Think nobody goes out anymore? You’re just not going to the right places. The Gold Coast is home to some all-time nightlife destinations – and Surfers Paradise isn’t the only place you’ll find them. From Nobby’s to Cooly, we’ve narrowed down the three best places to go on your next night out – and with plenty of venues within walking distance of one another, no Ubering means no worries.
A rooftop bar is the perfect place to start a night out, and Sueño is one of Nobby’s best. Their food and drinks are next level (fitting, given it’s a rooftop bar), there’s live music on select days and it’s the best place to be when the sun is setting over the Gold Coast.
With a menu of rum and whisky spiked cocktails and nautical decor adorning the walls, stepping inside the Cambus Wallace feels as though you’ve stepped onto the ship it was named after. The perfect place to pop into when you feel the energy shifting and want to keep a fun night going strong.
Hidden behind an unassuming brick facade, Nightcap – true to its name – is the best place to end your night out. They’ve got live music blasting from 8pm, six nights a week, so it’s the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a party. But be warned: the lines out the door can get pretty long, so don’t head out until you’ve left everything on the dancefloor.
It’s arguably the Gold Coast’s most popular nightlife destination, and with panoramic views, live DJs and tasty drinks, it’s not hard to see why. Start your night with a few sunset drinks (and a turn in their new photobooth) before heading off to your next destination, then maybe finish the night back at the Pav’ – rest assured, the party will be raging on.
These two Gold Coast bars are distinctly different – the former is an Italian restaurant-slash-rooftop bar, the latter is more reminiscent of a fancy pub – but by nightfall, they’re equally great places to dance. Oh, and they’re right next door to each other so you can spend your night hopping back and forth between each one.
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Tucked down an alley (Justin Laneway, to be precise) between the Gold Coast Highway and James Street is Nightjar, the popular Burleigh bar you just don’t know about yet. It’s cool, clubby and perfect for a boogie. Just look for the neon sign.
Split across two levels, Superbar pairs vinyl and good decisions upstairs with a full-throttle dance floor below, so the night can build at its own pace. Open Thursday to Sunday from 8pm, it’s quickly becoming Cooly’s answer to a proper night out.
A Gold Coast institution since 1911, the Cooly Hotel serves up live music in the public bar most nights of the week, alongside an upstairs Bandroom for when things need to get louder. Between the beer garden, the pool tables and the ever-changing gig guide, it’s the kind of place you can start the night at and just as easily end it.
Dark, grungy and dripping in rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, Eddie’s Grub House is Coolangatta’s home for whisky, burgers and live music most nights of the week. Squeeze into the New Orleans-inspired dive bar for a Southern-style feed before the band kicks off – just don’t expect much elbow room.
