Bars
Eat tacos and sip sundowners in Miami's newest open-air beer garden SPEC
Food & Drink

Eat tacos and sip sundowners in Miami’s newest open-air beer garden SPEC

Ever since Love Child Market Place shut its doors and moved its plant-based operations from Miami to Mermaid Beach, its high-profile Gold Coast Highway-fronting site has been sitting, waiting, begging for someone to come along and do something great. Well, friends, our collective hopes have been realised with SPEC – the city’s newest dark and moody watering hole, which opened last week complete with an open-air beer garden and seriously tasty tapas. Here’s everything you need to know about Miami’s striking newcomer ... more

Bars
Get a glimpse inside HOTA Gallery's Palette and The Exhibitionist Bar ahead of this weekend's opening
Food & Drink

Get a glimpse inside HOTA Gallery’s Palette and The Exhibitionist Bar ahead of this weekend’s opening

Last weekend, the Gold Coast's art community gathered to witness the official unveiling of the awe-inspiring $60.5-million HOTA Gallery. This weekend, the exciting (and delicious) next chapter comes to fruition with the opening of the Gallery's eagerly anticipated fine dining restaurant, Palette, and sophisticated new rooftop space, The Exhibitionist Bar. We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse prior to opening, here's what you can expect ... more

Bars
Venture behind the banh mi for Burleigh's newest speakeasy NAÂMi
Food & Drink

Venture behind the banh mi for Burleigh’s newest speakeasy NAÂMi

From the outside, NAÂMi is a tiny takeaway nook on James Street slinging steamy spring rolls, banh mi, and, eventually pho to-go. Shiny bain maries line the interior, drawing your eye to the motorbike curiously perched at the far end. Those who dare to look a little closer, however, will notice that there's more to this pint-sized newcomer than meets the eye. Venture through the clandestine door and you'll discover Burleigh Heads' newest speakeasy. Here's what we know about NAÂMi ... more

Bars
Say farewell to summer at Split Upstairs' epic end-of-season party and hello to the next chapter
Food & Drink

Say farewell to summer at Split Upstairs’ epic end-of-season party and hello to the next chapter

When Split Upstairs first appeared above the Nobby’s strip – in all its ramshackle glory – we knew it was here for a good time not a long one. Friends, what a time it's been. Sipping spritzes and hot-pink margs as the sun sank against a backdrop of dirty house beats, Split Upstairs will forever be etched in our collective (hazy) memories as the place for summer 2020/2021. As Bob Dylan once mused, the times, they are a-changin' and it's time for us to say goodbye summer and hello to its brand-new winter concept. more

Bars
Pavement Whispers: The coast is set to score a flashy new rooftop bar
Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: The coast is set to score a flashy new rooftop bar

If you've driven past HOTA of late, it's fairly likely you caught a glimpse of the eye-popping new HOTA Gallery – which is set to open in May. Well, friends, it's been revealed that it will also house a brand-new rooftop bar and dining venue cheekily named The Exhibitionist Bar. The flashy new watering hole will be located on level five and here's what we know so far ... more

Bars
Discover WildFlower Gin Distillery, Burleigh's newest intimate gin bar
Food & Drink

Discover WildFlower Gin Distillery, Burleigh’s newest intimate gin bar

If WildFlower Gin Distillery rings a bell, it may be because you’re familiar with the cellar door and workshop space that opened in early 2020. Although a bar was never on the cards, overwhelming support from workshop attendees wanting to return and enjoy a drink at WildFlower inspired founder James Greig to open the doors and transform the space into Burleigh’s newest intimate gin bar. more


Bars
Say hola to Nobby Beach's newest Mexican-inspired beer garden Backyard Cantina
Food & Drink

Say hola to Nobby Beach’s newest Mexican-inspired beer garden Backyard Cantina

There's something deeply satisfying about kicking back on a Friday afternoon with a taco in one hand and a salty marg in the other. If that sounds like your ideal way to spend a weekend, there's a brand new open-air cantina in Nobby Beach that has your name written all over it. On a Friday and Saturday night, Backyard Cafe on Lavarack Road transforms into Backyard Cantina and here's everything you need to know about this tasty newcomer ... more

Bars
The perfect pair – QT Hotels and Four Pillars have made a gin baby
Food & Drink

The perfect pair – QT Hotels and Four Pillars have made a gin baby

We love a good pairing – cookies and cream, rosé and sunsets, macaroni and cheese (okay, anything at all with cheese), and now you can add QT and Four Pillars to the list. The unexpected partnership brings together the world's most-loved gin (they even have the award to prove it) and the quirky hotel brand to make a beautiful gin baby and let us be the first to say, welcome to the world, little one. more

Bars
Pretty Handsome brings cheap eats and dive-bar vibes to Burleigh Heads
Food & Drink

Pretty Handsome brings cheap eats and dive-bar vibes to Burleigh Heads

As a general rule, anywhere that slings a quality burger and fries for $10 has our complete and undivided attention. Even more so if it happens to serve bloody Marys topped with crispy bacon and have posters of Biggie Smalls sitting pretty next to Nirvana and Slayer. If that sounds like your kind of vibe and you fancy a meal that doesn't cost a kidney, pull up a seat at Pretty Handsome. Formerly a takeaway joint on the corner of Christine Avenue and Lemana Lane in Burleigh Heads, the quaint coffee nook has expanded to the shop next door to deliver a cafe-by-day and dive-bar-by-night. more

Bars
BOBs Beer has arrived in Surfers Paradise so go ahead and rally your brew crew
Food & Drink

BOBs Beer has arrived in Surfers Paradise so go ahead and rally your brew crew

Heads up, froth fiends! There's a new brewhouse and restaurant in town and it's set to become a seriously hot contender for Friday-arvo drinks, post-surf feeds and boozy catch-ups of all kinds. BOBs Beer, an acronym for Best Of Beers, has opened its doors in Surfers Paradise to bring you ice-cold brews, a seasonal menu of top-notch nosh and a seriously impressive fit-out. If you're keen to get acquainted with BOB, read on ... more

Bars
Punk-rock nonnas, pillowy pasta and sensational sips – say ciao to Cross Eyed Mary
Food & Drink

Punk-rock nonnas, pillowy pasta and sensational sips – say ciao to Cross Eyed Mary

Named after the Jethro Tull song of the same name (What. A. Vibe.), Cross Eyed Mary has transformed the hole-in-the-wall space formerly occupied by Tasca on Coolangatta's Griffith Street into a charming pasta-and-wine bar that is modernising tradition with good, honest fare, craft cocktails and some seriously impressive sips of vino. The dark and moody interior has been given a fresh lick of paint to feature a white weatherboard exterior and welcoming terracotta-and-white interior that imbues a real 'summer in Tuscany' vibe. Whilst she may be small in stature, Cross Eyed Mary is here to leave a big impression ... more

Bars
The year in review: 2020’s biggest openings
Food & Drink

The year in review: 2020’s biggest openings

Wowee. What a year. We all went through it, there's no need to remind you. What we care to focus on are the positives. Despite 2020 being the most difficult year ever for our hospitality friends, our fine city was still blessed with some phenomenal new cafe, restaurant and bar openings – a feat that should be celebrated. So while many of us are trying to forget most of the year that was, we're excited to look back on the hospitality heroes that made this year one to remember ... at least for our tastebuds. more

Bars
Rally the crew – Miami has a new brewpub and restaurant by the name of Precinct Brewing Co.
Food & Drink

Rally the crew – Miami has a new brewpub and restaurant by the name of Precinct Brewing Co.

The Gold Coast's craft-beer scene is hotter than the surface of the sun right now with new watering holes popping up all over this fine city and beyond. If you've made it your personal summer mission to try them all (perhaps not all in one day), there's a brand-spanking-new brewpub that is set to skyrocket to the top of your must-try list. It's called Precinct Brewing Co. and it's hidden in plain sight on Christine Avenue in Miami. The eagerly anticipated beer dispensary rolled up its doors on the weekend to welcome the very first wave of froth fiends. Here’s what you need to know … more

Bars
Follow the red palm tree to the coast's newest underground bar
Food & Drink

Follow the red palm tree to the coast’s newest underground bar

Can you keep a secret? No? Well, as it turns out, neither can we because we're about to spill the beans on the Gold Coast's newest underground bar that only long-time locals will know how to find. If the sound of a mezcal-inspired speakeasy, insect-laced bites and tastebud-tingling cocktails piques your interest, then read on because this is definitely one to add to the must-try list. more

Bars
Tugun's Craft House brings its bounty of bevs and bites north to Nobby Beach
Food & Drink

Tugun’s Craft House brings its bounty of bevs and bites north to Nobby Beach

Since opening its doors in August 2018, Craft House in Tugun has been delighting diners with its unexpected and ever-changing roster of craft beer on the taps. Fast-forward a few years, a change of ownership and a global pandemic and the southern haunt is still thriving – a testament to the fact it's got the fundamentals down pat – good beer, good vibes and good food. Not ones to sit idly by, owners Dee Weisner and Wayne Hagan decided to venture north and replicate the formula for Mermaid Beach locals. Frothy fiends, say hello to Craft House Bar and Restaurant Nobby's. more

Bars
Bo'teku brings Bali vibes and beachside eats to Coolangatta
Food & Drink

Bo’teku brings Bali vibes and beachside eats to Coolangatta

Since overseas trips are off the menu for the foreseeable future, Kirra local Matt Burke and the guys behind the neighbouring Bondi Grill'e are bringing the Bali vibes to Coolangatta with a new bohemian-inspired bar and eatery, Bo'teku. The new beachside bar has taken over the former George's Paragon site along Marine Parade and aims to create a welcoming space to while away an afternoon with a drink in hand. The venue takes cues from Bondi Grill'e in Uluwatu by showcasing a culinarily diverse menu of share-style food and cocktails. Settle in and get acquainted with Bo'teku.  more

Bars
Sip cocktails in the sunshine at the new-look Komune Gold Coast
Food & Drink

Sip cocktails in the sunshine at the new-look Komune Gold Coast

When COVID-19 reared its ugly head, Komune in Coolangatta (along with the rest of the world) was forced to shut its doors. Instead of sitting around on JobKeeper, owner Tony Cannon rallied the staff, picked up some tools and began giving some of the hotel rooms a little spruce. It began with a lick of paint that eventually rolled into a complete revamp with a little help from their pals at Zero 9 Constructions, who also found themselves at a COVID-related loose end and graciously donated some of their time and expertise. Gold Coast, say hello to Komune 2.0 – a dreamy new poolside bar to soak up the sunshine with a cocktail in hand. more