Best of the Gold Coast 2019: 13 of the best Gold Coast Sports Bars
Pull those jerseys out. Footy season has arrived and we’ve found the Gold Coast’s best sports bars so you won’t miss any of the action.
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PULL those jerseys out. Footy season has arrived and we’ve found the Gold Coast’s best sports bars so you won’t miss any of the action.
Bloke in a Bar
Shop B/71B Oasis Shopping Centre
Victoria Avenue, Broadbeach
In most sports bars you’ll find the athletes on the tellies, but in this one he’s behind the bar. Pundits will remember Mudgeeraba product Denan Kemp as the speedy NRL winger who played for the Broncos, Warriors and Dragons. Before that, he was a young Queensland soccer star and a state and national champion in multiple athletics events.
He’s now the founder and host of two enterprises: his cosy Broadbeach sports bar and the popular online sports show The Locker Room. Denan offers his insights for free at both, but the bar is the only place you get to sample his signature crisp Bloke in a Bar beer on tap while you catch the game.
Sports Bar, The Star
Casino Drive, Broadbeach
Too much sport is never enough at the Sports Bar at The Star. With 23 screens delivering global sport round the clock, private VIP booths, full TAB facilities and an outdoor terrace to get your breath back, it has all the bases covered.
Food and beverage manager Richard Gush says a new snack menu has kicked off with the footy season and there’s an extensive range of quality beers on tap.
And just as the selectors are masterminding another blockbuster State of Origin, The Star too is all fired up for the series starting June 5.
“We’ll be running buffet barbecues on the terrace for our State of Origin guests so they can get fed and fuelled before the game,” Richard says.
Mark it on the calendar and get warmed up with some Friday Night Footy where fans can win $1000 by purchasing a selected drink at the bar and going into a lucky draw for a chance to spin the wheel.
If you’re up for a wager, there are 12 dedicated screens in the TAB area with three Orion and four self-serve TAB terminals.
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#4211Sportzbar
69 Nerang Street, Nerang
Nerang RSL’s sports bar is leading the way in sport-watching technology.
The #4211Sportzbar has 52 screens with nine Foxtel channels and one seriously big screen.
The bar’s state-of-the-art sound directional ceiling and smart phone connectability means you never miss any of the action, no matter what side of the room you’re on.
“Our Sportz Theatre boasts a massive 5m screen, six huge surrounding screens, in play live-betting odds displays and terminals, directional sound tiles and the Flexicast listen app, which allows our guests to listen to the audio they want to hear when not viewing the main screen,” Nerang RSL supervisor Sharni Mott says.
Mermaid Beach Tavern Sports Bar
2500 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach
The atmosphere is electric at Mermaid Beach Tavern sports bar when there’s a big match on. While the dining and children’s play area is closed upstairs for renovations, locals are still heading along to the downstairs sports bar to catch the country’s — and the world’s — biggest sporting events.
“We’ve got all the Foxtel channels, and the Sky channels,” manager Brenden Kelly says. “It’s a sports bar with good betting facilities. People come in for the NRL and AFL, that’s the big one for followers, and all the UFC’s popular. Everyone gets among their teams and follows their football sides.”
The Boardwalk Tavern Sports Bar
Hope Island Shopping Centre, 8 Santa Barbara Road, Hope Island
The Boardwalk Tavern boasts 16 TVs with Foxtel channels, a TAB and Keno facilities spread out across its three bar areas, but it’s what’s coming out of the kitchen during game time that has developed a fan base.
“For Friday Night Footy we do $5 wing baskets and $10 for wings and an Iron Jack schooner between 5 and 9pm,” marketing manager Anna O’Neill says.
The tavern even has a television on the deck for when you’re out for a family meal but want to keep a sneaky eye on the game.
“You can watch footy in the whole complex,” Anna says. “We show the lot — NRL, AFL, the rugby 15, golf, basketball, cricket.”
Crafty’s Sports Bar
Harbour Town, 147-189 Brisbane Road, Biggera Waters
This sports bar within the Harbour Town dining complex is tipping the typical pub atmosphere on its head.
Crafty’s Sports Bar general manager Shannon Baier-Dry says the venue caters to women and families too with a more sophisticated environment.
“The whole idea behind Crafty’s was to take a genre of bar that has been the same for so long and reinvent it,” Shannon says. “It’s an all inclusive, fun dining space and is also a place you can watch sport.”
Since opening late last year, Shannon says Crafty’s biggest sporting spectator event was the Superbowl in February.
“That was a huge success — we had 250 people here for it. And it really suits our American-inspired menu.”
Helm Bar and Bistro
30-34 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise
Helm Bar and Bistro can already predict the odds on its venue being packed for the race that stops the nation in eight months.
“The sports season is really heating up and we are looking forward to another action-packed season,” marketing manager Patrik Holmkvist says.
“It won’t be long and we will be getting revved up for State of Origin, celebrating our huge Festival Of The Boot grand final weekend in September and, of course, Melbourne Cup in November.”
The Surfers Paradise bar and restaurant is equipped with 16 huge plasma screens with cable channels, two service bars and free parking onsite. It can accommodate 300 patrons.
1st on Wharf
Twin Towns, Tweed Heads
There’s nothing worse than being on the edge of your seat as a player kicks a potential goal and someone plonks themselves down in front of you, blocking your view.
Twin Towns’ 1st on Wharf sports bar has tiered levels of viewing, meaning you’ll never miss that game-defining moment.
“It lends itself to really comfortable watching,” marketing manager Paul Prout says.
There’s a full range of sport available, with Optus sport streaming, NRL, AFL, EPL, cricket and Sky racing.
You don’t need to be a member to visit 1st on Wharf, so you can pop in at your leisure.
The bar is also offering fans the opportunity to go in the running to win tickets, flights and accommodation to the NRL or AFL grand final.
First Avenue Tavern
Crowne Plaza, corner of Gold Coast Highway and First Avenue, Surfers Paradise
First Avenue Tavern is a casual sports bar providing a welcoming atmosphere for families, tourists and locals.
The Tavern has eight high definition screens airing FoxSport, ESPN and Sky Racing, and patrons are encouraged to let the staff know what they’d like to watch.
“First Avenue Tavern is next to Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise resort, featuring a relaxed atmosphere that resonates with locals and hotel guests alike,” tavern manager Scott Bryant says. “You’ll catch all the action from all the major codes.”
First Avenue Tavern also hosts live music every second Friday, meat tray giveaways every Friday and features a bistro menu of comforting classics.
Locals can join the loyalty program for discounted meals and competitions.
Mackenzie’s Sports Bar, Southport Sharks
Corner Olsen and Musgrave Avenues, Southport
Mackenzie’s Sports bar is in a league of its own.
The sports club is home to the North East AFL club the Southport Sharks, so it seems fitting it has excellent facilities for viewing local, national and international sport.
Mackenzie’s has dedicated AFL coverage on its LED TVs and a massive 5.35sq m screen in its beer garden.
There’s also TAB facilities and continuous LED newswire feeds for the latest sporting news and results.
The sports bar is proud of its 44-year history, named after 1974 club president Alan “Doc” Mackenzie, and features memorabilia of its colourful past on the walls.
Harry’s Sports Bar, Harry’s Steak House
1744 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads
This venue is a new contender on the sports bar scene, but it’s already proving it can match it with the best of them.
Harry’s Sports Bar is attached to Burleigh restaurant Harry’s Steak House and offers a boutique experience for catching live sport.
Co-owner Pete Taylor says the bar has already served a full house with the screening of some major events since opening.
“We opened six weeks ago and already have had an amazing response from the local community,” Pete says. “Definite highlights have been UFC 234 and 235, the Broncos versus The Storm opening NRL game of the year and The Melbourne F1 Grand Prix.”
Harry’s Sports bar has five TV screens with channels for the NRL, AFL, NFL, NBA, UFC, cricket and more in its 65-seat bar.
Coolangatta Hotel Beach Bar
Corner Warner St and Marine Pde, Coolangatta
It’s a no-brainer for sports fans on the southern end of the Coast to head to the Cooly Hotel to catch live sport action on its 21 screens.
Its proximity to the border makes for atmospheric interstate clashes and the Beach Bar has hosted many a memorable Origin night for hundreds of Maroon and Blue patrons.
Every Saturday, the Punters’ Club fires up to broadcast races from tracks around Australia with full TAB and Ubet facilities.
The big screens also show all UFC and major boxing events live, the footy codes, cricket (including the IPL), the English Premier League, motorsports and major calendar events.
And if you can tear your eyes from the sport at halftime, the beachfront view isn’t half bad either.
Burleigh Bears Leagues Club
80 Pacific Avenue, Miami
Yes, there are screens but this thriving not-for-profit community club offers the buzz of live game day action on the adjacent footy ground, with great views from the comfort of the clubhouse.
“I came here in 1995 and I thought I’d died and gone to heaven,” manager Ian Amos says.
The Burleigh Bears main oval hosts matches in more than half a dozen comps, including the Intrust Super Cup, Under 18 and 16 state comps and the women’s league where the local girls have won the premiership for four years in a row.
When there’s no game outside, there’s big screen sports action from around the globe inside, full TAB facilities and great value food and drink seven days a week.
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