Nobby Beach has scored a chic two-level Euro-inspired restaurant and bar called JuJu
Here to answer the post-dinner question ‘where should we go next’ is JuJu – a new kind of hospitality experience that has sprung to life in Nobby Beach. JuJu is a sophisticated, dual-level 400-seat venue designed to blur the lines between fine dining and a Euro-inspired after-party. Located in the iconic space once occupied by Hellenika and, more recently, Rubi Red, JuJu is set to become the go-to destination for those craving something a little more than just dinner. Here’s what you can expect …
The menu, crafted by head chef YK, who originally hails from Korea and has spent the past decade working in kitchens around the world including a Michelin-starred restaurant in Korea as well as the now-closed Aubergine restaurant in Canberra and The Ritz-Carlton in Naples, to name a few. The concept, he says, is based loosely on the world-famous Catch collection of restaurants in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Aspen, which blur the line between restaurant and nightlife.
YK has dug deep into his fine-dining background to create a refined-yet-approachable modern Australian menu. Designed to be intentionally broad, JuJu is the kind of place you can graze your way through an evening with a selection of small plates and a bottle of wine, or you can settle in for a fully fledged feast – it’s your call. The aforementioned small plates include kingfish sashimi with yuzu, steak tartare and carrot three ways, which elevates the humble vegetable side into a stand-alone dish. Moving your way down the menu, you’ll find bites of spanner crab, Moreton Bay bug pasta and twice-cooked pork belly. The venue’s signature, however, is the Australian wagyu range, which ranges from 5+ to 9+, depending on preference. For those truly committing to the food coma, the Tommy’s TomaHawk is a mega 1.5-kg steak named after the city’s mayor, Tom Tate.
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Ordinarily, once you’ve made it this far, you’re reaching for the bill and booking an Uber. At JuJu, the night has just begun. Head up the stairway to heaven (or hell, depending on how you choose to read it) to the rooftop bar, where an open-air space with a retractable roof awaits. Here you can linger a little longer, with crafted cocktails and a tequila cart, and let the Euro-vibes carry you into the night. Featuring a dynamic DJ-saxophonist duo, JuJu’s rooftop transforms into a spontaneous party, with just a hint of revelry.
“When the bill arrives, [it] doesn’t mean the night needs to end,” Trent says. “With lunch offerings, early and late dinner seatings, enjoy JuJu the way you want!”
“What we’re going for … is a vibe dining experience. You’ve got the music, you’ve got the lighting. It feels like you can be a bit loud and have a few drinks and have some fun,” Cody adds. “We’re trying to appeal to a wider audience and particularly people in their 30s, 40s, 50s [who] don’t want to go to Surfers Paradise anymore.”
JuJu is now open! Head to our Directory for booking details.