Palm Cove
As you drive along idyllic Palm Cove Esplanade, it is impossible to miss the hip and happening venue that is Chill at Portofino. With its prime corner locale and sublime views from the deck out to the Coral Sea, Chill at Portofino arguably has the best vantage point in the postcode and a vibe to match.
Chill at Portofino is the magic four for foodies - a cafe , bar, pizzeria and restaurant combined. Thanks to the vision of owners Tony and Manuela Moore, what were the individual venues of Chill Cafe and Portofino Italian Restaurant merged to become Chill at Portofino in 2017.
Once a successful share trader in Sydney, only to have the global financial crisis put pay to his career, Tony was drawn to Far North Queensland for a fresh start with his family. With a rather ambitious goal, Tony decided to trade economics for eggs benedict and so began his journey in the hospitality industry.
Settling on the Northern Beaches, things fell nicely into place for Tony when he came across a little cafe for lease in Palm Cove. Serendipitously, on Christmas Eve in 2009, the curtain was raised on Chill Cafe. Quickly becoming the go-to place to get great coffee, fruit juices and smoothies on the esplanade, Chill Cafe, with its laid back atmosphere and rustic setting, won the hearts of tourists and locals alike.
That was fourteen years ago, and Tony still laughs at the trials and tribulations they had along the way to achieving the success they have today.
“It was a case of being thrown in the deep end. We even had Manuela’s parents chipping in and helping wash dishes on that first day,” says Tony.
Tony attributes the excellent reputation of the business to the wonderful team of chefs, baristas, bar and wait staff he has been fortunate enough to employ over the years, many of them having been part of the team since the beginning.
“Our staff are exceptional in their roles, and we truly feel our success is largely due to having such amazing staff over the last fourteen years.”
With vision and determination, Tony has embraced the challenges along the way to creating his hospitality dream and, resemblant of his personal journey, the venue has evolved with the times.
2014 saw Chill Cafe become licensed and extend their trading to include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and with the much-awaited completion of the quintessential Queensland wraparound deck, and the introduction of regular live music sessions, visitors from near and far were flocking to the venue to enjoy everything on offer.
When the opportunity arose in 2016 to purchase what was then Portobello Restaurant right next door, Tony and Manuela took the leap of faith and Portofino Restaurant and Bar was born. Although successful in its own right, serving mouthwatering seafood, steaks, pastas and woodfired pizzas, the concept of bringing Portofino Restaurant and Bar and Chill Cafe together to create a Mediterranean inspired bar and all-day dining destination was an opportunity too good not to pursue.
It wasn’t long after that, with a bar renovation, restaurant extension and the installation of their award-winning shade sails, that the finishing touches were put to this much-loved Palm Cove icon, now melded together perfectly as Chill at Portofino.
Chill at Portofino is the best of both worlds with guests able to enjoy the entire offering from their preferred seating in the venue, whether it is to sit casually on the deck sipping cocktails or devouring one of their renowned woodfired pizzas at traditional seating in the restaurant. The menus are combined with a plethora of options for delightful breakfasts, lazy lunches, casual dinners, or anything in between.
