Madame George

Thanks to its playful, welcoming vibe and modern Peruvian menu, people flock to Karangahape Road’s Madame George for anything from cocktail hour to a sit-down dinner, to late-night drinks. Owner Pablo Arrasco Paz opened the venue in 2016 after a long-held love for K’ Road saw him living in the apartment upstairs, then taking over what was previously one of the strip’s infamous nightclubs.

Sharing his Peruvian heritage has always been a key part of the Madame George ethos, while also celebrating local ingredients.

Madame George is especially known for its pisco sour – Arrasco Paz imports one of Peru’s top piscos, Pisco Huamani, especially for it. Both the cocktails and the food are created with complexity and punchy flavours, while also being approachable and unfussy.

Head chef Warren Wood oversees a menu that includes smaller entrees, more substantial mains, sides and desserts. The Peruvian-Japanese cuisine of Nikkei makes an appearance in dishes like the tiradito, a cross between ceviche and sashimi that pairs raw fish with the subtly spicy Peruvian yellow chilli known as aji amarillo.

Sit inside at one of the more intimate tables towards the back, perch up at the bar or jostle elbow to elbow at one of the five long communal tables out the front. Madame George is likely to be packed on any given summer evening, and still see a smattering of staunch patrons in cooler months.