If the steamy temps, cloudless blue skies and all-round stellar weather weren’t enough of a hint – summer is almost here. With its fast approach comes the very important task of deciding your drink of the summer. From the zany zest of a spritz to bitter and sweet brews, we’ve rounded up five must-try cocktails on the Gold Coast to help you choose. Bottoms up!
Fantales – Rosella’s
Cult-favourite bar Rosella’s has leaned into summer holiday nostalgia with its menu inspired by old school Australiana. On the cocktail menu, you’ll be met with a bevvy of beverages that’ll take you right back to childhood. Think Cyclone, Blinky Bill and Aeroplane Jelly. Albeit no longer on our shelves, the sweetly rich flavour of a Fantales is always in our hearts – and Rosella’s cocktail is an ode to just that. The Fanatales is a mix of house rum, barrel-aged mac, Daintree dark choc, mushroom garum caramel and wattle seed butter – topped with droplets of caramelised butter and Rosella’s very-own Fantales chocolate (complete with a trivia-stacked wrapper). In 2023, Rosella’s Fantales cocktail even took home the title of the best cocktail in Queensland.
El Pepino – Cantina
Nestled in the heart of Mermaid Beach, Cantina is a 30-seater neighbourhood bar, best known for slinging Spanish-style bites and cocktails. Behind the bar, you’ll likely find co-owners Missy and Harry shaking up a mean menu of drinks. By popular demand, Cantina’s El Pepino cocktail got promoted to the permanent cocktail menu from its special board. Spicy, acidic and crisp, the El Pepino is a riff on a spicy margarita. Made from house-made jalapeño tequila, agave, lime juice and fresh slices of cucumber and jalapeno, the El Pepino is served in a Tijin-rimmed glass with a slice of crunchy cucumber. The cocktail is loved for its bright and fresh taste, with the jalapeno spice balanced by the cooling sensation of the cucumber. Consider your great summer love secured.
You might like
Watermelon and Rose Spritz – Fig + Frankie’s
This Broadbeach-based cocktail and tapas bar is always brimming with deliciousness. Despite its stacked specialty cocktail menu, you’ll find Fig + Frankie’s signature drink amongst its spritzes. The Watermelon and Rose Spritz is the house classic – and the longest-standing drink on the Fig + Frankie’s menu for a reason. Pink-hued and perfectly brewed, the spritz is a refreshingly crisp pick me up on sweltering summer days – and only $10. A combination of house-made grapefruit vodka, watermelon syrup and rosé, this Fig + Frankie’s cocktail is a Gold Coast classic.
Limoncello Margarita – Bar Evelyn
You’ll find Bar Evelyn in an unassuming nook along Surf Parade in Coolangatta, spoiling locals and visitors with Italian fare and flowing drinks. The bar and restaurant is the brainchild of Melbourne hospo heavyweights Mark Catsburg and Nick Stanton, bringing a taste of the big smoke to the south of the Gold Coast. On the cocktail menu, Bar Evelyn shakes up a tight selection of signature brews, fusing the styles of classic tropical drinks with a spike of Italian flair. Most notable is Bar Evelyn’s margarita, which has swapped limes for lemons and triple sec for limoncello. The Limoncello Margarita is a fan favourite, combining Altos Blanco tequila, Sorrento-sourced Villa Massa limoncello, fresh lemon juice and sugar syrup – garnished with thin ribbons of lemon zest. Sweet, sour and satiating – it’s a must order.
Fuji Apple and Aloe Daiquiri – Roji Cat
Only last month, the neon-lit Dotonbori district came to Miami when Roji Cat opened its doors. A fusion of Japanese street culture and Gold Coast nightlife, Roji Cat serves up a seasonally changing menu of signature cocktails. The most impressive is the Fuji Apple and Aloe Daiquiri, served in a frosted coupe that’s been garnished with a fan of apple slices. Roji Cat brings a touch of Japan to the tropical daiquiri cocktail, taking inspiration from Mount Fuji with a drink that celebrates the region’s beloved apple variety. Refreshing aloe and lime juice is balanced with Fuji apple sparkling and a hint of red lady apple for a crisp, tart and bright flavour. It’s the perfect pairing to a few rounds of the house karaage chicken.