Southern end of the Gold Coast is where it’s at — here’s our top 5 Kirra and Coolangatta gems

THERE’S been a wave of interest in the relaxed beachside strip of Kirra. From fish and chip burritos to OMG gelati, Rose Sadleir talks to five of our favourite foodie residents.

Let’s all just take a moment to appreciate the food offerings in Kirra. Pic by Richard Gosling

THERE’S been a wave of interest in the relaxed beachside strip of Kirra. From fish and chip burritos to OMG gelati, Rose Sadleir talks to five of our favourite foodie residents.

TUPE ALOHA

1/1 Musgrave St

Every day is a holiday at this tropical seaside haunt.

Filled with colourful artwork, eclectic furniture and nautical treasures, Tupe Aloha is the brainchild of brother-and-sister duo Rory and Tipalowe Oberman.

With an assortment of colourful cocktails to choose from, Tipalowe says the menu has evolved since they opened two years ago.

“It turned from tropical tapas to tropical Mexican vibes,” she says.

“We like to keep things fresh for customers. Our chicken wings and fried chicken are pretty popular, and our tacos are starting to get a good rep around town which is cool.”

As well as happy hour from 3-5pm each day, Tupe Aloha’s specials include $1 wings on a Monday, three for $10 Taco Tuesdays and two-for-one burritos on a Wednesday.

“We do a fish and chip burrito — which is curly fries and beer battered fish wrapped up into goodness,” Tipalowe says.

Having watched Kirra’s food scene evolve over the years, Tipalowe says there’s currently a “good buzz” about the area.

“There’s a lot more variety down here now and it’s nice to see people are making the effort to come down.”

BURGER LOUNGE

6b/1 Douglas St, Coolangatta

Taking out the top spot on TripAdvisor’s best Australian burger joints list last year, this bustling southern eatery is going great buns.

A pioneer in the Coast’s gourmet burger revolution, owner Jason Steele says he tapped into international trends when he opened Burger Lounge in 2010.

“The trend we were seeing overseas at the time was that rather than fine dining and up-market, people were regularly spending money on a better class of fast food,” Jason says.

“There was nothing on the Coast like that at that stage — handmade, good-quality products in that price range. So I saw a real gap in the market.”

There are more than 20 burgers available on Burger Lounge’s extensive menu, which features everything from wasabi tuna to wagyu and truffle creations.

With all of the sauces and salsas made on site, Jason says serving up “real burgers” is what keeps the crowds coming back to Burger Lounge.

“During the busy season we turn away 40 to 50 people a day,” he says.

Niche & Co at Kirra’s acai bowl ... nom nom nom.

NICHE & CO

7/74 Musgrave Street

A go-to spot for big name surfers — including Mick Fanning — this vibrant cafe has found its niche in Kirra’s health-conscious community.

Owner Haines Osborne says the beachfront location highlights the best of what the Gold Coast has to offer.

Specialising in acai bowls, coffee and healthy breakfast options, Haines says Niche & Co’s menu has plenty of gluten free and vegan options, with a particular focus on superfoods.

“Our acai bowls are definitely the most popular,” he says.

“We do a bunch of variations, from espresso to peanut butter acai bowls. They are made from good quality, organic acai and we use a local supplier for raw honey.”

With a focus on fresh food, Haines says Niche & Co press all their own juices and even use a house made peanut butter.

MY GELATO

6a/1 Douglas St

The warm, sunny, holiday vibes of this southern suburb make it a perfect spot for a gelato shop.

One of the first to bring some trendy tastes to Kirra back in 2009, My Gelato’s owner Davide Lo Giudice says people still go crazy for his cool desserts this time of year.

“In winter time we are still so busy on sunny weekends,” he says.

“In the holidays, we have people coming from all over Australia and they all say it’s not even winter here.”

Using traditional Italian methods and only the finest ingredients, Davide says he enjoys incorporating unique flavours into his creations.

“I love to use beautiful things we have here in Australia — things like macadamia, mango and dragon fruit have really interesting flavours,” he says.

“Our bestseller is still the OMG — the first customer who came in and tried it, she said, ‘oh my gosh’ so that’s what I named it.

“It’s salted caramel with toffee sauce with a big layer of special rich Nutella on top.”

Bread 'n' Butter at Kirra — for Taste

BREAD ‘N’ BUTTER

1/76 Musgrave St

A long time favourite on Kirra’s beachfront strip, Bread ‘n’ Butter is a restaurant and lounge bar with a vintage twist.

Filled with local artworks and funky decor, the southern spot serves up woodfired pizzas and authentic Spanish tapas.

Head in on a Thursday for their $25 all you can eat pizza special.

Bread ‘n’ Butter is located in a complex that is set to undergo a redevelopment in the coming months — the same that housed Greenhouse Factory, which has now relocated to Miami permanently.

Owner Jorge Mauleon says he plans to take the restaurant north while works are in progress.

“We are relocating to Palm Beach and after that coming back to Kirra when the new building is finished,” he says.