Make summertime, anytime.
Make summertime, anytime.
We surely can’t be the only ones who would prefer to be in the City of Love (AKA Paris) this Valentine’s Day? So in lieu of not being on the opposite side of the world, we have the next best thing for your Valentine’s Day plans… a taste of France in a bottle. Yep, you read that right. Enter your new favourite spirit, Pampelle. An aperitif crafted on the banks of the River Charente in France. Ooh la la!
And if that isn’t enough to win you over, Pampelle, is the world’s first Ruby Red Grapefruit aperitif – so say see ya later to Aperol, and hello to the ultimate taste of romance and summer in a glass! We suggest you send this link to your significant other as a heads up of what you expect to accompany your date night or save it for your Galentine’s catch-up where you plan to binge-watch Emily in Paris!
So without further ado, here are three new cocktails to enjoy this loved-up occasion.
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Recipes courtesy of Pampelle Aperitif.
Any excuse for a martini!
Who loves a dirty martini? Ummm, we do! And we love any excuse to drink one… enter: International Gin Day. June 14 is basically our second birthday – okay, technically it’s gin’s, but we’re claiming it.
Luckily for us, the Gold Coast is shaking (and stirring) things up with a bunch of bars serving epic gin creations using top-shelf local spirits.
So in honour of the juniper juice we all know and love, here are the best spots to get your gin fix this Gin Day – or, let’s be honest, any day ending in “y”.
Happy sipping, gin lovers.
Bringing a splash of Polish tradition to the Gold Coast, Panezski Artisan Distillery is a family-run gem crafting premium small-batch vodka and gin with heart, heritage and a whole lot of flavour. While vodka might traditionally be a northern hemisphere affair, Panezski is proving that Aussie soil can produce spirits with just as much soul. From their meticulous distilling process to their beautiful bottling, it’s clear this crew doesn’t cut corners. Drop in for a taste of Europe, GC-style.
Our pick: Northside Rickey – Panezski Gin, lime juice, simple syrup, mint leaves and dry ginger ale. Cool, crisp and straight-up refreshing.
Where: Unit 2/2 Sierra Place, Upper Coomera
Tucked away in an industrial shed near Harbour Town, this gin haven is serving up serious style (think festoon lights, a swoon-worthy pink vee-jay counter, and shiny copper stills that deserve their own Instagram account). Their gin spirits are stellar, and they taste even sweeter in the form of their cocktails.
Our pick: The Mango Weis Bar cocktail with mango gin, mango nectar, lemon juice, vanilla sugar and aquafaba does it for us!
Where: 211 Brisbane Rd, Biggera Waters
If there’s one place that knows its way around a gin cocktail, it’s the OG of Gold Coast distilling – Granddad Jack’s. They’ve seriously upped the ante with their bold new cocktail menu inspired by the Seven Man-Made Wonders of the World. Each drink is a flavour-packed tribute to an architectural icon – think a dry martini-style nod to the Great Wall of China with bold mandarin and umami notes, or a silky, spiced number inspired by the Taj Mahal. There’s even a foamy, tart twist on Chicha Morada repping Machu Picchu. Honestly, it’s a round-the-world trip without leaving Miami (and without needing a passport – bonus!).
Our pick: The Seymour Street, made with their house Greenhouse Gin, fresh lime juice and a dash of eucalyptus. It’s like sipping on an Aussie summer in a glass.
Where: 45 Lemana Lane, Miami
Far more than your standard distillery, Familiar Spirits focuses on crafting tailor-made spirits for cocktails, ensuring each drink is as smooth as a well-aged whiskey. Now we’re talking! Their signature cocktail menu rotates with the seasons, so there’s always something new to try.
Our pick: The Not So Familiar Negroni, with Macadamia Fat Washed Pudding Gin, Lemon Myrtle Campari and Rosso Vermouth is calling our name.
Where: 1/9 Calabro Way, Burleigh Heads
Meet the small-batch distillery that packs a big punch! Found on Scottsdale Drive in Varsity Lakes, Wildflower Distillery crafts exceptional and award-winning gin that can be deemed as ‘Burleigh in a bottle’. Crafted with locally grown botanicals, including cardamom, lemon myrtle and coriander, plus a little drop of honey from the owner’s very own Burleigh backyard, you can now understand why. It’s a very easy drinking drop, a little bit floral and paired perfectly with either tonic, solo over ice (tried and tested) or in their famous ‘Basil Fawlty’ cocktail- delish!
Our pick: The Basil Fawlty cocktail is worth the trip alone
Where: 2/486 Scottsdale Drive, Varsity Lakes
If you’re chasing sleek, sophisticated and seriously sippable, Burly Gin in Currumbin is your go-to. This dreamy gin bar is packed with artisan bottles so pretty, you’ll be turning them into vases when they’re empty (because why not have flowers and gin on display?). The team behind Burly serves up their entire gin range in a lineup of dazzling cocktails, each one more Insta-worthy than the last. The space itself is chic, the vibes are chilled, and the drinks? Let’s just say you’ll want to try the entire menu twice.
Our pick: Italiano Spritz – Citrus Burly Gin, Sanbitter, Grapefruit, Rosemary Shrub & Prosecco. Bellissimo!
Where: 60 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin
Bringing a taste of Italy with a distinctly Aussie twist, Loborn Distillery is shaking (and stirring) up Tamborine Mountain’s sip scene in the most delicious way. Tucked among the leafy charm of Main Street, this boutique distillery is the perfect pit stop for a tasting or a cheeky cocktail session. Whether you’re vibing an Aperol Spritz in the sunshine or settling in for something stronger, Loborn delivers the goods with style, flavour, and plenty of mountain magic.
Our pick: The Classic G&T – Loborn Original Gin, Indian tonic water and an orange twist. Simple. Timeless. Perfect.
Where: Shop 4, 46-48 Main Street, Mt Tamborine
Home of the iconic colour-changing Ink Gin, Husk Farm Distillery is the ultimate gin-lover’s day trip destination. Set on a stunning working farm in North Tumbulgum, this spot is part cellar door, part bar, part café – and 100% worth the drive. While they’re also the brains behind Husk Virgin Cane Rum and Spiced Bam Bam, today we’re here for the gin (obviously). Expect garden-fresh vibes, paddock-to-glass pours, and cocktails that are as pretty as they are delicious.
Our pick: Ink Sloe Fizz – Ink Sloe & Berry Gin, lemon, soda. Light, bright, and berry delicious.
Where: Dulguigan Rd, North Tumbulgum
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
Get fruity this weekend.
A refreshing non-alcoholic beverage to counteract all those heavy reds you’ve been indulging in!
INGREDIENTS
½ pomegranate, pulp and seeds
½ lime, juice
Handful mint leaves
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup crushed ice
1 ½ cup sparkling water
Garnish
Pomegranate seeds
2 lime wedges
Mint leaves
INSTRUCTIONS
In a large jug, muddle the pomegranate pulp and seeds, lime juice, lime, mint leaves and honey together.
Add the ice and top up with sparkling water.
Pour the spritzer into two glasses and garnish the glass with the pomegranate, lime and mint.
Serve immediately.
Obviously, to make an alcoholic version, just add a shot of your favourite gin or vodka.
For more great recipes by Gold Coast local Caralee Caldwell, check out her page here.
Romance is coming in hot on the GC!
If romance is what you’re craving, consider it well and truly served on the GC this Valentine’s Day. Hubba hubba.
We’ve rounded up five Cupid-approved spots where the love-o-meter is set firmly to high, making it very easy to spoil yourself and your favourite person with a Valentine’s Day – or night – worth remembering.
Please note: unless stated otherwise, all Valentine’s Day specials mentioned take place on Saturday, 14 February.
When it comes to elegant romance, RACV Royal Pines Resort is doing it properly (and deliciously) with two standout dining options.
For couples who appreciate finesse, Arakawa is serving a chef-curated omakase experience that celebrates the artistry and seasonal flavours of traditional Japanese dining. Expect beautifully presented plates, premium produce, and a sprinkle of adventure as you let your chef take the reins for a night.
Then, if your love language is sharing plates and lingering conversations over glasses of wine, Amici brings Mediterranean-inspired flavours designed to be passed, poured, and enjoyed together. Vibrant, rustic, and effortlessly romantic – just add wine!
Where: Ross St, Benowa
Twinkling lights? Tick. Degustation menu? Tick. Intimate, effortlessly romantic setting? Triple tick. Green Fields is putting on a Valentine’s Day experience that’s basically Cupid’s dream itinerary.
The night begins with a complimentary drink on arrival, followed by a refined six-course degustation menu featuring tomato and lemongrass gazpacho, beef tartare with crispy shallots, potato gnocchi with duck ragù, chargrilled barramundi, crispy pork belly, and a dreamy floating island with almond praline to finish.
Running from 5–9pm, this one’s all about slowing down, savouring the moment, and letting the food do some of the flirting.
Where: 94 Laver Drive, Robina
QT Gold Coast doesn’t do average, and Valentine’s Day is no exception. If your idea of romance includes bold flavours, playful energy, and a little drama (the good kind), QT has you covered.
Over at Yamagen, romance is officially hot on the menu with a decadent nine-course omakase curated by Culinary Director Adam Lane, complete with a Pommery Champagne welcome salute- a dream date for couples whose love language is fine dining.
Prefer something a little more under-the-stars? QT’s Twilight Feast invites you to dine poolside in a private cabana, sipping Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial on arrival before sharing four indulgent courses beneath the night sky.
And for those swapping romance for friendship bracelets, Galentine’s High Tea, served daily throughout February, at FIXX Cafe is dripping in pink perfection, with petite delights, candy-cotton cloud drinks and optional bottomless upgrades for those who like their tea with a little extra fizz.
Where: 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
Fire is flickering, sparks are flying, and Ember by Fire Baby is officially bringing the heat this Valentine’s Day. Enter: the Ember Stone set menu ($100pp), a wood-fired feast designed for serious food lovers.
You’ll kick things off with Pacific oysters with Champagne mignonette and ocean trout sashimi, before diving into fire-kissed favourites like crispy half chicken with smoked sauce and O’Connor’s Superior MB 5+ rump cap with chimichurri. Add country fries with rosemary salt and finish on a sweet note with vanilla crème brûlée and popcorn ice cream- because dessert is non-negotiable. Ember is a sure bet for couples who bond best over exceptional food.
Where: 10 Welch Street, Southport
If Cupid had a multi-level HQ, Paradise Centre would be it. From 1–15 February, the iconic Surfers Paradise precinct is serving up ten Valentine’s Day offerings, meaning you can flirt, feast, play, and soak your way through the season without ever leaving the building.
Kick things off with Ritas & Romance at El Camino Cantina, where the limited-edition Red Hot Rita (hello chilli-rim marg) is made to share (or not…), bringing the spice on Valentine’s Day. Next, why not introduce a little healthy competition at the MANIAX Axe Throwing with their Valentine’s in Valhalla offering, complete with private axe lanes and Viking-inspired cocktails?
Maybe you’re after something a little more classic- retro even. And for that, Zone Bowling has you covered with a bowl-and-bevy deal to keep the good times rolling. Game lovers can lock into 60 minutes of unlimited Time Play at Timezone, escape artists can Escape the Friend Zone at Padlock’d with 20% off group bookings, and dessert devotees will want to pre-order Gelato Messina’s showstopping Valentine’s Day Pavlover Tart – a chocolate-and-passionfruit masterpiece made to share (or not).
For peak relaxation, Lan Bathhouse is delivering the ultimate self-love or shared-indulgence moment with a Private Soak of Love for Two or a solo Lover’s Retreat for One, while Gotcha Fresh Tea is keeping things sweet with a buy-one-get-one-free tea deal made for strolling, sipping, and sharing. Cute!
Where: 2 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
