Pequeño Lounge Bar

Bars key icon.
Bars key icon.

MondayClosed.

Tuesday5:00 pm – 1:00 am.

Wednesday5:00 pm – 1:00 am.

Thursday5:00 pm – 2:00 am.

Friday5:00 pm – 2:00 am.

Saturday5:00 pm – 2:00 am.

SundayClosed.

50 Princes St, Central Dunedin, Dunedin

03 477 7830

Spanish for small, Pequeño lives up to its name. This compact cocktail lounge is incredibly central but you wouldn’t know it. Tucked away behind other Dunedin favourites Etrusco and Jizo, this venue has one of the most expansive cocktail lists in the city, and the kind of character that can’t be built or bought. It’s a solidly classic, European-style bar.

Enter from Princes Street, head downstairs, open the door and be enveloped by Pequeño's cosy space that feels like an escape from the busyness of Dunedin’s heart. At one time Pequeño was a stable, then a butcher that supplied the Savoy Building restaurants above. For the last seventeen years it's been a bar, and we sure hope it stays that way. Exposed brick, leather couches, a classic bar and wood burning fire create an atmosphere that’ll alone make you want to come back.

Pick up a cocktail menu or chat with the bartender to decide on one of their handcrafted cocktails. Two highlights include: ‘Lemon Meringue,’ which is constructed with Absolut vanilla vodka and then shaken with limoncello, lemon curd, fresh lemon and egg white. It’s the kind of drop that’s sweet yet tart, satisfying your sweet tooth in an understated way. The 'Classic Negroni' involves a bit of bartending theatre with a lit orange rind, one large ice cube and all of the tangy, zesty flavours that come with the perfect ratio of Tanqueray, Campari, and sweet Vermouth.

If cocktails aren’t your thing, have a look at the wine list which is similarly stacked and offers pours from all over Aotearoa as well as Spain and other European wine producers. The beer menu, again, is robust and exciting. On tap, you’ll find pours from Emersons (who also call Dunedin home). A guest tap plays host to new and experimental beers too. Canned beers in the fridge include an assembly of pale ales, lagers, sours, stouts and ciders.

Check out the tapas board for a selection of tasty small plates that pair well with just about any drink you might order. The cheese board and antipasto platter, for example, provide a bit of salty, savoury crunch to round out the experience.

With frequent live music events, a bit of outdoor seating for summer months and so many tipples to try, Pequeño is one Dunedin bar you can’t go past. Enter from Princes Street or the alley opposite Rialto Theatre on Moray Place.

Words by Olivia Sisson & Photography by Nancy Zhou

Information not correct? Report an error

Location

50 Princes St, Central Dunedin, Dunedin

Nearby Places

Company Store

Customers being served at Company Store.
Place Dunedin
Fashion key icon.

In a light and bright upstairs space on Dunedin's George Street, Company Store takes you up and away from the flurry of everyday life.

Mazagran Espresso Bar

Silver metal coffee roaster in Mazagran Espresso Bar,
Place Dunedin
Cafes key icon.

This hard-working little café is a hive of activity all day long and a great spot for grabbing a coffee-to-go before work.

The Swan

The exterior of the building.
Place Dunedin
Bars key icon. Cafes key icon.

An eatery and taproom with great vibes, local flavours, live gigs, fresh coffee, cosy nooks and a sunshine-laden outdoor seating area.

Otago Farmers Market

Vegetables hanging from a bag.
Place Dunedin
Markets key icon.

Whether you are five or 95, the Otago Farmers Market has something for everyone.

Similar Places

Catalyst

A barista making coffee.
Place Dunedin
Cafes key icon.

Catalyst is all about mindful eating and conscious consuming. Even the name speaks to this mission.

No.7 Balmac

Customers dining inside No.7 Balmac.
Place Dunedin
Restaurants key icon.

The kind of restaurant that every neighbourhood ought to be lucky enough to have.

Union Co.

Customers dining at the window seats.
Place Dunedin
Cafes key icon.

An excellent spot for espresso, baked goods and savoury fare.

Princes St Butcher

Jars of pasta sauce and honey on display.
Place Dunedin

A complete foodie destination.