Much more than a handy pit stop for pre-dinner drinks, Bar Rocco is a destination for snacks, share plates and spirited Italian good times worth crossing town for.
A Martini makes a brilliant first impression. Rocco’s take on the classic features Gin Mare from Spain, which channels the Mediterranean with plenty of herbal botanicals. It’s mixed with grappa, a brandy made with the grape leftovers from winemaking, then blended with a vermouth infused with basil and olive brine, creating a suitably smooth Italian-style Martini. It’s finished with a drop of rosemary oil and a lemon twist. Spritzes, meanwhile, venture beyond the standard Aperol here. The Ramona Spritz, for instance, uses Italicus, an Italian liqueur made with bergamot (that flavour in Earl Grey tea), along with prosecco, elderflower and mint; another recalls Amalfi with limoncello as the base. The Negroni gets a hit of sweetness from vermouth that’s infused with panettone crumbs, then clarified before being mixed with gin and Campari.
The wine list colours outside the lines, too. You’ll find Australian names like Sven Joschke and La Violetta alongside the likes of Sardinian producer Antonella Corda, Piedmont’s Emilio Vada and other labels from France and Portugal. The emphasis is on wines that not only drink well, but also partner well with food. If you’re not drinking alcohol, you won’t be overlooked. Mocktails include a Spritz made with a seasonal shrub (a house-made tart fruit cordial) and a creamy Amaretto Sour featuring Lyre’s Amaretti, and there are three zero beers.
