Pull Up A Stool At 8 Of The Best Cocktail Bars On The Sunshine Coast
After work bevvies on Fridays, dinner-turned-drinks on Saturdays or leisurely mimosa brunches melting into Sunday arvo sessions–our cocktail game is strong here on the Sunshine Coast.
And whether you stick to old faithful favourites such as espresso martinis, pina coladas and margaritas, or you chase alcohol-infused adventure at the hands of your mixologist...these are the best cocktails bars on the Sunshine Coast serving top tipple.
Hong Sa Bar
Yandina
Found at the back of a bamboo-covered property in Yandina, past the cooking school and restaurant, Hong Sa Bar is the latest addition to Spirit House’s repertoire and one of the best cocktail bars on the Sunshine Coast. Housed in a black single-level building with a sprawling deck in the centre, this bar is sleek and serves sensation craft cocktails incorporating house-blend gins and bourbons. Head here when you really need to impress a special someone.
Miss Moneypenny’s
Noosa
Miss Moneypenny’s knows our love for cocktails runs deep, which is why their Bottomless Brunch is pure genius. Every Sunday from 10am to 4pm, you’ll find us camped out at one of the four brunch stations, knocking back their $10 brunch cocktails in the ultimate Sunday sesh. Miss Moneypenny’s has long been a popular haunt for cocktail connoisseurs, indulging in champagne cocktails, share cocktails and carafes, as well as a fun lineup of 80s cruise ship drinks, including pina coladas and Singapore Slings (made with the original Raffles Hotel recipe). Keen to crack on with your own happy hour at home? Let Ben Walsh, multi-award-winning international mixologist and owner of Miss Moneypenny’s, share the secrets of his craft with private cocktail classes.
Kiki Bar & Eatery
Maroochydore
The sleek and sexy decor at Kiki’s has you vibing before you even take a sip. But what we love most is that Kiki Bar & Eatery heroes the best Australian spirits, beers and wine around, and the fact they have kombucha on tap, means you simply must try their Slow Gin Smash with mint, berries and kombucha. Or perhaps you’re in the mood for something a little more fancy? We recommend their champagne colada with Moet & Chandon, coconut sorbet, plantation rum and pineapple. Sublime. With a menu as classy as their cocktail offerings, it’s easy to let time slip away as you munch on marinated olives, jamon croquettes, and deli cheese and meats with condiments.
Bison Bar
Nambour
The art deco-inspired Bison Bar is a real hidden gem in the heart of Nambour and is one of the best cocktail bars on the Sunshine Coast. Tucked away, just off the main drag, it exudes an old world charm where indulgent cocktails are savoured by the beat of live music. Not keen on a nightcap? The mocktail milkshakes are made with the same attention as their cocktails, so you can enjoy a decadent drink without going over the limit. And if you’re feeling a little peckish, you can order from their Mediterranean-inspired tapas range and create your own sharing plate.
Pier 33
Mooloolaba
Here on the Sunshine Coast, we’re blessed with delicious weather year round, so what better way to marvel at our little slice of paradise than with a Coast-inspired cocktail in hand? Using the Mooloolaba Marina as its muse, Pier 33 has conjured up some truly inspired signature cocktails–Mahalo Mooloolaba with rum, pineapple, palm sugar, bitters, mint and citrus; and The Salt Air Spritz with gin, peach bitters, olive brine, rosemary, coffee beans and salted olives, topped with sparkling wine. Soak it all up with share-style plates of the freshest seafood, including seared wild caught tuna and oysters.
Rick’s Whiskey Bar
Palmwoods
Wet your whistle at Rick’s Whiskey Bar, with more than 170 spirits lining the wall of this jaw-dropping bar, right up to the high-pitched apex ceiling. Chill on the deck overlooking the beer garden, the perfect location for a lazy afternoon drink, or pull up a stool inside, where it’s warm and cosy. Being a whiskey bar, you know they’ll be able to hook you up with the hard stuff, and their cocktails are equally as impressive. Do yourself a favour and try the Jump Start espresso martini with vodka, coffee, butterscotch and kahlua or the Fade to Black with aloe, fresh citrus, rosewater, activated charcoal and egg white. If you’re after one of the best cocktail bars on the Sunshine Coast to take your men, this is it.
Orléans Restaurant And Bar
Maroochydore
Classic and stylish, Orléans blends the essence of New Orleans with French favourites and the result is top notch. One look at the bar and you know they mean serious business… take the Orleans Aviator for example with tequila, elderflower liqueur, liqueur de violette and rhubarb bitters. Exquisite. The legends at Orléans are also serving Negroni and Old Fashioned cocktails, which have been lovingly barrel aged for the quintessential offering; the ideal accompaniment to honey and thyme baked goat’s cheese with truffle oil and garlic croutons. Or, maybe buffalo wings are more your style, dunked into the craziest blue cheese sauce.
Kings Beach Bar
Caloundra
This super-chilled beachside bar is the perfect place to welcome in the weekend while watching the waves roll in (with a cocktail in hand of course). The Tom Collins has become a firm local favourite, with housemade lemon scented geranium syrup giving this gin-based bevvy a Kings Beach Bar twist. Grab your mates and order a round of share plates, the crispy coconut calamari with house-blended furikake seasoning and kaffir lime aioli is ridiculously tasty.
Written for Urban List Sunshine Coast.