Charlie’s Bar and Cafe on Cavill Mall to become Surfers Paradise’s newest Thai restaurant

The iconic space that was once Charlie’s Cafe and Bar in Surfers Paradise is about to be home to the Glitter Strip’s newest Thai restaurant – with a twist. SEE DETAILS

The iconic space that was once Charlie’s Cafe and Bar in Surfers Paradise is about to be home to the Glitter Strip’s newest Thai restaurant – with a twist.

The longstanding venue known to locals as ‘Charlie’s’ closed in April last year after serving the city for more than 40 years on Cavill Mall.

Now more than a year later the empty space is set to undergo a revamp into what restaurateur Pattaree Jiranuchaiwattana says is a “Queensland first” concept.

“We want to do something iconic, because we know people’s expectations of that space will be something iconic,” she said.

Owners Vitchaya Hasitawet and Pattaree Jiranuchaiwattana check the plans for the new space. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“I will bring a Thai night market just like what you see in Thailand to the Gold Coast – from the shop front to the food.”

“Pad Thai and fried rice on the flat grill not in the back of the kitchen – you can see it all and how we do it on the Teppanyaki plate.”

The restaurant will make for Ms Jiranuchaiwattana’s eighth venue with plans to make this one “fun” and “lively” to suit the people and night-life of Surfers Paradise.

“Our menu’s are always different,” she said.

“We see who will eat there so the menu is set to suit people in the area – we aren’t doing the thing we like, we do the thing you like.”

Ms Jiranuchaiwattana said the style will be charcoal grill with beef, pork, in a grab and go concept with seating.

Snapshot of Surfers Paradise waitresses at Charlie's in Cavill Mall. Fernanda Bittencourt, Liliana Damaso and Cristina Skripnikova.

“This won’t be normal Thai at all,” she said.

“You will never see anything like this in Queensland. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

With the lease signed last fortnight Ms Jiranuchaiwattana said construction of the yet-to-be-named venue is due to start early August with a November 1 opening in the pipeline.

Originally published as Charlie’s Bar and Cafe on Cavill Mall to become Surfers Paradise’s newest Thai restaurant