Mooloolaba has had a big year, and there’s plenty of new things around town to show for it. From a 20-seat speakeasy to a swim shop with a Croatian twist and a taqueria with a cult following on its way, here’s what’s new and what’s coming, so you can be the first of your friends to try it.
Hid Den
The harder a bar is to find, the better it tends to be, and Hid Den proves the point. This 20-seat speakeasy comes from the team behind WAT Den, and almost every seat faces the bar, because the bar is the stage. Expect a pornstar martini poured around prosecco sorbet churned in front of you with liquid nitrogen, a ruby-red sour topped with blowtorched meringue, and Chasing Waterfalls, a zero-proof drink that shifts from blue to violet before your eyes.
It’s walk-ins only, so there’s no booking ahead. If all 20 seats are taken, WAT Den doubles as the waiting room.
Find it: Mantra building, Mooloolaba
Open: Wednesday to Sunday, 5pm until midnight
Plivati
Summer swim shopping just got a new stop. Plivati means “swim” in Croatian, and the Australian-owned label brings a Mediterranean feel to the beach with resort-style swimwear in prints made for long lunches by the water. The women’s pieces are interchangeable, so you can mix and match tops and bottoms, and the men’s swim shorts are named after Croatian foods, like Maslina (olives), Sol (salt) and Smokve (figs), with prints to match. There’s a kids’ range too, designed to match the grown-up collections, so the whole family can coordinate on beach day.
Find it: Unit 2/19 First Ave, Mooloolaba
The Formal Studio
Got a formal, a wedding or a big night on the calendar? The Formal Studio is the newest place in town to find the dress. They’ve got new dresses, pre-loved and hiring available.
Find it: 45 Brisbane Rd, Mooloolaba
The new terrace outside the Surf Club
Not everything new in Mooloolaba comes with a menu. The new terraced seating in front of the Surf Club is the beach’s newest front-row seat, with wide steps made for watching the waves, settling in with a takeaway coffee or catching up with friends after a swim. It’s already becoming a favourite spot for locals, and it’s one of the best seats in town for sunrise.
Costa Taco (coming soon)
Taco lovers, get excited. Costa Taco, the much-loved taqueria that started as a Palm Beach pop-up before opening in Broadbeach, Byron Bay and Burleigh Heads, is heading to Mooloolaba. Think handmade tortillas, beef birria and quesabirria tacos, ceviche tostadas and Baja-style fish, all washed down with margaritas from one of the best tequila and mezcal lists around. We’ll let you know as soon as the doors open.
Find it: 121 Mooloolaba Espl, Mooloolaba QLD 4557
Opens: End of November
Next time someone asks what’s new in Mooloolaba, you’ll have the answer. Tag a friend you’d meet here first.