Winter heralds longer nights and dropping temperatures – the perfect conditions for getting cosy in an intimate bar with a soul-warming sip in hand. Opening at the perfect time of year for such leisurely pursuits is The Vault, a next-level bar that has completely transformed the space formerly occupied by The Coffee Club on Surf Parade in Broadbeach. The bar’s opulent interior boasts a kind of art-deco meets Great Gatsby vibe courtesy of a moody palette of glossy gold and matte black. A magnificent seven-metre-long bar commands pride of place and houses the venue’s seriously impressive selection of libations, which features more than 75 bottles of premium whisky, cognac and rum. At the far end, whisky lovers will spy the liquor cabinet of their dreams (an actual vault), which houses its top-shelf bottles including a prized 21-year-old Hibiki that can be all yours for a cool $5000. If your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far, there’s an 18-year-old Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve for $3750. As a little added incentive, anyone who purchases a bottle from The Vault is awarded an exclusive membership, which includes a golden key to unlock your own personal shelf within the vault – your bottle will be stored for you to enjoy at your leisure.

To round out The Vault’s offering, the venue’s founders Gopal Vadalia and his wife Ekta enlisted the services of executive chef and hospitality consultant Jonathan McGlynn, who has previously worked alongside internationally renowned chefs in some of the world’s best venues including private châteaux’s in France, Dining in the Sky in London, Heron Island Resort and Chez Dré in South Melbourne. It’s not just top-shelf tipple to be savoured – the menu delivers a mix of international contemporary tapas drawing inspiration from Gopal and Ekta’s extensive travels across the globe. The delicious options are fresh and inspiring, with menu stand-outs ranging from crab ragoons, which are crispy, fried parcels of blue swimmer crab, cream cheese and chives, to butter chicken gnocchi, scallop-ceviche tostada and native saltbush and mountain pepper fried squid. The Vault is the ideal locale to while away an evening, sinking in to the intimate space while savouring mouth-watering bites and imbibing only the best in decadent drops.

Keen to sip? Hit up our Stumble Guide for opening times.