Bar Rochford

Just had such an excellent time here! Ryan and Lucas were fantastic and looked after us well! And holy *#$! the food is so good! I could eat 15 of those ox tongue skewers! Great vibes and highly recommended!

Outstanding service, sublime oysters, ahead of its time. The only place to dine in Canberra don't forget to book. Atmosphere incredible felt like we were in a private club in Europe. We will be back soon.

A Heartfelt Farewell to Bar Rochford *** Feel free to skip out reasons for being there… but don’t skip the food review ! It was great!! Bar Rochford has been a special place for us over the past four years, marking both the start and now the end of a significant chapter in our lives. Our journey with Rochford began when we first visited Canberra for ANU Open Day, helping our daughter decide whether this would be her future place of study. After stepping into the bar for the first time, we knew—if nothing else—her university choice would give us the perfect excuse to keep coming back. Fast forward to today, and she has just graduated, making this visit likely our last for some time. ***** here is the food review bit :-> To the incredible staff and chefs at Bar Rochford, thank you for making our final night so memorable. While our past visits were often centered around many (many) expertly crafted cocktails—don’t judge!—this time, we opted for a full dining experience, and it was nothing short of exceptional. The food was simply outstanding, from the entrées to the mains. Every dish was beautifully prepared, and the creativity behind the menu was evident in every bite. Beyond the cuisine, what truly sets Rochford apart is its atmosphere—a warm, eclectic space where people from all walks of life come together over great drinks, food, and music. The cocktail craftsmanship remains unmatched, but now we can confidently say the food is just as extraordinary. Whoever is driving the vision behind this place, from the kitchen to the bar to the overall experience, deserves immense credit. Bar Rochford is more than just a bar—it’s a Canberra institution. While our regular visits may be coming to an end, we’ll certainly be looking for an excuse to return in the future. Until then, thank you for the memories.

The atmosphere is good and the food is delicious. There are so many customers. I recommend food to eat with wine

Bar Rochford is wonderful. The space is tasteful, yet comfortable. The staff are efficient and welcoming. They consistently make the best martini in Canberra. Even the bathrooms are lovely.

Well. You have to be determined to find this place. I missed it twice and if you use a device for mobility it's not for you. I sat at the bar as I had no reservations. Not incredibly comfortable, but the bartender was comforting. The spicy margarita was excellent. In fact I am going back for one before I leave Canberra for Jamaica. The toast topped with anchovies. Oh yes. A definite must.

My partner and I had such a wonderful experience tonight at Bar Rochford. Not only because of the delicious food, but the staff’s service was absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately we did not get one of the staff members names. But a special mention to the lovely Ruby who was just gorgeous and recommended some memorable dishes. And another special mention to the lovely gentleman with the mullet and tattoos that we didn’t catch the name of. It was my first time dining at Bar Rochford and you both made our experience special, and we already cannot wait to be back! Thank you!

A fave for our Canberra trips. Great changing menu, professional staff and a lovely vibe. It gets better with age! The anchovy toast is much loved by the regulars - sad that we only discovered it on this visit.

Great cocktails, nice food and a low light atmosphere that's quite classy but still very comfortable. You don't get the impression it's arrogant or exclusive or trying to be anything that it isn't. Go there, you won't regret it.

Probably my favourite of the bars I checked out on my visit to Canberra. The staff were friendly and helpful and the decor is classy but relaxed. Classic wine bar vibe but my margarita was on point. Will be back to explore the wine list.

A bit pricey but well worth it for friendly, knowledgeable staff and opportunities to taste wine before choosing a glass.

I've been in ACT for one week now and Bar Rochford is by far the best, most welcoming establishment I have been to in year. Coming from the US, Nico and his crew have their service down to an art. The prices are no different than any other ACT establishment that I've been to in ACT, but the attention to detail and service are a 'bar above' (pun intended) the rest. Bar Rochford reminds me of Little Branch in NYC. Thanks for making me feel at home, when home is over 9000 miles away!

The lamb tartare is pretty good for a shared plate. You may think the beef tongue is for the bold, but once it comes out, it just looks like any shaved deli meat. Very well presented. Cheese platter is very good, albeit pricey. We were 5, and we smashed through it. The fresh sourdough was delightful. The cocktail and wine list had some variety, we weren't disappointed with the selection. Like most new and hip bars, this place was dimly lit and quite noisy; with some very well-dressed and attractive patronage. The owners have done a great job with the decoration, and intimacy created through the furnishings and ambient music. Staff forgot about us a few times, probably due to being incredibly busy.

Came here the other night with some co-workers. I hear it got voted best bar in Australia by some gourmet magazine. I liked the place, but that seems a bit much. It's a small space with an even smaller kitchen, but I was pleasantly surprised at the dishes they were pumping out. Bar food, elevated at this place. They had a range of things on the menu and all were fairly priced. We had the broccolini with smoked tahini, had the burrata with honey and some other things.... Fantastic simple dishes, but flavor profiles were just elevated. Broccolini was cooked perfectly, which with such a small thing is very difficult to nail just right. You'll have to forgive me, we had some other dishes as well, but when you're out drinking..... well, you know. Out here there seem to be a ton of lagers, pale ales, ipa's etc. They have an oatmeal stout that's on the menu and a nice respite from all the basic beers I see back home all the time. They appeal to everyone :) Our bartender was very attentive and you could tell he took pride in his job and his craft as a barman. Also, they play vinyl records here and had some gangstarr playing when we walked in. CLASSIC hip hop. Props for that one, I'll definitely be back.

Love going to Canberra and eating and dining out at some of the best places ever. Places like this wine bar is a great find. The bartender from dinner recommended it so here we are. Great wine bar Canberra!! I knew you had it in you :)

I haven't been in Canberra terribly long, but to this point, Bar Rochford makes the best drinks I have found. The atmosphere is very hipster, very Portlandia and we loved it. Only draw backs are the prices and the noise. The prices are what you would expect in NYC, Boston, London, San Francisco, etc., not Canberra. Yes, the prices are high, but they back it up with quality of service and taste. As for the noise, I'm impressed how loud it is. It can be a bit obnoxious.