It’s always a good sign when a place can be brand-new but possesses a kind of instant warmth and familiarity. That’s the feeling that washes over you when you step foot inside Local.

Brothers Wes and Steve Heincke, from Canberra-based hospitality crew Rabble Group, alongside long-time pal and local identity Sasha Mielczarek, have gone to great lengths to make it so.

The trio had big plans for the Burleigh-based sip spot and wasted no time in stripping the space back to its bare bones and immediately got to work taking down the dividing wall that separated the restaurant from the sports bar. They also pushed through the external wall to create a spacious, sun-drenched beer garden lined with picnic tables.

If we were the betting kind, we’d be willing to wager those primo perches will become hot property come summer. Inside, the fit-out is modern and inviting. Plush green-velvet booths frame the perimeter while a scattering of high bar tables fills the void in between.

Whether you’re catching up with the fam for breakfast, popping by for a quick bite and a beer with pals or settling into a solid arvo session, there’s a space to suit.

Local isn’t the easiest place to describe on account of the fact that it doesn’t fit neatly into a box. It’s open from 6:30 am for coffee and breakfast, but it’s not a cafe per se. It serves restaurant-quality fare but it’s by no means a restaurant in the traditional sense.

“There will be no sirs and ma’ams here, it’s much less formal,” Wes says. “It’s essentially a pub that opens for breakfast,” he adds. This specific kind of elevated pub genre is familiar territory for the group, who are also behind Canberra’s popular establishment Assembly The People’s Pub in Braddon.

As for the fare, Local offers a dedicated breakfast offering that promises to get your day off to a delicious start with dishes such as ricotta and buttermilk hot cakes with caramelised banana and fresh berries alongside green eggs with salsa verde and sweet-potato crisps. Come midday, the menu flips to its lunch and dinner offering, which meanders from light bites and pub fare through to a selection of more substantial mains.

Those looking for a casual feed will gravitate towards the classics – parmigiana, schnitzel, a trio of burgers (beef, chicken and mushroom) alongside a selection of steak. Those in the mood for something a little fancier can nosh on natural oysters, kingfish ceviche and lobster rolls alongside mains of seafood linguine, king prawns and a crispy-skinned duck breast with roast-pumpkin puree.

When it comes to the beverages, the venue features a who’s who of Gold Coast brews including tins from Black Hops Brewing, Lost Palms Brewing Co., Precinct Brewing Co and Hard Fizz, to name a few, alongside a predominantly Australian wine list.

The cocktails are described as classic with a twist so don’t go expecting fairy floss or smoke bubbles, just quality sips served simply. If that sounds like your kind of vibe, Local officially opens this Friday October 7.

This article was written by Jade Quinlivan from The Weekend Edition.