Tupe-Aloha Bar And Grill Kirra | Must Do Gold Coast

Tupe-Aloha Bar & Grill is a colourful and very funky eatery located under ‘Nirvana by the Sea’ apartments on Musgrave Street – Kirra’s beachfront strip. Picture Hawaii meeting Mexico on holidays in Kirra, and you’re getting the idea. Casual and fun, this tropical tiki and taco bar is right across the road from the beach and is the perfect place to take a load of your sandy feet, slurp a cocktail, down a tasty taco and enjoy the groovy beachy tunes.

Walking into Tupe you feel like you might be on the set with Magnum P.I. or Elvis in Hawaii so bring your sense of humour. Wander over bamboo mats, passed the welcoming poncho-adorned tiki figurine, wave to the sombrero-wearing Easter islander and make yourself comfortable amongst the quirky 70s mementos. Inside, the lime and sunflower hues of the eclectic retro décor and seating are wonderfully offset by the vibrant artwork by sibling co-owners Rory and Tipalowe Oberman’s parents. If you meet Tipalowe, you’ll find her adorned with tattoos of some of her favourite pieces, as she tells you Tupe-Aloha is a Mexican restaurant trapped on a Hawaiian Island, created in honour of her family.

It’s not just the wonderful atmosphere that keeps this place full, the menu might just be the biggest treasure of all. With Tiki Tasters like salt and pepper squid, beer-battered prawns, jalapeño poppers, tropicana fried chicken tenders and chilli buffalo wings complementing the corn chips, curly fries, grilled corn and nachos. Of course, everything comes with gauc, salsa and sour cream and your mouth will be watering before you even peruse Tupes Taco Truck or the Burrito Bay. Choose from shreddin’ beef, Pablo Esco-pork , Baja fish, fancy prawns, tropicana fried chicken, the veg-o-rama or tree-hugger (vegan) fillings and top it off with Tupes Dessert Island pineapple fritters and you’ll be one happy amigo. And bring the rug rats – they will love the Kids Club specials of Nachos, Quesadilla, nuggets or curly fries.

Watch out for Taco Tuesdays, $1 wing night (Thursdays) and join the knock-off crew from 3pm Fridays for a Margarita, uno Cervesa (on-tap) or equally enticing beverage from their extensive selection. Not only do the food and bevies entice, so do the tunes of the live Sunday happy hour sessions. This is the place to come and meet your amigos. Oh, and don’t forget, you can have a mini cocktail umbrella and pineapple in everything.