La Luna Beach Club

Overview

It was back in late 2021 that word of La Luna — aka Australia's first European-inspired floating beach club — initially arrived, and news of its plans to set up shop on the Gold Coast. Earlier in 2022, the Seaworld Drive venue's waterside restaurant opened, but it's taken some time for the whole place to follow suit. Now, that time is upon us.

Living the yacht life without actually getting on a yacht: that's just become a reality on the Glitter Strip, whether you're a local looking to break up your routine, a Brisbanite eager for any excuse for a trip down the highway or you're vacationing from further afield. From its white-heavy decor to its overall concept, La Luna gleans its cues from its counterparts on the other side of the world — and from Mykonos and Saint-Tropez in general — with influences taken from the setups in Tulum in Mexico as well.

Get ready for luxe poolside stints; yes, you'll find those daybeds right by the water, including king-size versions for getting cosy with up to three people. If you'd prefer a cabana, they're available for four-hour bookings catering for ten (standard), 12 (in a lower-level location) and 15 (in the grand cabanas) guests.

Or, you can simply choose a sun lounge for two hours — but whatever you opt for, there's a fee. The cheapest seats require a minimum spend of $150 per person, and the price only goes up from there.

Menu-wise, the poolside fare includes plenty of the ocean's finest — oysters, kingfish ceviche, yellowfin tuna tartare, caviar, seafood cocktails, fried crispy baby squid, Moreton Bay bug buns, and lobster and scallop ravioli are all on offer — as well as wagyu beef burgers, fruit platters, sorbet and gelato.

As for drinks, patrons can sip cognac mango iced teas, lychee martinis, strawberry and kiwi gin sours, plus all the classic concoctions. Or, pick from a small range of on-tap beers, and sparkling, rose, red and white wines. Feeling flush? A $1454 bottle of champagne is available for waterside splurges.

La Luna is the brainchild of the Gennari Group, which is already behind the Gold Coast's Koi Broadbeach, Glass Dining & Lounge Bar, The Loose Moose, Maggie Choo and Roosevelt Lounge.

Also up and running: onsite restaurant Mare, with Meyjitte Boughenot overseeing the kitchen team. Cruisy bites to eat, long lunches and drinks on the pontoon are all the focus, with the cuisine heroing Mediterranean dishes.

If you like the poolside menu, many of the same options are also available here. Expect a heftier range, however, including char-grilled steaks, four types of pasta, and a 14-page drinks list.