Ryan Smith went to the awards and was surprised to come away with a trophy! Photo: Australian Bartender.
Bar Rochford has once again been awarded a gong by the Australian Bar Awards, an annual celebration of the best-of-the-best in the industry.
Bar Rochford has previously won Wine Bar of the Year at these prestigious industry awards, but this time they took home Restaurant Bar of the Year. Nick Smith – who co-owns the bar with Ryan Smith (no relation) – says the difference reflects a renewed focus on the kitchen.
“We’ve definitely morphed into more of a restaurant over the last couple of years. It’s probably changed since COVID,” Nick told Region.
“We’ve matured as a business [since then], really focusing on food, wine and service.”
The win came as something of a surprise. Ryan actually attended the awards alone as they didn’t really expect to win anything. Nick only learned of the win when he got a text from Ryan halfway through service at the bar.
Chef Alistair Brooke-Taylor has elevated Bar Rochford’s food offerings with dishes like this Sommerlad Chicken Ballotine. Photo: Nick Smith.
Chef Alistair Brooke-Taylor joined Bar Rochford in 2025 and has been steadily working on the food offerings at Rochford. The seasonal menu changes regularly depending on produce availability, and there’s also some kitchen alchemy at play.
“When Al started, he said, ‘Wait, it’ll take a while for me to build up all my things’, and I really didn’t know what he meant, but he’s making his own ferments, fish sauces, and all these condiments that are making the food stand out,” said Nick.
“I love working with a chef who’s super seasonal, and it’s inspiring to work with a chef who has so much knowledge.”
It’s an especially important win for the bar as their London Circuit digs see them stuck in the middle of light rail construction. Their expansive windows actually look out over the work site, and while there’s still a long way to go, Nick said they’ve seen some rails laid down, which is giving everyone a bit of hope that things are progressing. But the number of patrons through the door is still unpredictable.
Nick Smith and Ryan Smith are the co-owners of Bar Rochford. Photo: Cassie Abraham.
Nick also praised his staff as a major factor in winning this award.
“We’ve got such an amazing team at the moment, all such a pleasure to work with. We’ve really been working on culture and training in the business. When you get a new wave of staff, it takes a bit for everyone to click, but it’s great now; everyone knows so much about wine, the records, the menu, and the business.”
“Our front of house can be pretty hard sometimes, especially for our younger staff who are studying all day and they come into work, and there are three wine changes and six dish changes!”
Bar Rochford was the only ACT winner on the night, but others on the shortlist include Volstead Repeal for both Bar of the Year and Cocktail Bar of the Year, and Devil You Don’t, which was a finalist for Best New Bar.
Squeaky Clean was a finalist for Best Bartenders’ Bar and Rizla was shortlisted for Wine Bar of the Year.
The Australian Bar Awards are presented at the end of Sydney Bar Week.
Find the full list of winners at Australian Bartender.
