Nightjar

The Verdict

Secreted away in a back alley carpark in much-loved Burleigh Heads, Nightjar, a grungy dude’s den, has got all the industrial feels. Drawing inspo from the existing roller doors, exposed red clay brick, Besser blocks and naked concrete floors, they’ve used the rawness of the space to create a gritty garage dive bar. 

With a small bar licence, do not come expecting food (there is no kitchen) but instead settle in with beers, and, just like the décor, stripped back and sessionable cocktails. Think: margies, caprioskas, mojitos and daiquiris; choose your poison and go classic, or take you pick of fruit with blueberry, strawberry, mango, passionfruit and more. Sailor Jerry rum-inspired cocktails are served in tin cans and Navy-imported spirits from Lamb’s to Pusser’s (hellooo Painkillers) give a nautical theme to the mischievousness. 

Ready to get your drinking shoes on before the sunsets? They offer an unbeatable happy hour between 4pm and 6pm, where all tap beer, house wine and basic spirits will go for a tiny $5 each. Live music, with a heavy focus on rock ballads, happens Thursday through to Sunday nights, so chances are you’ll hear Nightjar before you stumble across it. 

Image credit: Hayley Williamson for The Urban List