Best of the Gold Coast 2019: Five of the best places to eat, drink and lick at Kirra

It’s home to one of the world’s premier surf breaks but there’s more to taste at Kirra than salt water. These are the beach suburb’s five best places to get a bite to eat.

Prawn and Chorizo dish from Cafe All Sorts, Kirra.

IT’S home to one of the world’s premier surf breaks but there’s more to taste at Kirra than salt water. These are the beach suburb’s five best places to get a bite to eat.

Tupe-Aloha

1/1 Douglas Street, Kirra

Rory and his sister Tippi Oberman and Rory's partner Cassia run Tupe-Aloha, a cool tropical tiki bar and grill in Kirra. Picture: Jerad Williams

With a tagline of “Mexico meets Hawaii and has a holiday in Kirra”, you really need to drop in to experience the laid-back tiki bar vibe of this cheerful local haunt.

There’s an array of colourful cocktails and a tropical/Mex menu with weeknight specials to make it easy on the budget.

Sandy feet are always welcome — happy hour is between 3-5pm every day and there’s live acoustic music on Wednesday to Friday nights and Sunday afternoon sessions.

The bright, tropical-inspired decor is part of the package at Tupe-Aloha, Kirra. Picture: Jerad Williams

Co-owner Tippi Oberman, along with her brother Rory and partner Cassia Burgett, have been doing their thing for five years.

“We’ve got a good local following and we’ve been here long enough now for tourists to come back to us every year,” Tippi says.

“It’s like Nirvana by the sea. You can drop in for a margarita and just relax and enjoy the vibe.”

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BreadnButter

Shop 1/76 Musgrave Street, Kirra

An old favourite from Kirra institution BreadnButter. Picture Glenn Hampson

After closing to make way for development, the rebirth of this Kirra favourite proves you can’t stop a good thing.

BreadnButter (#2) reopened on the same site in November, infused with the passion of owner Jorge Maleon.

While it’s more formal restaurant-style these days, BreadnButter is still serving casual food including many of the old favourites.

Tapas offerings at the new look BreadnButter. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Marketing manager Sara Grao says the old crew is still coming to terms with the earlier closing times, but the new look has been well received.

“It’s always risky to change but we’ve still got the same great pizzas and many of the same dishes on the tapas menu that people loved.”

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Cafe All Sorts

34 Musgrave Street, Kirra

All Sorts owners Katrina Barlow and Cameron Shield with some of their fare. Picture: Jerad Williams

The name says it all for this relative newcomer, offering a bit of everything on its breakfast and lunch menu.

Head chef Katrina Barlow says there are old favourites, new favourites and weekly seasonal specials.

“We offer a lot of fresh seafood that I source daily because I couldn’t justify opening a place on Kirra Beach that didn’t do great seafood,” Katrina says.

All Sorts Grazing Plate. Picture: Jerad Williams

“There’s a fair bit of Asian influence on the menu — the tempura prawns are popular and there’s a nice sticky ginger beef.”

All Sorts serves Fonzie Abbott specialty coffee, a Brisbane favourite offered at only a handful of establishments on the Gold Coast.

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St Helens

Shop 2/78 Musgrave Street, Kirra

After a low-key opening over the holidays, St Helens owners Brendan and Jess Hayes have closed the doors again for a touch of rebranding.

St Helens will return shortly as a more relaxed bar and dining venue featuring cocktails, craft beers on tap, a fine wine selection and share plates.
Head chef Jess, from Seattle, is planning a more casual menu drawing on fresh local produce and the best of American cuisine.

“People don’t always get the best impression of American food, but I’d like to show people it can be light and fresh, quite simple and tasty.” There’ll be sliders and wings, but not like the fast food versions.

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My Gelato

6A/1 Douglas Street, Kirra

Gelato selection from My Gelato, Kirra

If you haven’t paid a visit to this popular gelataria lately, pop in to try the current kids’ favourite Pinko Pallo, creamy white chocolate gelato with berries, named after a popular Italian children’s character.

“The kids go for it because it’s pink but the big kids love it too,” owner Davide Lo Giudice says.

“We’ve also brought the pannacotta back for the adults and that’s been very popular.”

Davide knows a thing or two about gelato, having graduated from a gelati university outside Bologna.

“We hand-make everything on site,” Davide says. “We try to keep it local with local fruits, frozen if they’re not seasonal, and Norco milk.”

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