Check out Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats.
Check out Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats.
We Gold Coasters are the kind of folks who don’t mind getting a little bit dressed up and heading out for a tipple or two somewhere special.
Particularly when that somewhere special is a place we haven’t been before.
Enter Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats, Surfers’ new cocktail bar and eatery found within the stunning surrounds of Hilton Surfers Paradise.
Having only opened within the last little while, the new space is the perfect spot for an afternoon of sipping and snacking with a side of people watching and what could be better honestly?
Found on Orchid Avenue, Ms Margots overlooks the bustling street but inside is sleek and relaxing, all white tiles and a textured feature wall.
Plus of course, a stunning fully stocked bar.
The newbies catch-cry is ‘anytime’s a good time’ and we wholeheartedly agree.
In terms of eats, you can head in early for a spot of breakfast, a tad later for brunch or simply an evening snack.
The menu is made up of all kinds of high quality goodies, which is exactly what you’d expect from an eatery within such a prestigious establishment.
For example there’s Grilled King Prawns with kaffir lime and coconut dressing, green papaya and peanuts, Haloumi Fries with chipotle mayo and pomegranate glaze and a Tempura Bug Roll on a milk bun with Sriracha mayo and cos lettuce.
If you’re after something a little larger there’s Fillets of Barramundi battered in Lovedale Lager with caper mayo, Prawn and Pork Nachos and a Chargrilled Steak with harissa butter, asparagus, tarragon and drunken shallots.
There are also a range of pizzas to choose from and some extremely interesting (and yummy) desserts like Arancini Vanilla Crème Patisserie (which roughly translates to sweet rice balls) in three flavours – pistachio, dark chocolate and mixed berry.
To drink, there are many a tasty cocktail including our favourite, the Dane-gerous Tide with Havana Club Anejo 3yr rum, agave nectar, fresh chilli and lime juice and the Garden of Eve with Brookies Dry Gin, Elderflower, cucumber juice, lime juice, fresh basil and sugar cane syrup.
They’re all amazing though honestly.
How exciting is a brand new bar that we can stand up in.
Get down to Ms Margot’s Bar & Eats and experience it all for yourself.
We’re big fans.
LOCATION: Hilton Surfers Paradise, 6 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise
HOURS: From 7am until late
Words and photos by Kirra Smith
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
