plates take things up a notch. Think mezze spreads with grilled vege and beef skewers, charcuterie, pizza bread topped with Mediterranean meatballs and provolone cheese, smash burgers, lobster tacos and all the good things you want to eat when you’re in a suburb that doesn’t do average.
If you’re in a hurry or you simply a grab-and-go girlie, Mohr’s deli bar is stocked with ready-made meals that aren’t your usual sad desk lunch. Everything is made fresh, seasonal and designed to taste just as good eaten in your car as it does at a table. Pre-order, or just walk in and point at whatever looks irresistible.
The menu changes regularly, because Rob and Eden love exploring flavours, so you know you can come back and find something new to tuck into.
And now here’s the real secret: Mohr food pairs perfectly with beer. Black Hops to be exact. And anything you order can be enjoyed next door at Black Hops Brewery! It’s a match made in Hibiscus Haven heaven.
Mohr is also pouring That’s Whyld Coffee Roasters from Miami, so you’re in safe and well caffeinated hands there, with a cold brew speciality foam that ticks all the boxes.
Bonus for this time of year is that Mohr does catering! Office lunches, private dinners, family feasts, they’ve got the goods.
And for those who can’t be bothered cooking tonight? There’s Mohr for Later, a delicious, ready-to-heat dinner range that lets you have a chef-made meal on the couch in your trackies.
Need we say Mohr?
Where: 4 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads
When: Daily, 6:30am–3pm
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Liam McDonald
Costa Taco opens their biggest venue yet.
The Costa Taco titans have done it again and this time, they’ve levelled up in a big way.
If you’ve ever spent time in Palm Beach, there’s a good chance you’ve queued for Costa Taco at least once, probably more. The taco-slinging hole-in-the-wall became an instant cult favourite when it opened in 2021, with lines snaking down the street.
Locals caught on. Visitors caught on. It was only a matter of time before brothers and founders Matt and Nick Stanley turned this popularity into a full blown fiesta up and down the coast.
Fast-forward a few years and Costa Taco has grown faster than your margarita cravings on a Friday afternoon. Byron Bay? Tick. Broadbeach? Tick. And now, they’ve shut their OG Palmy spot to make room for the third stop on the B tour, their biggest and boldest venue yet: Burleigh, baby!
Between this new flagship and their all-day cafe Mercado in Mermaid Waters, Costa Taco is officially running the coast one tortilla at a time. But Burleigh isn’t just another branch.
Nick Stanley sums it up best: “Costa Taco has always been about more than food. For us, it’s about sharing Mexican culture with honesty and heart, and creating a space where everyone feels welcome.”
It’s a mission you can feel the moment you step inside the Burleigh venue.
In prime posse on the GC Highway, the new venue blends laid-back Aussie beach culture with the vibrant flavours of Mexico. Gone are the days of inhaling your meal in Palmy so the line could keep moving, this big Burleigh spot invites you to settle in, sip a marg (or three) and let the good vibes take you to Mexico.
Exposed walls keep things cool and stripped-back, while pops of colourful artwork are splashed across the space. With 110 seats, two 10-seat booths and 15 stools at the bar, there’s plenty of room for the whole familia.
Now, to the food! All your Costa classics are here, and they’re ready to party.
Start fresh with lime-cured Ceviche Tostadas or chomp into the Elote Street Corn, grilled and slathered in chipotle crema, queso fresco, coriander and tajin salt.
Now let’s taco ’bout the tacos.
The Beer-Battered Local Snapper Taco is sunshine in a bite, fresh local fish drenched in crispy Mexican beer batter with a dreamy cashew salsa. The Guerrero Chicken Taco packs citrus, chilli and a secret sauce where the Confit Pork Carnitas will dance on your tastebuds with coriander, pickled onion and piña-guajillo salsa.
And then there are the heavy hitters. Chilaquiles (AKA wet nacho heaven) are bursting with tangy green salsa and ricotta-style cheese. Plus the holy grail: Quesabirria with crispy, cheesy, slow-cooked beef tacos with a rich dipping broth.
Wash it all down with a classic, coconut or chilli margarita and you’re living your best Mexican life.
Where: 1718 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh
When: Daily, 12pm–9pm
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Kirra Smith
Step inside Oneway Boulevard, Burleigh’s bold new creative studio.
The Gold Coast doesn’t just attract creators, it’s in our nature. With sun-soaked beaches and lush hinterland as our backdrop, creativity is around every corner.
But when the skies turn moody and the forecast goes off-script, every creator needs a dependable studio where the shoot can go on, rain, cyclone or shine. Oneway Boulevard Studio is a brand spanking new 325-square-metre creative playground in Burleigh Heads where bold ideas are brought to life.
Behind the vision is founder Brendon Bock, a multi-faceted creative with over 15 years’ experience spanning photography, videography, digital arts, web development and production. Known for his work across music and arts industries, Brendon has spent years building an East Coast network of photographers, editors, drone pilots, designers and collaborators who know how to get the shot and sprinkle it with magic.
The dream of opening his own studio was sparked while Brendon travelled down a hedge-lined boulevard, bringing into focus his desire for a dedicated space that doesn’t just produce content, it builds community. In 2026, that dream is now a reality.
Every corner of Oneway Boulevard feels purpose-built, from hair and makeup suites and a fully decked-out kitchen to interactive content walls and collaborative zones that invite spontaneous creativity. There’s a photo op on every floor, wall and ceiling (including in the bathroom!) with artwork and quotes to inspire.
A first-floor viewing platform offers a unique bird’s eye view of your work-in-progress. A quick portrait shoot can turn into a full-blown campaign, and nobody has to scramble for lighting, tech, backdrops or props because it’s all under the one roof.
And if they don’t have it, they’ll build it. Just next door is Brendon’s other business, Element Shopfitting and Construction, which can custom-build whatever you need to take your shoot to the next level.
It’s a studio that understands that the best work happens when creators have the space to create. That’s why it’s designed with the largest cyclorama on the Gold Coast (an expansive 9 x 8.3 metres of seamless white) for productions that like to think big! And if you are a BIG brand, you can even access multiple shooting spaces.
The studio caters to photographers, filmmakers, podcasters, brands, artists and content creators. Whether you’re capturing a polished brand campaign, filming audition tapes, food vlogs or creating social content at speed, Oneway Boulevard offers a streamlined experience with professional photography equipment included in the studio hire and production support ready to step in or step back as needed.
The team welcomes emerging talent and seasoned pros alike, encouraging imagination and creativity every step of the way.
Beyond studio hire, Oneway Boulevard offers end-to-end campaign production, behind-the-scenes documentation, post-production services, creative direction and even venue hire for product launches. Still evolving, the studio is a true blank canvas, ready to meet your vision wherever it’s at.
Where: 5/36-38 Central Drive, Burleigh Heads
When: The studio can be booked for full or half day, 7am–6 pm
Instagram: @onewayboulevard.studio
Website: onewayboulevard.com
Words by Lisette Drew
SPONSORED STORY BY ONEWAY BOULEVARD
