Clifford’s Grill and Lounge: Surfers Paradise’s Favourite Grill and Bar
Looking for the best grill and lounge in Surfers Paradise? Start here. Clifford’s Grill and Lounge sits on the ground floor of the voco Gold Coast hotel, and it’s been a local favourite since 2014.
It’s not trying too hard. It doesn’t need to.
The dining room has an upper deck and floor-to-ceiling windows that pull in the coastal light all day. Warm timber, soft lighting, and just enough polish — that’s the vibe. Special enough for a celebration, relaxed enough for a casual night out.
Cooked Over Fire, Not Fuss
Here’s what sets Clifford’s Grill and Lounge apart: everything comes off an open-flame charcoal grill. No shortcuts. No gas burners hiding in the back.
The menu is modern Australian with a coastal lean. Fresh, local, simple — and cooked with real fire.
A few dishes worth booking a table for:
- Black Angus Eye Fillet (200g) — grilled à la plancha and finished with thyme and garlic butter, truffle mash, roasted field mushroom, broccolini, kale, and a rich house jus.
- Bug Tail Linguini — Moreton Bay bug tail tossed through a white wine and lemon emulsion with cherry tomatoes, mild chilli, garlic, and olive oil.
- Goldband Snapper — line-caught snapper fillet with crispy skin, served alongside baby potatoes, haricot vert, cherry tomato, and anchoïade.
What’s on the Menu
This is what Clifford’s Grill and Lounge does best:
- From the Grill — shared 1kg T-bone steaks, Black Angus eye fillets, grain-fed rib-eyes.
- Signature Slow-Cooks — the 12-hour lamb shoulder and a three-hour sticky pork belly.
- Small Plates — salt and pepper squid (a reviewer favourite) and freshly shucked Pacific oysters.
- Dessert — the Bombe Alaska. Macadamia croquant, salted caramel, vanilla bean ice cream, scorched meringue. Photograph it before it’s gone.
The Lounge Side of Things
Great food deserves a great drink, and Clifford’s Grill and Lounge delivers on both fronts. The cocktail list is playful but polished — try the Pineapple Express, made with Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Licor 43, pineapple juice and cinnamon.
The wine list? Extensive. Well-chosen. There’s something here for every plate on the table.
Right in the Heart of Surfers Paradise
Location matters, and Clifford’s nails it. Set in the middle of Surfers Paradise, it’s close enough to feel the buzz of the strip — but calm enough to escape it.
That makes it an easy pick for anyone chasing a great meal in a great atmosphere. It’s the kind of place that turns a simple dinner into a proper night out — good food, good company, and enough energy to keep you there past dessert.
Details:
Address: 31 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise
Hours: 5:30pm – 10pm, Wednesday to Sunday
Address: 31 Hamilton Ave, Surfers Paradise
🕒 Hours: 5:30pm – 10pm, Wednesday to Sunday
📸 Instagram: @cliffordsgrillandlounge
🌐 Website: goldcoast.vocohotels.com/eat-drink/cliffords-grill-lounge
The Verdict
Clifford’s Grill and Lounge stands out because it doesn’t overcomplicate things. Real fire. Real ingredients. A room that feels good to sit in. And a drinks list that keeps up.
If you’re after the best grill and lounge in Surfers Paradise, this is it. Book the table. Thank yourself later.
