9 bars worth the trip across New Zealand, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All New Zealand guides.

Caretaker ★ 4.7 · Auckland

britomart · Downstairs, 40 Customs Street East, Britomart, Auckland CBD 1010

Caretaker is a basement cocktail room beneath 40 Customs Street East in Britomart, Auckland. No drinks menu; bartenders mix to mood. Walk-in or text ahead.

Sly ★ 4.5 · Auckland

karangahape-road · 354A Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD 1010

Sly is a hidden K Road speakeasy at 354A Karangahape Road in Auckland with cocktails, hot dogs and a tight 20-seat room behind an unmarked door.

Bar Albert ★ 4.4 · Auckland

auckland-cbd · 13 Wyndham Street, Auckland CBD 1010

Bar Albert sits 38 floors above Wyndham Street in Auckland CBD with rooftop city views. Cocktails over the harbour and Sky Tower line of sight.

The Churchill ★ 4.4 · Auckland

auckland-cbd · 110 Mayoral Drive, Auckland CBD 1010

The Churchill is a rooftop gin bar at 110 Mayoral Drive in Auckland CBD. A long gin list, modern snacks and a quieter alternative to the Britomart strip.

Clipper ★ 4.3 · Auckland

ponsonby · 175 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011

Clipper at 175 Ponsonby Road in Auckland is a small-room cocktail bar on the Ponsonby strip. Bright bold cocktails, late-night DJ rotations on weekends.

Palmer ★ 4.3 · Auckland

auckland-cbd · 1 Albert Street, Auckland CBD 1010

Palmer at 1 Albert Street is a rooftop cocktail bar and restaurant in Auckland CBD. Polished room, harbour views, the city skyline at sunset.

Atelier ★ 4.2 · Auckland

karangahape-road · 292 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD 1010

Atelier at 292 Karangahape Road is one of the K Road strip's newer cocktail rooms in Auckland. Airy room, after-work cocktails, first-date energy.

GG x Flamingo ★ 4.1 · Auckland

karangahape-road · 271 Karangahape Road, Auckland CBD 1010

GG x Flamingo at 271 Karangahape Road in Auckland is a tropical tiki room on the K Road strip. Tiki cocktails, kitsch decor, late Friday-Saturday hours.

Hoppers Garden Bar ★ 4.0 · Auckland

ponsonby · 134 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011

Hoppers Garden Bar at 134 Ponsonby Road in Auckland is a backyard garden bar with cocktails, beer and the city's most consistent weekend afternoon trade.