Located on the corner of Shortland & O'Connell Streets in central Auckland, O'Connell Street Bistro is a small intimate dining room of twelve tables, created in the theme of a modern European back street bistro, with a cosy & well stocked bar.
In its ten years of operation, it has been recommended by many publications & has recently won "Best Wine Experience" in the 2007 Cuisine Restaurant of the Year Awards.
The restaurant has also been awarded an Award of Excellence by the prestigious New York wine magazine, Wine Spectator, for the last seven years running, and joins only seven other restaurants in New Zealand to be recognised by this award. O'Connell Street Bistro is currently the only restaurant in Auckland city with this award.
In April 2007 the Bistro was named by Vanity Fair on Travel magazine as one of 42 top dining spots around the world & was the only restaurant in New Zealand featured.
The Bistro's proprietor, Chris Upton, trained in the UK, and also spent four years on board QE2. His Head Chef, Stephen Ward is NZ trained, and has previously returned from London where he worked at Terence Conran's Bluebird restaurant. Stephen has been with the Bistro since November 2000.
Will Morvan, born in Champagne, has recently been appointed as Sommelier and brings with him his extensive knowledge of French wines.