Palm Springs Burleigh
Burleigh Heads
Palm Springs has come to Burleigh Heads on the corner of Gardenia Grove and the Gold Coast Highway, channelling all the glory of a Southern Californian desert oasis.
The café is simply stunning with its white-rendered archways and cactus rock garden downstairs and peppermint-hued Californian plush seats upstairs. You can also perch on the elegant stools along the balcony and watch over passers-by whilst partaking in some of the best roasted beans, breakfast and lunch fare you’ll find on the coast.
This gorgeous café has all the trimmings to make you fall in love with your dining experience, from the iconic Slim Aarons ‘Desert House Party’ and ‘Poolside Gossip’ prints adorning the walls, to the handmade #psiloveyou ceramics range, this place is cool as a cucumber. And I haven’t even mentioned the delights of the crisp white honeycomb hex mosaic tiles or the magic mood brought by the subtle but special indoor lighting. The pièce de résistance has to be the bathroom’s Casablanca mint subway tiles and champagne bronze faucets watched over by the gorgeous arched mirror mounted overhead.
Most importantly let’s talk about the coffee. Palm Springs’ bean of choice, ‘Paradigm’ comes from Tweed’s Therefore Coffee Roastery which delivers ‘small batches, fine coffees, no compromises.’ The Paradigm blend, sourced from Colombia and Brazil, offers a familiar rich and syrupy flavour profile that references chocolate fudge and toffee apple. Caffeine alternatives offered include: Matcha Latte made from the finely-ground leaves of certain green tea plants sweetened with honey or syrup; Velvet Latte served as a decadent mocha latte made from beet juice with an extra touch of vanilla; and the Golden (Turmeric) Latte served with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Beyond coffee, there is a huge beverage menu including cold-pressed juices, coconut water, Kombucha and shakes. For those seeking something a little harder, Palm Springs is licensed so you can enjoy a beer or cider, choose from three different kinds of margarita (classic, coconut and chilli), or enjoy classic cocktails like a Bloody Mary or Espresso Martini.
This dreamy space offers a menu with all the breakfast classics and lunch staples, with gluten-free and vegan options, but all with a Southern Californian twist. Avocado toast is taken to another level with charred corn, pickled onion and Pico de Gallo salsa. There are three different breakfast burritos to choose from, including the authentic Cali Breakfast Burrito, the Pulled Pork Burrito and the Vegan Breakfast Burrito.
Lunch diners are spoilt for choice with four burger options, bacon and egg, haloumi, friend hot chicken and Palms cheese burgers, all set apart by Cali touches like tomato jam, chipotle mayo, honey hot sauce, house mayo and special sauce. There are also some delightful international additions to the Cali menu such as Saigon salad, Teriyaki salmon bowl, the Falafel bowl and fried Cauliflower with cashew cream, Chimichurri and toasted pine nuts.
Now’s your chance to experience the delights of Palm Springs in the heart of the Gold Coast.
By Michaela Lyons