371 Manukau Road,
Epsom
Auckland,
(09) 630 9685
The ViewAuckland Review
3 out of 5
Is there anywhere else in Auckland with fewer bars than Epsom?
The strip around the intersection of Manukau Road and Greenlane Road has the excellent Lido arthouse cinema, a couple of terrific Asian eateries—the cosy KK's Malaysian Restaurant and Sake Bar Nippon—but a profound lack of drinking establishments.
And now that the Mad Dogs and Englishmen pub in the old trambarn building has closed down, your only opportunity for a tipple before or after the movies or Malaysian food is Gee Gee's. Otherwise you'll need to set a thirsty course for Mt Eden or Newmarket.
With its horsey name, Gee Gee's is popular with the racing set lured from the trots at Alexandra Park just across the road. With such a captive audience and no real competition, Gee Gee's could probably get away with being pretty average, but it's actually pretty good.
On a busy Saturday night the attached eatery is full, but the bar is nicely self-contained and most people are just there for a drink before moving on to the movies or another nearby restaurant.
The Warriors first game of the season in playing on a big screen TV with the sound down—expect to hear the commentary only when it's a big All Blacks game—so various conversations overlap with references to house prices, the best way to use Airpoints, and the relative benefits of the NCEA and Cambridge Examinations.
It's definitely buzzy and cosmopolitan, but just a tad genteel for my liking. But this is Epsom after all.
What's more to my liking is the excellent array of bottled beers with up to 15 different countries represented, including the hard-to-find Cobra lager from India.
Even the
Kiwi selection is wider than normal and includes Limburg's tasty witbier from the Hawke’s Bay.
Tonight wine is more popular, even with some older blokes wearing polo shirts, but with such a big wine list you might take a while making a decision. Befitting its possie near Alexandra Park, there's a good range of bubbles on offer and really big winners can even celebrate with a bottle of vintage Krug for $300.
Gee Gee's certainly isn't a bar to linger in, but if you're meeting friends at the Lido or kicking on to some of Auckland's best Asian food at KK's or Sake Bar Nippon, its wide range of drinks is a sure bet.
Gee Gees has been reviewed by 1 users