Vibe

Lined in heritage bricks with seating options including bistro-style chairs and big shared tables. By day, Imperial Lane is an offshoot of Newmarket’s Scandinavian-style Elske bakery, and after dark it morphs into a tapas and wine bar with occasional weekend DJs.


Service

Smooth and efficient in keeping with Imperial Lane’s cosmopolitan Melbourne-style laneways ambience.


Drinks List

Juices, mineral waters and smoothies from Charlies and San Pellegrino, and a shortish winelist concentrating on smaller, more interesting Kiwi vineyards. Unfortunately the beer list is very pedestrian with a multi-national big brand focus, and no evidence of the many craft beers now available from around the country.


Highlights

Tasty seafood tapas including Paroa Bay oysters with a yuzu dressing ($4), smoked octopus and chorizo ($14), and tuna sashimi ($14).


Most Surprising Dish

The designer Mexican flavours of black beans with a cumin crema, lime onions, and blue corn chips ($10).


The Bottom Line

A confident and cosmopolitan new opening, making the most of a great heritage space, and delivering well-executed international flavours.


A Reason To Return

To sample Imperial Lane’s impressive charcuterie selection including Black Forest ham, Sunka prosciutto, and Spanish salami. $12 to $16 per plate is still a lot cheaper than a flight to Berlin, Brno or Bilbao.

venue information venue map view auckland review user reviews (7)