COCKTAIL LIBRARY & Dessert Bar

About COCKTAIL LIBRARY & Dessert Bar

COCKTAIL LIBRARY & Dessert Bar on Tutanekai Street is a unique Rotorua concept that combines the art of mixology with the sweetness of desserts. It is a place where customers can enjoy a wide variety of cocktails and indulge in delicious desserts in a cosy and sophisticated atmosphere, open from 4pm till late.

The cocktail side is built on a vast collection of spirits, liqueurs, bitters and other ingredients, staffed by highly skilled mixologists who are knowledgeable about different cocktail recipes and techniques. They set out to create cocktails tailored to individual preferences, so whether you order from the house Innovation list, stick with a classic, or venture into the dessert cocktails, the team can riff on what you actually like.

The Dessert Bar offers a variety of sweet treats to enjoy alongside your drink — cakes, pastries, cookies and other baked goods, as well as ice cream, sorbet and other frozen desserts. Add a bar snack kitchen serving everything from Moroccan prawns and green-lipped mussels to a shareable Big Meat Platter, plus tap beers, wines, champagne and a deep spirits shelf, and it all adds up to a memorable night out in the heart of Rotorua.

COCKTAIL LIBRARY & Dessert Bar: Where Rotorua Goes for Cocktails and Dessert After Dark

On Tutanekai Street in Rotorua, COCKTAIL LIBRARY & Dessert Bar runs on a simple, slightly mischievous idea: treat cocktails the way a library treats books. The result is a cosy, sophisticated room where the art of mixology meets the sweetness of desserts — a place to relax, socialise and indulge from 4pm until late.

A library you can drink from

The backbone of the bar is a genuinely vast collection of spirits, liqueurs, bitters and other ingredients, staffed by highly skilled mixologists who know their recipes and techniques. Tell them what you usually drink and they will build something tailored to your taste — the team explicitly sets out to create cocktails for all discerning preferences, not just to pour from a list.

That said, the list itself rewards browsing. The Innovation cocktails are where the house plays: Poire Williams pairs Finlandia vodka and elderflower with pear liqueur and premium soda, the Smoked Negri gets its drama from burnt rosemary, and Give a Fig! pours tequila over the bar's own homemade fig liqueur. Prefer a sure thing? The classics are all here — Espresso Martini, Mojito, Margarita, Negroni, Whiskey Sour, Old Fashioned and more, with flavour options on request for the Margarita and Daiquiri.

Then comes the dessert cocktail list, which reads like a restaurant trolley: a Creme Brûlée of vodka, Baileys and caramel syrup under demerara sugar; an After Eight of crème de cacao and crème de menthe; plus Black Forest, Turkish Delight and a Tiramisu built on Kahlua, Baileys and a fresh coffee shot. Non-drinkers are properly looked after too, with mocktails such as the Raslychee — lychee, rhubarb, raspberry and rose water — alongside East Imperial premium sodas, juices and soft drinks.

Dessert is not an afterthought

The Dessert Bar side of the operation covers cakes, pastries, cookies and other baked goods, as well as ice cream, sorbet and other frozen desserts — and every dessert on the menu is marked vegetarian. The Irish Cream Tiramisu comes with Oreo soil, affogato ice cream and toasted hazelnuts. The Melting Chocolate Ball Brownie hides a decadent brownie and vanilla bean ice cream under a chocolate dome that arrives with hot ganache to pour over the top. There are salted caramel cream-filled Zeppole with banana puree, an ice cream sandwich built on a fresh-baked caramel white chocolate cookie stuffed with hokey pokey ice cream, and a lemon ricotta cheesecake with berry sorbet and confit strawberries.

Savoury backup, late-night fuel

If you want something savoury under all that sweetness, the kitchen serves bar snacks from 4pm to 9pm — jumbo Moroccan prawns with mango peach chutney, NZ green-lipped mussels in a Thai coconut red curry sauce, cornflour-dusted calamari, loaded fries and the Big Meat Platter, a sharing board of ribs, beef short rib, wings, cheesy garlic bread, fries and salad. After 9pm the late list keeps running until close: half or full kilos of chicken wings in Buffalo or house-made BBQ sauce, jalapeno poppers, cheesy garlic bread and fries.

Beyond the cocktail menu

Beer and wine drinkers are well covered too. The taps pour Heineken and Tuatara's Hazy Pale Ale and Reptilian IPA, the wine list runs from Marlborough sauvignon blanc and pinot gris to Central Otago pinot noir and Australian shiraz — with vegan wines flagged — and the sparkling list includes Moët & Chandon. And because it is a library, the shelves go deep: single malts from Glenfiddich, Glenlivet and Highland Park through to Macallan and The Balvenie's 21-year-old Port Wood sit alongside a serious gin wall and rums aged up to 25 years.

The experience

The whole concept is built around lingering. Order something stirred and something sweet, claim a seat, and let the evening stretch — this is Rotorua's spot for a dessert-first night out or a proper cocktail session. Bookings can be made by phone on 07 343 7680. You will find COCKTAIL LIBRARY & Dessert Bar at 1109 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua, open from 4pm till late.

Signature items

• Creme Brûlée
• Melting Chocolate Ball Brownie
• Irish Cream Tiramisu
• Big Meat Platter
• Smoked Negri
• Give a Fig!

Menu

Gin

• City Of London — English gin.
• Dancing Sands Dry — New Zealand dry gin.
• Hayman's Peach & Rose — English gin.
• Dancing Sands Sun Kissed — New Zealand gin.
• Dancing Sands Sauvignon Blanc — New Zealand gin.
• Sundown Doris Plum — New Zealand gin.
• Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger — Scottish gin.
• Hendricks — Scottish gin.
• Scapegrace — New Zealand gin.
• Scapegrace Black — New Zealand gin.
• Scapegrace Blood Orange — New Zealand gin.
• The Botanist — Scottish gin.
• Malfy Blood Orange — Italian gin.
• Malfy Grapefruit — Italian gin.
• Last Minute Botanical — New Zealand gin.
• Ukiyo Japanese Yuzu — Japanese gin.
• Ukiyo Japanese Blossom — Japanese gin.

Rum

• Appleton Estate 12yo — Jamaican rum.
• Gosling's Black Seal — Bermuda rum.
• Union Pink Grapefruit & Rose — Amsterdam rum.
• Charles Mercer Double Barrel — Barbados rum.
• Mount Gay XO New Edition — Barbados rum.
• Flor de Cana 25yo — Nicaraguan rum.

Juice

• Keri Orange — Orange juice.
• Keri Pineapple — Pineapple juice.
• Keri Apple — Apple juice.
• Keri Cranberry — Cranberry juice.
• Pomegranate — Pomegranate juice.
• Grapefruit — Grapefruit juice.
• Mango — Mango juice.

Vodka

• Finlandia — Finnish vodka.
• Finlandia Cranberry — Finnish cranberry vodka.
• Finlandia Grapefruit — Finnish grapefruit vodka.
• Finlandia Mango — Finnish mango vodka.
• Absolut Vanilla — Swedish vanilla vodka.
• Broken Shed — New Zealand vodka.
• Scapegrace — New Zealand vodka.
• Scapegrace Yuzu Lemon — New Zealand flavoured vodka.
• Ukiyo — Japanese vodka.
• Crystal Head Clear — Canadian vodka.

Wines

• Volcanic Hills Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough — fresh and zingy with a tangy lime finish.
• Volcanic Hills Chardonnay — Marlborough — smokey, oaky, toasty vanilla; slightly lighter style.
• Volcanic Hills Pinot Gris — Marlborough — full-bodied with ripe peach and pear, hints of spice and ginger.
• Squealing Pig Rosé — Marlborough — juicy stone fruit, creamy citrus tart and just-picked strawberries.
• Volcanic Hills Pinot Noir — Central — lively fresh fruit, mocha and chocolate-coated coffee bean.
• Rua Pinot Noir — Central Otago — cherries, redcurrants and earth; medium-bodied, juicy and fruity.
• Hay Maker Merlot — Marlborough — juicy plum and cherries, mocha spice, hint of mint.
• Pepperjack Shiraz — Australia — concentrated red and blue fruits, dark chocolate, mocha and cedary oak.

Desserts

• Irish Cream Tiramisu — Oreo soil, affogato ice cream, toasted hazelnuts, fresh fruit. Vegetarian.
• Pumpkin Cheesecake — Salted caramel, toasted marshmallows, pistachio toffee. Vegetarian.
• Double Chocolate Lava Cake — Warm sponge filled with chocolate fondant, vanilla bean ice cream, butterscotch sauce. Vegetarian.
• Zeppole — Salted caramel cream-filled Italian donuts, vanilla bean ice cream, banana puree. Vegetarian.
• Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake — Lemon curd, berry sorbet, confit strawberries. Vegetarian.
• Ice Cream Sandwich — Fresh-baked caramel white chocolate cookie stuffed with hokey pokey ice cream, dipped in chocolate, butterscotch sauce and crumb. Vegetarian.
• Melting Chocolate Ball Brownie — Chocolate brownie and vanilla bean ice cream under a chocolate dome, served with hot chocolate ganache. Vegetarian.

Cocktails

• Poire Williams — Finlandia vodka, elderflower and Poire William liqueur, citrus, topped with premium soda.
• Antico Highlighted — Pink gin, Rosso Antico vermouth, Peychaud's aperitivo, basil syrup, citrus.
• Good Vibe — Blanco tequila, mezcal, hibiscus syrup, passionfruit puree, citrus, egg white.
• Fallen Leaves — Maker's Mark blended malt scotch, Poire William pear, spiced pumpkin syrup, soda.
• Ruby — Gin, Aperol, elderflower liqueur, grapefruit juice, citrus, egg white.
• Sherbet Punch — Blanco tequila, lime, orange and pineapple juice, premium ginger beer, raspberry sherbet.
• Blue Sky Ahead — Coconut rum, Midori, blue curacao, pineapple juice, citrus, agave syrup, lemonade.
• Apple Smash — Bourbon, honey, cardamom, apple juice, nutmeg, citrus.
• Goody Goody Gumdrop — Citron vodka, Chambord, cranberry juice, falernum syrup, citrus.
• Banoffee — Maker's Mark, banana liqueur, fino sherry, Galliano vanilla.
• Smokey Sour — Blended scotch, ginger liqueur, cane syrup, pineapple juice, Angostura bitters.
• Library Twist — Pink gin, plum liqueur, cranberry, citrus, agave.
• Konnichawa — Japanese whiskey, peach liqueur, maple syrup.
• The Papasito — Mezcal, Montenegro amaro, Campari, pineapple juice, bitters.
• Hibiscus Bloom — Gin, blueberry liqueur, pomegranate juice, hibiscus.
• Purple Lady — Gin, Dom Benedictine, butterfly pea, simple syrup, egg white.
• Bramble Twist — Blackberry and raspberry gin, elderflower liqueur, Chambord, grapefruit juice, sparkling rosé.
• Backyard Bench — Vodka, Campari, fresh lime, peach syrup, passionfruit puree, pineapple juice.
• Cucumber Basil Smash — Gin, elderflower liqueur, basil, cucumber, elderflower tonic.
• Smoked Negri — Gin, Campari, Rosso sweet vermouth, burnt rosemary.
• The Paloma — Dry gin, grapefruit syrup, citrus, egg white, premium grapefruit soda.
• Give a Fig! — Tequila, homemade fig liqueur, egg white.

Mocktails

• Raslychee — Lychee, rhubarb, raspberry, rose water, lemonade.
• Shrub Mojito — Mango and turmeric shrub, roasted pineapple cordial, mint, lime and soda.
• Botanist Lemonade — Homemade lime and thyme cordial, citrus, elderflower, East Imperial soda.

Tap Beers

• Heineken — Lager, 5%.
• Heineken Silver Low Carb — Low-carb lager, 4%.
• Tiger — Lager, 5%.
• Monteiths Pilsner — Pilsner, 4.9%.
• Tuatara Hazy Pale Ale — Hazy pale ale, 5.5%.
• Tuatara WC Reptilian IPA — IPA, 6.4%.

Bar Snacks

• Moroccan Prawns — Jumbo prawns sautéed with garlic, onion and Moroccan spices, mango peach chutney. GF, NF.
• Fried Chicken Bites — Cornflour dusted and fried, roasted garlic aioli. NF, GFO.
• Fried Calamari — Cornflour dusted, served with roasted garlic aioli. NF, GFO.
• NZ Green Lipped Mussels — Onions, garlic and ginger in a Thai coconut red curry sauce. GF, DF, NF.
• Shrimp Cocktail — Sweet and spicy cocktail sauce, pineapple salsa, lemon, toasted baguette. GF, DF, NF.
• Loaded Fries — Melted cheese, crispy bacon, sour cream and spring onion. GF, NF.
• Big Meat Platter — St. Louis ribs, beef short rib, chicken wings, baby back ribs, cheesy garlic bread, fries and side salad. NF, GFO.
• Chicken Wings — Half kilo or kilo, Buffalo style or house-made BBQ sauce, carrot and celery sticks. GF, NF.
• Jalapeno Poppers — Cheese-stuffed and deep fried, chipotle aioli. V, NF.
• Cheesy Garlic Bread — Loaded with garlic butter and topped with melted cheese. NF, GFO.
• Fries — Served with tomato sauce. DF, NF, V, VG.

Spiced Rum

• Black Magic — Trinidad spiced rum.
• Helmsman — New Zealand spiced rum.
• Sailor Jerry — Caribbean spiced rum.
• Union Pineapple — Amsterdam pineapple rum.

Soft Drinks

• Coca Cola — Classic cola.
• Lemonade — Classic lemonade.
• Coke Zero Sugar — Sugar-free cola.
• Schweppes Ginger Ale — Ginger ale.
• Schweppes Tonic Water — Tonic water.
• Ginger Beer — Ginger beer.
• Lemon Lime & Bitters — Lemon, lime and bitters.
• Red Bull — Energy drink.

Bottle Beers

• Heineken Light — Light lager, 2.5%, 330ml.
• Export Gold Citrus — Citrus beer, 2.0%, 330ml.
• Heineken 0% — Alcohol-free lager, 330ml.

Premium Soda

• East Imperial Burma Tonic — Premium tonic.
• East Imperial Grapefruit Tonic — Premium grapefruit tonic.
• East Imperial YUZU Tonic — Premium yuzu tonic.
• East Imperial Thai Ginger Ale — Premium ginger ale.
• East Imperial Soda — Premium soda water.

Bottle Ciders

• Rekorderlig Passionfruit & Lime — Fruit cider, 500ml.
• Rekorderlig Raspberry & Lime — Fruit cider, 500ml.

Bourbon & Rye

• Jim Beam — Kentucky bourbon.
• Jack Daniel's — Tennessee whiskey.
• Jack Daniel's Honey — Tennessee whiskey.
• Buffalo Trace — Bourbon.
• Makers Mark — Kentucky bourbon.
• Woodford Reserve Rye — Kentucky rye.
• Woodford Reserve — Kentucky bourbon.
• Eagle Rare — Bourbon.
• Sazerac Rye — Rye whiskey.

Irish Whiskey

• Black Irish — Irish whiskey.
• Jameson — Irish whiskey.
• Teeling — Irish whiskey.

Special Wines

• Lake Chalice Vegan Pinot Gris — Marlborough — cut green pear and honeysuckle blossom, ripe pear and subtle spice.
• Lake Chalice Vegan Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough — blackcurrant leaf, gooseberry, green capsicum and tropical fruits.

Blended Scotch

• J.W Black Label — Blended scotch.
• Monkey Shoulder — Blended scotch.

Brandy & Cognac

• St Remy VSOP — VSOP brandy.
• Metaxa 7 Star — Seven-star brandy.
• Darroze 8yo Armagnac — Eight-year-old armagnac.
• Remy Martin VSOP Fine Champagne Cognac — VSOP cognac.
• Remy Martin XO Excellence — XO cognac.

Tequila & Mezcal

• El Jimador Blanco — Blanco tequila.
• El Jimador Reposado — Reposado tequila.
• El Jimador Anejo — Anejo tequila.
• Monte Alban Mezcal — Mezcal.
• 1800 Reposado — Reposado tequila.
• 1800 Coconut — Coconut tequila.
• Herradura Anejo — Anejo tequila.
• Herradura Reposado — Reposado tequila.
• Herradura Plata — Plata tequila.

Classic Cocktails

• Espresso Martini — Classic cocktail.
• Mojito — Classic cocktail.
• Cosmopolitan — Classic cocktail.
• Margarita — Ask for available flavours.
• Classic Martini — Gin or vodka.
• Daiquiri — Ask for available flavours.
• Negroni — Classic cocktail.
• Whiskey Sour — Classic cocktail.
• Amaretto Sour — Classic cocktail.
• Long Island Iced Tea — Classic cocktail.
• Old Fashioned — Classic cocktail.

Dessert Cocktails

• Creme Brûlée — Vodka, Baileys, cream, demerara sugar, caramel syrup.
• After Eight — Baileys, crème de cacao, crème de menthe, cream.
• Black Forest — Vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, mixed berry puree, cocoa, cream.
• Turkish Delight — Vodka, crème de cacao, hibiscus, rose, cream.
• Tiramisu — Kahlua, Baileys, coffee shot, cream, vanilla.

Single Malt Scotch

• Ardmore Legacy — Single malt scotch.
• Glenfiddich 12yo — Single malt scotch.
• Tamnavulin — Single malt scotch.
• Glenlivet 12yo — Single malt scotch.
• Benriach 10yo — Single malt scotch.
• Highland Park 12yo — Single malt scotch.
• Laphroaig 10yo — Peated single malt scotch.
• Glenfiddich 15yo — Single malt scotch.
• Glenrothes 12yo — Single malt scotch.
• Macallan 12yo — Single malt scotch.
• The Balvenie Double Wood — Single malt scotch.
• Glenfiddich 18yo — Single malt scotch.
• Macallan 15yo — Single malt scotch.
• The Balvenie 21yo Port Wood — Single malt scotch.

Champagne & Sparkling

• Canti Prosecco — Italian prosecco, 200ml mini.
• 18K Prosecco — Italian prosecco by the bottle.
• Moet Chandon NV Brut — French champagne by the bottle.
• G.H MUM NV Rose — French sparkling rosé by the bottle.

Liqueurs & Other Spirits

• Absinthe Hapsburg Classic — Absinthe.
• Amaretto — Almond liqueur.
• Amaro Montenegro — Italian amaro.
• Baileys — Irish cream liqueur.
• Chambord — Raspberry liqueur.
• Cherry Heering — Cherry liqueur.
• Dolin Blanco Vermouth — Vermouth.
• Dolin Dry Vermouth — Vermouth.
• Dolin Rosso Vermouth — Vermouth.
• Galliano — Herbal liqueur.
• Galliano Sambuca — Sambuca.
• Galliano Vanilla — Vanilla liqueur.
• Glayva — Whisky liqueur.
• Jägermeister — Herbal liqueur.
• Mandarine Napoleon — Mandarin liqueur.
• Montenegro Rosso Antico Vermouth — Vermouth.
• Pernod Absinthe — Absinthe.
• Quick Brown Fox Coffee Liqueur — Coffee liqueur.
• Tuaca — Vanilla-citrus liqueur.

Frequently asked questions

Where is COCKTAIL LIBRARY & Dessert Bar located?

1109 Tutanekai Street, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand.

What are the opening hours?

Open from 4pm till late. Desserts run 4pm–late, the full bar snack menu is served 4pm–9pm, and a late-night snack list (wings, poppers, garlic bread, fries) continues until close.

Can I book a table?

Yes — bookings are taken by phone on 07 343 7680.

Do you have non-alcoholic options?

Yes. Mocktails such as the Raslychee and Shrub Mojito, East Imperial premium sodas, soft drinks, juices, and low- and zero-alcohol beers.

Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options?

All desserts are marked vegetarian, and the snack menu flags gluten-free, dairy-free and gluten-free-option dishes, including mussels, shrimp cocktail and fries.

What kind of cocktails do you serve?

House Innovation cocktails, all the classics, dessert cocktails like Creme Brûlée and Tiramisu, and mocktails — plus mixologists who will tailor a drink to your individual taste.

Is there food, or just drinks?

Both. There is a full dessert menu plus bar snacks, from Moroccan prawns and green-lipped mussels to a shareable Big Meat Platter, with wings and fries served late.

Tips

• {"body":"Reservations are made by phone — call 07 343 7680 to lock in a table before the evening gets going.","title":"Book ahead"}
• {"body":"The full bar snack menu runs 4pm–9pm; after that it is wings, jalapeno poppers, cheesy garlic bread and fries until late.","title":"Mind the snack window"}
• {"body":"Pair a dessert cocktail like the Creme Brûlée with a dessert such as the Melting Chocolate Ball Brownie to get the full concept.","title":"Go half-and-half"}
• {"body":"The mixologists tailor cocktails to individual preferences — tell them your favourite flavours and let them create something for you.","title":"Let the team build yours"}
• {"body":"Mocktails, East Imperial premium sodas, juices and 0% Heineken mean everyone at the table gets something interesting.","title":"Non-drinkers welcome"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"All desserts marked vegetarian; snacks flagged GF, DF and gluten-free option; vegan wines available."}