While Suga enjoys frontage to the Gold Coast Highway in Palm Beach, it’s hard to spot. You might have noticed a few random bits of timber, recycled window frames and old doors encasing the shop next door to Little Maisy boutique (just up from Hachi Japanese) over the past few months. Well, now the secret’s out – while the exterior may have resembled an abandoned shopfront that had been boarded up (and still does), inside the coast’s newest rum and cocktail bar was taking shape right under our noses. After months of work, the doors to Suga are now open, with the impressive dimly lit den slinging sips until the wee hours from Thursday to Monday.
Behind the bar is talented New Zealand export Lincoln Grant who leads a small team of cocktail-crafting wizards. There are more than 60 different varieties of rum on the shelves so far, with bottles on pour from Jamaica to Cuba, the Caribbean and everywhere in between. Though, despite the international spread, small-batch rum distillers from Australia (we’re looking at you, Husk) are displayed front and centre. If you’re not that well-versed on the world of rum, Lincoln and the team will happily school you – and there are plenty of approachable rum-based cocktails to ease you into it. There’s also a fine selection of gins, whiskies and tequilas on offer, as well as 12 taps pouring local beer, with only brewers located within one hour of the coast making the cut. At Suga, all of the fruit and produce used behind the bar is sourced from local growers, and nothing is discarded. The rinds, seeds, husks and elements that would normally be thrown away are re-used to make bar essentials like syrups and caramels, in a bid to offer completely sustainable, local and waste-free sips.
Want some Suga? Head to our Stumble Guide for its opening hours, location and contact details.