Having read Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, and then watching the movie of Nick Hornby's High…read moreFidelity, there's something that will always appeal to me about small, independently-owned music shops. Also I am a nerd and a bit obsessed with music, so music shops in general are just neat, in my opinion. Musiquarium satisfies all my requirements. It's small, has little natural light, and is painted a lurid shade of green. Also it has an excellent range of CDs, both popular and obscure. Their stock covers a range of music, but seems to be particularly extensive when it comes to 90s alternative rock and 50s/60s rock & roll (disclaimer: it is possible that it just seemed that way because I like those two styles). They also focus on New Zealand music in a way that other places would like to look like they do, but actually don't.

The music acts are always first rate. No cover is great. Drink prices are higher than normal, but…read moreyou've got great music and a place to dance if you wish. My problem with this place is that after multiple visits, I've come to the conclusion that the wait staff behind the bar give very poor service. I've experienced several different sets of staff and they all offer poor service. No personality. No water unless requested. Long wait times for even an acknowledgement that you are even sitting at the bar. Management needs to improve their interviewing when hiring. Yes, I'll go back there often because of the music, but I'm certainly not going to tip for poor service.

Here are some of the records I have bought from Alien Records:…read more - a Serbian '80s electro pop record - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will by Mogwai - a NZ country music compilation - a recording of Shostakovich's 9th Symphony When people ask "where are all the good record shops?" the answer is: in a warehouse down a driveway in New Lynn, close to the RSA. Alien Records is run by what I can only lovingly describe as music nerds, one of whom will never fail to ask you if you play an instrument. This is endearing the first time but less so after the fifth or sixth. It's full of oddities, hits, classic hits compilations, and lots of top quality new pressings. I'm always slightly amazed they're still in business as it's got to be the most hidden specialty shop in Auckland, but they do know their stuff and it's good fun to spend an hour or so rifling through the bins so unless your ears are made of stone you're bound to find something you want. They also sporadically hold gigs in the room next door.

I was wondering the Cheltenham shops on Saturday arvo and this place was a pretty cool find…read more Cheltenham Curiosity Shop is a small local shop that sells a range of antiques from chandeliers, tables, couches, lamps to vinyl records, used postcards and other bits and bobs.

A cute little store with some interesting collectables​. If you like preserving a few memories from…read morepre-plastic​​ times, there are plenty on offer. We left with a few under our arms!

In this day and age of chain stores selling nothing much but top of the pops CDs and band t-shirts…read morewith singers on them who appear still to be foetal, Marbecks is welcome respite. Any music lover will adore Marbecks. You get that feeling of being in an actual place when you visit, rather than in just another cloned merchandising experience. You also get a real Alice down the rabbit hole feeling because of the wonderful range, and it's one place that actually makes me feel excited about buying music. The staff here are excellent and great at fielding all kinds of questions, and very accommodating to importing things especially for you and that kind of stuff. They also have a dangerously tempting range of books and a decent stock of vinyl, so there's a lot to keep you busy once you get there.

Love this little place. It has a modest pop selection, but lots of cool new albums, a good…read moreclassical section, jazz CDs, music related DVDs and even a few boxes of LPs to make you look either old or cool. You can tell the staff love it too. They'll let you listen before you buy music and they place labels with honest reviews and recommendations on the new releases. Hope they remain open forever!

Aunty Mavis feels just like that - it's as if you've stepped into your elderly aunt's house where…read moreeverything is a jumble of treasures waiting to be discovered. Everything in the shop gives you the feeling that it's been hand-picked especially to bring a smile to your face. The shop is filled with excellent vintage crockery that's old enough to be quaint, but not yet old enough (or rare enough) to be really pricey. Think the mid-century stuff, like the less-collectable Crown Lynn. There's also a range of delectable linen and books, clothes (mostly from the 1970s), and household bits and pieces.

Aunty Mavis is the home of antiques, retro and curios in St Kevin's Arcade. If you're a total…read moresucker for Crown Lynn crockery like me, Aunty Mavis is the place to go. Alongside Mavis' collection of crockery is a wide array of furniture, furnishings, collectables and the odd creepy doll staring at you, willing you to simultaneously wander in and stay the hell away. Ardent bargain bin diggers will probably hate the prices, but if you're in the market for something cute, retro and often New Zealand made, Mavis will have it... you just might have to pay a bit for it.

Real Groovey is on my top 3 retail stores in Auckland. Absolutely love the merchandise available,…read moreI'm a big kid that loves Vinyl Figures and they have a range that's large enough to satisfy my inner child ! I now have a child of my own and they have such a good range of children's books, from the classic to the quirky ! The Vinyl collection is extensive enough to please any muso and I was super gutted when I heard it was closing down and am glad to hear it is not now !

Fantastic store!!! Lots of vinyls, cds, books, t shirts all music related. I bought 2 albums I'd…read morenever seen in the US. Service was great. Value great. Loved this shop

Royal Oak Trading Co., or "that antique store by The Zookeeper", is a decent shop to get lost in…read morefor half an hour or so. Don't be put of by the rusting garden tools and junk in the entrance. Inside you will find just about everything excluding clothes and jewellery. It does ever so slightly feel like the dumping grounds for assets of an estate. Nothing is new in the store and you c an rummage through heaps of boxes and books and assorted paraphernalia. But you will find something that tickles for fancy at an affordable price, not necessarily cheap but better than most "Antique Stores". They also have an extensive library of old vinyls and books. Just try not to look shifty as the staff will follow you around the piles of furniture to keep an eye on you.

Great new live venue. Awesome staff who know their drinks. Has an outdoor area with views of the…read morecity. I had a fun night of live music and interesting folks, recommend to all.

Cool "underground" venue. Came here to see a great DnB DJ, which I enjoyed very much. The drink…read moreprices are reasonable, typical club prices. There is a lot of room. There is NO COAT CHECK, which was annoying, but at least no one stole my coat. Nice staff.

I've said it about The Wine Cellar and I'll say it about Whammy too - this place treats bands (and…read moretheir respective door bitches) incredibly well. Booking a gig at Whammy (or The Wine Cellar) is done through Rohan, a professional sound tech who will make your band sound pretty gosh darn good. He'll do it for $100. Get 6-10 paying people through the door and you've broken even already. Accommodating about 150 people more than Wine Cellar and starting later in the evening, Whammy is the place to go if your band wants to be late and loud. Doorman Will is a massive boss as well - about as courteous as a man who deals with drunk idiots can be.

I'm embarrassed by how long it took me to realise the pun in the name…read more Whammy bar is like a lot of music/performance venues: the quality of your experience here is directly related to what's on. Good band: good night. Crappy poser art-noise: bleeding eardrums and regret. It's a gamble, but a fun one to make. Whammy has all the requisite dive bar trappings - low ceilings, awkward stairs, an unassuming entrance. The crowd is your typical fashionable scene, but not too teenage to make you feel old - although again, this depends somewhat on the band playing. They don't just have bands playing, I've seen poetry recitals and comedy here. But the best times to be had are the rowdy live music nights, when the energy's deafening and everyone's bouncing off the ceiling.