Exciting news Coomera clan, your brand new Westfield is well underway and we’ve got the scoop as to exactly what you can expect come October.

As you’d know, Westfield’s are like the King’s Landing of shopping centres; the biggest and the best filled with surprises at every turn and the occasional traitor (come Boxing Day sales).

Westfield Coomera is no exception. It’s set to become one of the Gold Coast’s dining, lifestyle and entertainment destinations of choice and northerners, you should definitely be excited.

Let’s start with the eats, because that’s a good time for everyone. The cuisine selection will tantalise all tastebuds with a range spanning the entire globe. Tapworks Bar and Grill will keep things close to home with a huge selection of craft beer and all your favourite pub-style meals while Kamikaze Teppanyaki & Bar will bring the good times and the tasty eats with a modern take on traditional teriyaki.

Beach House Bar and Grill is a double storey venue offering the very best in modern Australian and coastal dining and Nahm Thai Restaurant will offer a contemporary take on traditional Thai dishes. Burger lovers are covered by much-loved Betty’s Burgers who also bring tasty thickshakes and their signature desserts to the mix and this is only a tiny selection of the eateries Westfield Coomera has on offer.

There’ll also be homemade dumplings, Mexican street food, a rib house and a venue specifically for sweet, delicious crepes. How good!

Not only food though (obviously) the centre boasts some fun lifestyle features like iPlay Adventure featuring Clip N Climb, high-ropes course, roller-skating, laser tag and arcade games to blow off some energy after all that eating.

Plus, a place called The Park Coomera is a putt putt meets beer garden style situation with a full bar and pizzeria, bowling lane, live music stage and life-sized board games and that is the greatest addition to a shopping centre in the history of Queensland.

In all, the new space will be home to over 140 specialty stores plus plenty of outdoor areas for bulk relaxing and a market-inspired fresh food destination.

Sounds pretty good to us. Stay tuned for further information and an exact opening date.

Credit cards at the ready.

LOCATION: Foxwell Rd, Coomera

Words by Kirra Smith

If, like us, Turkish eats are a thing you never knew you could fall in love with, today is your lucky day. Particularly if you are of the Coomera-based persuasion (and if not, make it your business to get there asap).

Elk Bakehouse opened not too long ago and with it, comes an absolute abundance of the tastiest Turkish-inspired treats you should get in your life RIGHT NOW.

Quite obviously, anything with the word bakehouse in it is a thing we can get behind. Purely because it means food is baked there and baked food is our favourite kind. Elk Bakehouse is no exception with cabinets jam-packed with pies, Turkish-style pastries, cakes, you name it.

They’re all found within a cosy little space inspired by snowy winters spent by the fire in a sweet little pine tree-surrounded log cabin. Sounds heavenly doesn’t it. Elk is all exposed brick walls, matte black accents and a select few plants to bring it all together. It’s delightful.

Owners Pinar and Jade Carpaz, a mother and daughter team and two of the loveliest ladies you’ll ever meet, opened the venue in honour of Pinar’s late mother whose cooking influences feature throughout the delightful Turkish dishes. It’s their first venue and we are quite the fans of everything about it.

So what should you eat? Well everything but, of course, we’ll be specific.

The Börek is a crispy, baked pastry made with thin flaky dough and filled with cheese and it is melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

The Simit is a Turkish street bagel that’s extremely popular in Turkey (and now in Coomera too). You may also (and should) choose the Simit Toastie which is said bagel stuffed with Turkish pastrami and cheese and so very good.

Also taste a Sigara (cigar roll). There are two flavours, spinach and fetta and savoury mince and you may as well take one of each.

There is also a Sucuk (dry, spicy sausage) pie that might just be the best pie in all the world.

Of course, there are all the regular suspects if you want something a little closer to home; chicken farmhouse pies, other kinds of pies (all of which are golden and crunchy and smell divine), salads and the like.

For dessert, make sure you try Pinar’s carrot cake and the Semolina cake is worth a sample too. Don’t blame us if you roll out of there please.

To wash it all down, go with a Turkish coffee or tea and let us know how that goes won’t you.

There are also some absolutely stunning Turkish homewares you’ll want to take home with you. Sorry about it.

So. If you’re in the market for next-level eats in a space that’s been put together with a whole lot of heart, look no further than Elk Bakehouse and definitely wear your stretchy pants.

LOCATION: Shop 7/1 Commercial St, Upper Coomera
HOURS: 7am until 4pm daily

Words and photos by Kirra Smith