2 Drake Street,
Freemans Bay
Auckland,
1010

(09) 307 3220

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4 out of 5

Set in an iconic 1847 building, The Drake has recently undergone a transformation and the new look seems to be working well.

The interior is warm with big Monteith’s paintings, and black and white maritime photos on the walls, soft lighting and plenty of comfortable seating. The unusual lighting effect underneath the bar makes it an interesting and stylish focal point.

Drinks are reasonably priced at $7.50 for a pint (yes, pint) of Monteiths; and just over $8 for a glass of vino.

The shelving is literally bursting at the seams with single malt whiskey; with over ten choices you’d be hard pressed to find a better place if you fancy a wee dram.

Niceties abound in this place: the bar staff are genuinely friendly; water is provided (and topped up) with or without ordering more drinks; and even the patrons seem like good cats!

As you’d expect from a Monteith’s Bar, there’s tasting notes for each of the six beers on each table, and, should you fancy trying each without getting too carried away, they’ve got a tasting tree—200ml pours of each of the six beers for $15.

Although our visit was early on a Saturday night, I can imagine The Drake doing well with the after-work crowd. It’s definitely a social hub (inside and out), and the few themed nights that the bar has (TGI Friday’s), according to the barman, are very popular affairs.

Food seems to be another noticeable draw card. The gastro-pub approach is becoming increasingly popular in NZ, and with a menu influenced by the Wild Foods Festival, you can see why.

Diners on this particular night didn’t at all seem phased by the increasingly rowdy bunch nearby; a fitting testament to the casual nature and harmonious appeal of this place.

Ticking all the right boxes, The Drake is definitely well worth a visit.