Cheers to the freaking weekend….and weekdays.
Cheers to the freaking weekend….and weekdays.
If there’s one thing we never grow tired of, it’s a cracking cocktail and lucky for us, the GC is a melting pot of masterful cocktails guaranteed to leave you shooketh.
Whether you’re a local or just passing through, these spots are a must-visit for anyone who loves a tipple (or five), tried and tested by the team because, you know, we had to complete our due diligence. From beachy vibes to moody speakeasies, here’s the scoop on where to sip the best cocktails in town listed north to south.
It’s where Mediterranean-inspired decor, an atmosphere as light as the sea breeze itself, and world-class service collide to create an unmissable destination for cocktail hour. Need we say more? This little gem at Sanctuary Cove is the gift that keeps on giving. Earning a reputation as a cocktail connoisseur’s haven within its first week, the initial hype has not only endured – it continues to soar. If you’re up the north end (or even if you’re not) – just go.
Where: Shop 38c, 4601 Masthead Way, Hope Island
Flirt with breathtaking views of the Gold Coast to the Hinterland, with a cracking array of cocktails to choose from at The Exhibitionist Bar. Sitting high on the HOTA Gallery rooftop, their specialty cocktails are inspired and expertly curated, with each drink drawing on major art exhibitions. Naturally, the cocktails change with each new major exhibition, meaning you’ll never run out of reasons to pop in for a sip.
Where: 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
It’s bold, it’s quirky, and it’s guaranteed to get your cogs turning. Standing as Australia’s only steampunk-themed bar, Steampunk in Surfers Paradise is a one-of-a-kind spot that blends innovation, nostalgia, and a whole lot of fun. Step inside and you’re instantly transported, with gears, gadgets, and glowing lights, to set the scene. The adventurous cocktail menu is packed with playful creations (yes, even fishbowl cocktails), served with a dash of theatre and a splash of mischief.
Where: 3113 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
Asking us to “find the red palm tree”– challenge accepted! We all know any restaurant or watering hole at The Star Gold Coast never misses a beat, and Veladora is no exception. This place is actual cocktail nirvana, so take it from us: leave the car at home- you won’t be able to stop at one. Watching the mixologists in action is half the fun, and don’t even get us started on the vibe, thanks to the Mezcal-inspired speakeasy design.
Where: The Star Gold Coast, Casino Drive, Broadbeach
Hold onto your highball glasses, Gold Coast, because Six-Tricks is redefining the local distillery scene one cocktail, rum, or whisky at a time (okay, maybe more than one). This two-million-dollar masterpiece is state-of-the-art with a spacious indoor bar and sunset deck perf for sipping the night away – and even a private cask hall! You’ll be left shaken, not stirred, in the best possible way.
Where: 3 Brightlands Ct, Mermaid Waters
Mermaid Beach locals will tell you that if you’re frothing for a quality cocktail (us – always), it’s Cantina for the win. This pint-sized neighbourhood tapas bar proves that good things come in small packages, and by good things, we mean cocktails. Forming the perfect pair with sibling Piatto Italian restaurant right next door, line your tum with Spanish-style bar bites so that your sneaky cocktail can turn into two…or five….
Where: 2460 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
If you haven’t stepped aboard The Cambus Wallace, are you even a Gold Coaster? Serving up the finest classic cocktails, international rums and whiskeys, and heartwarming food, the only thing moodier than the dark hues of the boat-themed bar is you if you don’t sample at least one of their tipples. There’s a reason (AKA epic cocktails) that it always gets a nod on our lists!
Where: 4/2237 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Perched above its sister venue, Norté, Sueño Rooftop offers a dreamy, Latin American-inspired rooftop escape in Nobby Beach. You can say hola to crisp, Latin-inspired cocktails, delicioso snacks, and sea breeze flowing in from just a few streets away. Spanish escape? Yes! Long-haul flight? No!
Where: 2217 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
Looking for an absolute beachfront cocktail tapas bar? Look no further – this.is.it. Serving up an exciting fusion of coastal charm, inventive cocktails, and sumptuous tapas, it’s a winner, winner, cocktail dinner. Crafted by expert mixologists, the cocktail list boasts an array of innovative libations, from classic martinis to exotic tropical creations, so you’re assured a perfect pairing for every palate and mood.
Where: Level 1/293 The Esplanade, Miami
Distil our beating hearts! With a fresh curation of concoctions that could coax Sleeping Beauty herself from her 100-year slumber, this magical albeit not-so-faraway Miami-based fave has earned quite the rap for its bewitching, fable-inspired concoctions. If you’re after something extra spesh that you can’t find at every other cocktail bar, welcome. Extra points for everything from syrups to spirits made on site.
Where: 45 Lemana Lane, Miami
Welcome to Palm Springs! Well, almost- you’ll be fooled by the chic ambience and vibrant aesthetic. Nestled in the heart of Burleigh Heads, The Malibu Racquet Club is the perfect spot for sunset sips and pre-dinner drinks. Hello, double-parked margaritas. Patrons can enjoy the beautiful southern GC breezes while seated outside, or opt for a cozy booth or the bar inside. Everything from the cocktail list to the paired-back decor is curated to delight summer-lovers. Yes please!
Where: 1740 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
Rosella’s has been serving up pure Australiana vibes to bustling Burleigh since January 2019— and clearly doing something right, because they once snagged the crown for Best Cocktail Bar in Queensland. And what’s more quintessentially 2025 Aussie behaviour than sipping on a host of sensational cocktails in a beautiful beachy ‘burb?! Serving up nostalgic and native fare, this little ripper hums until late seven nights a week. ‘Knoath!
Where: 1734 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh
Looking for a chic tropical cocktail bar and cellar door experience? Look no further than Familiar Spirits, the hidden gem tucked away in the industrial zone of Burleigh Heads. The intimate atmosphere, combined with a curated selection of house-made spirits, makes it a must-visit for cocktail enthusiasts. The cocktail list is nothing short of impeccable —you must try them all! That’s an order.
Where: 1/9 Calabro Way, Burleigh Heads
With a name that (literally) sums up our guilty pleasure, Suga lives up to its namesake – and then some. When it comes to our local speakeasy, the only thing more satisfying than the cocktails is the…no, it’s definitely the cocktails. The low-lit lamps highlight the insanely good menu, which serves as the perfect belly-liner so that you can partake in another cocktail (yes, even on a school night).
Where: 1142 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach
If you like your gin with a side of smooth operator, Burly Bar in Currumbin is your next stop. Step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled into a New York lounge with a Japanese twist – think dark corners, cool beats, and even cooler drinks. This distinctive and eclectic spot is where craftsmanship meets cocktail hour, treating mixology like an art form.
Where: 60 Currumbin Creek Road, Gold Coast
You’ve never met a cooler Evelyn (and if you’re born after 1980, you’ve probably never met one). This antipasto and pizza bar has not only garnered a staunch following for its A+ seasonal antipasti, sourdough pizza, and freshly made pasta but also for the evelyn-utionary cocktails. With its moody lighting and dark wooden charm, Evelyn is the kind of spot that makes even a balmy summer night feel effortlessly cool.
Where: Shop 20/58 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Words by Bianca Trathen and Chelsea Ipsen.
Six-Tricks Distilling Co. shakes things up in Mermaid Beach.
Hold onto your highball glasses Gold Coast, because the day of a new dawn has arrived! Six-Tricks Distilling Co. is set to redefine the GC distillery scene – one whisky, rum, or cocktail at time (okay maybe more than one).
Definitely more than one… This place is grand, intimate, moody, and cool AF, and if you’ve been longing for a rule-bending, forward-thinking newbie in its trending-yet-inviting era, #welcome.
Tucked away in a sneaky cul-de-sac, Six-Tricks is more than just a distillery; it’s a sonata of spirits, a dance of distillation, and a carnival of cocktails – served with a twist of Mermaid Beach magic.
Proudly local, the two-million-dollar masterpiece is state-of-the-art in every way. And if that’s not enough, there’s also a second warehouse dedicated solely to aging barrels—because good things take time.
Step inside and you’ll find a spacious indoor bar, a sunset deck for those Instagrammable moments, and a private cask hall that’s more exclusive than Leo’s 49th bday soiree (and bonus, you’re totally invited if you’re a female over 25).
Up to 100 peeps can sip and dance the night away, in a setting rich in atmosphere where you’ll feel like you’re on cloud whisky-nine. Think rich emerald green velvet, luscious leather, exposed brick, moody wood, and don’t even get us started on the custom-built hybrid pot #woahnelly.
Move over multi-national corporations coz the indies are here to pour a new narrative! With a passion for the six core spirits, proud owners Chris Macklin and Teagan Peake spent two years concocting this all-around alcohol alchemy.
But they’re not just making spirits, they’re crafting experiences rich in innovation, eccentricity, thoughtfulness, and a dash of experimentation.
Chris boasts 25 years in the hospitality industry, eight of which include honing his craft in his private distillery #noice. But for this ‘spirited’ gent, distilling isn’t just a job; it’s hereditary. Literally. He’s a direct descendant of Josef Seppelt, the OG of winemaking who founded Seppeltsfield Winery in the Barossa Valley and famously pioneered the industrialisation of the wine-making industry over a century ago.
This was clearly in his DNA and why the bleep don’t we have a sixth-great-grandfather with such a gloat-worthy legacy #frownyface.
Naturally, he and Teagan recruited a head bartender and mixologist of the highest caliber in the form of James. Bringing over 14 years of experience to the table, he’s a far cry from your average drink-slinger; he’s the Harry Houdini of the bar scene.
James has worked across a diverse portfolio of live music venues, high-energy dive bars, restaurants featuring outstanding drink programs, and cozy, specialised cocktail bars, and wine locales.
He’s seen it all, and now he’s here to shake, stir, and sprinkle a little magic over your glass #cheers #cheersagain.
The Six-Tricks team isn’t just aiming for local fame; they’re setting their sights on global disruption. With the Australian spirits scene in revolution-mode, they’re ready to conquer the GC one sip at a time.
One thing’s for sure, this place will whisk you off your feet and you’ll be left shaken and stirred – in the best possible way.
Where: 3 Brightlands Court, Mermaid Waters
When: Grand Opening November 18
Words by Bianca Trathen.
Kirra Beach House is a whole new era for Kirra.
It’s a whole new era for Kirra – as the hotly anticipated Kirra Beach House, slinks into town bringing chic sips, cabana chills and rooftop revelling to the formerly not-much-happenining Marine Parade precinct, and totally transforming the southern social scene as we know it.
And let’s all just try to maintain an orderly fashion here.. thankfully, there’s plenty here to go round.
Like, 1200 whole sqm of it – the mammoth, terrace-studded stunner is fully prepared for the inevitable inundation as we all clamour to get a glimpse of the dreamy new venue, equipped with multiple indoor and alfresco areas, wine and cocktail bars (three, to be exact!) and high-end event spaces.
The kitchen, meanwhile, brings the likes of raw and cooked seafood platters, succulent steaks and signature burgers to Kirra’s picturesque beachfront – slinging perfectly crisped pizzas out of the Marina Forni pizza oven daily.
And did we mention the uninterrupted ocean views from every angle?
The new standard for a spectacular summer has well and truly been set here, guys.
Our jaws may be on the floor, but we’re not at all surprised – after all, the new concept was pioneered by local hospo trailblazer, Dave Galvin, an undertaking a mere four years in the making.
The SITE Hospitality owner/operator has been working tirelessly to deliver us not one, but two bar-raising venues this year alone – already blessing us with Broadbeach show-stopper, kost a few months back (and before that Mozza Mozza, Bird Royale and Crafty’s Sports Bar).
Somebody stop him (but don’t, actually, keep ’em coming Dave).
And frankly, we just have one question.. when doth the man sleep?
When it comes to new venues, often the phrase ‘game changing’ often gets bandied about rather liberally (guilty) – but Kirra Beach House is truly unlike anything we’ve seen this far south, the breathtaking venue putting the seaside village on the map as a destination for elevated dining and drinking.
And we do mean elevated in all senses of the word – the new venue sits atop it’s more casual counterpart, the newly unveiled and fresh-faced Kirra Beach Hotel one level below.
The new additions signify a whole new chapter for the suburb’s seaside promenade that comes courtesy of the KTQ Group’s multi-stage Kirra Point Project.
“The venue will have a beach club atmosphere about it, with great music, mesmerising panoramic views of Kirra, Mediterranean-style food using the incredible local produce we have on our doorstep, a world-class drinks list and, of course, great service” says Dave.
And really, did anyone expect anything less?
The kitchen of Kirra’s darling new destination is led by head chef Drew Wilson, curating a Mediterranean-style grazing menu that is both flavour-packed and true to the laidback, coastal location.
It features a contemporary mix of dishes such as Kingfish crudo with citrus vinaigrette, chive oil and floral salt… or perhaps the summery ‘burrata with yellow peach, aged balsamic and smoked salt’ to woo the cheese fans.
Bars Manager, Kaden Pool invites us to ‘dive in’ to a delectable menu of resort-style cocktails, the type that scratch that nostalgia itch in all the right places.
Such as ‘Bahamas’ Champagne Piña coladas and ‘Cancun’ spicy watermelon margaritas, made for summer sunsets and crafted to make you feel like you’re on holiday…
Wait, we’re pretty sure we might be. Or dreaming. Who could say for sure. We might need to get around a few spicy melon margs to determine, first.
Where: Level 1, 2 Marine Parade, Coolangatta
When: Sunday to Thursday 11am–late, Friday & Saturday: 11am–1am
Words by Kellie Leader.
A bar for every occasion at The Star Gold Coast.
Born and bred Gold Coasters have witnessed the transformation of The Star Gold Coast before our very eyes. No longer just our default for the sneaky late night afterparty, it is the party – a world class destination for everything from swanky rooftop pre-drinks, gastronomic feasts and everything in between.
These days, Broadbeach’s glistening jewel boasts an impressive seven watering holes for our R&R pleasure – but if you want to see the best of what’s on offer, you’re gonna need to get strategic.
Sports Bar
Being an avid sports fanatic feels like a full time job this time of year, but keeping up with all the action at The Star certainly takes some of the sting out of this arduous gig. Perch up in prime possy for all the big games and oblige in some top notch pub nosh and ice cold bevvys to keep that stamina up.
Atrium Bar
Atrium’s knack for consistently supplying the good vibes and great times is unparalleled. The full facelift it underwent a few years back certainly didn’t hurt – if it’s been a while between drinks we suggest rectifying this ASAP because these days, the Atrium’s a 10 both in looks and personality. This disco babe is #lit in more ways than one, aglow with neons and feature lighting on every surface, and a disco ball for good measure #let’sglowgirls.
And if you’re just not gonna make it to Friday, a #TGIT (thank God it’s Thursday) mid-week boogie is totally an option with DJ’s hitting the decks from 7pm every Thursday-Sunday.
The Lawn
No, we’re not referring to that place where those tasked with the landscaping duties in every household disappear for solid chunks of their Saturday morning. The Star’s alfresco gem is The Lawn at the Garden Kitchen and Bar, and it’s he perfect spot to soak up every moment of those (mostly) balmy GC vibes.
We don’t like to play favourites, but we will always have a soft spot for The Lawn and the unending deluge of free events they throw for us. If you’re ever in need of something fun to do, chances are there’s something epic cooking at The Lawn, including every Friday – Sunday DJ’s on the deck, or on The Lawn from 6pm.
Sunshine, moonlight and good times, indeed.
Cherry Bar
Boasting enough glitz and glamour to make a Gatsby movie blush, the glistening, gold-trimmed Cherry Bar is the epitome of everything we love about stepping out for sophisticated sips. A whopper of a 22m bar with expert mixologists to whip up anything your heart desires, though why would we need to when they #nail the classics like Espresso Martini and Tommy’s Margarita every time.
Boujee, velvet lined booths are up to the task of gathering the BFF’s for a special occasion (and yes, girls night will always qualify as a special occasion in our eyes) though it’s also intimate enough for a cosy date night.
Get your groove on Friday and Saturday nights with a DJ till late (slash early), making this a ch-ery good destination indeed for when you want a party that keeps on keeping on.
Kiyomi Bar
Take a detour through Tokyo (minus the long haul fight!) with Kiyomi Bar’s uniquely Japanese style bar experience. You can choose from shochu cocktails, sake and Japanese whiskies and bottled beers.
It’s no accident that we’ve strategically positioned this gem at the halfway point, because if at this point in the list you’re feeling peckish this is definitely the place you want to stop – Kiyomi’s modern yet authentic Japanese fare is a Gold Coast favourite for a reason.
And, that’s not all Kiyomi has to offer, with Friday and Saturday nights having live music from 6pm.
Nineteen Bar
Just off the top of our heads we can think of at least 19 reasons to visit Nineteen bar (without even trying), and our very favourite one might just be the one that starts with b, and ends in ‘ottomless mimosas’.
This uber-chic lounge bar boasts one of the most magical views of the the sweeping Gold Coast skyline, and come every Saturday afternoon we love her for so much more than just her freakishly good looks.
Saturdays from 4pm to 7pm, score the ultimate rooftop vibes, sip endless Bellini’s along with a gourmet share-sies platter for you and your BFF – not to mention soaking up those million dollar views – all for a verrrry respectable $79pp #don’tmindifwedo.
Veladora
We can neither confirm or deny the rumoured existence of a 7th and final secret bonus bar tucked away at The Star, but what we can say, is if you’re in the vicinity of Harvest Buffet and you happen across a mysterious red palm tree illuminating a secret entrance next door, we would highly suggest that would be one mirage worth investigating. If you *were* to stumble across an intimate Mezcal-inspired speakeasy beyond, you’d be rewarded with an extensive range of signature cocktails, Mexican beers, and truly unique snacks menu. Ask for a spicy marg and thank us later, wink wink drink-drink, nudge-nudge.
Enjoy live music on Fridays and Latin-inspired beats of our DJ on Saturdays (allegedly).
Where: The Star Gold Coast, Casino Drive, Broadbeach
When: Various opening hours across each venue
Words by Kellie Leader.
STORY SPONSORED BY THE STAR GOLD COAST
The Star practises the responsible service of alcohol. Guests must be aged 18 years or over to enter the casino. BET WITH YOUR HEAD, NOT OVER IT.
