Everyone knows surf-inspired bars are a good time. Primarily because surfers are a good time. Zero worries, zero responsibilities, an undying love of partying, they’ve really got it figured out come to think of it.

So, it’s with very excited typing fingers that we bring you the news of Duke’s Parlour, the brand new bar opening this week in Surfers Paradise.

You’ll find the space on Beach Rd, right next door to Bunk Backpackers which is, of course, very convenient for the backpackers. Side note: it’s one of the coolest budget accommodation options on the Coast if you’re in the market.

But back to the bar. It’s really quite fancy decked out with tan leather lounges and everything from skateboards to boho rugs and nautical inspired goodies adorning the walls. Two pool tables take up an entire section and there are high tables in the middle of the room with plenty of space for a next-level dance floor in the middle.

The entrance is our favourite part, all dark wood and antique, surf-inspired art leading the way into the space where, once inside, you’ll spy a sleek (well-stocked obviously) bar and a neon sign reading PIZZA. Our fave yet. It’s bright and beautifully decked out and no doubt home to many future good times.

You can, of course, order very well priced food including $10 pizzas and quick eats along the lines of burgers, schnitzels and, excitingly, ¼ rotisserie chickens with chips and all for just $12 (each obviously).

As you’d expect, each night is themed for guaranteed fun AND each day of the week sees specials on offer too. What a time to be alive.

Monday is ladies night complete with a professional male strip show, Tuesday is Funky Bunch Trivia night, Wednesday is Pub Crawl night in Surfers so you get free entry all night and Thursday is student night with beer pong. Friday is a Beach Party with Duke’s cocktails and an amateur male strip show (how good), Duke’s Disco is Saturday night and Sunday Sessions take over Sunday.

So yes, that’s a lot of partying to be enjoyed. It’s going to get crazy up in there.

Oh and the bar is named after Duke Kahanamoku, a Hawaiian who’s considered the Godfather of surfing and an all round legend. Look him up.

Brace yourself and prepare to drink like a backpacker at Surfers’ new fave venue.

LOCATION: 6 Beach Rd, Surfers Paradise
HOURS: Monday to Thursday 5pm until late, Friday 3pm until late, Saturday and Sunday 12pm until late

Words and photos by Kirra Smith

Rooftop in Paradise

The largest rooftop bar on the Gold Coast has opened! The Island Rooftop takes full advantage of Gold Coast’s blue skies, green palms and pastel high rises.

Fashioned on vintage California, The Island Rooftop is located in the 1960’s Surfers Paradise icon, Island Resort (previously Islander Resort) which is currently in the midst of a massive refurbishment, with room bookings anticipated to be available by March 2017.

Lush greenery, ocean glimpses, chilled tunes, couches, communal tables and a long bar made from marble, your rooftop essentials are covered. Throw in the high-rise surroundings and the Gold Coast’s forever pleasing weather and you’ve now found a new home for your summer antics (autumn, winter and spring too).

The perfect thing to do in the Gold Coast for those lunch time drinks that go long into the afternoon; you will be able enjoy Mediterranean and modern Caribbean influenced tapas accompanied by some impressive cocktails. The Island Cup (to share.. who’s to say you can’t enjoy one to yourself) concocted with Beefeater gin, elderflower cordial, red grapes, pressed green apple, lemon, mint and soda. Or perhaps the Island Colada, appropriately served in a coconut with Havana 3yo, freshly pressed pineapple, coconut water, coco lopes and coconut sugar blended together.. all the antioxidants.

Bringing back the Sunset Strip vibes to Surfers Paradise, the large and spacious rooftop bar is set to host big name live music events and DJ’s. The expertise of the Katarzyna Group (owners of the likes of Cloudland, Family and Birdees in Brisbane) is a sure sign that The Island Rooftop is going to be a destination venue high on the must do list. And for all the “insiders” out there, there’s even talks of a penthouse nightclub to go on top of the Island!

Rooftop bar, penthouse nightclub, ocean glimpses …The Island is going to leave you saying one thing… welcome to paradise.

3128 Surfers Paradise Boulevard.

Open Wednesday – Sunday 3pm – late

By Amy Merridan

How good is an icy cold beer on a balmy afternoon? Heck, or any afternoon for that matter. Especially right here on the Gold Coast, where not only are we blessed with copious amounts of year-round sunshine, but an increasing array of talented breweries and equally impressive spots to take a load off and enjoy their hard work.

Although the possibilities for lavishing yourself with a great beer are endless, here’s our whittled down top 11 spots (listed north to south) to grab a brew on any (post-lockdown) afternoon you please! Cheers to that.

Fortitude Brewing Company
Fortitude Brewing Company is special because they brew under not one but two names. Fortitude for the dependable beers you enjoy with mates and Noisy Minor for the loud beers we all love now and again. Due to brewing excellent beers, it’s Tamborine Mountain’s best spot for a Sunday sesh. Enjoy hot gourmet pizzas and one of their 14 icy-cold beers while you listen to the live band on the patio.
Beer to sip: Fortitude Pacer — the perfect session pale ale.
Where: 165 Long Rd, North Tamborine

BOB’s Beer
The newest beer stop of the bunch is BOB’s Beer. This highly anticipated first microbrewery in Surfers Paradise opened with an impressive range of beers on tap and an incredible menu filled with bites you might not expect. Positioned on a corner block means there’s also plenty of window seating for watching the world go by outside. Talented (former) Melbourne brewer Ryan Fullerton and his team have created inhouse a lager, IPA, XPA and a Saison among six others, all available on tap (plus six guest taps from around Australia and NZ).
Beer to sip: Turmenator, a brut IPA that’s dry, spicy and tropical with hints of fresh tumeric root and saffron.
Where: 10/2 Elkhorn Avenue, Surfers Paradise

House of Brews
The name says it all. House of Brews has a whopping 32 beers on tap! In fact, they have so many kegs, they’ve even got a ‘keg room display’. If you aren’t a beer lover (sacrilege), there’s every chance if you still head to House of Brews, they’ll make a beer lover out of you. The food menu is inspired by traditional American BBQ so grab yourself some sticky ribs and maybe an Onion Ring Volcano tower. You’ll be one ever so happy afternoon beer drinker.
Beer to sip: Huge selection! Try something — left of centre — from North America if you can.
Where: 17 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise

Bine Bar & Dining
The Gold Coast’s first craft beer bar, Bine, is adored by locals and packed to the brim every single weekend (and often throughout the week). Serving over 100 bottled beers and with eight rotating taps, the folks at Bine know their brews. Not to mention there are food specials daily, including regular 50 cent chicken wings specials every weekday evening! Wash those down with a beer or two, and that’s an excellent way to pass some time by anyone’s standard.
Beer to sip: Something local like Currumbin Valley Brewery.
Where: 1/28 Chairlift Avenue, Nobby Beach

Lost Palms Brewing Co.
The baby of the Gold Coast’s brewery bunch, Lost Palms joined us just four years ago, all bright pink and pretty and with a unique selection of very delicious beers on offer. Currently, you’ll find a Hibiscus and Guava sour and American style mango and passionfruit wheat ale. And if you feel like something a little different and looking after the rig, they’ve even knocked up a peach seltzer brewed from grain and coming in at a marginal 80 calories a serving — that’s just a 25-minute stroll on the treadmill, by the way. They also have a small share-style menu and a basketball hoop so you can both feast and play while you sip.
Beer to sip: Lost Palms Hibiscus & Guava Sour — a sour tropical lolly in a glass.
Where: 11 Oak Avenue, Miami

Precinct Brewing
Bursting onto the Miami arts precinct scene with a rapacious welcome, Precinct Brewing has quickly made itself a solid status as a place to grab a freshly made beer, pull up a stool and forget all of life’s woes. They make matters much more bearable with the tastiest of pizzas, stand-up comedy, and some captivating, limited releases like their recent Lime & Chilli Lager and Manuka Smoked Pilsner — yummy!
Beer to sip: Check out their weekly Friday releases for exclusive flavours!
Where: 17 Christine Avenue, Miami

AWOL
If robust and deep flavoured ales get your heart rate rising, you have to try out Black Hops newest foray into brewing beer. Located a hop, skip and jump away from Black Hops HQ, this new — hidden in plain sight — stylish bar will take your tastebuds on an odyssey with imaginative barrel-aged beers. Ex gin, wine, and whisky barrels from worldwide have been sourced to help produce the Gold Coast’s most inventive brews with some serious ABVS to match. Not for the faint of heart, but nevertheless some seriously great drinking to be had.
Beer to sip: AWOL Rebellion Stout — imperial stout aged in used Tasmanian whisky barrels: delish.
Where: 4 Hibiscus Haven, Burleigh Heads

Black Hops Brewing
What do you get when you mix three mates, a passion for beer and a little know-how? Damn good beer. That’s the story behind Black Hops who have three brewery/taproom sites across Burleigh Heads, Biggera Waters and Brisbane. The boys have worked super hard to build a solid reputation for themselves not just here on the Gold Coast but nationally with multiple awards and trade recognitions. Their original easy-going taproom tucked away in Burleigh Heads is the perfect watering hole when the mercury starts to rise.
Beer to sip: Black Hops Send It Session Ale — light, fruity, and not too strong.
Where: 15 Gardenia Grove, Burleigh Heads and 14 665 Pine Ridge Road, Biggera Waters

Burleigh Brewing Co.
One of the unprecedented and best brewers on the Coast, husband and wife team Brennan and Peta Fielding opened Burleigh Brewing Co. to rave reviews, and it’s been onwards and upwards ever since. The brewery is spacious with lots of outdoor seating and always filled with revellers having an absolute time. When they’re not throwing big events, be sure to slip in for an exceptional selection of craft beers, all of which we’re big fans of.
Beer to sip: Burleigh Brewing Burleigh Bighead — No carb, no-fuss big flavoured thirst quencher.
Where: 2 Ern Harley Drive, Burleigh Heads

Balter Brewing Company
When a gang of pro surfers came together and created an award-winning brewery, Australia sat up and paid attention. And although the original owners may have parted ways with their baby, the beer is still on point, and it’s still the perfect spot to enjoy a few brews with the crew. There’s a sweet outdoor area where the kiddies can run about and weekly food trucks with live music in the evenings. Too hard not to love this spot: plenty of tasty frothies to sample.
Beer to sip: Balter XPA — Balter’s most awarded beer can be yours fresh from the production line.
Where: 14 Traders Way, Currumbin Waters

Craft House Bar & Restaurant
Craft House has the Tugun beer-drinking scene covered with 20 Australian craft beers on tap at any given time. When one tap runs dry, they swap it out for a completely different kind, meaning you can go there often and experience something new. And if you feel like trying as many as possible, you must do one of their tasting paddles. Not to mention their food menu is pretty all-time with share plates aplenty, meaning you might nip in for a quick one but end up staying a little longer.
Beer to sip: Lots of choices — try something you’ve never had before.
Where: 445 Golden Four Drive, Tugun

Words by Alex Mitcheson.