Where to watch the game – the Gold Coast’s best sports bars, pubs and big-screen venues
Whether you’re following every minute of the FIFA World Cup, setting an alarm for an overseas kick-off or simply chasing somewhere with a decent screen and a cold beer, not all sports-watching venues are created equal. The best spots understand that half the fun is the atmosphere – the collective groans, last-minute celebrations and debates that inevitably spill over into another round. From dedicated sports bars packed with giant screens to surf clubs overlooking the ocean, here are some of the Gold Coast’s best places to catch the game.
Sporting Globe x 4 Pines, Surfers Paradise
When it comes to purpose-built sports bars, Sporting Globe is hard to beat. The Surfers Paradise venue, which shares its home with 4 Pines Brewing Co, combines wall-to-wall screens, booths fitted with personal viewing screens and a packed calendar of live sport from around the world. Whether you’re following football, UFC, NBA, cricket or the NRL, chances are it’ll be showing. Pair the action with burgers, wings and a freshly poured 4 Pines beer and you’ve got a pretty reliable game-day formula. If you’re based further south, Sporting Globe’s Robina venue delivers much of the same sports-focused experience, making it another solid option for catching the big game.
Crafty’s Sports Bar, Harbour Town
Part sports bar, part American-style hangout, Crafty’s at Harbour Town has become a favourite for locals looking to catch live sport in a lively atmosphere. Huge screens dominate the space, while the menu leans heavily into comfort food with burgers, ribs, loaded fries and share plates. It’s the kind of venue where you can comfortably settle in for an entire afternoon of sport without feeling rushed.
Sports Bar, The Star Gold Coast
For sheer scale, The Star’s Sports Bar is hard to overlook. Home to a colossal 10.5-metre LED screen alongside a network of additional displays, the venue delivers extensive live sports coverage well into the wee hours. If you’re looking for something a little more polished than the average sports pub without sacrificing atmosphere, this is one of the Gold Coast’s strongest game-day destinations.
Burleigh Town Hotel, Burleigh Heads
Big screens, cold beers and plenty of atmosphere – Burleigh Town Hotel understands the brief. The popular local watering hole regularly draws a crowd for major sporting events and offers plenty of viewing angles throughout the venue. If you’re looking for somewhere with genuine pub energy rather than a dedicated sports-bar feel, Burleigh Town Hotel delivers.
Mackenzie’s Sports Bar, Southport Sharks
If you’re serious about sport, Mackenzie’s Sports Bar at Southport Sharks deserves a spot on your radar. Home to a massive 5.5-metre mega screen and more than 50 screens throughout the venue, it’s built specifically for watching the action unfold. From major international tournaments and NRL clashes to racing and everything in between, Mackenzie’s delivers the kind of dedicated sports-bar experience that keeps fans coming back game after game.
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Burleigh Bears Sports Bar, Miami
Home to one of Queensland’s most successful rugby league clubs, Burleigh Bears knows a thing or two about sport. Its dedicated sports bar is a popular gathering place for locals looking to catch everything from NRL clashes and State of Origin to major international tournaments, pairing plenty of screens with cold beers, pub classics and a lively game-day atmosphere.
Fig ‘n’ Fox, Surfers Paradise
A proper British pub in the heart of Surfers Paradise, Fig ‘n’ Fox brings plenty of big-game energy across two levels. The venue pairs a lively ground-floor pub with a hidden downstairs dive bar, making it a solid pick whether you’re chasing pints, pub food or somewhere to catch the action. Open daily from 11:00 am until late, it’s one for those who like their game-day viewing with a few British-pub touches and a proper Sunday roast option on the side.
Surf clubs, various locations
If you’d rather pair your sport with ocean views, the Gold Coast’s surf clubs are hard to beat. Tallebudgera Surf Club is a standout thanks to its expansive deck and dedicated sports-bar area overlooking the water. Elsewhere, Burleigh Heads Mowbray Park Surf Life Saving Club, Currumbin Beach Vikings, North Burleigh Surf Club and Coolangatta Surf Club all offer multiple screens, relaxed atmospheres and some of the best views you’ll find while watching a game. Few things feel more Gold Coast than catching the second half with the ocean as your backdrop.
Taverns and hotels, various locations
Sometimes all you need is a classic pub, and lucky for us, the Gold Coast has plenty of them. Coolangatta Hotel remains a favourite for major sporting events, drawing lively crowds whenever something significant is on. Broadbeach Tavern, Miami Tavern and Mermaid Beach Tavern all offer plenty of screens, dedicated sports-bar areas and reliable pub feeds, while Hope Island Tavern gives northern Gold Coasters a solid option for catching the action closer to home. Then there’s The Crab Pot at Burleigh, which is about as beachfront as beachfront gets. With the sand just steps away and ocean views stretching along the coastline, it’s one of the few places where you can watch the game with a cold beer in hand and still feel like you’re on a beach holiday.
Honourable mentions
The Gold Coast is hardly short on places screening live sport. Keep an eye on venues including Varsity Lakes Tavern, Runaway Bay Tavern and Southport Tavern, all of which regularly show major local and international sporting events throughout the year.
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