Ink Bar is the pierced, tattooed and slightly dangerous sister of Coherent. These two bars often…read morehave joint events so you can flirt between them both (and I shouldn't have to explain the play on words with their names). Ignore the almost shabby entrance from K road and get down the stairs to this awesome little bar. You will find that you like it as rough and as dirty as her. (I'd like to mention that I have ended my metaphor with the previous paragraph because it may be misconstrued when I say it's a tight but comfortable fit down there.) One of the best clubs Auckland has to offer with heavy, pounding bass and staff as hyped as you are. Couches, courtyard, intimate dance floor directly in front of the DJ- a great place to catch some house, techno and sometimes international artists. I am a big fan of seeing Aural Trash play here, although sometimes a small lake can form in the smoking area if it has been raining.

Ink Bar is not, as the name might suggest, somewhere where writers meet up and discuss camus over…read moreespressos and whiskey on the rocks. Instead, it is one of the dirtiest places in Auckland - and I mean dirty in the good , Clint Eastwood on a bender kind of way. Ink plays host to a wide range of electronic music, forming a sort of spiritual home of Auckland's not-quite-commerical dance sound. This means you can catch international acts who haven't quite broken through here for as low as five dollars if you get lucky. They have a cool smoking area with bamboo and an open ceiling, and if Coherent is open you can walk through between the two bars. Well worth penciling in as a bender destination.

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.

Every Wednesday 1885 hosts Jazz in the Basement and it is truly a treasure trove of pure awesome…read more Impeccable wine, beer, whiskey and cocktail menu as well as an array of leather love seats to settle into as the live jazz washes over you. And let it wash, and wash and wash all over you. Seems like the upstairs is very different from the basement and likewise with the weekday vs the weekend. Besides the live jazz the Rogue Society gin martini with anchovy stuffed olive was hands down one of the best I've had in Auckland. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I even loved the mailboxes of paper towels in the loo... it's all in the details!

Every now and again I like to hit the city and go big, really big. I plan my night out with mates,…read moreand it is always a success; we go to the right places at the right time. But ever since 1885 opened, it has changed the game plan a bit, purely because we don't want to be left on the outside looking in. This is the kind of bar where you need to do a bit of homework before you attend. If there's an event on at Vector, then you need to be there before the show ends, otherwise you're not going to get in. So needless to say 1885 is popular, and you need to dress up to get in, and you'd want to anyway, as you'll be rubbing shoulders with the rich and beautiful. Who am I kidding, if you hang out at 1885, you are the rich and beautiful.

Being a big drum and bass fanboy and spending many eardrum-piercing nights at the old Fu Bar under…read moreQueen street, I was always a fan of underground venues, so when my friends and I found out about Code after Fu closed down, we though, sure, why not? Let's see if it recaptures that filthy, dirty, punch-the-bass-so-hard-it'll-drop-the-roof-on-you experience we craved. And to start with, Code most certainly did this. To their credit, they don't play the same top forty tracks as a lot of other clubs around town, and the music is really what I'm here for, but these days it's become less of a place to really enjoy the music, and just another sweaty box with way too many posers. Maybe I'm old and jaded, I don't know, but while it's fun to venture down every now and then, it's not on my must-do list for a Saturday night.

Code, code, code. What to say about this magnificent joint... My guilty pleasure…read more This club is the dirtiest of dirty and I enjoy coming here as a change from my usual 1885 or when I want to dance to grimy music and not care about what I look like. The music is great - always up to trend and dancey. The first rule of Code is that you must never admit to any one that you are going there or you will be judged for eternity. Or you have to at least say you are going there as a joke. It is comprised of about 89% guys on the hunt for girls. Code is certainly not classy but it IS fun. The stripper pole is a nice touch too.

Stopped in around 9pm and was sat right away. Was a bit cautious due to some reviews however they…read morewere amazing. From start to finish. Orders the scallops and lamb chops and they were delightful. I wish I had more space to order another round of both. lol The gentleman who assisted me, informed me of a few items that were no longer on the menu from customer feedback and one item they were out of. The scallops were cooked perfectly and sooo juicy. The lamp chops had a great cook on the outside and lovely medium inside. The edamame along with paired nicely. I ordered the truffle mashed potatoes which also were seasoned well. I liked the Al La cart option since I wasn't going to do the all you can eat. Overall good experience and I'd return if in the area.

Fantastic service! The service was top tier, the only problem I had with this place was the food…read moresadly. Maybe it was a bad day or the kitchen was understaffed, but the meat was overcooked to more than well done for a medium rare steak and the oysters were not fresh at all. I think it was just a bad day because I have heard great things from them.

5 dollar beer nights at Bungalow 8 are a great time to visit. Not are posey as some of the Viaduct…read moreplaces that look directly out onto the water mean it takes a while for this place to fill up but by the second shift, after the sensible people have gone home, it kicks off pretty good. It feels a little run down on the decor and I am not sure if thats the look they are going for or whether they need to decorate. Supposedly this is the place the celebs go to, if you believe the marketing, but I find that difficult to digest.

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.

Never has a gay bar had the kind of staying power that Family Bar has had. For more than seven…read moreyears, the big, bolsy and almost-always open Family Bar has stood loudly and proudly on K'Road, boasting the biggest crowds week after week after week. If cheap drinks, a night of raucous dancing and a regular roll-out of drag queens is your thing, Family Bar is the place to be. The stage is ruled with an iron fist by the inimitable Miss Ribena, who will just as easily pass off quips about her stagemates as she will cut a bitch down if they get too rowdy in the crowd. You've got to love the way she rules over her people; and love how many who know her will cringe reading that. Family is an experience that I recommend you have at least once in your life. It's an Auckland institution that is sometimes horrifying, sometimes bawdy and always a good time.

A bit seedy and dated but still a fun place to go out for a dance and a laugh. The entertainment…read moreon stage is the Tranny's. Their makeup and costumes is really awesome. Its a young hang out but at 2am with a few wines in you you don't notice. Its very Gay so if your straight and don't mind your butt getting pinched then go for it. Drinks are cheapest in town. Only real negative is that the que to the gross bathrooms is really bad, I think there is one toilet. Go next door.

The first time I went to The Hangar is known as one of the best nights of my life. After living in…read moreWest Auckland for most of my life I had never found the idea of clubbing in my hood as appealing or exciting. I had the worst expectations about neighborhood bars but oh boy The Hangar changed my perception. I went there with a couple of my friends on a Friday night to enjoy my friend's last night in New Zealand. When I got there I was surprised that there was a line and wondered what the fuss was all about, but then I heard the music and that is when my night officially began. By the time I got to the front of the line I could not wait to get inside and shake my tail feather! The music was just right and DJ Manchoo was spinning the right tracks. What I love the most about The Hangar is the crowd, the music and the drink specials. Everyone there is out to have a good night, whether they are wearing their heels or rocking their jandals. The outside where they are seats for those that want to still hear the music but have a chat and smoke, the inside is where the dancer floor and bar are located and at the entrance a few tables for those that want to hear the music but also want to sit and chill. The Hangar is a perfect spot for those that cannot be stuffed looking for parking in the city, plus the different events throughout the week make it a place for everyone to enjoy themselves

Only ever went for a few drinks and a dance on weekend nights - however this time I went for lunch…read morewith my partner and daughter. Food was to die for, service was IMPECCABLE (to the male and female who brought a drawer of toys to my daughter - made my heart melt seeing my daughter so happy!! Thank you!) Price is reasonable, music was perfect, atmosphere quiet but just what we wanted :) We are definitely locked in loyal customers and will be recommending to everyone!

On one of my birthday night celebrations I ended up at The Pony Club. I did not even know it was…read morethere as it is hidden between a strip club and an adult massage place. Take care not to use the wrong entrance if you do decide to go to Pony. Upon our arrival the club was pretty empty but my group of 15 friends and I made a party out of it. We danced everywhere, dropped it low and picked it right up in every corner of the club. I loved the fact that it was empty because it meant that we had a larger dance floor and it made it seem like we had hired the club for a private party. The club has space and has these awesome seats/booths along the sides of the room, they are perfect for getting cosy with a loved one or someone you want to get to know. They are always a perfect place to sit when a group decides to take shots. The set up of the room is fantastic as the bar is the first thing you see when you get there so you sort of get a drink then hit the floor. Plus the DJ is amazing, he did not mind the countless requests from my group and even played some Afro (African) tunes, where he got them I don't know.

I'd hate to think how many times I've walked into the mirrors in Pony. It used to be part of the…read morestrip clubs upstairs (which explains the full length wall mirrors, dark interior and slight tangy smell). The mirrors give the illusion the rooms keep on going, but they are indeed just mirrors so be careful. I even went home with a black eye one night. Besides this the music is pretty fun and is usually supped up versions of the latest hip-hop offerings. There is also plenty of plush seating if your feet are tired. My only complaint is that it's inconsistent. Some nights it's absolutely rammed and you have to line up outside. Other nights it's empty (very embarrassing if you've just dragged a bunch of people across town). It's hard to know how to solve this, but perhaps send a lackie across first to check out

I first started going to 4:20 in the days of Sohomo, an indie/hipster night at the unexpected hit…read morevenue. Back then there wasn't a lot of hipster runoff down that end of K'Road, but Sohomo brought in the crowds. 4:20 has been a bit quieter on the hipster front since Sohomo (and later Proud Mary) fell by the wayside, but it still plays home to a number of awesome gigs that cater to the hip-hop, reggae and dancehall faithful. If you're looking for 4:20, it's at 373 K'Road (not 420, as you might expect). Head up the stairs, find yourself a nice drink and relax, or get amongst at one of the venue's live acts.

4:20 is a neat little drum and bass club on K road, Auckland's seediest street. That pretty much…read moresets the premise to coming to this club, prepare yourself for dirty, dark, haggard venue. Once you climb the steep stairs to 4:20 you walk into a basic layout - the bar to one side and the stage to the other with some seating available in the back and toilets off to the left. Nothing special. But if you are coming to this venue then that usually means you are coming for a d'n'b gig you want to see. In turn, this means you won't be paying much attention to the venue. I went to see some people that I am a huge fan of so to me this venue was great in the way that it gave them somewhere to perform - that's all I really cared about!