Gold Coast hospitality head reveals why rooftop bars are better in the suburbs

When you’re looking for a bite and brew from one of the region’s open-air watering holes, where do you go? A hospitality owner reveals why rooftop bars are better in the suburbs.

BEN Howe, owner of Mr PP’s Deli and Rooftop Bar in Southport, can’t quite put his finger on why people love throwing back a cocktail up above.

“People really love rooftops for some reason,” Mr Howe says.

“Psychologically, I don’t know why people love it. But it’s really nice.”

Not only that, Mr Howe says his customers are more than happy to sip in the heart of Southport and take in the urban sprawl instead of having a bird’s-eye view of the beach.

“The best thing is a lot of the other rooftops are on the highway. (With) ours, the street in front is just a tramline,” he said.

SNEAK PEAK INSIDE COAST’S NEWEST ROOFTOP BAR

Mr PP's Deli and Rooftop serves drinks and nibbles overlooking Southport CBD. Picture: Mike Batterham

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“There’s no car traffic, you hear that ding ding of the tram, it feels like you’re in Melbourne.

“You get this urban cityscape view, with views of the Southport tram station, Chinatown and the old ambulance station, through the CBD and northern Surfers Paradise.

“It’s one of the only rooftop bars where you get that real city feeling, even though you’re only one storey up.”

When you’re looking to indulge in a bite and brew from one of the region’s open-air playgrounds, where do you go?

Today in Best of the Gold Coast, we reveal 13 of the city’s best rooftop bars and restaurants.

From swish Nineteen at the Star to glitter strip oasis The Island Rooftop, there’s a tipple from the top level with your name on it.

Check it out in Gold Coast Eye magazine in today’s Bulletin.