421 Parnell Road,
Parnell
Auckland,


(09) 373 3328

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3 out of 5

Across the last few years the stylish spot on the corner of Parnell Rd and Parnell Rise has gone from cigars to pianos. Originally it was a cigar bar called Cuba, but the anti-smoking legislation put paid to any late night reminiscing of old Havana and Hemingway. The bar rose again as Rise, a perfectly fine bar with good cocktails, but still lacking a discernable point of difference in Parnell's busy night time scene. Now a couple of grand pianos are arrayed inside the newly opened Ivory Lounge, and just maybe this oft-changing space will finally be successful.

The sign outside says "Duelling Pianos", and from Thursday to Saturday from 8.30 12.30, two pianists play the best of retro hits; retro meaning tunes from the Eagles to Billy Joel, and a few more contemporary melodies. One of the pianists is actually a Billy Joel impersonator who is popular in Australia and New Zealand, so the emphasis is on sing-along stuff everyone knows the words to. Think of the playlist as the late night love child of Lime Bar and Solid Gold FM.

Decor wise the Ivory Lounge still wears its previous garb of red brocade wallpaper, leather sofas, and a toasty open fire that's essential on a cold Auckland night. Monteiths on tap, and Amstel, Sol and Budvar in the chiller, resurrects Rise's beer selection, and the diverse wine list has a few local goodies from Waiheke Island and Matakana. Cockatils largely stay classic with Cosmopolitans and Martinis, but a Wild Berry Cosmo does cool things with Absolut Kurant and Chambord. A stellar selection of single malts should get you in the mood for melancholy jazz standards, and gourmet pizzas do the deed if you want to stay for "just one more song."

The Ivory Lounge's two grand pianos are facing each other, and surrounded by compact tables and chairs it's easy to get up close and personal with the performers. You can shout out requests, and if you really like the entertainment drop a few gold coins or notes in the tip jar to join a few rogue American dollars. It may still look like Rise and Cuba, (including the handy smoking alcove that opens onto Parnell Rise), but the reborn Ivory Lounge promises to be loads of fun singing along to everyone's favourite guilty pleasures.

Now let's just hope the government doesn't ban playing the piano.