Often we think of hotels as being places for travelers when really many of our Auckland hotels…read morefeature great restaurants and bars that may get overlooked when thinking of a place to dine or drink. The Attica Bar is one such place, located on the top floor of the Mercure hotel on Customs Street, this bar is a rare gem. If you are after a really quiet place either for a date or to discuss business then this would be the place for it. The views are fantastic and this was where I spent New Years to watch the fireworks, fantastic view. The bar features comfortable upholstered chairs that are so comfortable you'll stay for a couple of drinks, that and the staff are nice and the music is tasteful. If you're after something to eat, there are tapas available and even though this is a bar they do have a coffee machine for the caffeine addicts out there. Attica Bar has a wonderful atmosphere, one you should experience if you haven't yet.

We had our pre dinner drinks there. At one point we were the only patrons in the entire bar,…read moreconsidering it's in a busy downtown hotel surprised us. The views of downtown are a real draw card, it has lots of potential to be place to be seen in. The bar was quite small, and only seemed to stock the usual beers and wine's with the odd unusual beer. If only they stocked a good selection some of the local boutique beers they could be a major draw card. The waitress on duty did not inspire us and just seemed glad for our custom. What a shame for a prime location........

This is a great little escape.. Shouldn't be publicizing this.. However.. Hidden gem that is soon…read moreto have a hidden gem... Great service.. Awesome cocktails,.. And the best was the off the normal route location.. Yet in the middle of the city... Well done.. Look forward to returning..

If you are looking for that sultry, sophisticated, but cool cocktail and wine lounge; then look no…read morefurther than Tabac Bar. Built into a heritage building, but hidden down Mills Lane adjacent to Albert Street. Perhaps you have seen the spiral iron staircase off Queen Street this will lead you up to Tabac. Exquisite selection of perfect cocktails, great wine and champagne, this is not your pub or club hangout although they do serve a fine collection of beer should you prefer this beverage. Does draw a stylish crowd and the musicians and DJ's that frequent the bar are the best in the scene.

Classy bar with classy drinks. When you walk into The Jefferson, you're immediately transported…read moreback to a different era. The bar is beautiful with some of the friendliest bartenders. We got two of their great drinks and they were both great. They've got a huge selection of whiskeys and gins. Great place for drinks!

Great whishys, good food(a bit spicy) nice music, very quiet…read more The attention is perfect. It has a really nice bar. The bbq ribs and coleslaw were delicious.

This may just be my new favourite bar in Auckland. Nestled at the end of Fort Street, Atticus is…read moresomewhat of an anomaly amongst bars the world over in that it isn't open on weekends. That's right, a bar that's closed on a Saturday night, the night that was invented for socialising in bars! But that's the beauty of Atticus, it's not like other bars. It's a place that's got the perfect blend of excellent cocktails and an extensive beer menu. It's cool but doesn't try too hard and has the air of a real upmarket type place whilst still doing $5 drink deals. Oh and they give you free fries with your drinks on a Friday night. Inside, it's all wooden furniture, diner-style seats and ornamental birdcages and there are two bars on two separate levels depending on your mood. Probably best they're not open weekends actually or I'd never be out of there.

Smaller dumplings. Packed full of taste but you definitely need to order a lot to fill yourself up…read more(but they were out of most flavors we wanted so we used it as an appetizer and went elsewhere). For the dumplings we did have: the beef with mustard and duck with onions were tasty, but nothing unique. I couldn't taste the mustard; the flavor didnt pop or stand out. The service was also terribly slow at lunch, despite only two tables being filled. Not much to be desired. Easier to go down prince street and get cheap yummy dumplings.

A cozy and hip little bar that serves delicious dumplings, this place was recommended by an owner…read moreof one of the vineyards on Waiheke Island. After a long day of visiting several vineyards and sampling many wines, all I wanted to do was relax with a glass of wine and just a little bit of food. Xuxu hit the spot. I had pork dumplings, pickled cucumbers, and a glass of Syrah. The dumplings were delicious. The cucumbers were cool, flavourful, and just slight spicy. The glass of Syrah complimented the dishes perfectly. I was seated next to the stove where the chef was steaming the dumplings so I got to watch orders come in and the dishes go out. I also watched the bartender, server, and hostess work hard to complete the foods and drink orders. The atmosphere, beautiful lighting, and good music makes this restaurant a perfect place for a date. I'll be back next time I'm in town.

I came here with a friend of mine the other day after we were looking for a new place to hang out…read morefor a bit. It was only 2pm and we weren't after alcohol but being located in a five star hotel we thought we should be able to get coffee. Neither of us had been before and immediately we loved The Lobby. Named so because it is located in the lobby of the Grand Hotel, the space is sophisticated and stylish. Sofas and upholstered chairs are spaced throughout the bar amongst marble tables and bar stools in rich browns and golds which contrast against textured brown and copper walls. Equally pleasing to see was the Allpress sign by the coffee machine but just because they use one of the best blends in the industry, doesn't always guarantee you a great long black. I ordered a long black and got a proper long black. Two shots, thick, nice crema, water on the side, the way it should be. Not when it is ruined by being watered down by the barista. We sat here for 2 hours, at around 3pm the piano man came out and we had beautiful music in the background. We will definitely be back. The Lobby offers a warm and relaxing environment perfect for meeting friends or work associates and equally nice for a date or even a business meeting. A stunning bar.

Very nice atmosphere, but service is terrible! Way too slow!…read more From my honest opinion, this place is only good for Shisha and drinks! Ordering food at this place is like pulling teeth. If you're not willing to wait hours and hours for your food to arrive avoid it, especially if you're super hungry. But on the positive side, they probably have the best Shisha in town :) and if you're a fan like me then definitely try it out!

A good location to enjoy drinks with friends before hitting the city. It is situated close enough…read moreto clubs and other bars in Auckland meaning that one can save on taxi money if they decide to move from Caravanserai to the clubs. Although the food at this location is absolutely delicious, some of the staff members including the manager might need a few more training sessions about customer service. One evening a group of friends and I decided to have dinner, drinks and sheesha before going out. Upon our arrival we where asked to move to a different table which was too small (they were 6 of us) so that the manger could accommodate this group of friends. I would recommend this place for the food and the fact that it's open air so one can smoke, drink and eat but you have been warned. If customer service racks high on your list of expectations I would look elsewhere.

Beer selection was phenomenal and international. Could not believe how fortunate we were to stumble…read moreupon this hidden gem on open mic night. Legendary band. Gritty yet real ambience. Got to meet the band. The spirit of camaraderie amongst the band members was unmatched especially since they all met that night. The service was unparalleled. Couldn't think of a better place to be in Auckland at 1am in a Thursday. Goth friendly.

I have been here for both local band gigs and to have a few drinks with friends. Ding Dong has…read morenever failed to disappoint. Great music, great atmosphere and the staff and patrons are wicked people who are just looking to have a good night. No judgemental looks about outfits and everyone is welcome. I've seen businessmen, stag-dos, goths, newly-minted adults and adults with experience having a great time at the same time. I could not recommend this place more!

A lovely little hotel bar with excellent service, tasty drinks, and a beautiful view. We were…read morestaying in the Rendezvous Hotel (where this bar is located), and came here twice. They have a nice selection of hard liquor, as well as beers and wine. I love that you can order food from the hotel's Japanese restaurant or room service to the bar. Ordered some oh so good Hendricks and tonics with cucumber each time we visited. On one occasion, I ordered the feijoa daiquiri and it was much too sweet for me. I don't recommend. The one strange thing was that the bar didn't have any limes... This did put a damper on my gin and tonics, but the cucumber save it. If you're nearby and want a drink, come and check this place out. You'll be pleased you did!

From the owner: Located in Grand Millennium Auckland's beautiful atrium, where you can be sure to relax and enjoy…read morecocktails, a light snack, a sumptuous meal or the full beverage menu.

I've been to Flight Lounge a few times as part of the Frenzi Bar Crawl and they always, always play…read morethe same music. I'm not talking about the same type of music (that would be fine) I'm talking about playing the exact same list of songs in there week after week; it gets very dull after three weeks, believe me. I was hoping this was just because it was Bar Crawl night but I went there quite late last Friday night and the music was still the same! It also really annoys me that the toilet area is really cramped. There's barely enough room for about two or three people in there, let alone when a 150 strong crowd descends in there of a Thursday night and all the girls are queuing at the same time. I also wish there was some sort of outside seating area too, as the club is in a basement, it can get really hot in there. The good thing though is that I have always found the bourncers and bar staff to be really friendly, which is a welcome relief compared to some of the more upmarket palces in the CBD.