Yellow & Butter Coffee Shop Southport — My Weekly Lunch Stop at Cloud 9
I’ll let you in on my weekly routine. Every time I get my car washed at Cloud 9 Car Wash in Southport, I grab a table at Yellow & Butter — because it is actually located right inside the car wash. Hand over my keys, order a coffee and lunch, and by the time I’m done eating my car is ready. It is honestly one of the most convenient and enjoyable parts of my week.
But here’s the thing — I’d come back even without the car wash.
The Coffee
The coffee here is roasted by Blackboard Coffee Roasters and it is genuinely good. Not just good for a café next to a car wash — actually good. The kind of smooth, well-made latte you’d happily drive across town for.
The specialty drinks menu also has a fun nod to the neighbouring Cloud 9 Car Wash — three cloud-inspired sippers including a Matcha Coconut Cloud, a Black Cloud, and a Milk Cloud built on white coffee and vanilla cream. Cheeky and delicious.
The Food
The lunch menu is great and moves quickly — perfect when you’re on a bit of a time limit waiting for your car. I always find something I want.
The savoury menu is seriously impressive for a small café. The standouts:
All-Day Butter Brioche — hot honey grilled halloumi, spinach, caramelised onion, egg, tomato and chilli aioli in a pillowy brioche bun. The kind of thing that makes you slow down mid-bite.
Truffle Bulgogi — Korean-style bulgogi beef, grilled cheese, soft egg, spinach, truffle aioli and optional sriracha mayo in a toasted butter brioche. It sounds ambitious and it delivers every time.
Toasties, freshly baked croissants and muffins are also on hand if you want something quick and simple.
The Cheesecakes
You cannot leave without trying a Basque cheesecake. Caramelised on top, cloud-soft through the middle and completely gluten free across every flavour. Current flavours include the classic Original, Chocolate, Thai Milk Tea and a Matcha variety with an oozy centre. Buy one to eat in and take a whole one home — I won’t judge.
The Story Behind It
Behind Yellow & Butter is chef Hayley Namgung — and her story is worth knowing. She spent years training in kitchens and cake shops across Seoul and New Zealand, soaking up flavours and techniques most Gold Coast cafés wouldn’t dream of attempting. When she finally landed on the Gold Coast and was offered a space inside a car wash, nobody would have blamed her for saying no. Instead she said yes — and built something people now make a special trip for. That decision tells you everything about who Hayley is.
The Vibe
There is indoor and outdoor seating if you want to stretch the visit out, and a smooth takeaway setup if you’re short on time. The yellow awning is hard to miss. The cheesecake is even harder to forget.
Yellow & Butter at Cloud 9 Car Wash 📍 92 Ferry Rd, Southport QLD 4215
