PHOTO: From World-Class Cocktails to Closing Time. AUSTRALIAN BARTENDER
In a move that’s stunned Hawke’s Bay foodies and hospitality insiders alike, Andrea and Sarah Marseglia, founders of Napier’s iconic Teresa Cocktail Bar, have officially stepped away from the business they built from scratch.
Launched in 2020, Teresa rose to national fame — scooping up awards including:
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🏆 Best NZ Bar 2023
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📜 Best Cocktail List
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🍸 Consistently ranked as one of NZ’s Top Hospitality Experiences
But despite the accolades, the Marseglia duo have now called last orders, citing a storm of financial pressures and bureaucratic red tape that halted their growth ambitions.
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🧾 Behind the Bar: Why They Left
In interviews earlier this year, Andrea and Sarah expressed frustration over:
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🛑 Excessive red tape that blocked plans to expand
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📉 Tight operating margins in the wake of Covid-era disruptions
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💼 Mounting pressure to maintain excellence while juggling increasing overheads
“We gave it everything. But the pressure behind the scenes was immense,” Andrea reportedly said.
The duo poured heart, soul — and some of the country’s most creative cocktails — into the bar. But in the end, passion wasn’t enough to overcome the realities of operating a boutique hospitality venture in a tough regulatory and economic climate.
Teresa Cocktail Bar
🏠 New Owner, New Era
A new owner has taken the reins, committed to preserving the bar’s celebrated character while bringing in fresh energy.
Expectations are high, but the new leadership is set on retaining:
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✅ Signature cocktails
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✅ Local produce focus
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✅ High design aesthetic
“We’re not erasing the past — we’re building on it,” said a source close to the new ownership.
This handover represents a major shake-up in Napier’s commercial hospitality property scene — and an opportunity for new leasing dynamics and revitalised customer engagement.
🏙️ Property + Hospitality Takeaways
📍Location: The bar’s central Napier premises remain a jewel for Hawke’s Bay’s small commercial property sector.
💬 Hospitality lesson: Awards and foot traffic don’t always mean sustainable growth without local government cooperation and flexible lease structures.
📉 Investor caution: The Teresa case echoes wider concerns about regulatory bottlenecks harming vibrant small business growth across NZ’s regions.
SOUVE: NZHERALD