Rooftop bar (noun): a bar reached by stairs, a lift or sheer determination, where the drinks come with a view and a side of vitamin D. Height requirements vary.
From Southport to Kirra, here are the Gold Coast rooftop bars to take your next sundowner up a level.
Aviary Rooftop Bar, Southport
Sitting on top of the Mantra at Sharks hotel, Aviary gives the northern end something to crow about. Inside, big windows keep the enclosed bar breezy. Step out to The Nest, its open-air garden space, for the Surfers Paradise skyline one way and the hinterland the other. There are handmade Italian pizzas and share plates to keep you going, plus live music and DJs on weekends, so it’s well worth the trip north. It’s 18+, with a smart casual dress code.
Lulu Rooftop & Bar, Surfers Paradise
Perched above Orchid Avenue, Lulu is Miami Vice by way of Surfers Paradise: art deco glam, lush greenery, a marble-topped bar and custom wallpaper by local artist Jamie Peters. The real star, though, is the frosé wall, a line-up of boozy frozen cocktails that makes a strong case for day drinking. Add Sunday brunches and DJs from Thursday to Sunday, and Lulu is built for a big one.
The Island Rooftop, Surfers Paradise
Sitting on top of a 1960s Surfers Paradise icon, The Island Rooftop is billed as the Gold Coast’s largest open-air rooftop bar, and with leafy nooks, a retro-styled cocktail bar and plenty of room to spread out, it wears its size well. The views stretch across the Surfers skyline to the Main Beach coastline. The menu runs from wood-oven pizza to bao buns and share platters, and a rotation of DJs and bands carries the crowd from long Sunday lunches to big Saturday nights.
Nineteen at The Star, Broadbeach
The Star’s casino may draw a crowd, but real ones know the only way to guarantee a win there is to take the elevator all the way to Level 19. Sitting atop The Darling, The Star’s luxury suite hotel, Nineteen has been one of the Coast’s glossiest rooftops since 2018. Whether you’re celebrating a race day, a promotion or just the start of the weekend, its chic restaurant and sun-drenched lounge bar, with an elevated food and drinks menu and an infinity pool in the foreground, provide the perfect panoramic backdrop for it all.
Charlie’s Rooftop, Mermaid Beach
Charlie’s is the new kid on the block, opening in early October after almost two years in the making. Perched above The Glenelg Public House, the 100-seat rooftop pairs Mediterranean-inspired share plates like smoky butter corn ribs and prawn handhelds with a list of eight signature cocktails, including a chilli-guava margarita. Open most nights (bar Tuesday and Wednesday) with bookings available, it’s the perfect place to start or end your night.
JuJu, Mermaid Beach
When JuJu took over the old Hellenika site in 2024, it brought a little mischief to the Nobby strip. Downstairs is a moody, booth-lined restaurant made for long dinners. Upstairs is the rooftop bar, with a retractable roof, terracotta booths around a striking tree centrepiece, tequila carts and DJ-and-sax sets that channel the clubs of Mykonos and Mexico. Just because the bill’s arrived doesn’t mean you have to leave.
Sueño, Nobby Beach
The little sister to Norté, its first-floor neighbour serving up Latin American fare, Sueño is the rooftop from the Rick Shores team that quickly stole Nobby’s heart. Think bright ceviches, smoky skewers and handmade tortillas, paired with the team’s own spin on classic cocktails from across the Americas. With two umbrella-lined terraces and a covered centre under gold louvred skylights, it works rain or shine, late afternoon or late into the night, and it’s the Gold Coast’s go-to for a night out that looks great on camera.
Justin Lane, Burleigh Heads
What started as a little Burleigh pizzeria in 2011 is now a multi-level institution: sourdough pizza and handmade pasta downstairs, rooftop bar upstairs. The sun-drenched terrace looks out to Burleigh Beach, while DJs keep things going late into the night on weekends. The best part? The cocktails are the real deal – and they pair perfectly with a sunny afternoon and no dinner plans.
Haven, Burleigh Heads
On level three of Mondrian Gold Coast, Haven’s mood-lit restaurant has become a favourite for a top-tier feed (woodfired and raw bar seafood, if you’re asking). But if you don’t want to commit to all that, just stop by for a drink. Haven Pool Club’s bar looks out across The Esplanade to Burleigh Beach, with cabanas, sun loungers and DJs, and we can’t imagine many better places to sip an Aperol Spritz in the sunshine.
Kirra Beach House, Kirra
Locals weren’t sure what would happen when their beloved Kirra Beach Hotel, pouring post-surf beers since 1957, was knocked down in 2021. But when it returned as the first stage of the new Kirra Point Precinct with a new upstairs neighbour, it was hard to complain. Kirra Beach House is a favourite for long lunches and sundowners, with a Mediterranean-style menu and a north-facing terrace with views all the way up the coast. At sunset, you’ll quickly see why Surfers Paradise is called the ‘Glitter Strip’.
