Familiar Spirits
Burleigh Heads
Updated: Mar 24, 2025
Familiar Spirits is one of the Gold Coast's true hidden treasures - a cool and chic tropical bar and cellar door tucked away in an industrial zone of Burleigh Heads.
Finding Familiar Spirits is like stumbling across a mirage-turned-oasis in the deserted back streets, and is well worth the effort to seek it out.
Patrons can take a seat inside the stunning high-ceilinged interior with its beach-meets-jungle aesthetic, either at one of the at the tables, perched up at the bar or on the terrace outside.
The work of savvy husband and wife team Justin and Lana Bell, who bring their combined expertise in distilling (Justin) and design and food menu (Lana), here's the perfect spot to relax with a glass of boutique gin, vodka, liqueur or signature cocktail and a plate of delicious bites.
The selection of spirits, distilled on site, include The Lakehouse Gin, The Butler's Gin and The Gentleman Pirate White Cane Spirit and Viscount Vodka as well as Limoncello liqueur.
Highly recommended are the signature cocktails which perfectly showcase the spirits, and these include The Lakehouse, The Butler's Secret and Not so Familiar Negroni (based on Macadamia fat washed pudding gin) as well as The Revenge and 2 Limioncello-based cocktails - French Flip and The Off Season. There's also one white or red wine by the glass and a couple of beers.
The food menu is concise but outstanding and includes Beef Carpaccio with roasted baby beetroot, creamed horseradish, watercress, parmesan and rocket; trio of bar snacks (truffle crisps, Sicilian green olives and chili almonds; and Ploughmans Platter (Mercy Valley cheddar with honey & thyme, fig, smoked beetroot, cornichons, rocket &b toasted sourdough.
Must-try is the Burrata with tomatoes & macadamia salsa matcha (Mexican chilli oil) & toasted sourdough, and it's hard to go past the desserts too, with a choice of chocolate Oreo tart with double cream or Rose Panna Cotta with raspberry syrup & pistachio cookie.
Good ro know - Familiar Spirits also run cocktail making classes.
Need to know - There is plenty of onstreet parking available nearby.
