Grand Chancellor Auckland review: Central hotel with city views and great location

Ideal for: Long stays or holidaymakers looking for a beautiful and well located place to relax in the city centre.

First impressions: This may be the Goldilocks of hotels. Brand new but with no paint smell or blemishes that need ironing, beautiful but not ostentatious, this new city center hotel is comfortable and convenient, and the staff is simply attentive.

Rooms: The newly opened hotel in central Auckland has 191 rooms across 10 floors. In one of three fast elevators, I pressed the button for the 11th floor and was taken to a King Suite overlooking the harbor (rates currently start at $310 for this room, with more standard rooms starting at $189).

This suite was larger than some of the apartments I’ve stayed in and had panoramic views of the city and harbor that could be enjoyed from the bedroom, separate living room and even the bathroom thanks to the large picture window in the bedroom (fear not couples) . , there are blinds for modesty, and the toilet is tucked away around the corner.) Pulling back two sets of curtains in the bedroom to reveal a view of the entire length of the Sky Tower, I was struck by what a beautiful place it is. will be posted on New Year’s Eve.

Other features include a high-neck king size bed, sophisticated gold-toned decor and a full-size living area with a sofa and second TV. Anticipating an influx of corporate visitors, other notable details are geared towards long stays, such as a huge walk-in closet with plenty of space for unpacking. There’s no minibar temptation here, with a full-size fridge freezer offering some level of self-catering instead. Additional dishes and cutlery would make things easier. The large mugs designed for use with the in-room Nespresso machine do not fit under the machine’s spout hands-free, which can be annoying for time-poor multi-taskers in the morning when every second counts. There was only a bath waiting for me.

Bathroom: I could have spent my entire two nights in the spacious L-shaped bathroom. I tried it by taking three baths over two nights. Accessible from both entrances, the tiled bathroom had a spa-like feel with waffle robes, a wide bench with dual sinks, two large, well-lit mirrors, and a walk-in shower that accommodated both rainfall and handheld showerheads.

In my room, full-size bottles of O&M hair and body products hung on the wall in the shower and near the vanity. Superior rooms have Antipodes amenities. The hotel could also consider installing some devices near the bathtub to avoid the awkward running across the room to the bathtub with folded palms.

Facilities: Wifi was fast and easily accessible. The small but well-equipped gym on the 11th floor has great (and pleasantly distracting) views of St Mary’s Bay. Self parking is available in the St Matthews car park around the corner for $39 per day. Bicycle parking is available on site.

Food and drinks: Arriving for an early dinner at the Forester Bar and Grill on the ground floor of the hotel before meeting friends, I chose one of the 80 seats in the restaurant; there was only one other table of diners and a guest enjoying a quiet drink at the adjacent bar. I decided the best seat in the house was the one facing the floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing this solo eatery to overlook bustling Wellesley Street while I leisurely read the menu, which was clearly designed for a general audience. According to the restaurant, they “focus on the finest cuts of grilled meat and fresh fish sourced from local waters.” I ordered the main course: charcoal-grilled New Zealand Angus Prime beef filet, generously dressed with salsa verde and a smear of rich béarnaise sauce, accompanied by agria fries that were crispy in the best possible way ($49). In a nod to health, I also ordered a plate of broccoli ($9). I had a hard time choosing between the sticky date pudding or the Kahlua coffee tiramisu (both $18) for dessert, but there was no room left for either.

Many of these popular dishes are also available to order through room service, and in the wee hours the restaurant offers a selection of more nutritious items (such as pizza, toasted sandwiches and pasta).

Breakfast is served in the same room from 6:30 to 10:30. That morning, when I managed to get out of my soft bed in time to make it, I had the choice of a free continental breakfast (cereals, fruit, juices, yogurts, mini pastries, toast) or a la carte brunch options. . . The chatty but not intrusive staff informed me that there would be a full buffet the next day when more guests arrived. I appreciated the thoughtfulness about food waste and was more than pleased with the novelty of pint-sized chocolates to dip into my long black, although I suspected that if I had any requests they would have been granted in the blink of an eye. The cafe kiosk in the lobby offers lighter takeout options.

Next door: Whether you’re staying for work or pleasure, everything is within walking distance from the spacious lobby. Step outside, turn left, and just down the next block you’ll find all-day dining and drinking options at City Works Depot: Start your day among Oaklanders with wood-fired bagels at Best Ugly, brunch with Korean dish at Chur. Bay or head a couple blocks further for the perfect espresso at Browns Mill Roastery Allpress.

Five minutes in the other direction to the Elliot St eateries, which are a favorite spot for locals to stop in and fuel up before a show at The Civic, Aotea Center or Auckland Town Hall. Five more will find you in the Art Gallery. The Viaduct, Auckland Waterfront and Ponsonby Road are also within reach. Suffice it to say that you are in a busy part of the city. It is understood that management is counting down the days until the completion of the International Convention Center, located just across the street. In this case, business guests will be able to cross the road to the morning session before the coffee is served.

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For family holidays: The hotel offers both connecting and family rooms, as well as cots for infants. A large display of travel brochures in the lobby will inspire you to take family outings.

Availability: The hotel has nine accessible rooms that feature roll-in and accessible showers, grab bars in toilets, and low peepholes and thermostats. Other available features include Braille in elevators and public restrooms, a step-free lobby with wide aisles, and a lowered lobby counter.

Stability: Full-size, reusable bathroom toiletries feature less fancy single-use plastic. There is a large recycling bin in the living room with special recycling slots to keep Otakiri’s recycled glass bottled water from ending up in a landfill after you’ve used it. Guests staying more than one night are advised to display the provided eco card on the door to avoid cleaning services. In return, the housekeeper will leave a US$10 credit voucher in the room which can be redeemed at a restaurant or café during their stay. .

Contact: grandchancellorhotels.com/hotel-grand-chancellor-auckland or email [email protected].