From news of a new location for a virally popular cafe to a Los Cabos-inspired beach club, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know. When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out …
A virally popular dispenser of Filipino-inspired desserts and colourful beverages is expanding. Lola’s Coffee Bar, the perpetually busy Tarragindi cafe known for its strawberry matcha, purple-hued ube cakes and pork asado pandesal, is opening a second location in Kelvin Grove next month, taking over a space in the heart of QUT. The split-level site is being converted to house two businesses – Lola’s Coffee Bar will be situated on the ground floor, while Zenith Lounge barbershop will occupy the upper level. The Kelvin Grove cafe will boast a dine-in capacity twice that of Tarragindi, with approximately 30 seats expected to be available. In addition to more room, the new Lola’s location is equipped with a full kitchen, which the team will utilise to make its extensive range of Filipino staples (think empanadas, pork-filled steam buns, pandan slice cakes, ube leche flan and pastillas) and a range of specials that will rotate monthly. Guests can expect coffee to also be on the cards, while fans of Lola’s speciality beverages will be pleased to hear that matcha-infused beverages will also be available. Stay tuned for more on Lola’s Coffee Bar when it opens in Kelvin Grove at the end of November.
Nautilus Beach Club at The Westin BrisbaneAs we approach the hot days of summer, we find ourselves daydreaming about beach getaways with greater frequency. It seems like the team at The Westin Brisbane can read our minds, because the inner-city hotel has just revealed details on the return of its Nautilus Beach Club experience. From Friday November 8 to Sunday February 23, The Westin’s Nautilus Pool & Bar will transform into a Los Cabos-inspired oasis, complete with sun-kissed cacti and a menu of Mexican-inspired food and drink to enjoy. The Nautilus Beach Club offering includes four kinds of Patron-infused margaritas (classic, frozen, chilli and coconut), three special cocktails, craft beers from Brouhaha, soft-shell tacos, seasoned corn ribs and guacamole. Those who buy a standard ticket will receive access to the Nautilus Pool & Bar and a Cabos Spritz on arrival, but those opting for the VIP Cabana Package will score full-day access to Nautilus, a reserved cabana for two, Cabos Spritz on arrival, a taco platter and a margarita jug. Click here to make a booking.
Oatly Makers Market
Brisbane’s finest artisans will be on show on Sunday November 10 when Oatly, the world’s largest oat drink company, hosts a holiday market at Warehouse 25 in Milton. The Oatly Makers Market will bring together a collection of the city’s finest baristas – all of which are exceptional makers and craftspeople – and give them a place to hawk their wares while letting locals get their Christmas shopping done early (while enjoying a silky coffee or two, of course). The assembled vendors will be hawking everything from handmade jewellery to ceramics and original artworks, with baristas on hand to sling Oatly coffees. The event will take place from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, with DJs keeping the vibes immaculate all afternoon.
Dakabin Hotel
Back in October 2022, we revealed that Comiskey Group, the team behind Sandstone Point Hotel and Eatons Hill Hotel, was set to break ground on a new major hotel and shopping village in Dakabin. Well, a few years on and the team has given an update on the development’s progress – including a glimpse at the interiors of the Dakabin Hotel – ahead of its 2025 opening. In collaboration with KP Architects and design studio CTRL Space, Comiskey Group is fashioning a relaxed environment boasting a natural colour palette, comfortable furnishings and many indoor-outdoor spaces. An on-site restaurant – featuring a statement fireplace surrounded by sunken lounges – will serve modern Australian fare, including pub favourites and dishes with Asian influences. Meanwhile, Dakabin Hotel’s sports bar will screen all the biggest matches and fixtures on big screens. Dakabin Hotel is slated to open in the first half of next year – click here to have a peek at some newly released renders of the hotel’s interior.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].