The Winner: Rosella’s, Burleigh Heads
Well, what a bloody ripper – Australiana bar Rosella’s has certainly resonated with locals since its opening in January 2019 (on Australia Day, to be precise), taking out top gong in the Best New Bar category. From tinnies of Melbourne Bitter to cocktails with Nutri-Grain, natural Aussie wines and piping-hot Vegemite and cheese toasties, Rosella’s has proven itself as a go-to for sips and snacks.

The Runner-up: Burleigh Pavilion, Burleigh Heads
There’s no denying Burleigh Pavilion’s popularity. Its highly anticipated opening in December 2018 created much hype … and it just hasn’t really stopped since then! The beach bar is armed with quality cocktails, tap beers and great wines – and arguably the best views on the Gold Coast.

The Runner-up: Granddad Jack’s, Miami
From the beachfront of Burleigh, we now take you to the backstreets of Miami. While distillery Granddad Jack’s doesn’t offer ocean views, the tasting room’s killer fit-out and quality offering of gin cocktails (all distilled on site) has proven popular with locals, earning it a hefty segment of the votes in the Best New Bar category.

Suga, Palm Beach
This speakeasy bar, hidden along the Gold Coast Highway in Palmy, opened just weeks before the awards kicked off – and it managed to secure enough votes to tip it into the top ten, which is huge. The (clearly) popular watering hole specialises in cocktails and rum and you can expect plenty of theatrics from behind the bar. Plus, there’s also a great line-up of live music to set the scene.

Hyde Paradiso, Surfers Paradise
Enjoying prime position on the Surfers Paradise beachfront, Hyde Paradiso has quickly earned a spot as one of the coast’s top bars. Traditional Italian sgroppinos (think of it as a boozy slushie) are the signature, which are offered alongside a fun compendium of classic cocktails (including must-try share cocktails), quality wines, tap beers and high-end spirits. No matter where you perch yourself, you’re guaranteed views of the beach.

Black Hops II, Biggera Waters
In March 2019, the fellas behind Black Hops unveiled their second location – a 150-sqm taproom showcasing their best brews, served straight from the source. With 14 beers on tap, as well as a rotating series of taproom-only limited-release beers, the Black Hops brewery and taproom was met with open arms from thirsty northern folk and quickly turned into a popular beer haven.

Aviary Rooftop Bar, Southport
The arrival of rooftop bar Aviary was another win for the northern end of the Gold Coast. The elevated sipping spot has quickly earned its stripes as the city’s most popular new bars, with its raft of cocktails and spritzes, local and national beers, array of wines wines, and quality line-up of spirits favoured by locals. Aviary has also introduced The Australian Collection of cocktails, which utilises native ingredients (and a lot of theatrics!) to showcase the best produce from the Gold Coast and beyond.

Craft House, Tugun
It’s a beer lovers haven down at Craft House, with around 20 taps pouring local and national drops for thirsty locals. There’s always something new and intriguing being tapped, so if you’re craft-beer lover (and are a little adventurous) then this is where you want to be.

Crafty’s, Biggera Waters
Northern folk let out a cheer when Crafty’s opened at Harbour Town. Yes, it’s part of a shopping centre – but this sports bar is far from what you’d expect. It’s often full to the brim with locals sipping their way through craft beers on tap and in tinnies, fun cocktails, boozy thickshakes and all of the wine varieties. Hot tip – order some fried chicken.

White Rhino, Surfers Paradise
This jungle-themed venue has become well known for its eye-popping cocktails and behind-the-bar theatrics. While the fit-out alone is enough to catch your eye (there’s a running waterfall and an illuminated fish tank as part of the bar) you’ll surely be kept captivated with smoke-infused tipples, classic cocktails, tap beers, wines and top-end spirits.