🍵 Gold Coast Part 1: Rainy Romance & Rogue Dairy
When the Gold Coast gives you rain, you chase coffee and turn it into a cinematic love story.
4:30 AM.
Wide awake.
The sound of rain tapping against the window filled the quiet.
This wasn’t the Gold Coast of postcards — no endless beaches, no sun-kissed glow.
Just grey skies, drizzle, and that moody, almost-too-romantic gloom that makes you want to wrap yourself in a blanket… or chase coffee like it’s the plot of a Nicholas Sparks movie.
And so, I did.
I wasn’t just searching for caffeine. I was searching for a moment — a perfect, cozy, rain-soaked memory that would make this gloomy weekend worth it.
☕ Shop 1: No Name Lane
A 5:30 AM rendezvous with rain, romance, and rogue dairy.
It was 5:30 AM.
Dark. Gloomy. Raining.
The kind of weather that makes movie characters walk through puddles, looking pensive, while the audience wonders if they’re reflecting on lost love or just regretting life choices.
And yet, there I was.
Wide awake since 3:00 AM, counting down the minutes like a caffeinated Cinderella waiting for her carriage.
Except in this version, the carriage was a decaf Iced Long Black, and the ball was a dimly lit café that hadn’t even opened yet.
No Name Lane.
The clean white signage stood out against the darkness — minimalist, effortless, and exactly the kind of vibe I crave at ungodly hours.
The Ritual
The café itself wasn’t even open yet — just a takeaway kiosk for the early birds, those of us who refuse to let bad weather get between us and our morning caffeine.
And apparently? I wasn’t the only one.
There was already a line. At 5:30 AM.
Because when the world feels slightly apocalyptic, you go where the coffee is.
The Twist
I placed my order, calm and confident.
Until I saw the screen.
“Iced Latte. Full Fat Milk.”
The shock.
The horror.
The betrayal.
My eyes darted to the screen like I’d just witnessed the plot twist of a thriller.
I corrected him immediately, with the kind of urgency reserved for disarming a bomb.
“Decaf. Iced Long Black. No milk.”
His response?
“Same price.”
Sir. Sir.
The price is not the issue. The milk is.
The Redemption
Just as I was preparing to retreat into the rainy abyss, defeated and dairy-free, a waitress appeared like an angel in an indie film.
“We’re still cleaning, but if you want, you can sit inside.”
Say less.
Now, I was sitting inside this cozy, warmly lit café that technically wasn’t open yet.
The lights were low. The chairs were still being arranged. The atmosphere?
Exclusive, members-only soft launch energy.
I perched myself by the window, sipping my coffee and journaling my thoughts like I was in a coming-of-age montage.
The drizzle tapped rhythmically against the glass, adding the perfect soundtrack to my early morning reverie.
For a moment, the world slowed down.
The Coffee
Flat-top cup. My favourite. Sleek, smooth, and just… satisfying.
Smooth. Bold. No acidity. The kind of medium roast that slides down a little too easily.
Dangerously sippable. I had to remind myself to savour it after waiting so long, but honestly? It was a challenge.
Each sip felt like a reward.
“Good job for braving the rain. Here’s your liquid gold.”
The Cookie That Got Away
And then?
The Cookie.
Sitting proudly in the pastry case. The size of my head.
I didn’t get it this time — it wasn’t GF/DF — but I mentally bookmarked it for the future.
Because if I can’t have it, I’ll live vicariously through the joy of watching someone else take that first, blissful bite.
And honestly? That might be even more satisfying.
Matcha Toast Memory
Mood: Patiently caffeinated romantic, living her indie film fantasy
Barista Energy: Chill but dangerously nonchalant about dairy
Cup Vibe: Sleek, flat-top, and effortlessly cool
Main Character Moment: 100%. Dimly lit, pre-opening café? I was the star.
Unexpected Delight: The giant cookie whispering, “Next time, babe.”
Café Vibe: Quiet, mysterious, and just exclusive enough to feel special
Matcha Leaves: 4.5/5 🍵
☕ Shop 2: BKST Café
The morning I embodied a cow with four stomachs.
After my movie montage moment, reality hit.
I was starving.
Not the kind of hunger where you casually think, “Oh, I could eat something.”
No. This was ravenous, primal hunger — the kind where you consider eating before coffee, which, for me, is borderline criminal.
I needed something warm. Something hearty.
Maybe bacon. Definitely bacon.
The Hunt
BKST Café.
I’d had it on my list for days — a gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan-friendly haven promising food that defied all acronyms.
But before I could indulge, I had to get there.
What should have been a 10-minute drive turned into a 30-minute odyssey.
10 minutes of smooth driving.
10 minutes circling endlessly for parking.
10 minutes braving the stormy winds like I was starring in a period drama, searching for lost love.
By the time I spotted that familiar BKST grid, I swear I could smell the coffee and bacon through the rain.
The Ritual
I walked in, windblown and victorious.
The place was buzzing — a lively hum of friends catching up, happy chatter, and the gentle whir of an espresso machine working overtime.
Near the counter, a glass cabinet overflowed with vegan and gluten-free desserts, whispering sweet temptations like,
“You could eat us all. No one would judge.”
Self-control? Tested.
But I had a mission.
I ordered two breakfasts because when you’re that hungry, one simply won’t do.
A crepe-style omelette — light but packed with caramelised mushrooms and spinach.
A gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan chocolate pancake — a dish with so many acronyms, it could double as a government report.
And obviously — another decaf Iced Long Black.
Because what’s breakfast without coffee?
The Setup
I chose a corner table — next to a cow.
Not a real cow. A decorative one. But still.
It felt symbolic.
Because I was so hungry, I could eat a cow.
Or maybe I was the cow.
Four stomachs. Two breakfasts. One decaf Iced Long Black.
This was already my third coffee of the day, so I wasn’t drinking it for caffeine or hydration.
I sipped slowly, letting the coolness of the cup settle in my hands, stretching out the moment.
The Coffee
Flat-top takeaway cup. Sleek, minimal, and my absolute favourite.
Zebra straw. Cute, quirky, and totally unnecessary.
The coffee itself? Watery. Not particularly strong.
But paired with that pancake?
Heaven.
The Feast
The omelette was thin, crepe-like, and oozing with caramelised mushrooms and onions.
It was oily, rich, and unapologetically filling.
And the pancake?
Crispy on the outside.
Warm and slightly crunchy on the inside.
The chocolate melted perfectly, while the nut butter spread across the top added that extra layer of decadence.
Honestly? Witchcraft.
Main Character Moment?
Without a doubt.
I don’t usually drive early in the morning, let alone in stormy, borderline apocalyptic weather.
But that day? I was a woman on a mission.
Even my mum tapped out, deciding that parking struggles and gale-force winds weren’t worth the effort.
But me?
I almost parked illegally in a “lifesaver only” zone, questioned my moral compass for 30 seconds, and then — by some divine intervention — I found a spot.
Miracles happen when pancakes are involved.
Matcha Toast Memory
Mood: Starving, determined, mildly feral
Barista Energy: Fast, efficient, borderline psychic
Cup Vibe: Flat-top adult sophistication with zebra whimsy
Main Character Moment: Parking like a criminal to chase a pancake dream
Unexpected Delight: The omelette AND the pancake — because why choose?
Café Vibe: Cozy, lively, with a side of moral ambiguity
Matcha Leaves: 4/5 🍵
🌧️ Final Sip
Gold Coast, you sneaky little heartbreaker.
You gave me clouds when I wanted sun, and yet… I wouldn’t change a thing.
Because sometimes, the best moments are born out of unexpected detours.
Two cafés. Two unforgettable experiences.
One rain-soaked journey that felt like a slow, cinematic unfolding — where each sip of coffee and every bite of indulgence felt like a reward for braving the elements.
Would I do it again?
In a heartbeat.
But next time?
I’m getting the cookie.
Because sometimes, the real main character moment is knowing when to say,
“Screw it. Give me the sugar.”
Let’s sip. 🍵🥶
