Bardeaux

Address: Eureka Arcade off The Mall, Queenstown and Arrowtown, New Zealand
Tel: +64 (0)3 442 8284
Website: view Bardeaux’s website

Review

Bardeaux is on a definite drinking circuit, located on a side street in which practically every business is a bar or a club, but don't let that put you off as this is one of the more luxurious venues in Queenstown, boasting leather armchairs, thick rugs and vintage wine displayed in glass cases - quite the connoisseur's haven among all the more overt 'party' bars.

Even at the height of summer, when the doors along one side are thrown open to the terrace, Bardeaux has an enormous log fire on at full pelt - in fact, that's something of a signature for the Good Bars group, which owns this and several other of the venues listed here, so environmentalists be warned!

A large back-bar has a particularly extensive and international whisky collection alongside wines and champagnes. Cocktails are made proficiently, with the bartenders shaking and stirring where appropriate, and also exhibiting good product knowledge. There is a decent selection of house creations and sophisticated, grown-up twists on classics, all with elegant descriptions. A shorter collection of classics is complemented by a list of champagne cocktails - all mixed drinks are NZ$16.50.