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

Sometimes dinner and drinks just doesn’t cut it when it comes to the Hunger Games-style arena that is the Gold Coast dating scene and since Valentine’s Day is quickly creeping up on us again we’re here to help you up your game.

Here are 9 out-of-the-box ideas you’re welcome to steal when you next need to impress the potential love of your life. 

See some live music
Is watching live music not the best thing you can possibly do? Even better if you’re with someone you don’t know that well when there’s a strong possibility of running out of things to talk about. There’s also unlimited opportunities to bust out your best dance moves and impress the hell out of anyone with eyes. At a safe distance of course. Check out our list of live music venues on the Gold Coast here.

Go scuba diving
Underwater activities are an excellent date choice in that they offer the perfect opportunity to not talk and, on the flip side, will be a great story to tell the grandkids should you get to that point. Plus, you know, there’s plenty of pretty marine life to get up close and personal with and being immersed in the ocean will help you chill out should you be suffering from some form of fear – of the first date or great white shark varieties perhaps.
Where: QLD Scuba Diving, Mariners Cove Marina, 60 Seaworld Drive, Main Beach

Taste wine and cheese
What could be better than eating as much cheese and tasting as much wine as is humanly possible with the object of your affections? Nothing, that’s what. Have a little look through our list of wineries that are within a 45 minute drive of the Gold Coast here. That’s a top date idea if ever we’ve come up with one.

Drive in movies
How romantic is setting up a sweet snuggle spot in the back of your car, filling it with snacks and enjoying a movie marathon in (relative) privacy under the stars. If that sounds like your jam, the Yatala Drive-In is your next date night adventure. It’s open seven nights a week and you can choose to do a Double Feature night and sometimes there are sing-a-longs.
Where: 100 Jacobs Well Road, Stapylton

Take a cooking class
Cooking together is a fun way to learn something new while also having a laugh at how hard it actually is to shake a cocktail while looking semi-cool. There are several fun cooking classes on the Gold Coast that offer everything from Chocolate Desserts to Spanish Paella so you’re guaranteed to take home some new skills that you can use on your next date. Genius. Check them out here.

Play all the games
Guys, 20 years later, Timezone is still one of the greatest places around. What could be better than racing your date on the Formula One track or whacking weird animals with giant sticks? It’s a laugh a minute. If you’re any good, you can impress ‘em with a giant stuffed animal they’re sure to keep forever. Just makin’ memories.
Where: Timezone Coolangatta – The Strand, 72-80 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Timezone Surfers Paradise – Paradise Centre, Cavill Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Walk through the trees
Getting high on a first (or second or third) date probably isn’t a great idea, unless of course it involves getting amongst the trees on a 15-metre high suspension bridge. Which of course, is a thing, at Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk in the hinterland. There’s a 40 metre cantilever bridge high above the creek and rainforest which is the perfect excuse for holding onto someone REAL tight.
Where: Tamborine Rainforest Skywalk, 333 Geissmann Drive, Mt Tamborine

Watch whales
This one might be a little later in the year, but plan a future date to see everyone’s favourite sea-dwelling creatures when they make their way back down south with their tiny (but also giant) babes in tow. You could pack a picnic and perch yourselves on one of many local headlands or, for guaranteed up close viewing, book yourselves onto a whale watching boat and prepare to have the best date ever. Spirit of the Gold Coast offer epic tours when the season kicks in.
Where: Anywhere you can see the sea OR 60/70 Seaworld Dr, Main Beach (for a tour)

Go ice-skating
If you’re a lover of snow and ice and all things winter, but live here with the rest of us in South-East Queensland, all your prayers have been answered in the form of Gold Coast Iceland in Bundall (who knew). Take your mate for a few spins around the ring while adorably holding hands and pretending you’re in NYC’s Central Park.
Where: 15 Strathaird Road, Bundall

Words by Kirra Smith.