Continuing Surfers Paradise’s culinary renaissance, The Institution Gastro Ale House has transformed the old Groove Train into the city’s newest gastropub. Nab a table on the balcony overlooking Surfers Paradise Boulevard’s tram stop and indulge in a spot of people watching over a beverage or two or be lured inside by the captivating fit-out that is finished with custom-made timber tables and booth-style seating. A nod to the venue’s name, chain curtains suspended from the ceiling draw your gaze towards the hand-painted murals of Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Angelina Jolie in Girl, Interrupted and Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange, adding to the venue’s distinct character. The expansive venue offers multiple dining areas to accommodate groups of varying size, from date nights to corporate functions.

Boasting arguably the Gold Coast’s most extensive selection of boutique brews, The Institution also caters to wine drinkers with 40 different types of wine and an equally as extensive cocktail list. The bill of fare has been crafted to complement the brews and meanders from snacks through to bites to savour and sizeable share plates. Start with some goats cheese poppers stuffed with onion jam and cauliflower puree before moving on to the deliciously rich pork belly topped with spiced calamari, apple, micro salad and peach chutney. For groups of ten or more, there are two banquet menus that offer a little taste of the house’s specialties for $44 and $55 per head. The Institution Gastro Ale House is the culmination of owner Adam Keane’s two decades in hospitality, a detail that becomes instantly apparent upon arrival. Everything from the street-style art to the carefully considered menu is the result of this experience and local knowledge. For opening times and contact information, see our Stumble Guide.