Since opening last year, House of Brews has made it mark on the Gold Coast by being one of the most memorable places to grab a drink.
It’s got 32 beers on tap, an impressive open-view tap room, perhaps the most creative cocktail list around, and mondo sized food dishes.
After traveling extensively and investigating out what made Americas best bars the best, the Kanaghines brothers put their new found knowledge to the test and opened up House of Brews in Surfers Paradise.
The new restaurant has been fitted in classic American roadhouse fashion, it’s got the dark wood and large bar one would expect from any reputable bbq joint, and enough beers to keep the pickiest of connoisseurs busy for hours. It’s safe to say, they passed the test with flying colours!
We spoke with co-owner Damien, who said the key to their success is keeping everything fun.
From the fun and envelope-pushing cocktails(I’m sure you have all seen the Purple Haze bong drink in the papers), to the quirky menu choices like Russian Roulette Mac and Cheese bites (loser gets the spicy one, depending how you look at it though, I say winner gets the spicy one!), it seems the brothers have found a way to make the most ordinary of dining situations extraordinary.
Inside Gold Coast took a visit to House of Brews last week to get an insiders look at all the exciting things on offer. We tried dish after dish, sampling things like Mexican Margarita wings, Burgers, Mussels, Salmon and Pork Belly and what we found with each dish was the same; the presentation is not what you’ll find anywhere else.
Yes the food tastes good too, but that’s not what keeps this Surfers hotspot filled to the brim. It’s the showmanship. Where else can you get a burger with a foot of onion rings stacked on top, or a slab of ribs bigger than your face? Every plate offered has a WOW factor that keeps people coming back for more. Want to eat your giant plate of ribs with a viking helmet on? You can do that, all you have to do is ask.
What got the most ooo’s and aaaah’s? The cocktails. (even a few photo snaps from neighbouring tables)
Each hand crafted drink looked like something straight out of Willy Wonka’s factory.
Smoking drinks, fairy floss, candy bark, plastic pumpkins, wooden boxes. They are outta this world! (but actually they are all on the cocktail menu so you’ll have to go try them for yourself) I suggest trying the controversial Purple Haze cocktail made with Ink Gin, St Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Cloudy Apple Juice, Grape Juice, Lime Juice, Orgeat Syrup and Rhubarb Bitters and served with frozen grapes and in a bong…It’s addicting!
Nothing says fun like smashing down a big ole plate of ribs then filling your gob with fairy floss and catching a buzz.
The bar is broken up into a few key sections. The downstairs outside patio: good for sipping a beer and people watching. The bar: also good for sipping a beer. The general seating area: in the middle of the action.The upstairs patio: amazing views of the Surfers skyline (word has it upstairs is due for a little makeover soon). So there are plenty of seats and spaces so you can settle in, get cosy and start working through the 32 beers on offer.
Grab the girls, grab the guys and head to Surfers’ most memorable bar, for a night filled with vikings, bongs, onion ring towers and thirty freakin two beers on tap!
Cheers to that!
17 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise
By Marleigh Kelly
Uninterrupted beach views, a revitalised restaurant and a brand new menu available for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sandbar Surfers Paradise has received it’s first facelift in over 20 years and is set to put Surfers back on the map. Offering a fresh, classy venue where patrons can wine, dine and enjoy a never ending summer.
A family owned business, Jake Short has taken the plunge in revitalising the old surf club. Inspired by the surroundings from his part-time home, Indonesia and travels around the world, the new Sandbar radiates the vibe of a Bali beach bar with the perfect touch of the French Riviera. Furniture has been custom designed and shipped across from Indonesia in beachy woods, blues and whites. From the ceiling hangs an array of nautical pieces, white painted steel drums, glass buoys even golden sunflowers, all helping to create that relaxed beach life vibe. The atmosphere is serenaded by the sweet tunes, similar to that of Potato Head Beach Club in Bali, playlists have been customised to change every 2 – 3 hours ensuring that the perfect sounds are played at exactly the right time.
Jake, alongside food genius and head chef Maxie Hill, has spent countless hours perfecting the impressive menu, ensuring that Gold Coast’s fresh seafood and local produce is put to good use. Maxie was head chef of Rick Stein’s South Coast restaurant and also owns three successful cafes in Bali. The expertise of Chef Maxie can’t go unnoticed in the three menus, food so good that you’ll want to order one of everything.. “sharing is caring” after all! Choose from divine smoothie bowls, shakes and pulled pork bennies at breakfast. Poke bowls and burgers for lunch, this menu has been kept short and sweet with an excess of quality.
Poke bowls? Well move over Acai bowls. Poke bowls are Hawaiian goodness, fresh, tasty and healthy. Choose from marinated snapper, tuna or kingfish sashimi served on a bed of quinoa with an edamame and avocado salad! The burgers are of the different kind, the Shi-Boo-Ya burger, tempura battered soft shell crab served with fresh mango and wasabi mayo on a custom made Pastry Emporium bun, made exclusively for Sandbar!
Dinner offers a share style menu and an array of fresh seafood; think scallops, Moreton Bay bugs, octopus and mussels.
A knock your socks off cocktail menu and Queensland’s largest selection of craft beers (over 120 of them in fact), there won’t be a dry mouth in the room. For the mocktailers, there are cold pressed juices and cold drip coffee are also made in house!
Finally the Gold Coast has been treated to the beachfront dining that it deserves, where sand between your toes is welcomed, smiles are contagious and good times guaranteed to be had. Pop down and see how this Surfers Paradise local has become new again!
Open 7 days a week
Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
52 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
By Amy Merridan
Who loves a dirty martini? Ummm, we do! And we love any excuse to drink one… enter: International Gin Day. June 14 is basically our second birthday – okay, technically it’s gin’s, but we’re claiming it.
Luckily for us, the Gold Coast is shaking (and stirring) things up with a bunch of bars serving epic gin creations using top-shelf local spirits.
So in honour of the juniper juice we all know and love, here are the best spots to get your gin fix this Gin Day – or, let’s be honest, any day ending in “y”.
Happy sipping, gin lovers.
Bringing a splash of Polish tradition to the Gold Coast, Panezski Artisan Distillery is a family-run gem crafting premium small-batch vodka and gin with heart, heritage and a whole lot of flavour. While vodka might traditionally be a northern hemisphere affair, Panezski is proving that Aussie soil can produce spirits with just as much soul. From their meticulous distilling process to their beautiful bottling, it’s clear this crew doesn’t cut corners. Drop in for a taste of Europe, GC-style.
Our pick: Northside Rickey – Panezski Gin, lime juice, simple syrup, mint leaves and dry ginger ale. Cool, crisp and straight-up refreshing.
Where: Unit 2/2 Sierra Place, Upper Coomera
Tucked away in an industrial shed near Harbour Town, this gin haven is serving up serious style (think festoon lights, a swoon-worthy pink vee-jay counter, and shiny copper stills that deserve their own Instagram account). Their gin spirits are stellar, and they taste even sweeter in the form of their cocktails.
Our pick: The Mango Weis Bar cocktail with mango gin, mango nectar, lemon juice, vanilla sugar and aquafaba does it for us!
Where: 211 Brisbane Rd, Biggera Waters
If there’s one place that knows its way around a gin cocktail, it’s the OG of Gold Coast distilling – Granddad Jack’s. They’ve seriously upped the ante with their bold new cocktail menu inspired by the Seven Man-Made Wonders of the World. Each drink is a flavour-packed tribute to an architectural icon – think a dry martini-style nod to the Great Wall of China with bold mandarin and umami notes, or a silky, spiced number inspired by the Taj Mahal. There’s even a foamy, tart twist on Chicha Morada repping Machu Picchu. Honestly, it’s a round-the-world trip without leaving Miami (and without needing a passport – bonus!).
Our pick: The Seymour Street, made with their house Greenhouse Gin, fresh lime juice and a dash of eucalyptus. It’s like sipping on an Aussie summer in a glass.
Where: 45 Lemana Lane, Miami
Far more than your standard distillery, Familiar Spirits focuses on crafting tailor-made spirits for cocktails, ensuring each drink is as smooth as a well-aged whiskey. Now we’re talking! Their signature cocktail menu rotates with the seasons, so there’s always something new to try.
Our pick: The Not So Familiar Negroni, with Macadamia Fat Washed Pudding Gin, Lemon Myrtle Campari and Rosso Vermouth is calling our name.
Where: 1/9 Calabro Way, Burleigh Heads
Meet the small-batch distillery that packs a big punch! Found on Scottsdale Drive in Varsity Lakes, Wildflower Distillery crafts exceptional and award-winning gin that can be deemed as ‘Burleigh in a bottle’. Crafted with locally grown botanicals, including cardamom, lemon myrtle and coriander, plus a little drop of honey from the owner’s very own Burleigh backyard, you can now understand why. It’s a very easy drinking drop, a little bit floral and paired perfectly with either tonic, solo over ice (tried and tested) or in their famous ‘Basil Fawlty’ cocktail- delish!
Our pick: The Basil Fawlty cocktail is worth the trip alone
Where: 2/486 Scottsdale Drive, Varsity Lakes
If you’re chasing sleek, sophisticated and seriously sippable, Burly Gin in Currumbin is your go-to. This dreamy gin bar is packed with artisan bottles so pretty, you’ll be turning them into vases when they’re empty (because why not have flowers and gin on display?). The team behind Burly serves up their entire gin range in a lineup of dazzling cocktails, each one more Insta-worthy than the last. The space itself is chic, the vibes are chilled, and the drinks? Let’s just say you’ll want to try the entire menu twice.
Our pick: Italiano Spritz – Citrus Burly Gin, Sanbitter, Grapefruit, Rosemary Shrub & Prosecco. Bellissimo!
Where: 60 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin
Bringing a taste of Italy with a distinctly Aussie twist, Loborn Distillery is shaking (and stirring) up Tamborine Mountain’s sip scene in the most delicious way. Tucked among the leafy charm of Main Street, this boutique distillery is the perfect pit stop for a tasting or a cheeky cocktail session. Whether you’re vibing an Aperol Spritz in the sunshine or settling in for something stronger, Loborn delivers the goods with style, flavour, and plenty of mountain magic.
Our pick: The Classic G&T – Loborn Original Gin, Indian tonic water and an orange twist. Simple. Timeless. Perfect.
Where: Shop 4, 46-48 Main Street, Mt Tamborine
Home of the iconic colour-changing Ink Gin, Husk Farm Distillery is the ultimate gin-lover’s day trip destination. Set on a stunning working farm in North Tumbulgum, this spot is part cellar door, part bar, part café – and 100% worth the drive. While they’re also the brains behind Husk Virgin Cane Rum and Spiced Bam Bam, today we’re here for the gin (obviously). Expect garden-fresh vibes, paddock-to-glass pours, and cocktails that are as pretty as they are delicious.
Our pick: Ink Sloe Fizz – Ink Sloe & Berry Gin, lemon, soda. Light, bright, and berry delicious.
Where: Dulguigan Rd, North Tumbulgum
Words by Chelsea Ipsen
Once upon a time we left holidaymakers to their own devices in arguably the GC’s most famous beachside suburb, but off the beaten path – well to be fair, some are still very much on it – locals have been keeping these gems all to themselves for a little too long if you ask us. That’s right, Surfers Paradise is more than a postcard-perfect destination, it’s a lifestyle locals love to embrace, because why should we leave all the fun to the tourists! So now we’re here to spill the beans on all the reasons locals can’t get enough of Surfers Paradise.
For all-in-one spots
Surfers Paradise does convenience like a pro with destinations where you can shop, eat, and play all in one spot. Paradise Centre is a beachside fave with a mix of fashion, food, and fun, right at your fingertips in the heart of Cavill Mall. Just a short stroll away you’ll find Soul Boardwalk where laidback vibes met beachside dining and retail therapy aplenty – because what better way to get the food digesting than with a shopping moment.
If an urban escape is more up your alley then pop on over to Chevron Renaissance for all your boutique shopping needs, whether it’s a bite to eat, to grab groceries for the week, a new fit for that special event or a pedicure pamper moment your wish is their command. The two hour free parking is also a big drawcard!
All-you-can eats
If you’re in the market for a buffet that’ll bowl you over then you’ve come to the right place because at this point buffet should be Surfers Paradise’s middle name.
Locals know that they’ve got the buffet game locked down so if you’re up for eating so much seafood you’ll need to unbutton your pants to fit in another plate then Citrique at the JW Marriott has your name all over it.
Just down the highway you’ll find a bustling international market that dreams (and hungry bellies) are made of with QT Gold Coast’s iconic Bazaar Marketplace experience.
Edging on the cusp of neighbouring Broady, Horizon Sky Dining might have pretty much everything on the menu but what about revolving panoramic views of the Gold Coast? They’ve got those two and we’ll take a plate of both thank you very much.
For your morning sips
If you’re anything like us, the day doesn’t start until coffee has been sipped. Kickstart your day with the perfect brew at ESPL Coffee. This beachside gem is great for delicious bites with a friendly vibe.
If you’re seeking people who are serious about coffee, Paradox Coffee Roasters is the destination you seek. They are committed to producing the highest quality coffee there is — just ask the locals!
Like your morning sip with a side of epic treats? Janus Bakehouse is for you… don’t mind us drooling just thinking about it.
To escape the hustle & bustle head to Bumbles. Budds Beach has long been a local secret but there’s good reason why Gold Coasters have been flocking to this hot spot for 10+ years. Get your coffee fix, some snacks and set up on the edge of Budds Beach for the ultimate start to the day.
For you harder sips
Fancy a cocktail (or five)? Well you’ve come to the right place because Surfers is a cocktail connoisseur’s dream come true. After sunset – okay maybe before too – Surfers turns into a cocktail connoisseur’s playground.
Lulu Rooftop is the newest addition to the scene, serving up a funky art deco aesthetic alongside sophisticated sips.
Sports fan? Hit up The Sporting Globe to get all the sporting action live and loud or get ready to yeehaw and let loose at Cowboys, with a bucking bull taking pride of place the Americana vibes are vibing.
Okay party people, we hear you asking where to go get Gold Coast vibes going and it’s obviously got to be Cali Beach Club – it’s giving European inspired beach party so you’re guaranteed a good time. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it we say, so it’s no wonder locals keep going back for more at The Island Rooftop, an institution for good reason you can’t beat the open air and the huge beverage list never fails us.
For drinks with a view Surfers Pavilion has nailed casual waterfront meets ‘I don’t want to leave yet’ as it overlooks the canal so you can watch the boats drift by. Hinterland your preferred view? Well, The Exhibitionist Bar’s got them aplenty, actually they’ve got panoramic sight of the whole GC so take your pick. Back over on the beachside Coast Beach Bar are home to some of the best marg’s on the GC and even better views of the suburb’s namesake beach.
For casual eats
Sometimes you just want to keep it low-key and you know what, that doesn’t have to mean that the flavours are low-key too. You go-to for authentic Thai flavours has got to be Sura Thai, dine in to make the most of the cosy and authentic feel or grab your favourites to-go. Shiraz Persian Restaurant has become known as the Coast’s best Middle Eastern bites with aromatic Persian dishes like tender kebabs gracing the menu.
Don’t sleep on Velaa’s Asian fusion fare from classic poke bowls and new flavours like their signature Thai Milk Tea Parfait (uh, YUM) just waiting for you to discover.
We like big burgers and we cannot lie so Wahlburgers is a must-try for us, plus you might even sneak a peek at Mark Wahlburg when he’s in town next if you’re lucky!
Alright, this one is definitely loved by more than just locals, HOTA’s Markets are the ultimate hangout to ring in Sunday Funday, pick up all the local farm fresh produce and flowers your heard desires and then grab a bite (we’re looking at you, Mio Wraps) and a sweet treat for the road and thank us later.
For something a little bit fancy
Now’s the time to bust out your best fancy fit because Surfers has some pretty boujee spots up their sleeves.
Nestled beneath the HOTA Gallery, Palette proves that fine dining is back, baby! Treat yourself to the degustation for the full experience, with dishes and cocktails inspired by the each gallery exhibition you need to see it – or taste it – to believe it.
The buffet is always a winner at Citrique, but have you tried their a la carte? Take this as your sign to snag a seat and let the food come to you while you spoil yourself with the Chef’s Signature Bay Bug Dumplings (life-changing) or some chargrilled Australian Wagyu.
Elevated Thai is the word at Nahm Talay Thai, all your regular favourites but even better and cocktails that are just begging to be instagrammed – bonus point for the beach front views.
Let the good times roll
Surfers Paradise isn’t short on adrenaline or intrigue and it doesn’t matter if it’s your first or 50th time visiting, they still pack the same punch in our humble opinion.
Scale SkyPoint for unbeatable views atop the Q1, chill out (literally) at the IceBar and get a moment to reflect at the Mirror Bar – see what we did there.
If you’d rather enter another dimension for a little while then Infinity is begging for you to explore their mysterious maze or drop into Other World HQ and escape the ordinary with mind-bending interactive games and escape rooms. Test your team work (and maybe patience) at Eclipse Escape Rooms and Fox in a Box, go on – put that big ol’ brain to work.
We’re partial to a trip down nostalgia lane so we’re always down to battle it out at Timezone, and when there’s fun for all ages on the menu how could you not! Feeling flighty? Take a literal leap of faith at iFly and get a taste of indoor skydiving before you brave the great outdoors.
Gosh all that exploring calls with some pampering to finish the day, but not without its quirks! Barefoot Fish have tanks full of fish – yep, real live fish – just waiting for you to dip in for a soak so they can get rid of any dry or dead skin and leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed.
Words by Jacqueline Bojanowski
