By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
Every coastal town has that one spot. The place where afternoons stretch into evenings, where salt crusts on bare shoulders and cocktails go down easier than sunscreen on a January morning.
For the Gold Coast, that place is Burleigh Pavilion. Now, New South Wales has its own version, with the Terrigal Pavilion opening its doors on November 15 led by the same name behind Queensland’s cult favourite, Ben May.
Ben has teamed up once again with fellow hospitality heavy hitter Rob Domjen to unveil what will undoubtedly become the Central Coast’s most coveted social postcode. After an extensive two-year renovation of the former Reef Restaurant and Cove Cafe, the multi-level beachfront venue reopens as three distinct spaces just over an hour from Sydney.
Think long lunches with uninterrupted ocean views at The Pav, Mediterranean-style dinners at The Tropic and takeaway coffees with sandy toes from The General Store.
"We feel so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to reinvigorate this beautiful site and we hope it’s somewhere the community will both feel proud of and want to enjoy,” Rob says. "With more than 300 locals joining our team, this is very much a place that’s both by and for them.”
Far more than a clone of its Gold Coast counterpart, Terrigal Pavilion has been designed to land with its own coastal identity. Perched at the southern end of the esplanade with direct access to the boardwalk and only steps from the sand, it is one of those rare venues where you could feasibly arrive straight from a swim and settle in for the afternoon.
The heart of the operation is The Pav. Occupying the top floor, it delivers breezy, open-air dining with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Pacific like a postcard. A wraparound timber deck encircles the western side, perfect for those golden hour sessions when the sun slides behind the headland and the Margs start flowing.
Expect relaxed pub-style classics built around local produce, loaded sharing snacks and wood-fired pizzas pulled from a 2000-kilogram brick oven burning from open to close.
By day, it’s effortlessly casual. By night, the soundtrack turns up a notch with live music and the odd tropical Margarita. Regardless of your preferred drinking schedule, this is not the kind of place where you order one drink and leave.
Downstairs, The Tropic brings something a little more refined. Inspired by the colours and flavours of the Mediterranean coastline, the restaurant plates up dishes designed to be shared. Think burrata with pesto alongside spaghetti vongole or Wagyu with beef jus. Turquoise water just beyond the glass, a 90-strong wine list (including magnums) and a private dining room make it an undeniable choice for private events.
Finally, The General Store opens at sunrise. Designed for locals rolling in from morning swims and bootcamp sessions across the park, it serves coffee, smoothies, juices and fresh baked goods before transitioning into fish and chips, burgers and takeaway pizzas later in the day. Grab one, take 10 steps and you’re on the beach.
"Located just over an hour from Sydney, we’re excited for more people to experience the magic that is the Central Coast,” Rob adds.
For those who like their waterfront views with a side of people watching, securing a spot at The Pav this Summer will likely become a competitive sport. Come for the Spritzes and pizza. Stay for the view. Chances are, you will not want to leave.
