5 OF CHIRN THE PARK BEST

From crème caramel croissants to cocktails, this vibrant slice of Southport is packed with dining diversity

5B2F BAKERY 55 BROOKE AVE

5B2F Bakery owner Moonsun Yoo wanted to open a bakery in a quiet pocket in the suburbs, and in late 2016 found the perfect spot in Chirn Park. “When I planned to open I didn’t want to open in the CBD,” he says. “I wanted a nice backyard and parking area. Bakeries are really friendly and need to be somewhere people can stop and go. I wanted to have a really happy place.” His bakery was voted in the Gold Coast Bulletin’s best bakeries list the very next year. Moonsun says popular items include sourdough loaves, baked three times a week, and the fresh pastries cooked every day, including almond croissants, danishes and crème caramel croissants. Then there are the pies — steak and kidney and chicken mushroom are favourites, and did we mention the apple crumble? “Now it’s good weather for pies, for the cake and coffee as well, to make you warm inside,” Moonsun says.

DAARK ESPRESSO BAR 2/41 MUSGRAVE AVE

Manager Evan Howard says their winter menu has been warmly welcomed. “There’s baked eggs in a spicy tomato sauce with white beans, lemon oil and toasted sourdough or Canadian waffles with coconut ice cream and maple syrup. For lunch we’ve added the slow-cooked pulled pork burger and oven-roasted vegetables served with crumbed mushrooms, grilled haloumi and rocket.”

MERAKI WHOLE FOOD KITCHEN 55 BROOKE AVE

Front of house manager Tayla Maui says Meraki embraces the slow, local, organic, wholefood concept, catering for vegetarians and vegans with plenty of gluten-free and dairy-free options. “We do an amazing Meraki benny, our version of eggs benedict, with cashew hollandaise sauce, a mix of greens — kale, spinach and basil — with asparagus and avocado, served with sourdough,” she says.

QUAN 55 4/55 BROOKE AVE

Since opening in October last year, owner Wynn Hyunh has introduced many a northern suburb-dweller to authentic Vietnamese cuisine. “A lot of people still don’t know we’re open, but when they do find us they’re surprised. The customers, I always try to give them something extra that they’re too scared to order. Like betel leaf beef and grilled squid. That’s really traditional in Vietnam, something they’d cook on the street. The sizzling beef and chicken are popular ones people know.”

TONIC ON CHIRN 1/37 MUSGRAVE AVE, SOUTHPORT

If it’s cocktails you’re after, look no further. Bartenders at this hip industrialstyle bar will craft you a classic, pour you a barrel-aged libation or suggest the perfect fix from the extensive spirits, wine and beer selections. Manager Colleen Measday says Tonic is the ideal spot for a girls’ night out, fun dates or a get together with friends. “You can’t go past the lychee martini if you’re out with the girls,” she says. “And our pork belly is sensational, as is the baked camembert.”