Lagoon, fairy lights and six incredible courses – JW Marriott unveils a new winter igloo dining experience
Fairy lights, a clear-domed roof, palm trees rustling overhead and a six-course tasting menu rolling out by candlelight beside a saltwater lagoon. That’s the brief for Private Dining Under the Stars, JW Marriott Gold Coast Resort & Spa’s brand-new winter offering.
Launching this month and running through to late August, the experience is a series of all-weather, fairy-lit igloo domes set beside the resort’s saltwater lagoon. Each igloo is styled for two or a small group and built around a six-course tasting menu curated by Director of Culinary Paul Smart and the team behind the resort’s two-hatted restaurant, Citrique.
Igloo dining usually comes with snow on the ground and wool blankets across the lap. This one comes with palm trees overhead and the resort’s saltwater lagoon shimmering at the edge of the table.
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The evening begins with a glass of Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut and a tin of premium caviar, before the six courses roll out across the table. Beetroot and goats’ cheese involtini opens proceedings, followed by seared scallops with chorizo paired with a Craggy Range Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc. Chef’s signature Moreton Bay bug dumplings arrive next with a Kellerei Kaltern Pinot Grigio, and oven-baked snow fish with a Collector ‘Tiger Tiger’ Chardonnay. The main event is a wagyu steak paired with Leeuwin Estate’s Prelude Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, and the JW Citrus Illusion dessert closes the evening with an Alasia Moscato d’Asti.
The whole production is built for the kind of occasion that begs for a little theatre. Anniversaries, proposals, milestone birthdays, or the simple decision to make a Tuesday in June feel like an event. “Private Dining Under the Stars combines the intimacy of a secluded dining experience with the exceptional cuisine and service that two-hatted restaurant Citrique is renowned for,” Paul Smart says. “We wanted to create a winter offering that feels luxurious, romantic and completely transportive, allowing guests to slow down and enjoy an unforgettable evening beside our iconic lagoon under the stars.”
Private Dining Under the Stars is available from May 25 to August 26 2026, Monday to Wednesday from 6:00 pm (additional nights on request). Make a booking here.
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