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nightlife Archives - Epsom Motel

Jun 08
0

Your Guide To Auckland’s Best Bars Part Two

By | Activities, food & Drink, Nightlife | No Comments

Sometimes when you’re on holiday you need to treat yourself. You have escaped to treat yourself and sometimes that means sitting down with some good company and enjoying a good drink. Auckland is perfect for this, our bustling metropolis is packed with secret bars, bars with amazing themes, and simple holes in the wall with great history.   

In part one we took you through some of our favorite intimate bars – the ones that host local live music and where you can relax. In part two we showcase some of the more bigger and more publicly known bars if you are feeling like a night out on the town, a dance with your better half or a group of friends, here are some local hotspots: 

Cassette 9 

Renowned for their teapot cocktails, quirky decor and top-of-the-range tunes and local gigs this is the place to be if you are wanting a classy night out, and when we say night out, Cassette is open until four in the morning! Cassette feels like a real city bar, located up a flight of stars, the bar is in a unique U-shape that features a small balcony, bench seating and dancefloor. The hip staff and large selection of drinks make this one of Auckland most frequented bars.

Grand Central 

This one of for the younger crowd, it’s the crown jewel of Ponsonby, known for its laid-back, hospo-friendly attitude and unpretentious ways, guests are sure to leave all inhibitions at the door as they really let loose to the live music or DJ’s on stage. Open until the wee hours of the morn it’s perfect if you are looking for a good boogie. And With late night curry and burger located just across the road and also open late, you have everything you need for a good night out! 

Impala 

Probably the newest bar on this list, don’t think for a minute this makes Impala any less of a popular hotspot. It has fast become a CBD hotspot mainly for featuring famous and up-and-coming local DJs that bring creative sets that you just can’t find anywhere else in the city. Expect to knock back a Fireball or two, dance until that 3am kebab calls and thank God that this Auckland underground, the class-act club came to town! 

Longroom 

Another Ponsonby institution (Ponsonby really has some of Auckland’s best bars), featuring a DJ dropping beats on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights there’s no excuse to skip a night out here, and it’s cater-made for an older crowd – its Restricted 22 after a certain time! This bar features a quirky interior that features a “fire” long stretching deck, couches and ponsonbys most popular dance floor. You might want to add this to the first stop on your list on a crawl as it can be extremely hard to get into during the weekend at peak times.

May 08
0

Your Guide To Auckland’s Best Bars Part One

By | food & Drink, Nightlife | No Comments

Sometimes when you’re on holiday you need to treat yourself. You have escaped to treat yourself and sometimes that means sitting down with some good company and enjoying a good drink. Auckland is perfect for this, our bustling metropolis is packed with secret bars, bars with amazing themes, and simple holes in the wall with great history.  We have filtered through the collection of bars in the city to bring you a diverse collection that features something for everyone.   

Racket Bar  

Racket is the loud and eclectic staple of Britomart that features a cheeky and humorous attitude with a damn good selection of drinks to match this cheeky attitude. With 85 premium rum varieties on the shelf and the self-titled “Auckland’s Most Expensive Fire Hazard” out front, Racket is the perfect place to spend winter nights away from the fierce weather. The modest lighting also makes it acceptable to cozy up in a booth and get submerged in conversation.  

Bonita   

Bonita is the kind of place that you walk in to and feel at home – slightly hidden behind a side street in Ponsonby, it has become a favorite destination for locals, and as a result, it has grown a friendly neighborhood local feel about it. The staff is equally as friendly as the locals the adorn the sidebar, the selection of wines and locally sourced beer are also well worth the visit. With outdoor seating both front and back, it’s the ideal place to catch some afternoon rays and people watch, or to hide away.  

The Wine Cellar  

You’ll have to take a journey down the stairs of St Kevin’s Arcade to find this hidden free-spirited Wine Cellar. The wine cellar is a staple of Auckland and K Road for its exciting and diverse range of local gigs that are often put-on, as well as their alternative them and simple style – that includes old school pinball games. This bar is perfect for those in a large group looking for a night out, or those more attuned to a cozy night.   

The Portland Public House  

This comfortable DIY wonderland where the drinks taste good and you’ll likely rub shoulders with a who’s who of local musicians. This bar is a truly alive, it starts off as a restaurant during the day, then transforms into a venue and dancefloor in the evening, but if you want to sit rather than drink, their back room and outdoor area is perfect for catching up with friends or having a date night. Their beer selection is equally fantastic mixing classics with local craft breweries, as well as having a nice selection of wine to choose from.