25 Mt Eden Road,
Mt Eden,
Eden Terrace
Auckland,


(09) 379 5099

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4 out of 5 stars

To quote Springfield’s greatest philosopher, “Mmm… pizza, mmm…beer..”

Looking forward to Homer’s recommended food and beverage match, we’re heading to the Corner Store to take advantage of their tasty alliance with Al Volo just across the road. Order one of Auckland’s best pizzas and eat it with a drink at the cool and compact Corner Store. Sorted. Unfortunately Al Volo is still closed for the summer holidays (‘Doh!’), so we stay for a drink anyway. It’s what Homer would do after all.

If the above intro paints the Corner Store as a sleazy dive like Mo’s in The Simpsons, nothing could be further from the truth. Originally built in 1886, the heritage site actually was a corner store, but since 1995 it’s been a classy little cocktail and wine bar that’s a good balance to Galbraith’s microbrew emporium across the road.

There’s a vaguely Art Deco ambience to the Corner Store with black and white tiles and angular 1930s-influenced art on the walls. A fine array of smoky single malt whiskies stands sentinel behind the bar, and the cocktail list focuses on the classics like Mojitos and Cosmopolitans. Asahi is the only beer on tap, but there’s an international array of other bottled beers available. The wine list plays it closer to home, but includes like Hawke’s Bay Stonecroft which don’t make it into other less independent bars.

Auckland’s enjoying a long weekend, so the bar’s quiter than normal on a Saturday night. Thursday and Friday are usually the big nights, as the Corner Store sometimes assumes the role of house bar for the crews from TV3 and C4 just down the road. Later at night and early in the morning it also becomes a rendezvous point for a few of Auckland’s hospitality industry and kitchen luminaries.

The main bar area is enticingly small, but smoker-friendly outside tables and the plush Storeroom private junction area extend the overall footprint. It all adds up to an intimate conversation-friendly spot early in the evening, with a buzzier ambience kicking off later at night.