Kokum
Luxury hotel Palazzo Versace in Main Beach is set to welcome a new culinary addition – a contemporary Indian dining space named Kokum. It’s the latest collaboration from Saffron restaurant owner Sridhar Penumechu and Michelin-starred chef Manjunath Mural, who are fresh off the back of opening Heritij, a similar refined-Indian offering located in the riverfront Brisbane Quarter precinct. Kokum is set to redefine Indian dining on the Gold Coast, delivering a unique culinary experience shaped by chef Mural’s distinctive Asian-Indian gastronomic prowess. Determined to present Indian cuisine at its pinnacle, chef Mural will be playing with ingredients, colours, flavours, presentation and garnishes to offer diners a menu that combines the rich history and flavours of traditional Indian food with an innovative approach and modern techniques. Kokum will take the waterfront spot of Vie Restaurant and Bar, which overlooks the marina. An opening date is yet to be confirmed, but the doors are expected to be open by early summer. We’ll give you a detailed look at Kokum very soon.
Finn McCool’s
If you’re partial to tucking into a beef and Guinness pie while sipping Kilkenny, then you’ll be pleased to know that a new Irish bar is set to land on the Gold Coast before summer. A sibling venue to Fortitude Valley’s Finn McCool’s will open in Surfers Paradise in November, replacing longstanding Irish pub Fiddlers Green on Cavill Avenue. Hospitality group Hallmark, which is also behind the Jamie’s Italian restaurants, Retro’s cocktail bar and Shooters nightclub, is well underway with a $2-million refurbishment of the site. Expect plenty of Irish charm when it comes to the fit-out (which will feature a similar aesthetic to its Brisbane counterpart) boasting a huge bar, cosy booth seating, pool tables, giant televisions and large group-dining tables. As for the food, we’re told to expect classic pub fare, from Irish stew to Sunday roasts and a traditional all-day Irish breakfast brimming with pork sausage, black pudding and beans. The main bar will be pouring the usual suspects like Guinness and Kilkenny, as well as premium beers, ciders, spirits and cocktails. Finn McCool’s is only weeks away – we’ll give you a peek inside soon.
The Pink Hotel
The fellas behind burger-and-whisky-slinging dive bar Eddie’s Grub House are close to opening their latest venture – The Pink Hotel Coolangatta. The team took over the pink-hued Ocean View Motel that sits above Eddie’s in June this year, commencing a six-month refurbishment, completely transforming the rooms with an eclectic, edgy vibe and freshening up the iconic pink exterior to create what will now be known as The Pink Hotel. The finishing touches are being put on the city’s newest seaside boutique hotel, with bookings set to be taken from this Saturday October 27. Keep your eyes on The Weekend Edition – we’ll be giving you a peek inside very, very soon!
