Cordis Auckland – Hotel Review

With beautifully finished rooms, New Zealand’s finest homegrown bar and a decadent buffet for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Cordis Auckland’s new Pinnacle Tower is the retreat you’ve been waiting for.

It’s special when a hotel with 640 guestrooms feels like home and Cordis Auckland’s muted tones and textured furnishings create a relaxed and cosy atmosphere. Named after the Latin word for “heart”, this hotel goes above and beyond its aim to welcome you into the heart of Auckland. Think exquisitely appointed rooms, sampling the best NZ drops at the stellar hotel bar Our Land is Alive and the brilliant staff who make every “Kia ora!” feel like a warm family greeting.

Where is Cordis Auckland?

Nestled in uptown Tāmaki Makaurau (the Maori name for the city), the hotel is just around the corner from bustling Karangahape Road and is now home to the glistening Pinnacle Tower, its new 17-floor addition. Cordis Auckland is only 20 minutes down the highway from Auckland Airport.

What’s near Cordis Auckland?

Cordis Auckland is a 25 -minute walk (or a complimentary hotel shuttle ride) away from the fashion stores on Customs Street and a 20 -minute walk from the sparkling Sky Tower. Ponsonby’s high-street shopping and standout bars are all a 35 -minute walk away.

Room types

The 244 rooms in the Pinnacle Tower (the Cordis Auckland complex offers 640 rooms in total) are super-sleek and oh-so-luxurious – with plenty of space to move around in. Each room is framed by expansive windows, which offer stunning vistas of Auckland city. Soak up the view and watch the clouds from your Cordis Dream bed (the front desk is regularly asked by guests how they can order one to take home). Each room features a marble bathroom.

The Pinnacle Tower also features interconnecting rooms for families and larger groups and there is the option for a room with a kitchenette if desired. The Tower also has a private entrance, separate from the rest of the Cordis complex, ensuring privacy, whether you are a VIP or just want to feel like one.

Restaurants and bars

Eight, named for the eight delicious cuisines it serves, is more than your average buffet. Guests are invited to interact with the knowledgeable chefs at the food stations, which include local seafood, sushi and sashimi, an American-style grill, Italian classics, an Indian kitchen, Chinese specialties and a chocolate fountain. Your toughest decision will be choosing which cuisine to focus on. Eight is open for lunch and dinner on Wednesday to Sunday and for breakfast daily. Try the chocolate naan bread at the Indian kitchen – you’ll thank us.

Don’t miss the Our Land is Alive bar. A true passion project, every single wine, beer, spirit and even bitters served here are from the Land of the Long White Cloud. The pick of them is The Remarkables, a fruity cocktail (cherry brandy, blueberry bitters and gin) expertly mixed by the bar staff – enjoy it indoors or in the leafy courtyard. Open from 12pm until late, Wednesday to Sunday.

Sustainability

An EarthCheck Masters accredited hotel, the Cordis Auckland phased out most single-use plastic and provides refill stations for guests to use their own water bottles. One of the greatest sustainability efforts undertaken by the hotel is its beehive, which sits on the second floor of the existing hotel. You can enjoy the honey from these hives at the hotel, with these busy bees producing up to 45 kilograms of liquid gold every year.

Travel for work

Super -fast wi-fi is available in all suites and every room at the Cordis Auckland. The hotel has recently added two new conference spaces, bringing their total offering to 18. Book an Executive room or suite and you’ll have access to the Club Lounge, which is on the 14th floor and open from 7am to 8pm daily.

Spa and gym

After a dose of R’n’R? Look no further than the Chuan Spa. Located on the third floor of the original Cordis building, the day spa is steeped in Traditional Chinese Medicine, embracing the Five Elements Theory – the relationship between fire, wood, earth, water and metal – in all its treatments. Spa guests can also use the tri -bathing facilities, including a herbal steam room, sauna and ice experience.

For those wanting to hit the gym, the Chuan Health Club is open 24/7 and includes a wide variety of fitness equipment and weights. If you’re after a dip, the hotel’s beautiful outdoor pool is heated to a very comfortable 27 degrees, 365 days a year.

What you need to know

Waiting for you on every floor of the Pinnacle Tower are striking lightbox installations by artist Jae Hoon Lee, which ascend from the roots of trees on the lowest level to blue skies on floor 17. If you’re staying on a Friday or Sunday afternoon, join the hotel’s art tour – it starts at 11am Friday and 4pm Sunday in the lobby.

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