The Kitchens, Gold Coast

The Kitchens, in the Gold Coast’s Robina, aims to re-awaken our relationship with food by creating a space to connect, converse and commune around culinary experiences. It’s an Australian-first ‘city of food’.

A sweeping combination of food court, marketplace and factory beneath a single vast undulating roof, The Kitchens gathers together two storeys of microbreweries, chocolatiers, delicatessens, bakeries, butchers, spice specialists and more. From 9am to midnight, its 50 hand-picked vendors are creating, producing and packaging items to be sampled or sold directly to consumers. Visitors can take their purchases home or enjoy them in the communal eating and drinking areas that flow throughout the space and into the forecourt.

Landini Associates has created a culinary ‘town centre’ for communing around foodie experiences.

The menu items are collectively crafted from ingredients sourced or produced on-site, and seasonal pop-ups and informal daily cooking classes focusing on simple basics encourage engagement and hands-on exploration. Food trucks and bicycles expand the space’s footprint beyond its four walls, and daily programming runs the gamut of children’s activities, foodie films, visiting chefs, cultural talks and opportunities to meet the makers and learn about their crafts.

The space’s mono-hued open design, meandering way-finding and bustle of colorful produce displays and seating breaks down the boundaries between different sections of the market, creating opportunities for collisions between different products, vendors and experiences.

Designed as a place for anyone and everyone, The Kitchens is a cultural destination that encourages social activity and community interaction. It’s a forward-thinking return to the traditional town centre.