St Bernards Hotel

St Bernards Hotel, founded in 1911, is a historic hotel perched atop Tamborine Mountain on the edge of an ancient volcanic escarpment, overlooking Guanaba Gorge with views to the Gold Coast.

Located on Alpine Terrace, off the main tourist track, this iconic hotel offers old world charm inside; while outside a quaint courtyard provides a stunning vista over Tamborine Valley. 

Guests are greeted by the hotel’s resident St Bernard dogs (from a long history of St Bernard dogs who lived at the hotel), Molly and Syrah, who are often found sleeping near the entrance. Out the back, the hotel's lush gardens with winding paths sprawl for 10 acres. Worth looking out for is the hotel 'pond', an ex-Olympic swimming pool where a famous Australian swimmer once trained.

In winter, customers can sit inside the heritage restaurant beside the cosy fireplace and in summer, they can enjoy alfresco dining and cool breezes on the patio.

Open daily for lunch and dinner, light meals include salt and pepper calamari, nachos and pulled pork sliders with housemade slaw and chips. More substantial fare ranges from The Works burger and beer battered fish and chips to chicken parmigiana and prime rump steaks.

Child-friendly, kids can tuck into chicken nuggets and chips, fish and chips and cheeseburgers.

By Deb Lidster

The menu may have changed since our visit.