The 7 Best Bar Fridges in NZ

The best bar fridge in NZ overall is the Midea 87L Bar Fridge and Freezer, thanks to its proper dedicated freezer, slim stainless finish and quiet, low-cost running. Buyers who want frozen storage instead of a cool box should look at the 83L Midea bar freezer, while anyone furnishing a flat or office on a tight footprint will get more out of the compact 58L Novello. This guide compares seven compact fridges and freezers stocked in New Zealand, ranked by what each one does best, with real dimensions, energy ratings and honest trade-offs so the choice is clear before checkout.

Bar fridges suit home bars, sleepouts, garages, offices and second-fridge duty for entertaining. They pair well with other benchtop kit when setting up an entertaining space, so it is worth browsing the air fryers and electric frypans guides too if the kitchen corner is getting a refresh.

Quick comparison

Product	Best for	Capacity	Type	Size W x D x H	Energy
1. Midea Bar Freezer	Frozen storage	83L	Upright bar freezer	55 x 57 x 85 cm	4 star
2. Midea Bar Fridge and Freezer	Best overall	87L	Fridge + freezer	49 x 47 x 84 cm	2 star
3. Novello Bar Fridge Black XXL	Large capacity	110L	Fridge with chiller	53 x 51 x 85 cm	Energy saving
4. Midea Bar Fridge White	Maximum fridge space	123L	Single-door fridge	54 x 50 x 86 cm	2.5 star
5. Novello Bar Fridge Grey XL	Style and twin zones	86L	Fridge with chiller	45 x 47 x 84 cm	6 levels
6. Novello Bar Fridge Grey L	Compact spaces	58L	Fridge with chiller	45 x 47 x 61 cm	6 levels

1. Midea Bar Freezer – Best for Frozen Storage

Best for frozen storage: the 83L Midea bar freezer is the pick when the job is ice, meat and frozen meals rather than chilled drinks, because the whole cabinet runs as a true freezer, not a small ice box.

This is an upright bar-sized freezer that stands about 85 cm tall and roughly 55 cm wide, so it slots into the same gap a tall bar fridge would, under a bench or beside a chest freezer in the garage. At 27.5 kg it is solid but still a two-person lift into a sleepout or boat shed.

The finish is clean white with a simple dial and a flush door, so it disappears against light kitchen joinery rather than shouting for attention. Owners of Midea freezers in New Zealand report fast pull-down, with mince reported solid within about four hours of loading, which points to a freezer that recovers quickly after the door is opened on a busy night.

It carries a 4-star energy rating, the strongest in this lineup, and a quoted 39 dB noise level that sits at the quiet end for a compressor unit, so it will not dominate a quiet home office. The trade-off is obvious: it freezes, it does not chill, so it cannot double as a drinks fridge.

Pros

• True full-cabinet freezer, not a token ice box
• Strong 4-star energy rating
• Quiet 39 dB running and fast freezing
• Compact 85 cm bar-freezer footprint

Cons

• Freezer only, so it cannot keep drinks at fridge temperature
• Manual dial control rather than a digital readout

Key specs: model MDRD129FGF01AP; 83L upright bar freezer; about 55 x 57 x 85 cm (W x D x H); 27.5 kg; 4-star energy rating; 39 dB; white finish.

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2. Midea Bar Fridge and Freezer – Best Overall

Best overall: the Midea 87L Bar Fridge and Freezer wins the top spot because it pairs a usable 61L fridge with a proper 26L freezer in one slim stainless cabinet, so a single unit covers drinks, snacks and frozen basics.

It measures about 49 cm wide, 47 cm deep and 84 cm tall, a true bar-fridge footprint that tucks under most benches, and at 23.5 kg it is the lightest fridge-freezer here to shift up a flight of stairs. The reversible door means it can open left or right to suit a corner.

The brushed stainless front lifts it above the usual white plastic box and wipes clean, which is why New Zealand owners describe it as a great little fridge-freezer and value having a dedicated freezer rather than a cramped ice box. Inside there are glass shelves and a separate freezer door, so cold air is not lost every time a drink is grabbed.

Performance lands where it should for the size, and Midea backs it with a 24 plus 12 month warranty for extra peace of mind. The energy rating is a modest 2 stars, so it is thirstier than the dedicated freezer above, and the freezer compartment is small, suited to ice and a few frozen meals rather than a weekly shop.

Pros

• Genuine separate freezer compartment, not an ice box
• Smart stainless steel finish that wipes clean
• Reversible door for left or right opening
• Long 24 plus 12 month warranty

Cons

• Only a 2-star energy rating
• Freezer space is modest at around 26L

Key specs: model MDRT134FGF50AP; 87L total (61L fridge, 26L freezer); about 49 x 47 x 84 cm (W x D x H); 23.5 kg; 2-star energy rating; stainless steel; reversible door; 24 plus 12 month warranty.

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3. Novello Bar Fridge Black XXL – Best Large Capacity

Best large capacity: the Novello Bar Fridge Black XXL holds a generous 110L, the most chilled space in this guide, so it is the one to buy when a home bar or office kitchen needs to keep a real crowd stocked.

Despite the volume it stays bar-fridge friendly at about 53 cm wide, 51 cm deep and 85 cm tall, so it fits a standard cabinet gap while swallowing far more than a typical mini fridge. It weighs 24.5 kg and the matte black cabinet with a built-in handle and reversible door suits a media room, man cave or dark kitchen scheme.

Inside, an internal LED light makes late-night raids easy, and a small chiller compartment runs from minus 5 to 0 degrees C for keeping bottles frosty, while the main cabinet holds 0 to 10 degrees C across six adjustable temperature levels. That level of control is unusual at this size and lets the user dial in drinks-cold or food-safe storage.

Buyers who want the same look in a smaller body can also get this model in a 58L size. The main trade-off is that the chiller is a compartment, not a full freezer, so it will not store frozen food long term, and the black finish shows fingerprints more than the stainless or grey options.

Pros

• Largest 110L capacity here for entertaining
• Six adjustable temperature levels and a chiller zone
• Internal LED light and built-in handle
• Also available in a smaller 58L size

Cons

• Chiller compartment is not a true freezer
• Black finish shows fingerprints

Key specs: model PR66655430; 110L fridge with chiller compartment; about 53 x 51 x 85 cm (W x D x H); 24.5 kg; chiller minus 5 to 0 degrees C, main 0 to 10 degrees C; six temperature levels; LED light; reversible door; also available in 58L; black finish.

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4. Midea Bar Fridge White – Best for Maximum Fridge Space

Best for maximum fridge space: the Midea 123L Bar Fridge is the largest single-zone cooler in this guide, so it suits a busy flat, a granny flat or anyone who wants close to full-fridge volume without a full-fridge footprint.

It stands about 86 cm tall, 54 cm wide and 50 cm deep, taller and wider than the compact picks, so it needs a bit more bench clearance, and at around 45 kg it is comfortably the heaviest unit here and best installed in its final spot by two people.

The crisp white cabinet keeps things simple and pairs with most kitchens, and the reversible door allows a left or right hinge. Inside, adjustable glass shelves and a clear single-zone layout make it easy to load tall bottles and leftovers, behaving much more like a compact second fridge than a drinks box.

It carries a 2.5-star energy rating, slightly ahead of the stainless combo, and Midea backs it with a 24-month warranty. The catch is that it uses manual defrost, so frost will need clearing by hand from time to time, and there is no separate freezer compartment, so frozen storage is not part of the deal.

Pros

• Largest 123L single-zone fridge space
• Reversible door and adjustable glass shelves
• 2.5-star rating, the best of the Midea fridges here
• Clean white finish suits most kitchens

Cons

• Manual defrost needs occasional clearing
• Heaviest unit here at around 45 kg, and no freezer

Key specs: model MDRD181FGF01AP; 123L single-door fridge; about 54 x 50 x 86 cm (W x D x H); around 45 kg; 2.5-star energy rating; manual defrost; reversible door; 24-month warranty; white finish.

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5. Novello Bar Fridge Grey XL – Best for Style

Best for style: the Novello Bar Fridge Grey XL blends a soft grey finish with a twin-zone layout, giving 86L of space split into a 75L fridge and an 11L chiller, so it looks the part on show in a living area while still working hard.

At about 45 cm wide, 47 cm deep and 84 cm tall it is one of the slimmer full-height picks, and at just 18 kg it is light enough for one determined person to reposition. Height-adjustable feet help it sit level on uneven garage or deck floors, and the reversible door with a built-in handle keeps the lines clean.

The muted grey cabinet is the standout, reading more like a piece of furniture than an appliance, which is why it earns the style label for open-plan rooms. Inside, the separate 11L chiller runs minus 3 to 0 degrees C while the main zone holds 0 to 10 degrees C, and an internal LED plus six temperature levels make it easy to keep drinks frosty and food merely cool at the same time.

The trade-offs are size and frost: 86L is mid-pack rather than large, and like the other Novello units the chiller is a compartment, not a freezer, so it suits drinks and short-term cold storage rather than frozen meals.

Pros

• Standout soft grey, furniture-like finish
• Twin zones with a separate 11L chiller
• Light 18 kg body with height-adjustable feet
• Six temperature levels and internal LED

Cons

• Mid-pack 86L capacity
• Chiller is not a full freezer

Key specs: model PR2875; 86L (75L fridge plus 11L chiller); about 45 x 47 x 84 cm (W x D x H); 18 kg; chiller minus 3 to 0 degrees C, main 0 to 10 degrees C; six temperature levels; LED; reversible door; height-adjustable feet; grey finish.

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6. Novello Bar Fridge Grey L – Best Compact

Best compact: the Novello Bar Fridge Grey L is the smallest pick at 58L, so it is the one for tight bedrooms, dorm rooms, caravans and offices where every centimetre of floor counts.

It stands just 61 cm tall and about 45 cm wide and 47 cm deep, low enough to slide under a desk or a benchtop, and at 14.6 kg it is the lightest unit in the guide and genuinely easy to carry or move between rooms. The matching grey finish ties in with the XL above for anyone kitting out more than one space.

Despite the small body it keeps the twin-zone trick, with a 4L chiller running minus 3 to 0 degrees C and a 54L main section at 0 to 10 degrees C, plus the same six temperature levels, reversible door, built-in handle and height-adjustable feet as its bigger sibling. That makes it punch above its size for keeping a few drinks properly cold.

The obvious limit is capacity: 58L fills quickly once a few large bottles go in, and the chiller is a compartment rather than a freezer, so it is a drinks-and-snacks fridge, not a frozen-food solution.

Pros

• Smallest 58L footprint for tight spaces
• Lightest unit here at 14.6 kg
• Twin-zone chiller despite the small size
• Reversible door and height-adjustable feet

Cons

• Only 58L, so it fills up fast
• Chiller is not a true freezer

Key specs: model PR2874; 58L (54L fridge plus 4L chiller); about 45 x 47 x 61 cm (W x D x H); 14.6 kg; chiller minus 3 to 0 degrees C, main 0 to 10 degrees C; six temperature levels; reversible door; built-in handle; height-adjustable feet; grey finish.

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How to choose a bar fridge

Capacity comes first. Bar fridges in New Zealand run from about 10L up to around 120L. A 58L unit suits a bedroom or office for a few drinks, 80 to 90L covers most home bars, and 110 to 123L starts behaving like a compact second fridge for a flat or family.

Decide fridge, freezer or both. A chiller compartment is not a freezer; it keeps bottles frosty but will not store frozen food long term. Buyers who need frozen storage should choose the dedicated bar freezer or the fridge-freezer combo rather than a chiller-only model.

Check the footprint and door swing. Measure the gap, allow clearance at the back for airflow, and look for a reversible door so it opens away from the wall. Height-adjustable feet help on uneven garage and deck floors.

Mind running cost and noise. A higher energy-star rating means lower power bills over the years, and a quoted noise figure around 39 dB is comfortable for a room people sit in. For a wider entertaining setup it is also worth checking the deep fryers and food processors guides, and the portable air conditioners guide for keeping the whole room cool.

Verdict

For most New Zealand homes the Midea 87L Bar Fridge and Freezer is the best all-rounder, combining a real freezer, a smart stainless finish and a long warranty in a slim cabinet. Choose the 83L Midea bar freezer when the priority is frozen storage, the 110L Novello black or 123L Midea white when capacity matters most, the grey XL when looks lead, and the 58L grey L when space is tight.

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