For better or worse, Australia’s Gold Coast tends to be saddled with a somewhat unfair reputation for brash mass tourism glitz. All of which makes the 19th floor of The Darling hotel so unexpected.
Lined with vast swathes of stone, drop-lights encased in curled copper sheets, brass details and a pale palette of greens and blue-greys, the dining room is the work of Mim Design, the Melbourne-based studio capitalising on double-height ceilings and acres of windows to draw in views of the ocean and the Gold Coast’s skyline bristling with skyscraper hotels. The quietly stylish mood-board is made all the more lofty by the insertion of a staircase that curves up to a private dining room and bar, and a glittering snowy mound of chandelier at the foyer.
On an evening awash with the ocean breeze – which on the Gold Coast is pretty much year-round – the outdoor terrace, anchored by an infinity pool, is an impressive staging area for sunset cocktails or a tipple from the restaurant’s collection of 3,500 bottles. Which, it turns out, is the perfect starter for the main courses of grilled Patagonian toothfish, Blackman Bay oysters, marron risotto, and slow roasted prime ribs.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
Level 19
The Darling at The Star Gold Coast
1 Casino Drive
Broadbeach
Queensland
-
Wild sauna, anyone? The ultimate guide to exploring deep heat in the UK outdoors‘Wild Sauna’, a new book exploring the finest outdoor establishments for the ultimate deep-heat experience in the UK, has hit the shelves; we find out more about the growing trend
-
Highlights from the transporting Cruise 2026 showsThe Cruise 2026 season began yesterday with a Chanel show at Lake Como, heralding the start of a series of jet-setting, destination runway shows from fashion’s biggest houses
-
Behind the design of national pavilions in Venice: three studios to knowDesigning the British, Swiss and Mexican national pavilions at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 are three outstanding studios to know before you go
-
Wallpaper* checks in at The Eve Hotel Sydney: a lush urban escapeA new Sydney hotel makes a bold and biophilic addition to a buzzing neighbourhood that’s on the up
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Lo Scoglio: an Australian vacation rental with regenerative principlesTucked away in Byron Bay’s hinterland, an Italian-style farmhouse presents a sustainable approach to luxury
-
Five influential women hoteliers reflect on the changing face of hospitalityAs women continue to gain ground in the hotel sector, despite still being underrepresented in senior positions, five female moguls share their experiences of the past and projections for the future
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Melbourne Place: ‘an alchemy of colour, texture and personality’Designed by Kennedy Nolan, Melbourne Place is the Australian city’s newest independent hotel, oozing creativity and urban energy
-
All aboard the world’s most luxurious train journeysStay on track with our pick of the most luxurious train journeys around the world, whether in 1920s-style opulence or contemporary chic
-
Six hotels where you’ll find the winter sun this FebruaryFrom intimate seaside inns to lush tropical resorts, here are six Wallpaper*-approved winter sun escapes
-
2025 getaways: where Wallpaper* editors will be travelling to this yearFrom the Japanese art islands of Naoshima and Teshima to the Malaysian tropical paradise of Langkawi, here’s where Wallpaper* editors plan to travel to in 2025
-
The world’s best new hotels that we’re loving without reservationExplore the best new openings in the world, from Orient Express’ La Dolce Vita train and first-ever hotel to Capella’s debut in Taipei
