Gold Coast dining: First look at new family-friendly cafe next to playground and pool

A park, a pool and homemade food are the ingredients for this new northern Gold Coast cafe. They’ve got plenty of delights on the menu.

FAMILIES living in the northern Gold Coast, listen up — this cafe has the potential to become your new local.

Cafe Sofi is a new eatery located in The Surrounds in Helensvale, attached to the estate’s new Leisure Centre and adjacent to a brand new playground.

The cafe is owned by husband and wife team Tony and Sophie Whiteley, the duo behind the popular Hinze Dam View Cafe.

Sophie says the Leisure Centre’s developers Villawood Properties approached the couple with the proposition to open a second cafe on the Gold Coast.

“At first we were suspicious about it, we don’t know how they found out about us and how our first cafe and coffee works,” Sophie says.

“The swimming pool and the gym at the leisure centre was open and the cafe was available for lease.

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Cafe Sofi overlooks a playground and the attached Leisure Centre pool.

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“For quite a few years we looked around to do a new cafe, and we thought the location here is fantastic.”

With its residential location, Sophie is expecting the cafe to become a hangout and meeting place for the community.

She says word has already spread through online mum and bub groups about the cafe’s family friendly environment.

“There have been quite a few posts from mum bloggers on Instagram with photos of their children in the cafe,” Sophie says.

“It will attract a different type of people with the gym nearby, and neighbours and residents.

“The location is a fresh, shady area with fantastic views of the park and the pool. We have high chairs, and parents can let their children roam freely on the playground if they’re a little older.

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A Purple bagel.

“The Gold Coast City Council want to start a park run around here on a Saturday morning because it’s on the site of an old golf course.”

The menu is made up with classic breakfast and lunch fare — smashed avo on toast, eggs benedict, beetroot bagels and baked goods reflect Sophie’s preference for dishes made from scratch.

“It’s homemade Australian-type food, with vegetarian and vegan options,” Sophie says.

“We do all the baking — homemade scones, carrot cake, brownies, cheesecakes, slices, protein balls.

“We have a very creative chef there, she’s a young woman with lots of ideas, she’s aspiring, very dedicated.

“We do nice smoothies and we do milkshakes, thick shakes and acai bowls.

“We have a very nice barista coffee — Seven Miles Roasters’ (blend) Cat’s Pyjamas.”

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Smashed avo.

Sophie says the same passion for hospitality that made View Cafe a success will be replicated in Cafe Sofi to ensure the venue’s future.

“When we started at the dam, we worked very hard and we were very dedicated to homemade food,” she says.

“We pride ourselves on our customer service, whether that’s for an 80-year-old or a one-year-old.

“We’re very family orientated — we’re a very small team, all different ages, we work like a family unit in a way.”

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Cafe Sofi at Helensvale is spacious and welcoming. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

Cafe Sofi is open from 6am daily at 6 Emerald Drive, Helensvale.