New Surfers Paradise bar and restaurant Driftwood Social comes with free pool use and gorgeous river views

A luxury pool, cocktails and all the inflatable pink flamingoes you could ever need? Check out Surfers Paradise’s new pool bar and restaurant made for floating the summer days away.

The new Driftwood Social overlooks the Nerang River and has a perfect west facing aspect for sunsets. Photo: Driftwood Social Facebook

SIPPING cocktails and nibbling treats poolside is a dream many of us share, but it’s usually only fulfilled on holidays.

Thankfully, a Surfers Paradise bar and restaurant is bringing vacation vibes to the everyday with a poolside venue for locals to enjoy.

Driftwood Social is the new watering hole and eatery attached to Vibe Hotel on Ferny Avenue.

With gorgeous river views, an enticing menu and a pool for dipping at your disposal, TFE Hotels chief operating officer Chris Sedgwick says it’s a winning combination.

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Luxury pool? Tick. River views? Tick. Cocktail list and share food? Tick. Driftwood Social is a new pool bar open in Surfers Paradise attached to the Vibe Hotel.

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“It’s centrally located in the heart of Surfers Paradise and has direct access to the Nerang River,” Chris says.

“Our idea was to create a vibrant entertainment and dining venue that drew inspiration from the Gold Coast’s famous surf culture and also from the venue’s absolute river frontage.”

Chris says the idea of the venue is as the name suggests — for guests to leisurely float around enjoying the food, drinks and atmosphere.

“Put simply, Driftwood Social is a place to drift in and out of regardless of time of day, have a swim and be social with old friends or new in pretty chilled surrounds,” he says.

“(It has) a retro Miami Beach club theme, a space that can easily transition from breakfast to day club to sophisticated club lounge after dusk.”

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Driftwood Social is open to the public to indulge in quality food and drinks from lunch to dinner and breakfast to dinner on the weekends.

The area has a luxurious minimalist feel with a white colour scheme that flows from the tiles to the furniture.

It boasts private riverside cabanas, a sundeck and open-air chill zones, plus free use of hot pink flamingo inflatables.

Music plays throughout the day, building from easy listening to house music as the sun rises and falls. Driftwood’s western aspect also makes it a top spot for sunset sessions.

The eatery is open for lunch and dinner during the week and breakfast on weekends, with a mix of small plates and share platters made for communal nibbling.

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There’s delicious fresh meals on the menu including salads, seafood and share plates to eat poolside.

Some refreshing options include the shaved beetroot salad with radish, gem lettuce, candied walnut, grapes and feta dressing, or a poached chicken bowl with avocado mousse, charred corn, crispy chicken skin and bacon.

Local seafood, including bug on a bun, and slow-cooked lamb shoulder with chimichurri, pumpkin puree and pickled onions, offer more substantial bites.

There’s also decadent desserts and the all-important cocktail list, made up of classic and modern mixes.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN — JUST $1 FOR THE FIRST 28 DAYS

Driftwood Social at Surfers Paradise chill out area. Photo: Driftwood Social Facebook

Driftwood Social is open from 11.30am weekdays and from 7am on weekends at 42 Ferny Avenue, Surfers Paradise.