Velvet, Views and Vintage: Rooftop at QT Launches Le Salon

Velvet, Views and Vintage: Rooftop at QT Launches Le Salon

Perched up on the sixth floor of QT Auckland, overlooking the Viaduct Harbour, is a rooftop bar that manages to pull off the ultimate challenge for a watering hole associated with long summer evenings: transforming into a cosy hideaway in winter.

Rooftop at QT has just launched Le Salon, a Champagne-soaked retreat reminiscent of the glamour and grit of the roaring 20s. They’ve swapped sunlit decks for velvet-draped furnishings and rich emerald hues, creating an oasis where prohibition meets indulgence, set to the tune of ragtime rhythm and just a hint of Gatsby-era mischief.

The late-night sip society have a much-needed new haunt on Friday nights. Worth staying in town after the post-work drinks crowd has dispersed, the best night of the week is now a lively evening of Champagne and music. QT Auckland is a hotel known for doing things its own way, and Le Salon is no different: The highlight of these Friday Soirées is watching QT’s very own Director of Champagne work the floor, offering a bump of caviar and a glass of Perrier-Jouët to guests looking to keep the good times going. With bottles of Perrier-Jouët Brut at an absolute steal and a complimentary fry service making the rounds at 8.30pm, this one is worth the late night.

Designed for those who prefer the finest things in life, slip behind the curtain and enjoy a taste of the jewels in the cuvée crown with a guided Champagne tasting. Rooftop at QT Manager Aurelien Durand offers a peek into what drops the bar team are pouring, saying, “The Gilded Trio is a three-part harmony of iconic drops from the houses of Perrier-Jouët and G.H. Mumm — a shimmering introduction to the salon’s Champagne pedigree. Those with a deeper fascination with fizz can unlock Secrets of the Cellar: a five-pour journey through the refined realms of G.H. Mumm, RSRV and Perrier-Jouët Champagnes, including a rare pour of the Belle Epoque Rosé cuvée — an exclusive vintage almost never served by the glass.”

For those wanting an accompanying bite, Chef James Laird, Executive Chef of Esther Restaurant on the ground floor, has carefully curated a collection of culinary companions designed to match each pour. The fried chicken topped with salmon caviar and the truffle-laced Wagyu sliders are particular favourites, epitomising Rooftop at QT’s knack for adding a playful touch of luxe to everything it does. From just $49 per person and available daily, it’s the perfect excuse to while away a winter afternoon.

If something a little more decadent is on the cards, Le Salon is upping the weekend ante with a Champagne luncheon, set out on the deck for those who prefer their flutes full and their lunches luxuriously unhurried.

La Vie en Champagne starts with a glass of Perrier-Jouët before a choose-your-own-adventure from a two-course menu unfolds. With dishes like Manchego croquetas, Speckle Park sirloin and Yellowfin tuna steak, wintery weekends and never looked so good.

It’s the ultimate escape without leaving the city, and the best winter outing that doesn’t include snow. Le Salon at Rooftop at QT is now open until 31 August 2025, turning grey winters into Champagne gold. Book Champagne tasting, long lunches or a Friday night rendezvous here.