Best Industry
Best Auckland Christmas party kick-ons
01/11/2024
There’s that moment at every office Christmas party. Mumbles that the bar tab has maxed out. Friends sounding out whether they’re ‘calling it’ or not. Before long, the after-party contingent has quietly assembled.
However, while there may be a collective eagerness to keep festivities going once the house lights come up, individual opinions on where to ‘kick on’ can throw a spanner in the works.
So we’ve played the role of pre-emptive peace-keeper and selected five classy, quirky and vibrant venues in central Tāmaki Makaurau that will suit a range of after-party tastes.
We’ve covered everything from sophisticated snugs for nursing gorgeous cocktails and digestifs to Auckland’s wilder and louder after-dark hideaways - each guaranteed to keep the spirits up until the wee hours.
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It's perfect for date night with a romantic but moody vibe, also great for gatherings with friendsYou need to try their take on an espresso martini with raspberry and cacaoLook out for marinated duck spring rolls and the signature Kao Leng MianThe Nightcar
Auckland CBD, Auckland, North IslandOozing with class, rev up the after-party vibes with a trip on the Nightcar. Hidden away underground just up from Britomart Place, this is your vehicle to a fancy and stylish kick-on thanks to its enormous cocktail, wine and whiskey menu, elegant and roomy booths and soft neon lighting. The Nightcar has a limit on passengers, however, so you would be wise to book your group’s ticket to ride online ahead of time.
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Queens Rooftop & Wineshop
Auckland CBD, Auckland, North IslandOne of Auckland’s many charms is its views - as long as you can find some elevation. You’ll find just that - and one of the city’s finest bars - 21 floors up at Commercial Bay. Enter through the establishment’s ground-level Wineshop at Te Komititanga and you’ll be whisked up to al fresco, rooftop after-party heaven. Late-night munchies? Order the Seafood Tower for your rōpū and soak up the cocktails with the Bloody Mary oyster shooters and the Cloudy Bay clams.
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Ding Dong Lounge
Auckland CBD, Auckland, North IslandA late-night bar for everyone, this place really does what is says on the tin. So if you’re looking to amp things up with live music and DJs, you won’t find a more fun-loving ding-dong anywhere in the city. You’ll also be part of dive bar history: The Ding Dong Lounge was an iconic New York institution for decades before meeting its demise - but not after opening an Auckland chapter, where the world-famous venue’s spirit lives on.
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Kemuri Hi Fi
Auckland CBD, Auckland, North IslandUnited by their love of music and hospitality, Kiwi best mates JC and Vee opened this premium vinyl, champagne, whiskey and cocktail lounge beneath the flashy high-rises of downtown Auckland. The fruit of their friendship is a bar which is intimate and inviting with a truly exceptional drinks menu. Calling in here feels like visiting these friends in person - and in some ways it is, with JC’s personal whiskey collection available to sample.
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Rocketman
Auckland CBD, Auckland, North IslandThere’s always one. You know who you are. We’re talking about the team member who marches everyone to the nearest karaoke bar once the main festivities wrap up. Of course, feeling peer-pressured to squealing out of tune in a darkened room with your colleagues isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. This is why Rocketman is an ideal kick-on thanks to its cavernous futuristic bar with David Bowie-inspired drinks and prosecco on tap, allowing the nay-singers to have as good a time as the yay-singers in the private karaoke room.
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