Gold Coast Cocktail BarsThe ultimate guide🚶 Cocktail trails

The best bars in Gold Coast

The Gold Coast's best bars run the length of the highway, from Southport and Surfers Paradise through Broadbeach and Mermaid Beach to Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach. This guide covers 23 of them: cocktail bars first, from a speakeasy you text to get into on Justin Lane to a rooftop on top of an art gallery, then wine bars, distilleries and a tap house, with our top picks, a map and walking routes.

Last checked 14 November 2026. No bar paid to be included.

Our top 10 Gold Coast bars

If you only have one night, start here.

  1. The Exhibitionist

    Cocktails on top of an art gallery.

    Surfers Paradise and Southport
  2. Rosella's

    Australiana cocktails in Burleigh.

    Burleigh Heads and Miami
  3. Justin Lane Rooftop

    Ocean views over Burleigh.

    Burleigh Heads and Miami
  4. Malibu Racquet Club

    Mid-century Californian cocktails.

    Burleigh Heads and Miami
  5. Roosevelt Lounge

    1920s glamour in Broadbeach.

    Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach
  6. Paloma Wine Bar

    A national Wine Bar of the Year.

    Burleigh Heads and Miami
  7. Lockwood Bar

    Text your way into this speakeasy.

    Burleigh Heads and Miami
  8. Cambus Wallace

    Whisky and a shipwreck story.

    Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach
  9. Sueño

    Latin flavours on a Nobby Beach rooftop.

    Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach
  10. Suga

    A plantation-style rum bar.

    Palm Beach and Currumbin

Map of Gold Coast bars

Tap a pin for the bar. Numbers match the list.

Bars in Surfers Paradise and Southport

Rooftops over the skyline in Surfers Paradise, a deli and rooftop in Southport and a wine bar up at Sanctuary Cove.

Swipe to see all 6 bars →

1 · Surfers Paradise and Southport

The Exhibitionist

Rooftop cocktail bar

A rooftop cocktail bar on level five of HOTA Gallery, with cocktails inspired by the exhibition in the gallery below and martinis as good as the view.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🌇 Views
  • 🍸 Classics
  • 💕 Date night

📍 HOTA Gallery, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

🚶 Directions
11 · Surfers Paradise and Southport

Mr P.P.'s Deli & Rooftop

Rooftop bar

A two-storey deli and bar in Southport with a laneway and a rooftop, DJs, a retro-styled cocktail bar and leafy nooks.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🌇 Views
  • 🎶 Music
  • 🎉 Groups

📍 43 Nerang Street, Southport QLD 4215

🚶 Directions
12 · Surfers Paradise and Southport

Lulu Rooftop Bar

Rooftop bar

A retro, Miami Vice-themed rooftop with a frosé wall and a two-hour bottomless brunch on Sundays.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🌇 Views
  • 🥂 Brunch
  • 🎉 Groups

📍 4 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

🚶 Directions
13 · Surfers Paradise and Southport

The Island Rooftop

Rooftop bar

Billed as the Gold Coast's largest open-air rooftop bar, retro in style, looking over the skyline, with entertainment Thursday to Sunday.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🌇 Views
  • 🎶 Music
  • 🎉 Groups

📍 3128 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

🚶 Directions
14 · Surfers Paradise and Southport

Skyline Rooftop Bar

Rooftop bar

Up the stairs from Waxy's Irish Pub, a rooftop bar with live music and pool tables.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🌇 Views
  • 🎶 Music
  • 🎉 Groups

📍 Level 1, 3206 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

🚶 Directions
15 · Surfers Paradise and Southport

Destino Wine Bar

Wine bar

A Mediterranean-inspired wine bar at Sanctuary Cove with wines from around the world, share plates, charcuterie and cheese boards.

  • 🍷 Wine
  • 🍽️ Food
  • 💕 Date night

📍 4601 Masthead Way, Hope Island QLD 4212

🚶 Directions

Bars in Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach

Speakeasies around The Star and Surf Parade, then the Gold Coast Highway strip through Mermaid Beach and The Oxley precinct at Nobby Beach.

Swipe to see all 7 bars →

5 · Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach

Roosevelt Lounge

Speakeasy lounge

A 1920s-style lounge with gilded edges, Chesterfield leather and classic cocktails, opening at 5pm on Fridays and Saturdays.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🍸 Classics
  • 💕 Date night
  • 🗝️ Hidden

📍 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach QLD 4218

🚶 Directions
9 · Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach

Sueño

Rooftop bar

A Latin American-inspired rooftop from the Rick Shores team in The Oxley precinct at Nobby Beach, with beach views, share plates and bug tacos.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🌇 Views
  • 🌵 Agave
  • 🍽️ Food

📍 2217 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218

🚶 Directions
17 · Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach

Soho Bar

Speakeasy-style bar

A speakeasy-style bar known for fine spirits and creative cocktails. There is no kitchen, so bring food in from nearby.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🗝️ Hidden
  • 🍸 Classics

📍 2713 Gold Coast Highway, Broadbeach QLD 4218

🚶 Directions
18 · Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach

Six Tricks Distillery

Distillery and cocktail bar

A working distillery and cocktail bar making six spirits on site, a short walk from The Star. Its vodka martini is a standout.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🌿 Gin
  • 🍸 Classics

📍 2460 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218

🚶 Directions
8 · Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach

Cambus Wallace

Nautical bar

Named after a ship that sank off the Gold Coast in 1894, with a whisky menu, classic cocktails, aged spirits and regular live acoustic music.

  • 🥃 Whisky
  • 🍸 Classics
  • 🎶 Music

📍 4/2237 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218

🚶 Directions
16 · Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach

The Loose Moose

Tap and grill house

A brick-lined tap and grill house with pub food and a prohibition twist, at the same address as the Roosevelt Lounge.

  • 🍺 Pub
  • 🍺 Craft beer
  • 🍽️ Food
  • 🎉 Groups

📍 75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach QLD 4218

🚶 Directions
19 · Broadbeach, Mermaid and Nobby Beach

Moustache

Wine bar and bistro

A pint-sized, candlelit European-style bistro and wine bar in The Oxley precinct, with martinis that hold their own.

  • 🍷 Wine
  • 💕 Date night
  • 🍽️ Food

📍 3/2217 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218

🚶 Directions

Bars in Burleigh Heads and Miami

The busiest few blocks for bars: James Street, Justin Lane and the highway at Burleigh, plus distilleries and a gin bar in Miami.

Swipe to see all 8 bars →

3 · Burleigh Heads and Miami

Justin Lane Rooftop

Rooftop bar

A laid-back rooftop with ocean views and pizza. Time it right and you can hear the sound check from the amphitheatre next door.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🌇 Views
  • 🍽️ Food
  • 🎶 Music

📍 1710 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

🚶 Directions
4 · Burleigh Heads and Miami

Malibu Racquet Club

Cocktail bar

A Californian-inspired cocktail bar with a mid-century look, tasting plates and a tennis-themed cocktail called the mac Enroe.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🍸 Classics
  • 💕 Date night
  • ✨ Quirky

📍 1740 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

🚶 Directions
7 · Burleigh Heads and Miami

Lockwood Bar

Speakeasy

A speakeasy-style bar on Justin Lane. Text the number on the door when you arrive to be let in.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🗝️ Hidden
  • 💕 Date night

📍 Justin Lane, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

🚶 Directions
21 · Burleigh Heads and Miami

The Gin Parlour

Gin bar

A gin bar at Miami Marketta with more than 105 gins and gin tasting boards.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🌿 Gin
  • ✨ Quirky

📍 Miami Marketta, 23 Hillcrest Parade, Miami QLD 4220

🚶 Directions
2 · Burleigh Heads and Miami

Rosella's

Australiana bar

Best Bar on the Gold Coast, Boothby Best Bars QLD 2023

An Australiana-themed bar with cocktails inspired by Aussie icons and a long list of natural Australian wines.

  • ✨ Quirky
  • 🍷 Wine

📍 1734 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

🚶 Directions
6 · Burleigh Heads and Miami

Paloma Wine Bar

Wine bar

Wine Bar of the Year, Gourmet Traveller 2022

The sibling of Restaurant Labart, named Wine Bar of the Year by Gourmet Traveller in 2022.

  • 🍷 Wine
  • 💕 Date night

📍 1/12 James Street, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

🚶 Directions
20 · Burleigh Heads and Miami

Nightjar

Dive bar

A rock 'n' roll dive bar down Justin Lane with live music.

  • 🎶 Music
  • 🌙 Late
  • ✨ Quirky

📍 Justin Lane, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

🚶 Directions
22 · Burleigh Heads and Miami

Granddad Jack's Craft Distillery

Distillery bar

Billed as the Gold Coast's first craft distillery of its kind, making gin, vodka and whiskey.

  • 🌿 Gin
  • 🥃 Whisky

📍 45 Lemana Lane, Miami QLD 4220

🚶 Directions

Bars in Palm Beach and Currumbin

Further south, a rum bar in Palm Beach and a gin bar and cellar door by Currumbin Creek.

Swipe to see all 2 bars →

10 · Palm Beach and Currumbin

Suga

Rum bar

A plantation-style rum bar with a speakeasy feel and live entertainment every night it opens, Thursday to Sunday from 6pm.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🍹 Rum
  • 🎶 Music
  • 🗝️ Hidden

📍 1142 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach QLD 4221

🚶 Directions
23 · Palm Beach and Currumbin

Burly Bar

Gin bar

A two-level gin bar and cellar door pouring award-winning Burly gins, with small plates and guided tasting flights.

  • 🍸 Cocktails
  • 🌿 Gin
  • 🍽️ Food

📍 60 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin QLD 4223

🚶 Directions

Gold Coast cocktail trails

Three routes in walking order, with the time between each bar. See them all on a map.

Burleigh Heads: James Street to Justin Lane

6 bars · about 31 minutes on foot in total

  1. 1
    Paloma Wine Bar1/12 James Street, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
  2. 🚶 about 1 min to the next bar
  3. 2
    Malibu Racquet Club1740 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
  4. 🚶 about 14 min to the next bar
  5. 3
    Rosella's1734 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
  6. 🚶 about 13 min to the next bar
  7. 4
    Justin Lane Rooftop1710 Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
  8. 🚶 about 2 min to the next bar
  9. 5
    Lockwood BarJustin Lane, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220
  10. 🚶 about 1 min to the next bar
  11. 6
    NightjarJustin Lane, Burleigh Heads QLD 4220

Mermaid and Nobby Beach

3 bars · about 3 minutes on foot in total

  1. 1
    Cambus Wallace4/2237 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
  2. 🚶 about 2 min to the next bar
  3. 2
    Moustache3/2217 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218
  4. 🚶 about 1 min to the next bar
  5. 3
    Sueño2217 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218

Surfers Paradise rooftops

3 bars · about 7 minutes on foot in total

  1. 1
    Lulu Rooftop Bar4 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
  2. 🚶 about 3 min to the next bar
  3. 2
    The Island Rooftop3128 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
  4. 🚶 about 4 min to the next bar
  5. 3
    Skyline Rooftop BarLevel 1, 3206 Surfers Paradise Boulevard, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217

More Gold Coast bar guides

Know before you go

Your questions

What is the best cocktail bar in Gold Coast?

Start with The Exhibitionist and Rosella's, then Justin Lane Rooftop. Our top 10 above covers the rest.

Where is the best area for bars on the Gold Coast?

Burleigh Heads has the most good bars in the smallest space, around James Street, Justin Lane and the highway. Broadbeach is next, around The Star and Surf Parade.

What is the best rooftop bar on the Gold Coast?

The Exhibitionist on top of HOTA Gallery for cocktails. The Island Rooftop in Surfers Paradise is billed as the biggest open-air rooftop bar on the coast.

Does the Gold Coast have hidden bars?

Yes. At Lockwood Bar on Justin Lane you text a number to get in. Soho Bar in Broadbeach and the Roosevelt Lounge on Surf Parade are speakeasy style too.

Is Cocktail Week coming to the Gold Coast?

Yes. Gold Coast Cocktail Week is coming soon. Sign up on our Gold Coast page for first access to wristbands and the bar line-up.

Who wrote this guide

This guide is written by the team at M.AD Agency. We run Cocktail Week, the ten-day cocktail festival held town by town across the UK and Ireland. Now we're bringing it to Australia. Since 2022 we have taken it to more than 20 towns and cities and worked with hundreds of bars. We put this guide together from our own research and trusted local guides, including Experience Gold Coast, Must Do Gold Coast and Urban List.

No bar paid to be included and nobody can buy a place. We check the guide regularly as bars open, change and close.

Cocktail Week in Australia

Want your bar in this guide?

Run a bar in Gold Coast that should be here? Get in touch at hello@cocktail-week.com and tell us about it.