Meeting friends for a few drinks at Grand Central is a great way to both start and end your night…read more As one of the most popular, long standing, trendy bars on Ponsonby Road, Grand Central is the perfect place to meet 'hipsters' and people watch. With a full bar and extensive wine list it caters for everyone, and as a result the bar attracts patrons of all ages and walks of life. Though quite a small venue, live music is frequently played, there is room for a bit of a dance, and there is also plenty of outdoor seating. A slight down side of this however is the seated area is usually full of smokers, so be prepared. Smoking aside, Grand Central is a guaranteed good time. Regardless of whether you sit outside on the comfy couches with a wine in the afternoon or dance the night away while enjoying live music, there is never a dull moment.

I would like to call Grand Central the Monday to Sunday live music and DJ hot spot of Ponsonby rd,…read morethey have been doing their groovy thing for many a year and pull in the crowd time and time again. Monday nights are a sure bar filler with the Open Mic night, pop your name on the list and wait your turn to sing out or play about three songs. For the rest of the week, you get different bands, musicians, or DJ's to keep the bar sounding and feeling festive. Always open late, and with fantastic friendly bartenders. You can also hire the upstairs function room for say a birthday party or work function. They have a courtyard to sit in if its not raining, which is a new addition, and you can also smoke here or out the front on comfy couches. Pop in for Happy hour after work or check them out on a busy weekend night, always a very colorful scene.

The Ostro City Terrace is a beautiful spot for an after-work drink. Concrete floors, floor to…read moreceiling windows and plenty of bar space. It even has a great, little balcony for all those dirty smokers. I must warn you though, the bar or 'terrace' area does back onto Tyler St so the views aren't spectacular (you need to book at the restaurant to be seated w a harbour view). As for the drinks - delicious and affordable. Cocktails are on average $15, which in Auckland is reasonable , especially in Britomart. More often than not, I'll leave it up to the bartenders to whip something up. Last time I was there I had a delicious spiced rum concoction, the name of which escapes me! One final note, the clientele of Ostro is rather corporate - definitely more smart casual than straight casual. I'm not sure if they'd turn people away but I wouldn't be turning up in jandals and stubbies.

First time in Auckland and came here in an unintended fashion as it was open when the restaurant…read morenext door was the intended goal. The irony is I came here just for a glass of wine and appetizer and the food turned out better than the place I went for dinner. The Ceviche and Gewürztraminer wine from local wine growers in Marlborough was a perfect pairing and really was quite good.

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........

Whenever we're out in Ponsonby, we always end up going to PSC. I'm not even sure why, it's not…read moreparticularly great. In fact, it's always packed and a nightmare to get to the bathrooms, which are at the very back of the bar. It's saving grace is the music. It's largely hip hop and RnB but think old school classics as opposed to Chris Brown. For me, PSC is a late-night destination and I almost always order G&Ts so it's hard to comment on the drinks but the bartenders are speedy and friendly enough! It wouldn't say it's a must visit but if you're keen for a boogie and you're on P.Road, it's worth a look.

"PSC" as the locals call it is the closest thing to a "Grown n' Sexy" crowd as i have found in…read moreAuckland. Definitely not an 18+ crowd. The music was tho! If you love 90's RnB and Hip-Hop in a danceable, 2-step vibe, more so than fist-pump, table jumping manner. Auckland has so many beautiful and thick women and they were all here. But it's still more of a standing/talking/vibing bar-that-plays-music than a club-club. I would go back, especially to start off the night, but maybe not finish it...unless I was on a Bumble Date that I thought might be wifey. All in all, good fun. Standard drink prices around NZD $10/ea

Yet another club and bar on the viaduct that promotes itself as trendy and upmarket. This is one of…read morethose places that will charge you a $10 cover charge, on some nights you will be disappointed and on some nights you will enjoy yourself. It's like most clubs, some nights are good, some nights you want to smash the DJ for playing shit music. On the occasions I have been to Bungalow 8, I have been served what tasted like watered down cider and a decent red bull & vodka. Might have something to do with the bartender. It is a great place to head to on a Friday night to have a few drinks with your workmates and friends. The bar is located on the fringe of the viaduct which makes a few other bars and clubs a few minutes walk or stumble away. If you want to get a feel of the vibe at Bungalow, I suggest standing outside and listening to the music and peering through the balcony at what people are doing. Sometimes those long lines, aren't a good judge, as to whether the night is a good one.

I really like the word bungalow, it has good connotations of a little ocean fronting hideaway on an…read moreexotic island somewhere. You can definately see that is the look they are attempting to revive at this bar. From the cool fish tanks lining one of the inside walls, to the rattan/ cane outdoor furniture, beachside 'chic' is a resonant theme at Bungalow8. For a Friday night, it was a little quiet compared to some other bars, but it was beginning to pick up by the time we left. The dance floor was going off though, thanks to some sweet moves by me and a decent d.j playing some foot stompingly good tunes. I don't know if this is a student bar or what, but the clientele seemed to be super young. There were some dudes playing at being adults with a pitiful excuse for facial hair, and some manky suits, that looked so young that if I had been guarding the door I wouldn't have let them in.

Love it! Slightly eccentric, lovely courtyard and a good…read morerange of drinks! Always easy to get a cab out the front which I love!

Tucked away in an underground corner of the swanky Parnell area, Shanghai Lil's isn't as Asian as…read moreit makes out, but it's certainly a unique experience. Once wondering down the stairs, you are greeted by some lovely staff who offer you a drink while you wait for your dinner compadres. There's a delightful lounge, moodily lit and decorated like it was the roaring '20s. Antique leather couches, precious lights, gorgeous paintings and soothing Jazzy music, this place makes you feel like you've stepped into another world. Once you're done with the lounge, you venture into the restaurant for a scrummy dinner. It becomes much lighter with open french windows and a decidedly European menu. The portions are small and incredibly pricey, but not bad if you're wanting something a little special. They were delicious, I have to admit! Otherwise, if you're on a budget, drinks are the way to go for this quaint establishment.

In cahoots with Juice TV and it's neighbour, The Windsor Castle, Juice bar has a great line up of…read morelocal and international acts. New Zealand Music Month, Open Mic Night, UFC fights screened live or celebrating Brazilian Carnival- don't miss out on gigs at this Parnell hot spot. I have booked this venue for a birthday party and a farewell in the past and am never disappointed by the very hospitable staff. We were given use of the stage, DJ booth and VIP room guests dubbed "The Sexy Room". Until the cocktails start flowing there is a pool table to keep people occupied. Make sure you ask Chris or Z to show you their sweet mixology skills.

The first time I came here, it was to see my friend's band perform a while ago. It was the middle…read moreof summer and absolutely boiling in Juice due to the sheer amount of people and the fact that the huge windows at the front of the bar were closed (I guess due to noise pollution). It's a relatively small venue for live music, but actually quite a nice bar otherwise. I love the decorative hexagonal patterned ceiling and star-shaped hanging lights. It feels trendy but without being pretentious. It's one of the only bars I'll frequent in Parnell but I think that's purely because there's not a great variety. Juice's only neighbourhood competition is Farside (which I really don't rate) and McCarthy's Irish bar, which has definite pub vibe. It thrives because it's the only bar of its kind along the road--a good bar for an area distinctly lacking in good nightlife.

Have spent two consecutive Saturday nights at Galatos for two different events. Tucked away behind…read moreK Road, it's not difficult to find, easy to get to on public transport, but with limited on street parking. An intimate venue with good acoustics for live music. Larger area downstairs with a lovely bar area upstairs with comfy couches and small tables. Will definately look out for future events here as really enjoyed the atmosphere and the patronage.

Galatos is an extraordinary venue - off the beaten track and behind K'Road, Galatos has always…read moreoffered up a smorgasbord of treats on stage. I first remember (well, don't remember) Galatos' dance party stage at the turn of the century, then its phase of holding massive rock gigs. Nowadays, I'm more likely to head along to Galatos to for Auckland's regular gay film nights, or a Fringe festival show. This venue is a bitch of a place to get to if you're arriving by car (seriously, don't park at the big carpark on the corner, they'll tow you) but once you're in, it's spacious, the drinks are cheap and the staff are friendly.