My Melbourne mates have told me about a premium coffee joint tucked around a corner and off the beaten track which I have to check out when I am in the Gold Coast. I’m a bit dubious, but I am here. I walk past some questionable massage joints and into a very dodgy looking alleyway, I wonder if this is a cruel joke. All of a sudden I see the stairs.
Stairwell, a hole in wall coffee place has an underground feel a bit reminiscent of a Melbourne metro tunnel. Unlike in our CBD where it’s order, rush and roll, here I’m greeted to a smiling face, jovial atmosphere and more importantly kick ass barista. The relaxed surfer vibe mixes well with the prestige of excellent coffee and despite the fact I get a bit of FOMO of missing the glorious (feels like summer yet it’s nearly winter) Gold Coast sunshine, I had the time and it’s worth the sit.
As I happen to be travelling with little ones, very quickly they are appeased with the array of games neatly in the corner. Come for the coffee, stay for the Jenga, this clever place has itself sorted as it lures us back day after day for another game (and who are we kidding, it’s not just the kids who enjoy a healthy ‘competitive’ game of uno). Whilst not an overly large menu, they do offer some food. Pastries, handsome looking toasties and the finest ham and cheese croissant I ever did see – Stairwell is the Surfers spot that has us covered (quite literally) all day.
Fortunately, it doesn’t stop there. At 4pm on weekends, much like the pumpkin in Cinderella, the ‘Stairs’ disappear and it just becomes the ‘Well.’ This cute little cocktail bar is younger in age than its companion sibling but slightly more mature, (Leave the little ones behind – unless they are 4 legged as it has an open door dog policy). The wall on the opposite side that I overlooked while drinking my latte suddenly opens up, and the guys behind begin serving the most delicious cocktails. No where else possibly in the world can you get a spicy margarita, shaken so delicately, a perfect salt rim and precisely the right amount of bite for $10 bucks. The drink is like a win in its own right. And instead of competing with the surrounding cheap and cheerful eateries in the arcade, it partners with them. Whether it’s a couple slices of pepperoni pizza, a sticky sizzling honey beef, beef or a fried chicken and chips, we can Uber eats our order directly to our table. So we get restaurant food, exceptional cocktails and a spectacular dining experience.
There ain’t that many places in the heart of Surfers Paradise that can rival big Aussie cities with food, coffee and atmosphere. Stairwell and The Well have pretty much nailed it.
Stairwell Coffee,Shop 67, 3131 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise
Hours: Monday to Friday 6:00am-4pm, Weekends 7am-2pm, Public Holidays – 7am-2pm
The Well
Hours: Friday – 4pm – late,Saturday – 2pm – late
