It’s Game, Set, And Match At This New Californian-Inspired Cocktail Bar

Advantage, Gold Coasters

By Astrid Taemets | 31st January 2023

While the sun and the surf are two good reasons to hit the M1 and head south, you can’t argue that the Gold Coast boasts some of the best bars around, and Burleigh’s latest addition will quench your thirst in more ways than one.

Taking over the former tattoo parlour next to local fave Australiana bar Rosella’s on the Gold Coast Highway is where you’ll find the oh-so aesthetic cocktail haunt, Malibu Racquet Club, who’s upping the ante in the bustling neighbourhood. Call the umpire!

This unmissable new cocktail and raw menu bar is shaking things up with a lasting first impression. A breezy, Cali-esque 54-seater eatery featuring cream venetian-rendered archways, British green architraves, and a prickly cluster of cacti, Malibu Racquet Club ain’t just a pretty face. Those who venture inside (and trust us, you will), will find a sleek dark green mosaic floor leading to the standout seafoam green bar, which comes complete with a pink crystal quartz bar top, ideal for resting those empty cocktail glasses.

As for the seating, a single booth occupies the left side of the entrance, with plenty of appropriately green tables lining the right side, perfect for sunset sips, pre dinner drinks, and nibbles with your crew. Evidently, no expense was spared in the making of this bar straight out of a Don’t Worry Darling scene, with even the red tyrolean bathrooms with custom-made basins even worthy of a spot on your ‘gram carousel.

Hungry? You oughta be, because the venue’s executive chef, Paul Macnish, former kitchen whiz of La Bella Cellar and a private chef for the British royal family (blimey!), is damn qualified. The compact menu features a selection of six raw dishes (think whiskey-cured salmon on crisp sourdough with dill creme fraiche, club pickles with hummus and spiced nori salt, and a scoop of Siberian caviar alongside a buttery globe of burrata with pomegranate, basil oil and macadamia), which, though limited, will satiate your cravings accordingly. But of course, you need to pair your plates with a cocktail, and Malibu Racquet Club’s offerings are second to none. There are eight signature creations to sip and sample, including the venue’s own take on the piña colada, and a small but sufficient scattering of wines, beers, and top-shelf spirits that’ll blow your weekly grocery budget with every gulp of the smooth stuff. Worth it? Absolutely.

For those really looking to level up their MRC experience, a membership here is the key to the good life, unlocking a world of possibilities not for the common barefoot folk who just happen to stumble across it on their way up from the beach. So, while the cacti at the door might be prickly, this is one smooth operator.

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