The Nation's Clubrooms is a relatively new addition to the range of bars located in Skycity. This…read moreone was built as a sports bar specifically for the Rugby World Cup, and is very much rugby themed, supporting the Auckland Blues. I like this pub because it's very clean and very large, with ample seating and no matter where you decide to sit, there will be a TV screen for you to view. What more could you ask from a sports bar? A betting machine you ask? Well it just so happens that they have a TAB section in the corner, complete with betting machines or a human who works for the TAB if you prefer to bet that way. Drinks and nibbles are pretty expensive here though, so you had better win your bets on the sports or at the casino next door.

One of Auckland's newest sports bars and about as good as they get! The Nation's Clubrooms is sort…read moreof hidden away on Level 3 of Skycity, but it's well worth finding once you're finally there. It's big, it's clean, the range of beers and pub grub is extensive, and there are more TV screens then you can shake a stick at. You simply won't find many sports bars that are this plush and well appointed, and perhaps owing to Skycity's extensive sponsorship of Auckland teams, the place is simply littered with memorabilia from the Blues, the Warriors, the Breakers and the All Blacks. There are also certain perks coming here as a Breakers fan. Skycity sponsor the team, so the fans sometimes get free drinks when they come here to watch the away games. Not bad!!

Having lived off Dominion Road most of my life it is somewhat of a travesty that I had never been…read moreto Bar Eden until last year. Located above the Glengarry's on Dominion Road, Bar Eden is a locally renowned sports bar and pool hall. My sister has been meeting her friends there most weekends since she turned 18, and I can see why. Though not a very flash joint, Bar Eden is a really relaxed place to meet up with groups of friends and have some fun playing pool. As with most pool and sports bars, Bar Eden is a bit seedy, but when you get to know the staff (and the regulars) everyone is actually really nice and it can be a really good time. Bar Eden have both big and small pool ball tables, depending on your experience level as well as shuffleboard tables, TVs to watch the game on and a full bar. Next time you're in Mt Eden and fancy a casual night with your friends, give Bar Eden a go.

In my opinion, the best place to head after or before a game at Eden Park. It doesn't pack out like…read morethe ground level pubs in the neighbourhood, as it has a far greater floor space. It also offers pool tables at a great 6 dollars an hour, as well as shuffleboard, darts, and the pokies if you fancy a flutter after watching your team destroy the other one (or to pick up some cash to drown your sorrows.) They play anything that Sky Sport is playing, and are happy to change to whatever you'd prefer, as there are plenty of TV's around to show different games. There's also a free jukebox, so its a good place to just go on a weeknight and play some pool with your friends.

My first night in Auckland, I stopped by here for dinner when I saw they had a $42.94 NZ deal for…read moreSouth Island Lamb Rump. The interior was lively with plenty of seating. Found a quiet corner to dine solo. I ordered the Lamb Rump with garlic butter, which came with Bacon and Peas, and a side of Smashed Truffle Potatoes. This was absolutely delicious! The Lamb was cooked perfectly, melt in your mouth tender, well seasoned, with a nice crunchy skin. The Potatoes were satisfyingly crispy, mouthwateringly in a flavorful sauce and spices, featuring strong taste of true truffle. Garlicky peas with bacon was a wonderful combination. When I saw Sticky Date Pudding on the dessert menu, I just had to get it. This was served with butterscotch sauce, candied walnut, and ice cream. What an indulgent, sweet, mouthwatering masterpiece! The Sticky Date Pudding was chewy, moist, with notes of caramel and warm spices. Walnuts added a delightful nutty crunch. I poured the butterscotch sauce over both the Sticky Date Pudding and ice cream, which brought everything together beautifully. Service was good. Waitress was personable and everything came out in a timely manner. Such a wonderful meal here!

Great atmosphere! Great service!…read moreFriendly staff. Definitely a must go place. Only had drinks however the food looked delicious

I want to love this place as it has so much potential…read more Pros: Good beer and liquor selection Gaming room Pool table Separated outdoor smoking area Larger projector screen for t.v. Free parking Cons: The place was completely empty when I got there Food is only available for dinner If you want a social setting, you must bring the people.

The roundabout bar, so named because of its proximity to the Royal Oak roundabout, entitles itself…read moreas a community bar. From this I concluded that the community of Royal Oak must be very close to simultaneously entering an Old Folk's Home. If you feel a bit young for an RSA but smell of old tobacco and have a miasma of depression about you, this is the place for you. If you can count the number of teeth you have on one hand, but not the number of cats, this is your pub. There are slot machines, surly staff and watery beer. At least you wont forget the name as you stumble out. Or in. It doesn't matter either way. Measure the passage of time spent there by comparing it to the age of the children left waiting in cars parked at the door.

If you like being a bloke, you'll like it here. If you like spending time with blokes who like…read morebeing around other blokes doing blokey things, then you'll love it. Okay, I don't like sports. So I would never rave about a sports bar. But do they all have to packed with testosterone? Well, I guess so. If only they played interesting sports, like ice skating, rhythmic gymnastics, or show jumping, well, that might be quite nice. Or even better, how about a bit of Project Runway? That's a kind of sport, surely...it's competitive, isn't it? Really, there's nothing much here for me. They don't even have any especially tempting beer. And I love horse racing but I would never want to come here to place a bet, because where's the excitment of televised sport? It completely baffles me.

Back in the day Fort Street was a dump of a street, the sort of place you'd scurry down at 3am on a…read moreFriday night on your way to the White Lady hoping to not get mugged. Since then, the Council has done a bit of surgery on it - it's now a 'shared space' street - sort of repaved, pedestrianised but cars are still allowed on it... Point is, it's a nicer place to be now, and the businesses along here have done well out of it. Case in point is Right Track, the local sports bar. It's now got a great outdoor area to chill in with a beer, and the flags in the street (added for the World Cup) sort of beckon in a way. It's now a great place to catch the big game if you can't be there in person and you still want to get off your couch and make a night of it!

It should tell you a lot that all the past reviews for the QF Tavern have been from males. This is…read morenot the sort of establishment where you can or should bring a classy lady. I'm from Christchurch originally, so I don't think they even do breed classy ladies down there so I feel quite happy adding my two cents in about the olde QF. While nothing inherently special this bar always seems to be a decent night ender, it usually has live music, different events every night of the week (avoid the Wednesday night Karaoke if your not a fan of caterwauling, and most importantly cheapish drinks for Auckland anyway. During the day it's a slightly more respectable establishment so if you need to take a break from some strenuous shopping down Queen Street, grab a drink and a table outside and do some people watching (happy hour is 12pm-2pm in the afternoon)

There are only two things you need to know about the QF Tavern…read more The first is that this is the naked face of every other bar in New Zealand outside of Auckland. This is a classified Sports Bar with it's trench-coat flung wide open and exposed to the pedestrians of Queen St. The karaoke, the pokies, the "jing-gah-jick" guitar playing live music, the chips that taste like they were cooked in petroleum. If you're from the Far North, the Deep South or Lower Hutt, this is your Nirvana. Secondly, they serve beer towers (or beer giraffes or bar maids or whatever you wish to call them). Any Nirvana or Paradise or Valhalla should have beer towers.

The 1 Up TAB and Sports Bar provides a rare combination in the Eastern Bays area…read more The bar provides well-priced beer on tap, numerous television screens and TAB facilities, pokie machines and usually plentiful seating for the number of patrons present. The staff are very friendly and the bar usually has a vibrant, sociable atmosphere - with many of the patrons being frequent regulars. If you are lucky enough to be there for races on a busy Saturday afternoon, the bar usually shouts chips from the fish shop next door for DIY chip sandwiches, a nice homely touch. Parking is easy, just on the street down Upland Road, and there are numerous options for food nearby to keep you punting all day.

Located on the popular Wynyard Crossing in Wynyard Quarter in Auckland, New Zealand, Good George…read moreNorth Wharf is a satellite location of the popular Good George brewery based out of Hamilton. It was pretty quiet when we passed by it after it had opened, but it became a lot more busy as we stuck around to drink a pint of their Hefe (NZ$17)...it was good, super drinkable. I ended up picking up a six can of their popular Ale: Pacific Left Hand Break (NZ$15). The bartender was super friendly and she let me try samples of the beers that I was considering. Definitely worth a stop-in if in the area.

Good George Brewing is one I had heard a lot about on a previous trip to New Zealand. Despite that,…read moreI never got to visit the brewery nor try many of their beers. On a recent visit to Auckland visiting other beer bars nearby, I noticed Good George had a taproom and restaurant in the Wynyard area of the city - a new area of apartments, offices, bars, and restaurants right on the water. Good George North Wharf has a great view of Auckland Harbour and is on many walking/biking paths, the trolley, and with lots of parking nearby. On my visit, I came in the afternoon and opted to sit inside as it was kind of a cold and gloomy day to be outside. Regardless, they have lots of outdoor tables and heaters, perfect for small parties or large groups. Inside is larger than it looks, with big tables, bar seating, and smaller high tops; half the restaurant has less of a view as the bar is in the middle but I assume some people will like the more intimate area for watching sports. Restrooms are clean and upstairs, easy to find. The kitchen is open to the restaurant so you can see the chefs preparing meals. It's kind of quasi-table service as well; you seat yourself and can order at the bar, or someone will come ask if you'd like to order. All the staff here were friendly and aimed to please - talking with a manager I learned this was another bar then taken over by Good George during the pandemic and never really given a proper chance to open. It's open now and seemed popular even on a weekday afternoon. Their beer menu is immense and features all their core beers, ciders, plus wines and mixed drinks. One thing I was happy I asked about was limited drafts; they had quite a few which complimented having some of their core beers out. I opted for a flight (or tasting board as seems to be the norm there) of six lighter beers while I relaxed and watch people go by. I had a second tasting board to round out the beers, really only skipping the sour and ciders. They even gave little tasting chips to go with the beer. I had a great experience here. If you're a beer fan or just need a cozy place to take a break from the city, this is a great option.

I believe this is now The Bridgman. It was great! Great…read moreatmosphere, lovely beer selection, and though we didn't eat much the food at other tables looked really good. If I were staying another night in Auckland I would go back for their burgers.

Located on the corner of Valley Road and Dominion Road, The Dominion is the perfect place to meet…read morefriends for an after work drink, watch the rugby or share a meal with the family. The meals are fantastic, and the portions are huge. I'm a fan of their pizza range and must say last time I had their hamburger I fell in love. It was delicious, though definitely too big for me! Even my Dad had trouble finishing it, but it's good to know you get your money's worth! Heineken is on tap at The Dominion, though the bar has a large selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available, so there is definitely something for everyone. While there is plenty of indoor seating, my favourite spot at The Dominion is outside. There are about eight outside tables, two of which are really big and perfect for meals with a group of friends or the family. During summer it's great to sit outside in the heat, but even in winter it's not too bad as there are outdoor heaters above the tables too Tip: There is a room upstairs with a separate bar and outdoor area that can be hired for private functions. Having attended many 21st parties there, I can say with all honesty it is the perfect venue. Not to mention there is a curtain of fairy lights, so that's a definite bonus!