Brisbane’s famous Andonis Cafe & Bar opens on the GC.
Brisbane’s famous Andonis Cafe & Bar opens on the GC.
Upper Coomera, dust off your brunch pants (yes, the stretchy ones) – there’s a new cafe in town with serious street cred!
Andonis Cafe & Bar is the latest slice of the Andonis empire, a brand that’s already conquered Brisbane one smashed avo at a time, with nine locations under its belt. Now, the Gold Coast gets a seat at the table.
Well, 86 seats to be exact, with indoor and outdoor dining so you can sip your flat white in the sunshine or settle in under the shade like a true brunch connoisseur.
Owner Anthony Kekkou is no stranger to good food. His story starts on his family’s farm in Cyprus, where breakfast didn’t come from a supermarket aisle but from his own backyard. He’s mucked in with livestock, tended veggie patches and even worked in dairy manufacturing, so when he says “from paddock to plate,” you know he really means it.
After more than a decade running restaurants and cafes, he’s poured that knowledge (and heart) into Andonis, a place where food is as much about connection as it is about flavour.
The Gold Coast chapter gets an added sprinkle of magic thanks to Executive Chef Senthil Kumar. This culinary globe-trotter has cooked everywhere from the Maldives to the Middle East, with a specialty in Mediterranean flavours that will have your taste buds dancing. His skill for turning Aussie breakfast staples into Instagram-ready masterpieces means your brunch might just be the most photogenic thing on your camera roll this weekend.
The design of this Upper Coomera newcomer is a feast for the eyes before you even look at the menu. Anthony personally envisioned the interiors, with modern minimalism softened with warm timber tones. It’s got the kind of vibe that works for everything from a midweek solo coffee to a lazy Sunday breakfast with the whole family.
And yes, your pooch is welcome too, because what’s brunch without your favourite family member? There’s even a doggy menu, featuring doggy doughnuts, iced vovos, Puppelatos and ice-cream cones. Is it weird that we’re licking our chops at the sound of that?
Let’s tuck into the human treats.
The Famous Benedict at Andonis is the kind of dish that makes you wish it were acceptable to eat hollandaise at every meal. It’s stacked with rocket, hash browns, grilled halloumi, your choice of crispy bacon, ham or salmon, free range poached eggs, chef’s hollandaise served on fresh english muffins.
Lunch is a Greek feast, especially if you order the Mediterranean Lamb Mezze Platter with chargrilled lamb chop, grilled halloumi, beetroot hummus, tzatziki, grilled pita, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, rocket, coriander and lemon.
Pair your brunch with a loaded shakes, smoothies, frappes or a boozy brunch cocktail like the Mimosa by Andonis. Let’s be honest, adding bubbles to your breakfast is the next best thing to sipping your way through a Euro summer.
Where: 177 Reserve Road, Upper Coomera
When: Daily from 6am – 2:30pm
Words by Lisette Drew
Images by Kirra Smith
The ultimate cheat sheet for feeding your littlies – free of charge.
Hungry kids, full bellies, zero damage to your bank account? Yes please.
We’ve tracked down the Gold Coast spots where kids eat free, so you can score a night off cooking and dodge the dishes any night of the week.
Think cheesy beachside slices, nugget towers at your local, and more tasty deals the whole fam will love.
Because what’s better than a free feed? A free feed with chips on the side.
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
Say hi to Rise & Set, your new Coombabah café obsession.
When one door closes, another one opens – preferably one with high ceilings, exposed brick, and timber facades. And obvs, a really REALLY, good menu.
After nearly a decade of delighting Burleigh diners at Willow Dining, Ian “Chef Choi” Banghal has a brand-new and equally fabulous breakfast brunch and lunch-born beauty.
Introducing Rise & Set, another notch in the northside’s (ever expanding) brews, breakfast and beverages belt.
Opening its doors in mid-December, it’s all about fresh starts, good vibes and even better food. If you thought the OG Willow was a masterpiece, wait till you see (and taste) what Ian’s been cooking up. And we mean that quite literally coz there is nothing this man can’t do.
Once an architect, Ian traded blueprints for brûlées, studying culinary arts in Europe and working his way across the world, blending his love for food and design into one glorious gastronomic experience.
Now, with Rise & Set, he’s combined his two passions into a space that’s as visually stunning as it is mouth-wateringly delicious. Think of it as ‘Foodchitecture’ – the perfect marriage of artistic plating, bold flavours, and an interior so now that it deserves its own Pinterest board #WeDo.
Nestled away from the hustle and bustle of Brisbane Road, Rise & Set is so much more than just a café; it’s a place of community, connection, and creativity.
The name itself is symbolic of growth, transformation, and the promise of a good meal – of both the AM and arvo variety. This naturally leads us into the menu and friends, she’s a homerun.
With a gourmet Aussie breakfast and lunch offering that fuses Asian and Mediterranean influences, every dish is a work of art with a whole lotta flair. As for signature standouts – where do we even start?!
You can’t go past the French Toast and Chicken with soaked brioche, southern fried chicken, bacon bits, mixed compote berries and sweet chipotle infused chilli maple sauce.
Perhaps the Asian Breaky is more your vibe with a homemade Asian chorizo patty, adobo rice, roasted tomato, pickled papaya, fried egg, sweet and spicy BBQ, crispy hay, and dried shallots.
Or, how about the Kofta and Croquettes with lamb kofta, potato croquette, buttered spinach, beetroot chutney, poached eggs, bacon bits, and lemon dill hollandaise?
For lunch, tuck into their Cream Garlic Prawn with caramelised onion, cherry
tomato, avocado, and crispy sweet potato served inside a toasted BunBowl, and for those with a sweet tooth – the Red Velvet Cake is basically love in edible form.
But let’s talk drinks, because no great café experience is complete without something equally fabulous to sip on and because, well, drinks.
From the tropical vibes of the Mango Matcha and the berry-loaded goodness of the Very Berry Smoothie to the rev-me-up (in a cuddly way) of the Red Velvet Latte, the beverage lineup is as Instagrammable as it is refreshing.
With both indoor and outdoor seating, private function space for up to 70 guests, and a pro-pet vibe (BYO four-legged brunch buddy), it’s the kinda place that invites you to linger for a little – or a lot longer.
The styling is effortlessly chic, featuring reclaimed timber doors repurposed as tabletops, vintage furniture, lush greenery, and rustic touches that make the whole space feel home.
And just when you think it can’t get any better, Rise & Set is already planning its next big move, with dinner service mid-year thanks to a tapas menu inspired by the flavours that made Willow Dining legend-ary (#SaidLikeBarneyStinson).
So, whether you’re an OG Willow fan craving a fix, or a northerner in search of gold-standard grub – you’ve just found it.
Grab your coffee crew, brunch buds, and of course, your dutiful doggos and head to Rise & Set.
Where: 610 Pine Ridge Road, Coombabah
When: 6:30am – 2:30pm, Monday to Sunday
Because the best weekends begin with brunch.
Ahh, the blessed ritual of brunch. Leisurely feasts of eggs every which way you can imagine, sticky, syrup-drenched French toast stacks, and smoked salmon for days – what’s not to love? Plus, it gives us the excuse to sleep in, and our taste buds are rewarded pretty handsomely for the trouble.
Couple it with a little concept known as bottomless cocktails, and life doesn’t get much better. So universally beloved is the sip-happy cousin of this mid-morning rendezvous, we’ve rustled up an entire list of the best places on the GC to get your boozy brunch-fest fix (say that five times fast after two hours of free-flowing mimosas).
From north to south, gather your mates, don your stretchy pants and jump on the brunch bandwagon!
Suppose you consider yourself a brunch connoisseur. In that case, Main Beach’s resident egg-slinging specialist, Winey Cow, is a must-try for several reasons. Reason numero uno, is that they live and breathe this brekkie business. After all, the much-lauded namesake Melbourne location has the boasting rights to accolades like Café of the Year and Best Breakfast Restaurant. And when you’re in the mood to take the Chilli Scramble Croissant up a notch, they also throw a particularly spectacular bottomless brunch any ‘ole day of the week. For $55 per person, you can grab a main with endless mimosas for an hour, with Cranberry & Lime and Pineapple, Passionfruit & Lime options if you wanna switch it up from the Classic OJ. And ‘wine’ not, we say?
Where: 5/11 Woodroffe Ave, Main Beach
Breathtaking views and bottomless vino? Of course. La Calabrese’s Dine & Sip Italiano brunch serves up a three-course Italian feast alongside two hours of drinks with two dreamy packages to choose from. The $79 Wine Lover Pack offers self-serve bubbles, wine, and Peroni, while the $99 Cocktail Lover Pack brings the fun with Margs, Mimosas and Aperol Spritz. Menu-wise, it’s all about calamari, burrata, bolognese, woodfired pizza and sweet scoops of gelati. We really don’t know what to say except, bellissimo!
Where: Level 1, Meriton Surfers Paradise, 86 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
COAST’s rooftop terrace is home to one of the most stylish weekend sessions in town. Their $99pp Long Lunch runs Friday to Sunday from 12–3pm and brings together chilled cocktails (think spritz, daiquiris, Coast lager and rosé) and share plates like Pork Tostadas and Chicken Satay. Classy, yet an absolute vibe- just how we like it.
Where: Level 1, Ocean by Meriton, 86 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
It’s the ultimate beachside brunch overlooking the ocean, and yeah, we had you at beachside. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12-2pm, tuck into an all-out, four-course feast of Mediterranean-inspired mixed tapas, including delightful bites like Eggs Benny Hash made with truffle honey hollandaise. But ‘bottomless’ we promised, and bottomless ye shall receive – here you can pick your poison with two-hour sip packages such as Aperol Spritz, Bellini Spritz & Limoncello Spritz, Chandon Brut & Chandon Rosé, or perhaps the Veuve Clicquot upgrade will be more your speed. A minimum of 2 people is required.
Where: Peppers Soul, Level 2/8 Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
Up for a rooftop rendezvous? Lulu Rooftop in Surfers is doing Sunday justice with their Bottomless Brunch package. For $79pp, indulge in a spread of colourful share plates (Popcorn Chicken Tacos, anyone?) and 2 hours of drinks- we’re talking spritz, wine and ever-changing froze flavours. Yes, you heard right- there’s a whole section dedicated to Bottomless Froze. We’ll be there from 1pm, and not a minute later.
Where: Level 2, 4 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise
The Island says Saturday afternoons are for gathering, grazing, and good times. Who are we to disagree? And yes, technically speaking, this one is classified as a ‘lavishly long lunch’ – but when it comes with two hours of tantalising eats, arrival mimosa and cocktail and spritz carafes – does anyone really mind? Spend your Saturday nibbling your way through Charcuterie and share-style bites of Karaage Chicken, Lamb kofta and Woodfired pizzas, alternated with jugs of Passionfruit and Vanilla Mojito, Watermelon Margarita Spritz and Mimosa. $79 per person, two sittings (from 11:30am or 1:30pm) available.
Where: 3128 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
Broady gem Elk is another superb spot popping the cork on bottomless brunch daily. And bonus, it’s walk-ins only – so grab the gang, rock up from 10am and purchase any dish to partake in sixty whole minutes of mimosa action! And nope, we sure as heck ain’t driving. Pick your fave between the Classic, Strawberry lime and Tropical mimosa varieties, then ‘sip’ back and marvel as your flute magically refills itself. You certainly don’t have to tell us twice! $49 per head.
Where: Oasis Shopping Centre (opposite the beach), Broadbeach
They call it ‘Spritz Saturdays’ at Nineteen, and it’s every bit as glam as you’d expect. From 4–7pm, sip fancy spritzes (Strawberry, Elderflower & Mint, Aperol) while slurping oysters and nibbling on cheese plates, charcuterie and garlic fries on the luxe rooftop terrace. At $89pp, this high-end soiree is a must for anyone who likes their brunch with a side of skyline views. Minimum two people, bookings essential.
Where: 1 Casino Dr, Broadbeach
You haven’t really done a bougie brunch until you’ve bottomless’d at Cora. Their $89pp Saturday sessions are a three-course Mediterranean-style share lunch served with 2 hours of cocktails, mocktails, beer and wine– not to mention a live DJ spinning as you sip. The kicker? Every week brings a new signature cocktail lineup: Malfy Gin, Aperol and Chandon Garden Spritz, Absolut Vodka, Olmeca Altos Tequila… it’s a rotating roster of boozy fun. Enjoy the people’s favourite, Peach Burrata, Gold Band Snapper and Wild King Prawns! Bookings for two or more required.
Where: 50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach
Bottomless mimosas by the beach- say less! Sunnyboy’s breezy Mermaid Beach location means you can roll straight from the sand to your seat, where $49 scores you a meal of your choice plus one gloriously boozy hour of bottomless mimosas. No bookings are needed- just arrive between 10am and 1pm, round up the gang (because we know that more is merrier), and tuck into a seasonally rotating menu of brunchy faves. Chorizo Truffle Scramble? Yes, please. Fig & Mascarpone Hotcakes? Don’t mind if we do.
Where: 168 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach
One of the GC’s very favourite ocean-view venues, The Tropic offers a solid ten bottomless brunch and absolutely nobody is surprised to hear this. Taking place exclusively on the terrace on the last Saturday of every month, not only will you be privy to multi-million-dollar views and DJ beats but also a delicious Mediterranean-inspired menu. Think Fig and Persian Feta, Steamed Barramundi, Puffed Spiced Bread, Mixed Berry Panna Cotta and more, but no need cuz we’re already #sold. Veuve, Rosé and Bellini Cocktail packages are available from $59 per person (ya kidding). Don’t mind if we do!
Where: 3b/43 Goodwin Terrace, Burleigh Heads
Latin flair meets bottomless bubbles at Las Palmas’ $79pp weekend brunch. Every Saturday and Sunday, dive into 2 hours of sangria, rosé, tap beer and more, or upgrade for $20 and make it Margarita Time with Tommy’s Margs. Food-wise, expect chips and guac, crispy squid, tacos and more, with the option to elevate with grilled corn and slow-cooked beef short rib. Pro tip: upgrade it all. Life’s short. Live large.
Where: Level 1, 1097 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
Why wait for the weekend? Refinery Coffee reckons any day is a good day to bust out the boozy OJ for this beloved mid-morning ritual, and we wholeheartedly agree. Available from 10am daily, gather your celebratory crew and report to Currumbins light-filled converted warehouse for the Bottomless Brunch option. Here, you can tuck into your pick from the all-day eats menu, such as the Turkish Style Poached Eggs or Eggs Benny, while throwing back Classic & Watermelon mimosas for 1.5 blissful hours. The only caveat is that your whole crew must be partaking (is that even a question), with a non-alc option also available. For just $62 pp, we’ll say bottoms up!
Where: 37 Currumbin Creek Rd, Currumbin Waters
Pan Asian coastal dining, bottomless rosé and Sunday banquets? Say less. Billy Chow brings you Bottomless Blush Sundays- a curated chef’s banquet accompanied by free-flowing Maison AIX Rosé and sparkling rosé in the dreamy beachside setting of Kirra. This is the kind of Sunday sesh worth putting pants on for. $125 per person.
Where: 76 Musgrave St, Coolangatta
Boozy brunch, but make it a random Tuesday. Kefi Café is dishing up 90 minutes of bottomless mimosas – classic, pineapple or sunrise – for $60pp every day (like, Monday-Sunday) from 10am. Pair your fizz with a main like the lemon-curd loaded Hotcake or their beet-hummus-and-harissa-nut topped Avo Toast, and soak up all the feel-good Gold Coast vibes. Bottomless brunch before noon? We approve.
Where: Corner of Griffith & McDonald Street, Coolangatta
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
