Sofia’s Restaurant & Bar

The Verdict

Sofia’s Restaurant and Bar is a homage to the dreamy tones of coastal Europe and brings a breath of fresh, salty sea breeze air to the Broadbeach dining scene. Sofia’s draws you in from the moment you spot it. The stunning fit-out is classic European with a contemporary twist—whitewashed walls, exposed brick, touches of wood and pops of colour, all designed to transport you to slow, serene summers on the French Riviera.

The magnificent share-style menu is stripped back, refined and lets the quality produce speak, nay, sing for itself. Curated by culinary legend, Damien Styles, the menu is simplistic and showcases the flavours of fresh, local produce—as well as some delectable European specialties thrown in for good measure.

Warm your palate with luscious fresh figs and vincotto, a vibrant heirloom tomato salad with basil and balsamic truffle glaze and top off your starters with the exquisite kingfish crudo, delicately arranged over a blood orange dressing. Sofia’s knows not to change a good thing that has been perfected over centuries, except with fresh, quality produce of course, and this ethos is showcased in their larger dishes. Picture this—housemade linguine with king prawns, garlic and chilli, fresh chardonay mignonette oysters and grilled Mooloolaba king prawns, cooked over a charcoal grill. It’s simple, it’s fresh and it’s goddamn delicious.

Take it slow and let your afternoon lunch become dinner plans, so you have an excuse to dive into the extensive drinks list that takes you from pre-dinner cocktails through to dessert wines. At Sofia’s, boutique and hard-to-find drops from Europe take centre stage and the seriously impressive wine lineup is not to be scoffed at. 

Sofia’s is the perfect marriage of tradition and modernity; it’s sophisticated yet simplistic, stripped back yet refined and is a true celebration of European flavours.

Image credit: Brooke Darling Photography