Auckland Gay Guides
Hotels
1 CityLife Auckland | 171 Queen St Auckland | 9-379 9222 | http://www.heritagehotels.co.nz/hotels/citylife-auckland
CityLife, part of the Heritage Hotel brand, caters to business travelers and those who like the amentities offered to business travelers. The rooms and suites are crisp, clean, modern, and the bathrooms are nice and big. Also, the Queen Street location is ideal.
2 Mollies | 6 Tweed St | 9-376 3489 | http://www.mollies.co.nz/
Mollies is a small only seven suites and luxurious boutique inn that seems more like your rich friend's amazing beach house than a hotel. The common areas are super comfortable, and the rooms are divine make sure to book one with a water view.
3 Abaco on Jervois | 57-59 Jervois Rd | 9-360 6850 | http://www.abaco.co.nz/
This Ponsonby property has studios and apartments that are great for having a more private, personal space than a hotel or B&B. They're simple but nice, and it has free wifi, free parking, Sky TV, and a quiet location.
4 Bella's Bed & Breakfast | 33 England St | 9-378 8819 | http://www.bellasbedandbreakfast.co.nz/
This small B&B is nothing less than exquisite modern design meets the Victorian bones of this house, with slavish attention to detail and a common area you'll never want to leave. Book the City Lights room for an outdoor space and fantastic views. Full breakfast included.
5 Metropolis | 1 Courthouse Ln | 9-300 8800 | http://www.metropolisresidences.com/
Metrpolis is a high-rise residence, which is like having your own apartment in Auckland but with housekeeping, a great gym, and all the amenities of a hotel. And if security while traveling is a concern for you, this is your place they take residents' security very seriously.
6 Quest Ponsonby | 68 Ponsonby Rd | 9-360 4240 | http://www.questapartments.co.nz/Accommodation/140/new_zealand/auckland_suburbs/quest_ponsonby/welcome.aspx
Another serviced apartment complex, Quest Ponsonby is walking distance of the K Road gayborhood, but is on a quiet street so you'll feel like you're coming home at the end of a long and fruitful evening. And because it only has 38 apartments, you'll receive a bit more personal service than at the Metropolis.
7 Ponsonby House | 8 Douglas St | 9-361 1368 | http://www.thebedandbreakfast.co.nz/
Ponsonby House is a boutique B&B. The rooms can stray a little into the fussy category, but they're comfortable, the en suite bathrooms are sleek and modern, and the location can't be beat. The charming front porch is a great spot to spend some time with a good book before heading out.
8 Ascot Parnell Boutique Bed & Breakfast | 32 St Stephens Ave | 9-309 9012 | http://www.ascotparnell.com/
Ascot Parnell is walking distance from Hobson Bay, and has cute, spacious rooms and a nice personal touch they'll even pick you up from the airport. It's not quite as design-y as the other B&Bs on our list, but it's a solid choice if you want to get away from the gayborhood.
9 Neil & Mike's Place | 40 Baildon Road | 9 376 8599 | http://www.neilandmike.co.nz/homestay.htm
Neil and Mike are the gay couple who run this friendly B&B, and welcome visitors with winter discounts for lengthier stays and will even make an evening meal for you upon request. The rooms are nice, their garden is adorable, and Neil and Mike make their own pickles, chutneys and marmalade. Fabulous.
10 23 Hepburn | 23 hepburn St | 21 633 472 | http://www.23hepburn.co.nz/
Each of the three rooms at 23 Hepburn is a study in shades of white and cream, with a few accents in sublime colors. Their beds are ridiculously comfortable, and the original details of this Victorian home are proudly highlighted. A true Ponsonby gem.
Bars
1 Family Bar | 270 Karangahape Rd | 9-309 0213 | http://familybar.co.nz/
Family can seem more like a bar when it's karaoke night or there's a drag show on; more like a blub when they have a guest DJ or there's a theme party. But it's worth it go at some point every night you're in town, because sooner or later, every gay in Auckland passes through its doors. Go after 10pm for the most action.
2 Caluzzi Bar & Cabaret | 461 Karangahape Rd | 9-357 0778 | http://www.caluzzi.co.nz/
Hands-down the best drag show in town, Caluzzi brings in a mixed homo\hetero crowd that watch The Girls strut their stuff. They have a full dinner menu, too, so you can enjoy a meal while you check out the antics at this raucous evening of fun.
3 Switch Bar | 309 Karangahape Road | 021 942 318 | http://www.yelp.co.nz/biz/switch-bar-auckland
Switch Bar is a K-Road joint that is a go-to for all sorts of events, so if you're looking for just your everyday bar, check the schedule. But tit's worth it to stop in, as the recent renovations have brought the crowds back in full effect.
4 Lolabar | 212 Ponsonby Rd | 9-360 0396 | http://www.lolabar.co.nz/ (doesn't work)
This is an upscale cocktail bar, so come dressed accordingly and get your flirt on with swanky gays drinking swanky drinks and getting frisky as the night goes on. Watch your intake, though, lest you get down with the random stripper pole in the middle of the bar.
5 Urge Bar | 490 Karangahape Rd | 9-307 2155 | http://www.urgebar.co.nz/
This wildly popular bear bar has leather nights and underwear nights sprinkled among quiz nights and happy hour specials on their agenda. Paul and Alan, the couple that runs Urge, are sweetiepies, so make sure to say WOOF if you bump into them!
6 Eagle Bar | 259 Karangahape Rd | 9-309 4979 | https://www.facebook.com/The.Eagle.Bar
Eagle bar is a super-fun down-home gay bar that has its fair share of regulars who bring the fun to theme nights. Make friends, get silly, and keep coming back until you're a regular, too! Good happy hour specials.
7 The Golden Dawn | 134 Ponsonby Rd | 9-376 9929 | http://www.goldendawn.co.nz/
While Golden Dawn does have a good enough menu to warrant an entry into our restaurant listings, later on in the night it's a legit bar with guest DJs, cool concert afterparties, and even a jazz night on Sundays. It can get a bit messy late at night sometimes, but it's a good choice for a chill night out in the gayborhood.
8 Kamo | 382 Karangahape Rd | 9-377 2313 | http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/kamo-restaurant-bar
Kamo is another restaurant that turns into a bar at night. Its outdoor seating on K Road in the gayborhood makes it a prime spot for checking out the local talent that's cruising on by. Karaoke nights are a popular draw.
9 Saloon | 280 Karangahape Rd | 9-309 0213 | no website
Saloon is only open until 10pm during the week, so if you want some actual action than weekends are where it's at. It's a great dive bar that everyone goes to when they more rowdy places are packed, so it's got a we're all in this together vibe that makes for some fun antics.
10 Everybody's | 44 Queen St | 9-929 2702 | http://everybodys.co.nz/
Everybody's bills itself as a casual restaurant with a Japanese menu, but make no mistake about it drinks are the star here, and its massive space with a hint of seating definitely lends itself more to a bar scene than a place where you go for dinner. Sublime scene here, lots of power gays being fabulous. A truly wonderful space.
Clubs
1 Lateshift | 25 Dundonald St | no number | http://www.lateshift.co.nz/index.html
The front room at Lateshift is a definite pool bar with a bar menu, but don't let that fool you. They've got a maze, a playroom with a sex sling, the Pump Room in case you have some kind of action movie setting fetish, and other interestingly designed cabins and rooms to get your fuck, fist orfetish on. Sundays are nude.
2 Salvation | http://www.salvationparty.co.nz/Default.aspx
Salvation fairly infrequent parties are roving, so sign up on their website to get info about their next one whenever you're in town. You're guaranteed a good time, because everyone looks forward to them and there's always a huge turnout. And they do it up right, from laser light shows to excellent DJ guests to hot themes that will get your juices flowing.
3 The Basement | 12 Canada Street | 9-302 2250 | http://basementnz.com/
The Basement is a sex shop with a cruise club attached to it. Plenty of porn films, obviously, plus a cruise hallway, private cabins with beds, a dungeon playroom, glory holes, sex sling, and full shower facilities for cleaning up before heading back out. They also have snacks and drinks.
Saunas
1 Wingate Club Bathhouse | 76 Wingate Street | 9-828 0910 | http://www.wingateclub.co.nz/
The Wingate is a nice big compound that has plenty of areas for canoodling, as well as great actual sauna and spa facilities. The outdoor pool is a big draw when the weather's nice and it's heated! Note that a fire in May 2013 has closed the bathhouse temporarily; stay tuned for news of its reopening, scheduled for July 2013.
2 Centurian Sauna | 18 Beresford Square | 9-377 5571 | http://www.centuriansauna.co.nz/
There are 14 private cabins here, so there's always room for some private time. There are also extensive cruising areas as well as a video area and buck-a-minute massages. Free lube, condoms, tea and coffee are on offer to patrons. Weekends feature late-night discounts.
Restaurants
1 Kamo | 382 Karangahape Rd | 9-377 2313 | http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/kamo-restaurant-bar
Kamo is one of the joints that are in both the bar and restaurant category, but don't discount it for either! The eats are good here, definitely better than they should be, so don't be shy about tucking into a dish here. Great to go to with friends and stick around for the bar scene later.
2 SPQR | 150 Ponsonby Rd | 9-360 1710 | http://www.spqrnz.co.nz/
SPQR Senatus Populusque Romanus ("The Senate and the Roman People"), the motto of Rome sets the tone for this Italian restaurant that is ground zero for the gay scene on Ponsonby Road. And the food is amazing try the pumpkin ravioli, or share the tasting plates with friends.
3 Clooney | 33 Sale St | 9-358 1702 | http://www.clooney.co.nz/
Clooney is not cheap, but you get what you pay for exquisite food, exquisite setting, and a mostly gay crowd that worships the food placed in front of them. Splurge on the omnivore tasting menu for a truly spectacular meal.
4 The Fridge | 507 New North Rd | 9-845 5321 | https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fridge-Cafe/126733667364542
Super gay, super cheap, super delicious and super fun! Stop by anytime for good eats that you choose from the display, and chow down while you check out the scene.
5 Garnet Station | 85 Garnet Rd | 9-360 3397 | http://www.garnetstation.com/Home.html
Did you know that New Zealanders are really good at coffee? Llike, really good. And Garnet Station is a definite stop on the espresso trail. They also have wonderful casual eats, from muffins to tarts, and chill out with a coffee for as long as you please.
6 Bambina Cafe | 268 Ponsonby Rd | 9-360 4000 | http://www.menumania.co.nz/restaurants/bambina-cafe
Amazing breakfasts, yummy lunches and a cool crowd makes this award-winning cafe a frequent favorite on Ponsonby Road. Their coffee makes even the snobbiest barista swoon.
7 Coco's Cantina | 376 Karangahape Rd | 9-300 7582 | http://cocoscantina.co.nz/
Coco's is a K Road go-to spot for solid grub Italian-style. Their polenta fries are the crack of side dishes, and the pork belly is so satisfying. A good option when SPQR is simply not in the budget.
8 The Golden Dawn | 134 Ponsonby Rd | 9-376 9929 | http://www.goldendawn.co.nz/
Yes, this is mostly a bar, but their food menu is amazing. If you're here with friends, get a bunch of dishes to share and taste as much of the menu as possible. More than one patron has made a full meal out of the figs, Welsh rarebit, prawn buns, terrine... we could go on and on.
9 Chapel Bistro | 147 Ponsonby Road | 9-360 4528 | http://www.chapel.co.nz/
Chapel has a mixed homo/hetero crowd that yums up the well-priced menu of truly eclectic foods for every taste from pizza to corned beef sliders to tortillas to calamari. It's good if you're down for some well-cooked, regular food.
10 Cafe Cezanne | 296 Ponsonby Road | 9-376 3338 | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cafe-Cezanne/131713830236077
Head here for breakfast and come away satisfied for the day or for an after-club chow-down before heading home to pass out. Save room for some homemade pie! You can also stop in for coffee and a muffin to go.
Businesses & Organizations
1 Grinder | 348 Karangahape Road | 9-307 9191 | no website
Formerly The Den, the back room of this sex shop is a cruising spot. It's pretty hard core there's not really a lot to do there other than suck and fuck, and it can get a bit grimy. But if you're up for a naughty time, this place is as good as any.
2 Big Gay Out | http://www.getiton.co.nz/big-gay-out/
Different from Pride, this gay festival is one big party that's in Coyle Park each year. There are vendors, food tents, bands and DJs, and plenty of hot bodies grooving out.
3 Erox Cinema | 474 Karangahape Road | 9-307-6882 | http://www.eroxadult.co.nz/ (their online adult store website)
This adult store has branched out to a movie house that has super-comfortable viewing areas as well as a ton of action from guys who are there to get it on. There are four cabins for prviate viewing and you can interact with patrons in the other cabins, but it's up to you with glory hole-type openings that can be opened or closed.
4 Exclusive Adult Shop | 460 Karangahape Road | 9-373 4973 | no website
There are no private areas in their movie house, which shows straight and gay porn in separate rooms. So all the action goes on in the open, so to speak, and frequently turns into group scenes that are hotter than anything you see on the screen in front of you.
Gay and Gay Friendly Barcelona Hotels Hotel Front Maritím | Passeig García i Faria, 69-71 | 933 03 44 40 | http://www.hotelfrontmaritim.com/en/hotel-front-maritim/ This hotel is popular with the Circuit Party crowd, and is across the street from the gayest beach, and they have a great gym, and some sea view rooms have balconies. Beach bums, book accordingly!
