Hotel DeBrett, Auckland

• You'll stay right in the middle of the action in Auckland's CBD, surrounded by restaurants, bars, and boutiques and within easy strolling distance of Britomart and Viaduct Harbour.
• Rooms and suites blend Art Deco and midcentury design influences and include thoughtful extras like velvet bathrobes, Tivoli radios, minibars stocked with local New Zealand treats, and tea and coffee trays with fresh milk replenished daily.
•  Take your pick between two on-site drinking holes (grab a sidewalk table at Cornerbar for the best people-watching) or snack on sharing-style small plates at the hotel restaurant.
• A 1920s-inspired high tea is served in the soaring central atrium on Sundays (make sure to book ahead to guarantee a seating).

• The downstairs bars can get busy with locals; it adds to the hotel's buzzy vibe but won't suit travelers looking for a quieter city sanctuary.
• There's no fitness center on-site, but guests have access to a nearby gym.

Authenticity

This historic, Art Deco-style hotel underwent a colorful rebirth in 2009, when it was bought by a local husband-and-wife duo and infused with plenty of personal style and distinctive Kiwi character (think geometric stained glass, cool midcentury furniture, and striped wool carpets inspired by handmade knitwear). It's a relaxed but buzzy boutique stay, with a popular ground-floor bar that draws a steady stream of locals and a soaring central atrium that hosts the hotel restaurant beneath a collection of sculptural pieces by local artists.

Location

You'll stay on the corner of High Street, a narrow laneway that forms one of the CBD's newest, trendiest precincts. Fashion boutiques, bookshops, and bars are your immediate neighbors; the lively Britomart precinct is just a 5-minute stroll north, and Viaduct Harbor and the Sky Tower are reachable in 10 minutes (though this is Auckland, so be prepared for some hills). There's no on-site parking, but the hotel offers valet parking for an additional charge, and they'll help you find paid self-parking nearby. 

Rooms & Bathrooms

The 25 air-conditioned rooms continue the colorful theme with striped carpets, velvet headboards, and glossy modular furniture. King beds are topped with goose-down duvets, bedside tables sport Tivoli radios, and black-tiled bathrooms include underfloor heating, deep soaking tubs, rainfall showers, and velvet bathrobes. All rooms face either the street or the interior atrium; options range from compact Classics to large Suites with separate seating areas (we're partial to the duplex-style Loft Suite with its sinuous spiral staircase). Two accessible units are available, and all floors are reached by elevator. 

Amenities

The on-site restaurant is run by longtime Auckland restaurateurs, and its well-executed menu of locally sourced small plates is a cut above the usual hotel fare. Breakfast is served in the same atrium dining area (expect options like housemade granola, chia pudding, and shakshuka), and you can take your pick between two on-site bars. Art Deco-inspired Housebar is a swanky spot for quaffing craft cocktails, while the more casual Cornerbar draws locals with its rotating selection of Kiwi craft beers and boutique wines. 

Family-Friendliness

Families are welcome at Hotel DeBrett, but the cosmopolitan vibe and lack of room options make it a better fit for couples and single travelers.