Best of the Gold Coast 2019: The Gold Coast’s top ten rooftop bars
Savour oceans views or sip spritzers amid the skyscrapers — these alfresco attractions are next level. These are the Gold Coast’s 10 best rooftop bars.
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SAVOUR oceans views or sip spritzers amid the skyscrapers — these alfresco attractions are next level. These are the Gold Coast’s 10 best rooftop bars.
Nineteen at the Star
Level 19, The Darling at the Star Gold Coast
Casino Drive, Broadbeach
It’s no exaggeration to say Nineteen at the Star took our social scene by storm with its opening just in time for the Commonwealth Games.
Laying claim to being the city’s highest rooftop bar, Nineteen surveys the Gold Coast skyline beyond its sparkling infinity pool and has already hosted its fair share of A-listers including sprint superstar Usain Bolt and Hollywood hotties Margot Robbie and Chris Hemsworth.
The vantage point is also home to the first-rate Nineteen restaurant but you don’t need a restaurant booking to visit the bar and soak in the view.
The queues to get in can sometimes be daunting but the best tip, according to events co-ordinator Shae Mastroianni, is to go early. The bar opens at 4pm Thursday and Friday and 3pm on weekends.
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“Definitely the late afternoon is the best time to take in the view,” Shae says. “You can see the sun go down and the lights come on. It’s a lovely time of the day.”
It also happens to coincide with Nineteen’s sunset “hour” from 5pm-7pm when drinks are discounted by 30 per cent.
If you visit on a Saturday and are partial to Italian cocktails, be sure to check out the current “Bellini Saturday” promotion where you can enjoy unlimited Bellinis (there are three flavours to try) between 3pm-6pm with an accompanying share platter.
For the full Nineteen experience, Shae recommends booking a booth which comes with a minimum spend requirement depending on numbers, but provides full bottle service.
A DJ provides the laid-back vibes from 5pm, tag teaming with a different DJ at 9pm when the music — and the crowds — step up a notch or two.
The venue is co-owned by veteran Gold Coast nightspot guru Billy Cross so be sure to wear your dancing shoes — you never know who you might run into on the dance floor.
Gotham
6 Bayview Street, Runaway Bay
Gotham’s rooftop is a firm favourite with the northern crowd who can barely remember where they used to go for sundowners.
With the New York bistro-style Gotham Grill downstairs, the rooftop bar offers a stylish alfresco setting for drinks and more casual dining — share plates, pizzas, fresh seafood and burgers.
Co-owner Daniel Ridgeway says the live music Sunday sessions, featuring a rotating schedule of acoustic artists from 2pm, are the perfect way to end the weekend.
And, hot off the press, the rooftop’s popular Thursday night comedy sessions will also be starting up again next month.
Bar Hellenika
2235 Gold Coast Hwy, Nobby Beach
Bar Hellenika is one of the hippest meeting spots along the Nobbys strip.
Not yet a year old, this Greek-style rooftop haven, with retractable roof, is the place to enjoy the sunset over the hinterland, sipping on an edgy cocktail and enjoying some of Hellenika’s signature mezze dishes including the iconic zucchini chips, saganaki, dolmades and calamari. In breaking news, after the January holiday rush, owner Simon Gloftis will soon be offering his full Hellenika menu on the rooftop as well.
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“There were so many people downstairs asking if they could eat on the rooftop that I decided to offer the full menu at both,” he says.
“I love it that people carry their drink downstairs to eat and then head back upstairs afterwards.
Now we’ll just have a more formal and a more casual place to eat — people can decide what suits them.”
The Greeks were the inventors of democracy after all.
Skyline Rooftop Bar
Level 1/3206 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
Just two months after opening, this cool rooftop has stamped itself as a prime perch above the madding crowds in Surfers.
Sitting atop Waxy’s Irish Pub, Skyline loves its champagne. You’ll find Veuve, Chandon, a selection of French bubbles and some fine Aussie sparkling wines to boot.
The tasty share plate menu includes warm lobster brioche rolls, barbecued pulled duck baos and chimichurri lamb shoulder.
This is the place to enjoy live music in a light-filled indoor space with plenty of sunny spots to relax in the alfresco courtyard.
It’s also available for funky functions. Plans are now in full swing for all three days of the Australia Day long weekend.
The Island Rooftop
3128 Surfers Paradise Blvd, Surfers Paradise
In the heart of Surfers Paradise, the popular Island Rooftop offers an alfresco playground of potted palms, beach umbrellas and fairy lights, taking in the Surfers Paradise skyline and coastline to Main Beach.
It is the spot to catch live music, DJs and funky Sunday sessions from 12 noon.
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For something a little different, marketing co-ordinator Jessica Dalton highly recommends tomorrow’s monthly drag brunch from 11:30am-2:30pm hosted by two drag entertainers who put on an interactive show and make sure a good time is had by all.
Preparations are also well underway for the Aperol Australia Daycation on the rooftop next Saturday.
There’ll be a line-up of DJs and live bands from midday until late, where spritzers and tasty food combos will abound.
The Collective Palm Beach Rooftop
1128 Gold Coast Hwy, Palm Beach
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This popular Palm Beach haunt is perfect for a relaxed summer afternoon, kicking on into a vibrant night under the stars.
The Collective’s rooftop bar offers live music between 3pm and 6pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
They’re pretty serious about their beverages there too.
Co-owner Jeremy Davidson says the cocktail syrups are meticulously made in house to ensure premium quality tippling.
The bar staff are always up for a bit of banter and will happily advise on the dizzying list of cocktails, spirits and brews.
Indulge in the bar menu or venture downstairs for an array of dining choices that will certainly tick any box.
Mr PP’s
43 Nerang Street, Southport
A cool oasis above the city’s CBD, Mr PP’s is the place for post-work relaxing and casual weekend drinks.
Weather-proofed by a retractable roof, you’ll find specialist European deli goodies making an appearance on platters, gourmet pizzas and the concise menu of mains.
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There’s a well-curated drinks list and a fine selection of classic and contemporary cocktails. Visit for the regular Long Lunch Fridays or catch the venue’s DJ on a Saturday night for a nightspot vibe.
But co-owner Ben Howe highly recommends the chilled Sunday sessions from 2pm where local musos provide afternoon beats with pizzas in the sun, cocktail jug deals and happy hour prices all afternoon.
Aviary Rooftop Bar
Southport Sharks
5 Melia Court, Southport
It’s hard to beat the views at this stylish space on top of the Mantra at Sharks hotel.
With the hinterland one way and the Surfers Paradise skyline the other, it offers a stunning perspective of the Coast.
For a true open air experience, head out to The Nest, an outdoor green space for sun basking or star gazing.
A new bar menu includes tapas style starters and handmade designer pizzas from the onsite wood fired oven.
There are DJs every Friday and Saturday night from 7pm and Sunday arvo acoustic sessions from 2pm-6pm at The Nest where it’s always worth checking the bar manager’s Cocktail of the Day.
Justin Lane
1708-1710 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
If you haven’t ventured upstairs at this much-loved Burleigh institution lately, you may have missed the new extension, doubling the size of Justin Lane’s rooftop bar.
The space boasts views of iconic Burleigh beach and offers the full Justin Lane menu of Italianesque starters, signature pizzas and pastas.
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Don’t be afraid to venture to the rooftop for lunch at the height of summer.
As well as the breezes from Burleigh beach, misting systems have been installed to keep the atmosphere as cool as the venue.
There’s a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights from 8pm and Sundays from 2pm with a six tap system offering Stone & Wood beers and you’ll find a few unique cocktails on the drinks list as well.
Seascape Rooftop
4 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise
You can’t get much closer to the action in central Surfers although at Seascape’s third level rooftop, it all seems a world away.
With its unrivalled views of the Surfers Paradise shoreline and the Pacific Ocean beyond, the rooftop bar offers a laid-back retreat from the seasonal bustle with an ever-changing tapas menu, quality brews and a snappy wine list.
Opening only in summer when the weather is balmy and the drinks ice cold, the rooftop is not on everyone’s radar.
Venture in the afternoon from 5:30pm for some peaceful sundowners before deciding on whether to dine at the venue’s casual bistro below or the signature Seascape restaurant with its fine contemporary seafood menu.
Originally published as Best of the Gold Coast 2019: The Gold Coast’s top ten rooftop bars
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