George's Paragon Pizza & Wine Bar (Sanctuary Cove)

The word on it

What locals actually say — not a press release.

George's Paragon Pizza & Wine Bar sits over in Hope Island, and it's built on what people keep coming back for: proper pizza and a solid wine list. The kitchen has a reputation for getting the pizza right, staff know their job and they're attentive about it, and the happy hour's worth timing your visit around. Fair warning though — service can be patchy when it's busy, and sometimes the kitchen takes longer than you'd expect, so it pays to roll with it.

The atmosphere leans lively and mixed, which means you'll find everyone from couples after a proper night out to groups taking up a table. It suits both those occasions well. The views are a draw too, the kind of thing that makes a Friday night or a long lunch actually feel like you've stepped somewhere. Mid-range pricing keeps it accessible — this isn't fine dining, it's solid, unpretentious food and wine.

Go in knowing it can get crowded enough to queue, but kids are welcome and the menu's set up for them. It's the kind of spot that works when you want pizza and wine without the fuss, somewhere the Gold Coast does well.