NOW EXPERIENCING:Bar Rochford
Drinks Directory|Restaurant|Canberra|Great tunes

Bar Rochford

Wednesday: 5:00 – 11:00 PM
Level 1, 65 London Circuit, Canberra, ACT 2601
Phone
02 6230 6222
Website
barrochford.com
Instagram
@barrochford

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 19 Apr 2022

By
David Matthews

Inside Bar Rochford in Canberra

An upstairs bar for all occasions with great food, smart drinks and an unbeatable soundtrack. It’s capital drinking at its most essential.

The setting inside Bar Rochford
Why you goBar Rochford has its finger on the pulse of our capital’s food and drink scene. In fact, its fans might say Rochford (pronounced “rock-ford”) is the heartbeat of that scene. It’s effortlessly cool – all nooks, crannies, high arched ceilings and designer furniture lit by pendant lights, backed up with an unbeatable library of killer tunes flowing from the record player (think Quincy Jones or Massive Attack). But this isn’t a slow dance. Bar Rochford heaves with locals and out-of-towners drawn to the stools, booths and tables on the first floor of the Melbourne Building for killer share plates, winning cocktails and wines from just a little left of centre. Though the food and drink rival your favourite upscale locales, this is a safe space to rock your mullet-chic and double corduroy with pride – the staff will be right alongside you. It is a bar and it gets seriously loud, but the service is fast and friendly and you can count on their people to know what they're talking about and mix a standout drink.
Why you stayOn a night out, some people look for one place to get a drink, another to get a snack, then move onto dinner. At Bar Rochford, they do all three. By the time you’ve had your first bite of a wagyu skewer or some anchovy toast, you’ll have picked something shaken or stirred to go with it. The next thing you know the shared plates will stack up, you’ll be onto your next bottle from that up-and-coming local winemaker and the bartender will be your best friend. Throw in some people watching and a moment or two admiring the décor (is that Grace Jones on the wall?) and a night at Rochford is always a night to remember.
The distinctive decor at Bar Rochford
A cocktail on offer at Canberra's Bar Rochford
What drink to orderA Club Monte – made with Amaro Montenegro, sherry and lemon – is a classic starting point, as is a Cactus Jack, which combines tequila, mezcal, apple and lime for a sweet, smoky kick. But really, these are just the openers for the wine. Almost everything on the menu here is what you’d call natural, whether it’s from cutting-edge local makers or Spain, Italy or France. Things change often but you might like to try a glass of skin-contact sauv blanc to get into the mood, then move to something rare and interesting from the handwritten specials list. What’s more, the price is right, with plenty of bottles well under the $100 mark. Beers stay simple, with a rotating selection of three draughts. There might be a pale ale, stout or a refreshing Melbourne Bitter on tap (we are in the Melbourne Building, after all), the Aussie craft tins and bottles coming out of the fridge.
What to pair it withBar Rochford has a few house specials that never leave the menu. In the snack zone we’re talking toasted sourdough topped with white anchovies and an eggy, mayonnaise-y sauce, or smoked wagyu beef skewers (okay, let’s call it what it is: beef tongue – and it’s delicious) with an anchovy mayo. Then there’ll always be a fun take on fried potatoes on offer (last we checked it was salt and vinegar with miso mustard). The larger plates are more straightforward. Duck breast, for example, comes out to the table with beautiful golden skin, matched with seasonal fruit, while the caramelised onion tart is crisp and crackles beautifully under a knife. Good times.
Who to takeThe appeal here is the versatility. Grab a corner spot and it’s perfect first-date territory, with mood lighting and music to match. Slide into a booth and there’s room for six friends to snack and drink after work. Come solo and a seat at the bar is either a place to make new friends or just enjoy your own company. Or book a table near the open kitchen to make it more of a meal, suited to catch-ups with old friends, celebrations with family or double dates. Bar Rochford built itself with all these things in mind and more. Take your crush one night, take your mum the next.
A group dining in a booth at Canberra's Bar Rochford
Authour image
David MatthewsDavid Matthews is a bar and restaurant critic who has written for Australia’s leading food publications, including Gourmet Traveller and Good Food.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryNon-alc OptionsMeal and a bevCasual catch-upGreat tunesDate nightRestaurantVego Food OptionsTop notch wine listBarCanberra
REPORT A VENUE CLOSURE/REPORT AN ERROR
Related Articles