Pfft. Who said private dining was just for celebs and suits?
Next time you want to feel totally ballin’, call on seven of the best private dining rooms on the Gold Coast. Some come with an extra price tag (and worth the wee splurge!), others are totes dependant on whoever is more organised to snap up that exclusive table reso the fastest.
Little Truffle
Mermaid Beach
Sometimes the longest-standing institutions are still the best, which is definitely the case for Little Truffle. Opened in 2010 and spawning the start of the Ridgeway’s tetralogy of BiN restaurants to follow, Little Truffle’s carefully-curated dishes never fail to impress. Think: Moreton Bay bug and prawn tortellini, beetroot-poached ocean trout, and braised pork belly with seared scallops. Recently undergoing a shiny makeover—while retaining that timeless elegant veneer—Little Truffle is home to not one, but two of the best private dining rooms on the Gold Coast. With luxe features such as personal sound systems and hand-made vintage crystal glassware, this is pretty much THE top choice if you’ve got the hard-to-please extended family in tow.
Details: Two rooms seating 9—18 and 5—8 guests each; minimum $70 p/head three-course set menu
Rivea
Broadbeach
Like a copper-plated beacon on Surf Parade, Broadbeach’s Rivea is the newest addition to the BiN dynasty. Boasting one of the Coast’s largest private dining rooms seating up to 17—a contemporary space perfect for dinner parties and work celebrations. Italian noms are what these guys do best, so it’s only a good thing you’ll hand the decision-making off to the chef when booking the private dining chamber.
Details: Seats up to 17 guests; $65 p/head banquet menu plus minimum $1,000 spend
Glass Dining & Lounge Bar
Main Beach
A cornerstone of the waterfront hospo scene at Marina Mirage, Glass Dining and Lounge Bar is home to one of the best private dining rooms on the Gold Coast. Feel like the Chairman of the Board tucked away with eight to 12 of your favourite foodie pals, and dine on fanciful modern Australian dishes including Executive Chef Ben Armstrong’s signature Thai-style crispy pressed pork with a chilli and ginger caramel glaze.
Details: Seats 8—12 guests; on Friday and Saturday nights minimum spend is $1,000
Cucina Vivo
Broadbeach
So you already frequent Garden Kitchen and Bar, and if you haven’t yet eaten at Kiyomi, you’ve definitely dreamt about it. Well, the third jewel in Jupiters’ culinary crown is Cucina Vivo. Plucked straight from the white-washed shores of the Mediterranean, this bright and airy Italian eatery is home to a killer private dining room perfect for your next long ladies’ luncheon. Lined with plantation shutters, the space seats up to 16 guests; so sit back and immediately beckon the pizzaiolo to send one of his legendary wood-fired pizzas. Belissimo!
Details: Seats up to 16 guests; minimum spend $1,000 (or $100 per head for 12+ guests)
Seaduction
Surfers Paradise
Located upstairs of Soul Boardwalk, Seaduction has become well known for its artistic almost-to-beautiful-to-eat dishes and jaw-dropping vistas. Seaduction’s blingin’ private dining room is separated from the main restaurant by a glass wall and sheer curtain, with a gorgeous round mahogany table, sinkable leather chairs and a bird’s-eye view of the restaurant’s wine room. We’ll have one of each, please.
Details: Seats up to 10 guests; minimum spend $800
Semi-Private Dining
Mamasan
Broadbeach
We’ve been lusting over an all-night dining affair at Mamasan’s semi-private but totally intimate chef’s table since they opened a year ago (happy almost first birthday, Mama!). Within convenient throwing distance of the chefs as they whip out their finest Asian fusion including steamed pork-stuffed bao, spanner crab ravioli dumplings, san choy bow, and Kingfish sashimi. A lavishly boozy-filled night under the erotically villainous gaze of Mama will make you the darling of the Gold Coast’s secret private dining society (which totally exists).
Details: Seats up to 8 guests
Fu Manchu
Chevron Island
Fu Manchu is so hot right now. A table at Chevron Island’s fave establishment is a sought after commodity, so you know this is one reservation that will be hard to come by. Tucked in an alcove on the first floor, this semi-private dining room seats eight and, with no restrictions on menus or minimum spend, is one of our top picks for turning an awesome night out, into an extra spesh one. So, who’s in charge of the next group date? Hop to it!
Details: Seats 8 guests; no minimum spend, bookings first in best dressed
Image credit: Hayley Williamson for The Urban List; plus Little Truffle, Seaduction
