It’s neon impossible to have a bad time at Tropic Vice 2.0.
It’s neon impossible to have a bad time at Tropic Vice 2.0.
Get ready to have a very vice time, because the new look Tropic Vice is back, baby! It’s been a tough few months trying to fill that bottomless-marg shaped hole in our lives, but after a brief hiatus the hottest bar in 4218 is back, with a revamp so glam it’s neon impossible to have a bad time.
Being blessed with a veritable buffet of glorious Queensland sunshine to bask in, us Gold Coasters can be a bit of a fickle bunch when it comes to the slightest hint of rain on our parade, which is understandable when you’ve spent all afternoon on your hair and make up, tbh.
When it opened its doors in late 2021 Tropic Vice quickly established itself as a buzzing hotspot nestled right in among the action of the Nobby beach scene. The venue had all the ingredients for success – funky Palm Springs vibes meets the unbeatable atmosphere of a rooftop vantage, serving up Florribean bites in the heart of one of the hottest suburbs in town.
But an uncharacteristically wild and wet 2021 put a dampener on the success of the open-air venue, with owner Jimmy Tantsis-Hall crunching losses of around 6000 people through their booking system in less than six months! Normally not one to leave his customers high and dry, that was exactly what was needed to transform this Nobby’s gem into an all-weather destination for Gold Coasters to come and tropic like it’s hot no matter the forecast.
With an impressive 17 years of hospitality experience, Jimmy knows a thing or two about keeping customer’s spirits high. Collaborating with builder Ben Daly of Daly Projects to bring a reimagined Tropic Vice to life, the two combined their collective expertise to deliver Jimmy’s vision for the brand new look. The brief was to bring the best of 80’s decor into today while staying true to our coastal surrounds, creating that irresistible sophisticated yet casual dining experience we Gold Coasters love.
One step into the chic new space will have you feeling like you’ve been transported for your very own #lights-camera-action moment on an 80’s Miami film set, with cascading greenery set against lush white lines and of course – a moment for those retro pastel accents, please! (It’s BYO main character energy, tho). Cosy up with a marg as the sun sinks lower, and you’ll be rewarded with all those trademark neons illuminating the way to impeccable vibes quicker than you can say #chillinlikeavillian.
Settle in and pick your way though the extensive pecking menu, with fresh, irresistible bites like Mozzarella Jalapeno Poppers, Truffle Fries and Tropical Kingfish Ceviche on offer. We’re also imagining the Bug Roll loaded with zesty fresh herbs and house mayo will be another option going down a treat for all those lo-ong lunches and breezy, sun-drenched afternoons. If you’re still in the mood for a more, the Beer Battered Fish Taco or the un-brie-lievable pairing of Beef & Brie Sliders layered with caramelised onion, tomato, lettuce, garlic aioli will also be hard to go past.
As if you need any more reason to trop-ic everything and head on down, the aptly dubbed Sunset Hour happy hour specials that run Wednesday – Friday 4 – 6.30pm are definitely worth checking out. Prefer to take it slow? If you ask us, the lazy $99 Bottomless margarita lunch Sundays sound like just about the best way to trop off your weekend. Trust us when we say you’ll want to sip into something a little more comfortable and check out the tropi-cool vibes the fresh new Tropic Vice is dishing up, pronto.
Where: 2215 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach
When: Wednesday/Thursday 4 – late, Fri 2pm – Late, Saturday/Sunday 12pm – late
Words by Kellie Leader.
