Spanish Bar Buderim: Adriano and Mary-Joe Gonzalez open new restaurant

A prominent Melbourne restaurant that’s catered to international pop stars and actors has made the move to the Sunshine Coast promising to bring their exclusive Spanish twist.

A Spanish restaurant to the stars is set to open in a leafy Sunshine Coast suburb with flavoursome international cuisine on offer for hungry customers.

Spanish Bar Buderim along Karawatha St will open on Wednesday June 29, 2022 for breakfast as it prepares to gear up for their lunch and dinner menu in the coming weeks.

Owners Adriano and Mary-Joe Gonzalez are experts in the restaurant game after successfully operating their first restaurant Spanish Bar in the Melbourne suburb of Seaford since 2014.

Argentinian born Mr Gonzalez said the eatery steadily grew in the past eight years with renovations and improvements turning it into a crowd favourite in Melbourne.

“We even had a few celebrities come into the restaurant like P!NK, the actor Eric Bana and even a few pollies as well,” Mr Gonzalez said.

Owners Adriano and Mary-Joe Gonzalez of Spanish Bar, Buderim. Picture with their children, Bruno 4, and Dhiago, 15 months. Photo: Patrick Woods.

After running their successful bistro the dynamic duo decided to set their sights on their own “slice of paradise”.

“As a family we’ve always come to holiday up here on the Sunshine Coast so to move here is a dream,” he said.

The interior at Spanish Bar, Buderim. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“The weather is beautiful and it’s honestly one of the best parts of the world.”

After a stint in hotel quarantine in October 2021 the Gonzalez family moved with their two children to Buderim in the hope of starting a Spanish food truck.

Spanish Bar in Buderim. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A chance vacancy along Karawatha St changed their plans as they decided to jump at the opportunity to open another restaurant.

Mr and Mrs Gonzalez with the help of neighbours have decked out their new bistro and prepared for their opening week with their breakfast menu.

Delicious paella, mouth watering fritters and sweet churros were some of the delectable items on offer as the new restaurant prepares their lunch and dinner menu.

Owners Adriano and Mary-Joe Gonzalez of Spanish Bar, Buderim. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We just couldn’t say no to the possibility of starting up a restaurant, it was just meant to be,” Mr Gonzalez said.

“As the weeks go on we will iron out the finer details as we prepare to completely open.

“We’ve got my mum’s recipes, the right suppliers as well as quality seafood sourced from the Sunshine Coast.

America pop star P! NK posted a snap on her Facebook after she visited the popular Spanish Bar in Melbourne. Its owners have now opened another restaurant in Buderim. Picture: Contributed

“I love to make coffee too so I will be helping there along with my wife as it is a family business.”

Spanish Bar Buderim employs four people including two chefs but Mr Gonzalez said they will no doubt need more hands on deck in the months to come.

When asked by the Sunshine Coast Daily what celebrities he would love to cater for at his Buderim restaurant, Mr Gonzalez came up with a unique combination.

“The Argentinian (soccer) team are coming to Australia sometime soon so they would be great to have in the restaurant,” he said.

“Maybe the John Butler Trio as well for a coffee, we love music here.”

The business will be open from 7.30am-2pm Wednesday to Sunday but will alter their hours once their lunch and dinner menu is up and running.

Originally published as Spanish Bar Buderim: Adriano and Mary-Joe Gonzalez open new restaurant