Latest from Bar Reviews

Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.

Bar/fly: Fun in Berlin

Poor but sexy - you can't argue with Berlin's unofficial slogan. Although it doesn't possess the wealth of other German cities, it has sultry charms.

Bar/fly: Greek Islands

This feels like a joke in the making but there we were, a Kiwi, an Australian, an American and a Pom standing round a remote cafe on the Greek island of Kos.

Pub spy: Banque, Remuera

I copped a bit of flak for my description of New Lynn the other week, so just to show that I am an equal-opportunities loudmouth, can I point out that I loathe going to Remuera in a way that makes my opinion of New Lynn appear positively glowing.

Pub spy: Black Salt, New Lynn

I hate driving to New Lynn. There's something depressing about the endless roadworks and the strange feeling that, once you've arrived there, you've died and gone to strip-mall hell.

Pub spy: Brother Beer, Auckland CBD

I honestly didn't know this place existed until about four months ago, which shows how far under the radar Brothers Beer has flown. So when a friend suggested meeting for a beer we settled on this place.

Pub spy: Citizen Park, Kingsland

I didn't know this was here, to be honest. Usually, when I come out of Kingsland station, I tend to turn left out of habit, since that is where the bars and restaurants mostly are, but someone suggested we meet here and so we did.

Pub spy: My Bar, Auckland CBD

There I was, minding my own business at a rather lovely wine tasting at Vivace on High St, when my wandering eye roved out the window and caught sight of a tiny bar in a little lane opposite.

Pub spy: The Golden Dawn, Ponsonby

It says it is situated "at the unholy crossroads of Ponsonby and Richmond Rd" and takes pains to distance itself from the Greek neo-Nazi party of the same name.

Review: Eichardt's Tapas Bar, Queenstown

There's something very "Downunder" about the service in Queenstown. Waiters, bartenders, receptionists and shopkeepers take that relaxed, "she'll be right", Kiwi attitude to a new high.