Salt Nobby Beach: The All-Day Local Built for Long Catch-Ups
Some catch-ups stretch from sunrise to sunset without anyone noticing where the day (or the drinks) went. Salt Nobby Beach, known to locals as Salty’s, is built for exactly that. It combines a neighbourhood cafe, local pub and sports bar on the Gold Coast Highway, serving everything from early brekkies to late-night feeds.
The Story Behind Salty’s
Salt is the work of husband-and-wife locals Rick and Karen Ferris. The pair previously worked in the hostel and backpacker industry before losing their business and everything they had built during the COVID pandemic. After years of saving, they finally had the chance to create something new, just around the corner from home.
For Rick, it became a passion project. Working every day for five months, he designed the entire space himself, with a little help from friends. A welder by trade, he handcrafted every table, creating a welcoming local with a sprawling beer garden and room for around 350 mates.
Inside, you’ll find a maroon and white colour palette, a long bar stretching the length of the venue and big screens ready for game day. As locals wandered past during the build, many stopped to hear Rick and Karen’s story and cheer them on. That community support is now part of Salt story.
Breakfast: 6:30am to 11am
Start early with a smooth Loma Coffee, poured from 6:30am daily, then settle in for breakfast.
- Breakfast burrito: cheesy scrambled eggs, bacon, hash brown, pork sausage, pico de gallo, hot honey and garlic aioli on a flour tortilla. A big local favourite.
- Apple crumble waffle: a deep-fried house waffle coated in cinnamon sugar, with vanilla mascarpone, apple pie filling and house cinnamon crumble.
Lunch and Dinner at Salt Nobby Beach
As the day rolls on, the kitchen shifts into elevated pub classics, wood-fired pizzas and burgers built for two hands.
- Native spiced calamari: seasoned with pepperberry, lemon myrtle and wild lime, served with chilli aioli.
- Caesar salad: baby cos, poached egg, bacon crumb, sourdough shards and parmesan with a creamy dressing.
- Panko crumbed chicken parmi: San Marzano tomato sauce, prosciutto and mozzarella, served with simple salad and fries.
- Black Angus porterhouse and schnitzel: classic pub territory, ready to hit the spot.
- Wood-fired pizza: fresh from the oven.
Drinks
Behind the bar are local beers, classic cocktails and signature sips like The Salty Lady, adding a little salty sparkle to your next catch-up.
Good to Know
Free wifi and power points are available, so it works for a laptop session as well as a long lunch. Whether you’re grabbing a morning coffee, settling into the beer garden, cheering on your team or ticking off all three in one day, Salt is built for days where leaving is optional.
Where: 2241 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach (Nobby Beach), QLD
When: Daily, 5:30am to 10pm
