Tropic Vice

The Verdict

While you might not be taking a trip to the sunny land of Florida anytime soon, you can be there in spirit—with a cheeky marg in hand, of course—at Tropic Vice. The expansive rooftop space overlooking the iconic Nobby’s strip first opened in late 2021 and has just reopened after a major revamp. 

The bold, bright and quirky rooftop restaurant closed for a five-month hiatus for owner Jimmy Tantis-Hall to re-evaluate his vision and ultimately transform Tropic Vice into a more elevated elegant and sophisticated bar-meets-restaurant. The bright, modern rooftop space oozes laidback Palm Springs meets luxe Cali-cool vibes—with a Gold Coast twist, of course.

Venture upstairs into the bright, sun-drenched space and you’re greeted with a luscious bar setting. The half open-half closed roof space is peppered with greenery and cacti, while turquoise booths hug the walls and an impressive, back-lit bar, commanding attention and reminding you that this is what Tropic Vice is all about—the quirky, the fun, the good times.

The open-air dining section has sweeping, uninterrupted views of the Gold Coast and is the prime spot for sipping a cold drink, as a balmy sea breeze rolls through. Once you’ve soaked up the incredible views, make your way to the neon podium, where you’ll want to sink into the booths hugging the walls and let the evening pass you by in this dreamy spot. Melbourne restaurateur, Jimmy Tantsis-Hall, is the brains behind this gem and has carefully curated customised details that mark Tropic Vice out as truly one-of-a-kind. 

The freshly revamped menu is described as ‘Florribean’ cuisine (yes, we’re curious too), which is a tantalising combination of the flavours of the Caribbean and South America. Heading up the kitchen is a talented team of South American chefs, who have carefully curated the menu to authentically represent their heritage while incorporating a refined twist.

Think: delectable dishes like twice-cooked Caribbean rubbed chicken, pulled chicken tacos and market fish sliders. In harmony with their modernity, Tropic Vice dishes up plenty of vegan options, like Jamaican Mi Vego pizza and Cuban Mojo marinated cauliflower.

The elevated eats are complemented by an extensive drinks menu, perfectly designed to soak up all the goodness you’ve just inhaled. The signature white chocolate passionfruit martini is the house favourite and margaritas are sublime. Tropic Vice is pulling out all the stops when it comes to cheeky deals—on Thursdays they’re slinging up a $5 taco special and on Sundays treat yourself with the too-good-to-be-true bottomless margarita lunch with a five-course lunch and bottomless margis for just $99. 

The freshly renovated Tropic Vice is quickly working its way into our hearts—and social lives—this season.

Image credit: Tropic Vice