New Gold Coast restaurants, cafes and bars to put on your May hit list

Smug Club, Coomera
Coomera’s sandwich scene has entered a glorious new chapter thanks to Smug Club, the sharply dressed new sandwich spot from Brodie Green and Andrew Howard. Here, thick slabs of focaccia are loaded with things like crispy chicken schnitzel, mortadella, slow-cooked beef and house-made sauces that unapologetically drip down your wrist by the second bite. There’s Pixel Bakehouse bread, rotating specials, loaded sides and just enough swagger to make the whole thing feel a little bit New York deli, a little bit Melbourne cool and entirely unlike anything else up north right now. The fit-out follows suit – clean, minimal and quietly confident – letting the sandwiches very much do the talking. Suffice to say, we’re listening.

Fig ’n’ Fox, Surfers Paradise
Surfers Paradise has officially gone full British pub mode with the opening of Fig ’n’ Fox, a sprawling new two-level venue that has transformed the former BOBs Beer site on Orchid Avenue into one of the biggest hospitality openings of the month. Upstairs, the main pub channels classic English local energy with dark timber finishes, Guinness on tap, live sports, hearty comfort food and booths built for long afternoons that somehow turn into late nights. Downstairs, things shift gears entirely at Timmy’s Tea Room – a darker, grungier basement bar lined with British pop-culture references, live music and a mood that feels more East London after-hours than Surfers Paradise. On the menu, expect everything from scotch eggs, Yorkshire puddings, beef-and-Guinness pies and towering Sunday roasts.

SHŌTŌ, Burleigh Heads
Burleigh’s nightlife scene became considerably moodier this month with the arrival of SHŌTŌ, the sleek new sibling venue to Etsu Izakaya. Taking over the former Iku Yakitori Bar site, the compact spot leans into Japanese-inspired cocktails, snack-style dining and low-lit atmosphere. The menu is built around two-to-three-bite dishes designed for grazing rather than full-scale feasting, encouraging diners to settle in, order broadly and slowly work their way through hand rolls, kingfish tacos, wagyu cigars, robata skewers and caviar-topped snacks alongside sake, Japanese whisky and sharp little cocktails dubbed ‘Shōtōs’. The fit-out feels darker and more refined than its predecessor, pairing warm lighting, textured finishes and subtle nods to samurai culture with the sort of buzzy late-night energy that’s right at home in Burleigh Heads. It’s the kind of place where dinner easily rolls into drinks, then somehow becomes one more round.

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Choubidou Cafe, Burleigh Heads
Tucked inside Burleigh’s leafy Hibiscus Haven precinct, Choubidou Cafe feels like the sort of neighbourhood cafe every suburb wishes it had. The charming new French-inspired spot pairs woven bistro chairs, creeping bougainvillea and warm cottage interiors with a menu built around crepes, croissants, baguette sandwiches and buttery brunch classics. Created by hospitality duo Ammish Adu and Javier Moreno, the venue leans into relaxed all-day hospitality rather than formality – perfect for breakfast, another coffee and a lingering catch-up in the sun.

The Laneway, Burleigh Heads
Blink and you’ll miss it. Hidden down an unassuming driveway in Burleigh, The Laneway feels deliberately removed from the outside world – a softly lit courtyard restaurant where pizza, pasta and polished cocktails are best enjoyed slowly and preferably with several friends around the table. Opened by The Arc owner Shonel Alloway, the venue has transformed the former JFK Woodfire Kitchen & Bar site into a leafy, European-leaning hideaway complete with lush greenery, warm timber interiors and a sprawling outdoor deck that already feels firmly embedded in Burleigh’s dining rotation. The menu moves from house-made gnocchi and woodfired pizzas through to salmon crudo, steak frites sandwiches and golden truffle arancini, while the drinks list leans heavily into approachable wines and easy long lunches. There’s no QR codes here either – just proper menus, low lighting and the increasingly rare feeling that nobody’s rushing you anywhere.

UE Bagels, Palm Beach
UE Bagels has officially entered a new era with the opening of its sprawling Palm Beach flagship, relocating from its original smaller setup into the former Well Bread & Pastry site on the Gold Coast Highway. The much larger space has given the team room to properly stretch out, pairing striped awnings, industrial ceilings and breezy corner seating with a significantly expanded kitchen. The menu still centres around the bagels that built the brand’s loyal following – think Philly cheesesteaks, Cubanos, chicken parm builds and loaded lox combinations stuffed into chewy golden bagels fresh from the oven – but Palm Beach has also scored a few extras, including smoothies and cheesecake milkshakes blended with actual cream cheese.

Pause Button Cafe, Coomera
From the team behind Humble Cafe comes Pause Button – a bright, playful brunch spot in Coomera where lilac coffee machines, colourful drinks and Asian-influenced breakfast dishes set the tone. The menu jumps from octopus ‘nduja scramble to spicy honey chicken waffles, while the drinks list features cocktail-inspired coffees, vibrant matchas and smoothies topped with cream clouds. It’s fun, a little unexpected and already pulling a loyal local crowd.

Missed a few from last month? Check out Paradox Coffee Roasters in Broadbeach, La Stradina in Coolangatta, Sicily by Fratello in Mudgeeraba and Jade Room in Robina.