Barrel & Co.

Barrel and Co. brings a modern cosmopolitan brasserie to Arawa Street, right in the heart of Rotorua’s city centre. Set within Pullman Rotorua, it is a place where the embers glow and the senses stir, an intimate open kitchen turning every service into quiet theatre. Fire is the guiding force here, channelling the natural and cultural heritage of Aotearoa into dishes that speak of forests, waters, and the produce they yield.

The grill takes centre stage, with steaks and seafood cooked to accent their innate character. A mighty Savannah Angus beef tomahawk, weighing in at 1.2kg, invites convivial feasting, flanked by thoughtful sauces and infused mustards such as beer and thyme or manuka honey. The celebrated Lumina Lamb rack, sourced from South Canterbury, underscores a commitment to provenance, while notes of horopito and kawakawa weave through the menu with distinctly local flair.

Elsewhere, craft and comfort intersect: steak tartare glossed with kawakawa oil and cured egg yolk; a daily soup with grilled kumara sourdough; free range fried chicken layered with textures of Jerusalem artichoke; and a denver venison ragu with homemade maltagliatti, kawakawa salsa verde, and shaved pecorino. Even the sides—shoestring fries dusted with dukkah and parmesan, or a baby romaine and radicchio salad with charred persimmon—carry a considered touch.

Welcoming from breakfast through to dinner, this is dining that feels both polished and personable. Take a seat by the pass, savour the flames, and let Rotorua work its magic—one delicious flicker at a time.