Relax in a private cabana at QT Gold Coast.
Relax in a private cabana at QT Gold Coast.
As Gold Coast locals, there aren’t too many places we can relax by the pool with a bar close by and fancy cabanas to ensure both privacy and comfort.
Until now. QT Gold Coast has recently unveiled their new-look Palm Springs-inspired pool complete with, you guessed it, a beautiful bar and private cabanas and you don’t need to be a hotel guest to enjoy it.
Brought to life by famed designer Nic Graham, who also designs QT Hotels across the world, the popular Surfers Paradise hotel opened the new space recently and you should absolutely pop in for a splash and a cocktail or two ASAP.
Complete with black and white striped umbrellas, a minimal courtyard palette of chalky white paving and furniture, planters filled with succulents, a grassy lawn and pergola area along with a new courtyard bar – the team have created spaces quintessential with the Queensland lifestyle.
We love.
Now of course, when you’re visiting, you’ll want to hire a private cabana and there are three packages to choose from.
The first – Bikini Chic – comes with a QT cooler including two bottles of sparkling water, a chilled face spritz and 50+ SPF sunscreen, a seasonal fruit platter and a chilled bottle of Petit Cordon sparkling wine or a share cocktail jug. That’s $145 per day.
Then there’s the Poolside Cool with all of the above plus a trio of dips, a chilled bottle of Moët Ice Impérial and a cooling eye and face rescue treatment from spaQ (15 minutes per person). All that for $270 per day.
Lastly, the Aquatic Luxe includes everything that comes with Poolside Cool but you’ll be sipping on a chilled bottle of Veuve Clicquot Rich and you’ll get a tension relief neck and shoulder massage and cold towel (15mins per person) plus a foot and leg massage with cold towel (15 mins per person). So that’s amazing and $360 per day.
Of course, there are tasty things to nibble on too.
Hero dishes poolside include Crab and Bug rolls, Midori Splice Popsicles, Salmon Miso Churashio Tacos, Watermelon Pops with Bacardi, pomegranate and mint and Grilled Halloumi Sticks. All of our favorite things.
You can also indulge in a Bottomless Aperol High Tea on the Terrace for just $49pp for High Tea plus $25pp for bottomless Aperol.
If you’re in the market for a little escape from reality for a day, look no further than QT Gold Coast’s new pool and bar.
It’s the perfect way to treat yourself this summer.
LOCATION: QT Gold Coast, 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
Words by Kirra Smith. Photos supplied.
Although technically referred to as a buffet Bazaar, at QT Gold Coast, is a far cry from the soggy salads and tough-as-nails roast meat you experienced at the local for your Nan’s 80th.
No, Bazaar offers the type of buffet you have to see to believe with a menu that changes daily and an array of dishes that will show you the true meaning of the words ‘food coma’.
Unlike anything else on the Gold Coast Bazaar is a contemporary space in a self-described “deluxe street food setting”. It’s your one stop shop for taste-testing dishes from across the world, all of which will knock your socks off.
They say you first eat with your eyes and as soon as you enter the food-filled space you’ll understand why. Beautiful wooden benches laden with colourful, perfectly presented foods are spread out in front of you with Chefs at the ready to answer any queries or perhaps whip up a steak, cooked exactly as you like it, on the spot.
A cabinet filled with dried, hanging meats sets the scene and leads the way to the first section filled with woks, crock pots and baskets of everything from Seafood Paella to cauliflower Gratin, whole fish and warm, wintery vegetable soup.
Moving on, there’s a charcuterie section stacked high with crumbling cheeses, plump olives and many a variety of meat. Save that section for after dessert if you still have space. Next, a bench filled with an array of colourful salads and choices of additional goodies like capers and tiny Cornichons. Moving around the bench you’ll find an abundance of fresh seafood from king prawns to fresh oysters and crab. On your next round load your plate up with a fresh stir-fry, curry or meat-filled, deep fried eggplants and of course a prawn cracker or two.
Now you’re suitably stuffed, its dessert time! An entire wall is dedicated to your favourite sweet treats and the choices are mind-blowing. A soft serve laden with smarties and soft lollies maybe? Or why not try a piece of one of the many whole cakes and tarts (hello Banoffee Pie and gooey chocolate brownies). Shelves filled with citrus slices and tiny jars oozing chocolate cake and melting marshmallows are difficult to ignore while bowls filled with miniature macaroons will have you returning again and again.
Everything you can imagine is real at Bazaar. It truly is a treat for your senses so stretch those stomach muscles and prepare to be blown away.
HOURS: Breakfast: 6:30am to 10:30am
Dinner: 5:30pm to 9:00pm
Sunday Lunch: 12:00pm to 3:00pm
LOCATION: QT Gold Coast, 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise.
Words by Kirra Smith.
New Year, New You is a thing people say a lot but we’re willing to bet the one thing that’s the same about you is that you love cocktails just as much as you did just a few short weeks ago. Same.
But you want to be healthy and fabulous too right? Also same.
Here’s the answer friends (and yes it involves cocktails). Stingray Lounge at QT Gold Coast, have been busy concocting green cocktails so you may drink to your little hearts’ content but also rest assured that you are consuming something you need not feel guilty about. Best.
The gang at Stingray, one of the most fun cocktail bars on the Coast, have come up with an entire list of green cocktails jam-packed with just the right amount of wellness punch to get you through the month of January and we are very happy about it.
Choose from a selection of cocktails infused with superfood ingredients, like the Cucumber Dill Collins, which is made up of Dill-infused Tanqueray Gin, fresh lime, cucumber juice and topped with Capi Sparkling. The Spirulina Sour with organic quinoa vodka, Charlie’s Spirulina fruit mix, chickpea water and fresh lemon (YUM). There’s also the Green Machine Margarita with jalapeno infused Espolon Tequila, kale juice and organic blue agave.
What a treat.
Plus, if you’re really in the mood for a new year overhaul, QT Gold Coast have joined up with local crew Vertex Training so you can burn off any extra cocktails you may find yourself indulging in.
Because said cocktails are good for you so you can drink as many as you like. Probably.
Vertex Training are masters in the arts of both group fitness and personal training so you can go solo if that’s your jam or share the love with your gal pals.
Who you’ll also share cocktails with.
Love you cocktails.
Cheers Stingray, we like the new us.
LOCATION: QT Gold Coast, 7 Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise
Words by Kirra Smith
It’s difficult to name many things that are better than a Japanese food feast. In fact, the only one that springs to mind is a Japanese food feast paired with the finest of Japanese whisky.
Which is lucky because that combination is a thing you can get amongst at Yamagen Japanese Restaurant in Surfers Paradise in March.
That’s right lovers of all things delicious and alcoholic, you’re invited to partake in what may just be the dinner event of the year and yes, we’re calling it early and yes, we’re usually right about things that are delicious and alcoholic.
The six-course degustation is made up of Yamagen’s finest culinary fare and perfectly paired with six Suntory whiskies from the famed Japanese distillery’s portfolio.
Dan Woolley, Beam Suntory’s Australian Whisky Ambassador (best job ever) hosts the evening, introducing guests to the world of next-level whisky including the history and how to properly sniff* the flavours (*not the technical term). It’s all very interesting as it turns out.
While absolutely everything that passes your lips at Yamagen is worth raving about, we definitely had a couple of favourites.
The Sakura Smoked Ocean Trout with negi, fennel, crispy leek, ikura and lime zest is all the very best things in the world and paired with a Hakushu Distillers Reserve, it’s a party in your mouth.
The second dish we loved was the Wagyu Beef Sirloin, which is a Darling Downs Kobe cut with buckwheat, edamame, shiitake and yakiniku. That guy is paired with the Yamazaki 12 year and it might be just be our favourite combo since cheese and wine.
Of course, every single pairing is a pure delight but we better leave some to the imagination.
If you haven’t had the pleasure of dining at QT Hotel’s cutting edge restaurant, do yourself a favour and let this be your introduction. If you have, well, you’ll understand just how good the Yamagen Whisky Dinner is going to be.
Fun fact: Suntory created the first Japanese whisky back in the 1920’s and the demand for it is so high that there may just be a drought in the not too distant future.
Which is even more reason to get your tickets for Yamagen’s Whisky Dinner RIGHT NOW.
Tickets are just $99 per person and you can get yours here!
DATE: Tuesday April 19th from 6.30pm
Words by Kirra Smith
