The Flying Nun

Step through a wrought-iron gate, wander up a winding garden path and you’ll find an unusual structure – The Flying Nun.

Originally a moveable council funeral shelter, a chicken farmer bought “The Flying Nun” to use for entertaining before it found a home in the front yard of an old church in Samford. Tiled walls were added plus a deck to connect the two buildings, and the cafe was born.

Owners Nathan Ayre and Charlene and Will Meakin feel most at home in the church kitchen. All three are trained chefs and leapt at the chance to own the venue after working there for a number of years.

Dishes strike a balance between humble, hearty and gourmet. The wood-smoked salmon with buttered asparagus, poached eggs and béarnaise on toasted brioche, for example. The menu changes seasonally, with new dishes tested as weekend specials – if it doesn’t get great feedback, it doesn’t make the menu.

Just a 30-minute drive from Brisbane’s CBD, the air here is fresher, the sky bluer and the hospitality kinder. The rabbit warren of a cafe seats 150, but call ahead and book on weekends. Children and gluten-free guests are well catered for.