A wonderful bar at the first floor, at bit difficult to spot the entrance, but once you are there…read moreit's gin heaven. The selection of the gins they have here is rather impressive, including quite a lot that I already know and even more that I don't know. There is a lot of expertise here, so if in doubt, just ask. They are more than willing to help you out. In case you don't like gin, they also have cocktails based on other alcohols.

This place was great when we went in Dec 2018 but we could Lok s not find it last night. I think…read morethey are closed.

You know, there are some places that stand out for various reasons .. don't get me wrong, I have…read moresome nuggets of badness about La Cantina (their drinks barely wet your mouth before they are gone) but overall I have to say it's a lovely place that serves some really good, really authentic food. The decor is cute, almost like a pub in the plain simple seating and tables, but every picture on the wall tells a story and the license plates make it plain that the focus is not a New Zealand one, this is dedicated to the US TexMex flavouring and the surrounds show it. Service was fast and friendly, they were very concerned that we enjoyed the meal and were super quick with food.. now the food .. We started with simple fries and corn chips, the salsa was something that NZ haven't seen much of, it was smooth, no major chunks and chopped fine .. the corn chips were fresh from the fry machine and hot and delicious, crispy and dusted with a seasoning that made it taste even better. The mains were authentic TexMex fajita and "Mama's chicken" .. let's say if my Mama cooked that well I might not have left home at 13 .. (actually I was kicked out .. but that's a story for another review) So a 5 stars for La Cantina, if you like Authentic food .. come here, if you like mass produced soggy stuff, I have a KFC review that might interest you. Ps. Dr Pepper, Cream Sosa and Root beer ...

Nineteen Eighty One is a great local restaurant in Manukau, right opposite the Westfield Shopping…read moreCentre. It's a fairly new establishment in the area, but it's become a regular hangout for a few beers and very good food. You definitely feel the '80's vibe when you're there, and its always nice to see a little appreciation for that era. Their pizzas are delicious, particularly 'Rangi's Hangi' and 'Larry the Lamb'. They do a very nice caesar salad and my favourite main has to be the crispy chicken burger with aioli and melted brie- one of the best restaurant burgers I've had. They've got a good range of ciders and do a few cocktails to quench your thirst. They also serve most of their drinks in 600mL milk bottles, which is a really cool touch. I'd have to say that Nineteen Eighty One is best known for their fortnightly Wednesday quiz nights. The place gets packed and its always a good laugh- there's even a prize for the team that comes second to last.

This was our first visit at 1981. The waitress was very friendly and informed us of the "Specials"…read more I asked if I could non alcoholic version of one of their cocktail's, she said no problem. We had the garlic cob for Entree. For Mains, My wife chose the Steak & Kidney pie with mash. I had the sundried tomato and feta cheese stuffed chicken fillet. My wife said it was the best pie she had ever eaten. I really enjoyed the stuffed chicken too. The decor brought back lots of memories.

On our last day, it was just non-stop rain as we were killing some time before heading to the…read moreairport. We walked nearby our hotel to My Bar, a tiny place with more outdoor tables (although obviously not the best place to sit on a day like that). Heading inside, we were greeted with a cozy place; mood lighting, exposed brick, wood floors, and tiny table nooks along the wall. The bartender was friendly and got us some drinks. They have a full selection of hard drinks, but I was here for the beer. They have six tap handles, all from the larger breweries of the country. I chose a flight of three. We slowly sipped our drinks and listened to the rain. Prices were reasonable, it was definitely worth a few minutes for some drinks!

Great bar! Stopped here one night & sat outside. Relaxed, friendly service; beer was great. Had a…read moreramen dish from a restaurant next door. Liked it so much, went back the next night.

Being from the states and working in Auckland it took several days to find a bar that has a…read morespeakeasy vibe and amazing drinks. The Pineapple Bar is the full package. These guys make the most amazing drinks you've ever had. The whiskey sour is the best I've ever had. Kieran and Dario manned the bar like a US Marine preparing for battle. Turning out drink and drink. If you want a great drink with top notch atmosphere, this is your place. I will make this my regular spot every time I'm in Auckland. I gave it two thumbs up and two feet up because I've drank a few too many:)

Honestly, seven or eight stars. I am an American visiting NZ. My buddy and I were in search of a…read morebar...you know, an actual bar. We went on a quest and our reward was Pineapple on Parnell. I'm wiping tears away as I type, sipping my cocktail. If you have a checklist that defines a proper bar, let this place check all of the boxes for you. The drinks are the absolute best you've ever had. Stop wasting time reading on Yelp and grab an Uber. Your evening is planned. Trust the bartenders (Kieran and Dario) to serve you the best cocktails of your lives. The atmosphere will speak for itself when you walk through the door. This is the exact place you're looking for.

Disappointing Experience:…read more Aren't speakeasies supposed to be hidden or require a secret code? This was just like any regular bar --just located on a lower level. Nothing unique or intriguing about it. Very underwhelming and disappointing.

We saw Caretaker had made the world's best bars list, so we had to check it out when we visited…read moreAuckland. Caretaker is a bar where they don't give you a cocktail list. They ask you what type of cocktail you would like (liquors, flavors, etc.) and use that information to craft a cocktail for you. Because of this, there can be a huge variability in the quality of the drinks you get. When you get a good server, the drinks will be incredible. Our second visit there, we got someone on her first day, and the drink we ordered wasn't great so we left after one drink. Another complaint is that it does take them a while to get drinks out. All of that said, I'm still giving this place 4 stars, because when it's good, it's really good and I think it's spot on the best bars list is mostly deserved. I don't remember the qualities that I gave to get the following drinks, but on my first trip I ended up getting the Gordon's Breakfast and the New Mexico and both of them were amazing.

Great service and always followed up on our needs. Food was amazing and there was a lot of it. Good…read moreatmosphere with the vibe and the Coke bottle was the extra on top. The food at home was still great tasting. Will be visiting again.

This has closed It used to be a great place friday nights…read morefor drinks and pizza. Pitty it closed down

The Cock & Bull is a feel-good place located just beneath the Cinemas in Botany Town Centre. The…read morewooden walls are lined with traditional English decor and you're welcomed with a roaring fire during the colder nights. The staff are a friendly bunch, but don't always bring your food on time. You have to order at the bar, so don't go waiting for service. The food itself is traditionally English too, with your plain, but satisfying fish n chips, beef burger or calamari delicacies. Mainly you go there to enjoy a certain atmosphere ,which changes depending on whether it's a family afternoon or a rowdy weeknight. A pleasant place to dine if you feel like a good, old fashioned pub meal sometimes coupled with live music too!

The Cock & Bull in Botany Downs definitely attracts some very different age groups. On a Friday…read morenight you'll find it full of twenty-somethings attempting to jam out to the live band of the week, but on a Saturday night it may be full of older men have a nice old chinwag during the game. In saying this, its hard to say what the Cock & Bull's target market is, but nevertheless, they seem to be accommodating for a wide age range- and thats a good thing. I've always enjoyed the service at Cock & Bull. Always welcoming, quick and cheerful, and you know your drink is in good hands. Their food is very well done- I tend to lean towards their salads, but they do great wedges, nachos and fries with aioli. Their aptly named Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Aston Villa pizzas are well priced and taste even better! Cock & Bull is a long-standing establishment in Botany Downs and really fits the gastropub mould. If you're looking for somewhere that does its job right in the Botany area, go no further than the Cock & Bull.

You will get scammed!…read more I ordered an absinthe on the rocks, and was told it was $10. I paid and received a clear drink that was clearly vodka. I explained that I wanted absinthe. I apologized and prepared to pay the difference. She said it would be $13, and when I went to pay the difference she said no $13 more because she already made the other drink. I didn't know it was my job to police what she was pouring when I was very sober and clearly stated my order. I was solo and only needed one drink. She didn't even apologize. Great atmosphere, but I won't be back.

If work takes me into the upper Queen St/ K road area, The Eagle Bar has everything I need to…read moreunwind at 6 pm. It's a quirky little bar that flaunts cringe worthy 90's hits out into K rd with reckless disdain. If you don't tap your feet to the music all the way to the bar, you're sure to catch yourself mumbling the chorus of the song. Cheap beer, cozy seats, music video clips to cringe and reminisce and friendly staff. While the bar only offers hot nuts to nibble on, the staff happily offered to collect hot chips from a near-by store if I needed. Eagle Bar caters to groups and, while I have seen fun dress-up parties and stag nights here, you can still converse without shouting (until it gets a bit later in the evening). There is even a piano and a Mona Lisa that adds to this distinctive bar without feeling forced and tacky.