One dark, wet, and gloomy night in Auckland, I walked along the quay to another beer bar I had been to years before. After a fun hour or so there, I remembered passing a lively spot a few doors down and decided to stop in. That place was The Chamberlain and I ended up having a great visit here with friendly people. The Chamberlain is in a great area of town, with the rear entrance on Takutai Square/Britomart. It's easy to get here from either side of the building.
Inside it had a mixed vibe. Jammed with happy people, the front felt like a modern pub with big tiled bar welcoming you inside. The high ceilings take your eyes up the stairs, where they have a tiki bar / lanai area that overlooks the quay. It was chiller up here, so I went back to the lively downstairs.
I grabbed a beer from the bar (they don't do tasting trays, probably because of how busy it was), then took it toward the back where there were more people. Beers are priced reasonable and despite how busy it was, the bartenders were very attentive and happy to pour. I put my beer down for a second and people started talking - it was a work related event that ended up being in my field so it was fun to chat with people about what I do and the city. It's always great to meet local people when visiting a new place; their favorites, places to avoid, and what life is like. One even bought me another beer.
This was one of those visits I'll always remember positively. The Chamberlain is the new name for what used to be something else. So if you haven't tried the new place under the new name, I recommend you stop by. read more