Oh how we’ve missed you Miami Tavern! Closed for renovation in June this year, the historic tavern has finally reopened, much to the delight of awaiting locals.

History lesson first, The Miami Tavern/Shark Bar has occupied the same block of land for almost a century, with the visionary EH Berry opening the original Hotel Miami in 1925. Continual upgrades culminated in 1966 with the birth of The Miami Tavern, with leading Australian hospitality group ALH acquiring the venue in 1993.

Now renamed The Miami, the impressive new space has had locals intrigued for months. But wait no longer, a stylish coastal fit-out awaits.

So what’s changed? Well lovers of the charming and personality-soaked Shark Bar, you’ll find an impressive new restaurant and cafe on the top and a sleek new beachside bar on the bottom. How good.

Upstairs the interior reflects a casual, coastal vibe with light wood, furniture, white and blue accents and fresh flowers on tables. The bar, along the length of one wall, is absolutely packed with goodies and perfectly at home with peachy pink tiles and plenty of space. The outside deck, newly built and ready for summer sipping offers 180 degree views of North Burleigh beach and is probably where we will live for the rest of time.

The menu offers a modern take on some of your favourite pub dishes with plenty of fresh seafood dishes, tasty salads and sweet share boards for grazing.

The Miami Board was a five-star option with BBQ pork ribs, jerk chicken wings, crispy halloumi (HELLO), sweet potato wedges and a variety of sauces. We’d also happily eat the Crispy Fish Taco with slaw, guacamole and lemon, the Miami Poke Bowl with seaweed, ginger, teriyaki tofu, siitake, salads, edamame and soy sesame dressing AND the Wagyu Beef Burger with all of the most delicious burger toppings (including a dill pickle thank you very much).

Oh and there’s still a chicken parmigiana, seafood basket and a good old-fashioned pie (but fancy) on the menu so don’t worry about missing out on your faves.

The Grill section offers plenty of steak options for the meat lovers and there are entire sections dedicated to pizzas, salads and burgers too. It’s an impressive menu jam-packed with dishes that’ll have you returning time and time again.

Pub food at its finest you might say.

The cocktail list is equally as fun with plenty of exciting options on offer to both cool you down and have you Insta-snapping up a storm. We enjoyed the If You Musk with gin, elderflower liqueur, musk syrup, lemon juice and egg white and also the Merchant’s Wife with gin, Aperol, fresh watermelon and lime juice.

There’s a Salted Carmel Espresso Martini that comes with popcorn and that is very good time too friends.

Downstairs you’ll find a completely overhauled sports bar and TAB. Most importantly there will now be more than 22 fresh cold beers on tap (wine and other beverages still available for the non-beer friends obviously) and pool tables for deciding who’s buying the next round.

Don’t worry, there’s still heaps of space available for throwing around your best dance moves.

Spruced up in a lighter colour palette, it’s the perfect spot for a Friday arvo catch-up with your mates.

A new undercover patio, means rain, hail or shine, you’re on for arvo drinks.

If you’re as happy to see the Miami Tav back in operation as we are, get down there and give it a welcome high-five.

LOCATION: 2043-2047 Gold Coast Highway, Miami (bordered by Kelly Ave & The Esplanade)
HOURS: Monday and Saturday 10am until 2.30am, Sunday 10am until 12.30am

Words by Carly Snodgrass
Photos by Kirra Smith

Get in loser, we’re going shopping (and eating, and brewery-hopping, and sight seeing, and exploring street art, and… you get the idea)

Now you might be wondering why we’re throwing around random movie quotes to kick off this list (in our defence there is a Mean Girls line for *every* occasion) – but if suburbs were Mean Girls characters, Miami would for sure be the one to utter this iconic line. Miami has it all, and it knows it. Take one glance at just some of the epic spots we’ve lined up and you’ll soon see why all the other suburbs wish they could be this cool.

Paddock Bakery
One thing locals know, is the only thing loose in this (top) paddock is only the most scrumptious, buttery baked goods in 4220. Ever since Paddock opened it’s charmingly renovated doors in 2014, locals have been flocking there daily for their much-kneaded Paddock fix.

Reigning supreme as our baked-goods, brunch and lunch hookup ever since, the ex-Queenslander-turned-treehouse-of-our-childhood-dreams has expanded to welcome us and our relentless sweet tooth’s with open arms. With the lush gardens, cottage, loft, rooftop and barn to retreat to, the only thing more extensive than the dining space options is the menu to indulge from.
Where: 20 Hibiscus Haven, Miami

Granddad Jacks
It used to be that Granddads were good for stealing our noses and sneaking us butter candy, but in Miami, Granddad Jacks is good for plying us the finest locally distilled spirits, gin making classes, distillery tours and of course and just an all-round cool haunt to sit back with a top notch bevvy and let our mullets run free. These masterful wizards didn’t amass a whopping 70+ awards by getting distracted by anything other than distilling, so it’s BYO food too (and surely that means more to spend on the good stuff!)
Where: 45 Lemana Lane, Miami

Miami Fish Market
It would be shell-fish of us not to include the absolute pearl that is Miami Fish Market, and we have two words for you: Sashimi box. Soy-n us up, pls! Fin-ally, we have a hook up for the finest and freshest seafood that’s a sure thing (unlike heading home empty handed from your holy grail fishing spot). Also unlike a day on the water, the pros will handle all the dirty work so you can do as much or as little as you like – oysters shucked to order, anyone?!
Where: 1/54 Paradise Ave, Miami

Pizzey Park
Wine not take those fresh sucked oysters to-go and mosey right on over for a bougie picnic at the picturesque Pizzey park. As one of the biggest parks on the GC, Pizzey is a local icon and hub for sports, clubs, recreation and all round fun times for all ages. There’s an aquatic centre, playgrounds galore, a wheely epic skate park and let’s not forget the off-leash dog area for our four legged BFFs (paw out of five dogs agree Pizzey is the best park for zoomies on the GC)
Where: 80 Pacific Ave, Miami

Miami Marketta
The Coast’s OG street food night markets that put Miami on the map as a must-visit destination for foodies and live music lovers alike. The first venue of it’s kind to Miami and perhaps even the Coast, Marketta quickly grew to establish itself as a mainstay among the GC scene, bringing good vibes, live music and great food galore via the eclectic creative and cultural hotspot for over ten years now. Our beloved market brings us all our favourite tastes of the world as well as that same buzzing atmosphere that’s favoured by families especially, for rounding up their rowdy broods for an easy night out that everyone can enjoy.
Where: 23 Hillcrest Pde, Miami

UGG Since 1974
With the hotter weather officially taking some mercy on us now we’ve packed away the budgie smugglers and it’s the perfect time to slip into something a little more cosy. Enter, Ugg Since 1974 – churning out wearable warm hugs for your feet since, well, 1974. Don’t be feeling sheepish if you didn’t know they’ve expanded their range to include a huge selection of colours, styles and options to customise – including monogramming (cute!) through to paw-dorable pet accessories (even cuter!) With factory tours running right out of Miami, the only thing better than supporting local, is treating your tootsies to a cloud-nine experience in the process.
Where: 23 Christine Ave, Miami

Lumber Punks
Ever find yourself struck by the sudden and insatiable urge to don your flanno’s and yeet sharp objects at the wall? Okay so perhaps not, but when your usual rotation of outings is just not cutting it anymore – it might be time to hit up Lumber Punks because you really can’t axe for a better way to get the crew together for some laughs or some fun date night axe-ction. If you haven’t yet tried your hand at the phenomenon that is axe throwing, chop chop – because this is one adventure that brings the axe-mosphere in blades (er, spades, rather). If it’s good enough for Jason Momoa, it’s obvs good enough for us.
Where: 19 Ozone Pde, Miami

Miami Hill
Okay, now it just feels like Miami is showing off and 469 (no kidding) google reviews can’t be wrong. At first glance those deceptively colourful trademark stairs might look all sunshine and rainbows, but one thing’s for sure – conquer that climb and you will be rewarded with one of the best vantages on the coast. With stunning views of the coastline from Surfers right down to Burleigh, there’s only one thing left to say: How’s. the. serenity. (and maybe a hearty dose of *heavy breathing* depending on how many times you decide to take on those stairs #cardi-no thanks)
Where: At the south end of Miami (you can’t miss it) 

Trader Trove
Trader Trove, more like treasure trove. Welcome to Miami’s own worldly homewares haven for those who prefer their interiors on the luxe side – and their swoon-worthy assortment of bohemian inspired home decor, that’s more expertly curated than an influencers insta feed.

We love: a family run local biz with a dreamy selection of ethically minded homewares. We don’t love: that all self control seems to exit our body when we visit.
Where: 22 Christine Ave, Miami

Ferg’s
You no longer need a certified 90’s banger to be proclaiming ‘fergalicious (so delicious)’ because ever since Fergs moved to town we’ve had an excuse to be saying it daily. For the unacquainted – f.e.r.g.s aka Fresh Eats Really Good Sh*t – has been dishing up breakfast and brunch much to the delight of southern GC, with all the staple brunch suspects you’d expect, but also the likes of Lemon Meringue Crumpets and really, need we say more?
Where: 2/43 Hillcrest Parade, Miami

Street art
It’s no secret us Gold Coasters are quite partial to doing what we can to our put our best #lewks forward, and over the last few years the streets of Miami have also been undergoing somewhat of a glow up themselves (and #spoileralert – there’s no filler to be found here folks). If it’s been a while between visits, it might surprise you to learn the suburb is at the heart of a thriving GC art and cultural boom, with a bunch of incredible artists transforming the local laneways into a destination in and of themselves. There’s even the Art Roll website dedicated to mapping out the best routes for your own self-led street art tour.

And the event that started the movement, Surface Festival returns for it’s third year this July, set to transform the local footpaths, fence lines, laneways and walls with some art-mazing fresh new works to admire and we’re here. for. it.
Where: Check the Art Roll website for locations

Precinct Brewing Co
If you’ve worked up a thirst just reading this list – last but by no means least is everyone’s (yep, we called it) favourite brewery, Precinct Brewing Co. Once you’ve stepped through the doors you’ll be welcomed into a sleek, all-white space with greenery dripping from up high, and an absolute slew of tanks brewing up some tasty treats. You can see why people say, it’s the place to beer! Don’t forget to grab one of the tasty pizzas coming from the onsite kitchen too…
Where: 17 Christine Ave, Miami