Gold Coast Light Rail (G:Link)

8 Sir John Overall Dr, Helensvale

Closest proper pub to the interchange, about 1.8km. Bike, scooter or skateboard is easier than walking.

• Great first or last stop - dead easy from the train interchange
• Solid bistro menu, good value

• Suburban tavern energy, not much atmosphere

40 Siganto Dr, Helensvale

Helensvale tavern on Siganto Drive. About 1.6km. A bit of a hike on foot - bike, scooter or skateboard is easier.

• Proper suburban hotel
• Bistro and sports bar

• Not next to the interchange

270 Napper Rd, Arundel

Closest proper pub to Parkwood - suburban tavern with a bistro and sports bar.

• Straightforward bistro feeds
• Handy if you're staying north of Southport

• Proper suburban tavern - pokies and TAB energy

Cnr Olsen Ave & Wintergreen Dr, Parkwood

Sits on the Olsen Avenue corridor, a short walk from Parkwood East.

• Easy tram-stop-to-pub
• Family-friendly suburban local

• Nothing fancy, and that's the point

5 Melia Ct, Southport

Rooftop at Southport Sharks, a few blocks off the Hospital stop. Closed Mon/Tue.

• Skyline views from the Sharks rooftop
• Cocktails and pizza, 18+

• Closed Mon/Tue
• Club/hotel complex, not a street pub

The Link, Griffith University, Parklands Dr, Southport

Campus bar in The Link, nearer Hospital than Griffith. Weekdays only and shuts early.

• Cheap student pints
• Right on campus

• Closed weekends
• Opens and closes with the uni crowd

133 Queen St, Southport

Sports bar and bistro on Queen Street, right on the tram.

• Giant screens for live sport
• Tram stops at the door

• Gaming lounge is a big part of the room

50B Nerang St, Southport

Craft beer and live music upstairs on Nerang Street. Check the gig guide.

• Serious tap list
• Live music upstairs

• Closed early in the week
• More bar than bistro

43 Nerang St, Southport

Right on the tram - rooftop, laneway, and Percy's bar downstairs.

• Rooftop plus Percy's downstairs
• Right on the Nerang Street tram

• Can get slammed on weekends

42 Nerang St, Southport

Corner of Nerang and Scarborough. Classic sports bar and bistro.

• Classic corner pub
• Sports bar and bistro on the tram

• Old-school carpet-pub energy

44A Nerang St, Southport

Live music dive bar and record store. Mostly open for shows - check the gig guide.

• Live music dive with a record store attached
• Proper Southport character

• Mostly open for shows - check the gig guide first

36 Scarborough St, Southport

Southport RSL. Tram runs past the door. Club entry rules may apply.

• Big club with dining and live music
• Tram runs past the door

• Huge gaming floor
• Club entry rules may apply

146 Scarborough St, Southport

SOPO's brewpub a block up Scarborough from the Southport stop.

• House beer on tap
• Walkable from Southport station

• Still a club-group venue, not a tiny taproom

Nind St, Southport

Old-school pub a block off Scarborough near the Southport stop. Dates to 1889.

• Proper local pub
• Close to the tram

• No-frills rooms and a pokies presence

154A Scarborough St, Southport

Southport local since 1967. Sports bar, big bistro and weekend bands. Club entry rules may apply.

• Huge bistro
• Live bands on weekends

• Club sign-in
• Can feel like a function centre

Cnr Ferry Rd & Cotlew St E, Southport

Big tavern on Ferry Road. About 1.2km from Southport South. Walkable if you like, otherwise bike, scooter or skateboard.

• Classic Gold Coast tavern
• Always a crowd for sport

• A bit inland of the tram
• Pokies and TAB are part of the furniture

50 Queen St, Southport

Broadwater end of Queen Street - river-side local near the parklands.

• River and parklands setting
• Family-friendly local

• A bit removed from the main Southport strip

1 MacArthur Pde, Main Beach

Marina-side deck. Sign in as a guest.

• Marina views are genuinely lovely
• Relaxed, locals crowd

• Need to sign in as a visitor - takes 2 minutes but easy to forget

Macarthur Pde, Main Beach

Beach end of Main Beach - short walk from the tram. Club entry rules may apply.

• Beach at the door
• Classic surf club balcony

• Club entry rules may apply

19-21 Tedder Ave, Main Beach

Tedder Ave sports bar - live sport on a wall of screens, live music on weekends.

• Best sport coverage on Tedder
• Live music Fri/Sat

• Loud when a big game is on
• Tourist-strip prices

26-30 Tedder Ave, Main Beach

Tedder Ave dining room and garden bar - more restaurant than pub.

• Garden bar on Tedder
• Share plates with a bit of polish

• Pricier than a straight pub
• Bookings help at dinner

52 The Esplanade, Surfers Paradise

Beachfront on The Esplanade. Opens at breakfast.

• Sand at the door
• Breakfast through dinner

• Tourist pricing
• Gets packed on sunny weekends

2 Elkhorn Ave, Surfers Paradise

English pub on Elkhorn - Sunday roast downstairs is the move.

• Proper pints and a Sunday roast
• Two levels, dive bar downstairs

• Can be smoky-pub loud

Chevron Renaissance, 3240 Surfers Paradise Blvd

Inside Chevron Renaissance - handy if you're already in the building.

• Central Surfers local
• Easy from Cypress Avenue

• Shopping-centre pub vibe

3206 Surfers Paradise Blvd

Irish pub on the boulevard with a rooftop over Surfers.

• Rooftop over Cavill
• Predictable Irish-pub comfort

• Tourist magnet
• Guinness-and-cover-band energy

46 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise

Big Cavill Ave pub - sports bar, bistro and gaming.

• Right on Cavill
• Kitchen open late on weekends

• Gaming lounge is hard to ignore
• Surfers tourist crush

41 Cavill Ave, Surfers Paradise

Schnitzels and steins on Cavill. Fine for a themed feed, skip if you want quiet.

• German beers and schnitzel
• On the tram strip

• Theme-park dining
• Loud and touristy

Cnr Cavill Ave & Orchid Ave

The old Surfers Paradise Hotel beer garden - towers, sport and an adults playground.

• Open-air beer garden
• Live sport on a stack of screens

• Very Surfers
• Can feel like a beer barn

17 Orchid Ave, Surfers Paradise

The deepest tap list in Surfers.

• Huge rotating craft tap list
• Knowledgeable staff

• Tight inside, gets loud on weekends

9 Beach Rd, Surfers Paradise

Sports bar, dining and late nights on Beach Road. Walkable from Cavill.

• Walkable from Cavill
• Goes late, screens for sport

• Gaming is a big part of it
• Cover charges and queues on weekend nights

Cnr Hanlan St & The Esplanade

Balcony over the beach.

• Balcony over the beach
• Breakfast if you start early

• Club entry rules may apply
• Busy whenever the sun's out

51 Garfield Tce, Surfers Paradise

About a 3 minute walk from the tram - restaurant, bar and club entry rules may apply.

• Three minutes from the tram
• Beach club with a proper kitchen

• Club entry rules may apply

Crowne Plaza, 2807 Gold Coast Hwy, Surfers Paradise

Sports bar in the Crowne Plaza - basically on the Florida Gardens stop.

• Screens everywhere
• Basically on the Florida Gardens stop

• Hotel sports bar, not a local pub

17 Albert Ave, Broadbeach

Casual Broadbeach bar on Albert Avenue, a short walk from the tram.

• Laid-back Broadbeach local
• Easy from Broadbeach North

• Nothing fancy

27 Broadbeach Blvd, Broadbeach

Beachside of Broadbeach North - club entry rules may apply.

• Beachside of Broadbeach North
• Classic surf-club feeds

• Club entry rules may apply

Oasis Shopping Centre, Old Burleigh Rd

Inside Oasis - handy if you're already shopping, a bit mall-adjacent.

• Right by the tram and Oasis
• Reliable tavern menu

• Shopping-centre pub

3 Oracle Blvd, Broadbeach

Oracle Boulevard chain pub - pints and pub classics near the casino end.

• Known tap list
• Close to Broadbeach North

• Chain pub
• Can be a conference crowd

75 Surf Parade, Broadbeach

Canadian-style tap and grill on Surf Parade. Short walk from Broadbeach North.

• Burgers, ribs and a long tap list
• On the Broadbeach strip

• Gets noisy on game days

1 Casino Dr, Broadbeach

Several bars inside, open around the clock.

• Open 24/7, useful for very late or very early

• Casino floor smell everywhere
• Overpriced drinks
• No natural light

50 Surf Parade, Broadbeach

Dog friendly, close to Pacific Fair.

• Dog friendly
• Close to Pacific Fair and the tram

• Can feel like a beer barn on weekends

Old Burleigh Rd, Broadbeach

Big beachside club - short walk from Broadbeach South. Club entry rules may apply.

• One of the Coast's better surf-club rooms
• Breakfast through dinner, beach right there

• Big and busy
• Club entry rules may apply

2500 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

Effectively on the tracks.

• Possibly the best tram stop on the line
• Great beer garden
• Good pub food

• Can get slammed when the tram dumps a crowd

172 Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach

Short walk beachside from the tram - club entry rules may apply.

• Quieter beach than Broadbeach
• Club kitchen with a view

• Club entry rules may apply

2460 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

Steak-led dining room on the highway. Dinner from 5pm.

• Serious steaks
• A step up from pub schnitty

• Dinner-only
• Pricier than the tavern next door

Markeri St & Sunshine Blvd, Mermaid Waters

Inland of Christine Avenue at the canals. About 1.1km. Walkable if you like, otherwise bike, scooter or skateboard.

• Canal-side suburban hotel
• Family bistro

• Not on the beach or the tram doorstep

8 Henchman Ave, Miami

Cafe by day, cocktail bar by night, tucked off Miami North. Closed early week.

• Hidden-lane Miami spot
• Good coffee and later cocktails

• Closed Mon-Wed
• Easy to walk past

2043 Gold Coast Hwy, Miami

The Shark Bar, opposite the beach.

• Shark Bar opposite the beach
• Right on the Miami stop

• Highway tavern, not a boutique bar

2 Hythe St, Miami

Short walk beachside from Miami station. Club entry rules may apply.

• Quiet beach club
• Short walk from Miami station

• Club entry rules may apply

293 The Esplanade, Miami

About 300m from Miami station toward North Burleigh. Club entry rules may apply.

• Deck over North Burleigh
• About 300m from Miami station

• Club entry rules may apply

17 Christine Ave, Miami

Warehouse brewery, inland of the highway.

• Beer brewed on site
• Warehouse room, kid-friendly

• Inland of the highway - not beachfront

2176 Gold Coast Hwy, Miami

Small tapas bar on the highway at Nobby. Closed Mon/Tue.

• Share plates, not just schooners
• Walkable from Nobby Beach

• Closed early in the week
• Small room fills fast

2237 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

Rum list worth the trip.

• Rum list worth the trip
• Cocktails and small plates

• Closed Mon/Tue
• More cocktail bar than pub

2241 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

All-day local on the highway - brekkie through pub feeds and pizza.

• Breakfast to late
• Wood-fired pizza and a big rear deck

• Highway-facing, not beachfront

2217 Gold Coast Hwy, Mermaid Beach

Latin rooftop above Norté. Closed Mon-Wed.

• Rooftop, proper cocktails
• Share plates and sundowners

• Closed Mon-Wed
• Spendy for a tram pub crawl

28 Chairlift Ave, Mermaid Beach

Craft taps and a kitchen. Happy hour from 3pm; opens later on weekdays.

• Rotating craft taps
• Happy hour from 3pm

• No bookings on weekend nights
• Opens 3pm Mon-Fri

28 Chairlift Ave, Nobby Beach

Cafe from 5am, bar later - the all-day Nobby Beach local.

• Open from 5am
• Coffee then beers without moving

• Packed with locals at peak times

25 Albatross Ave, Mermaid Beach

Beachfront club about 400m from the tram. Club entry rules may apply.

• Actual beachfront
• Short walk from the tram

• Club entry rules may apply

1744 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Neighbourhood bar and beer garden on the highway at Second Avenue. Closed Mon/Tue.

• Dog-friendly beer garden
• Proper Burleigh local

• Closed Mon/Tue

1708-1710 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Laneway bars and eateries behind the highway - Burleigh's back-alley crawl.

• A few venues in one laneway
• Right at the Burleigh tram end

• Can be a squeeze on Saturday arvo

1712 Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Highway grill and bar at the Burleigh terminus. Closed Mon-Wed.

• Casual grill next to the tram
• Easy last stop

• Closed Mon-Wed

4 The Esplanade, Burleigh Heads

Short walk downhill from the terminus.

• Short walk downhill from the terminus
• Classic Burleigh pub

• Fills with sunset drinkers

43 Goodwin Tce, Burleigh Heads

About 600m on. Adults only after dark.

• Best view on the entire line
• Exceptional food
• Worth the 600m walk every time

• Pricey drinks
• Adults only after dark - plan accordingly

Cnr Goodwin Tce & Gold Coast Hwy, Burleigh Heads

Short walk from the terminus toward the point. Club entry rules may apply.

• Point views
• Breakfast if you start early

• Club entry rules may apply

Tsipura Dr, Burleigh Heads

West of Burleigh toward the highway bypass. About 2.8km. Too far to walk comfortably - bike, scooter or skateboard does it.

• Big hotel with a bistro

• Well off the tram terminus