Mövenpick Auckland – Hotel Review

Perhaps you’re drawn to the central downtown location of Mövenpick Auckland, a luxury hotel that looms over nearby Britomart. Or maybe you’re desperate to try the Chocolate Hour, the renowned, daily choc-centric buffet that would render even the sweetest of tooths immobilised. No matter the motivation, guests will discover the blissfully comfy stay has much more to offer than just these two talking points. Read on for the full review.

Where is Mövenpick Auckland?

At the absolute tip of downtown on Customs Street East, just across from Queens Wharf and Commercial Bay. It takes about an hour to get there by car from Auckland Airport.

What’s near Mövenpick Auckland?

Saunter down to Britomart for a wander through the shopfronts of local designer outlets and top-notch eateries, just a few hundred metres away. The city’s glorious outer islands, including Rangitoto, Waiheke and Great Barrier, are reachable via Queens Wharf; just another few hundred metres on foot.

Room types

The vibe is smart and sharp in rooms and suites at this Mövenpick outpost, with a monochrome palette softened by a few fun soft furnishings and patterned carpets. Our advice? Enjoy a bath (Superior Rooms and up), with manuka honey-spiked amenities, then slide into a fluffy bathrobe and slippers and call for a “sundae service” – the ice cream offering that delivers a mountain of the good stuff to rooms 24 hours a day. Unlimited ice cream is free for kids while staying at the hotel… we’ll let you decide whether that’s a perk or a pitfall.

Restaurants and bars

Exceptional Asian-inspired cuisine lands alongside very New Zealand produce (and very-Auckland views) at Boda, on the hotel’s highest floor. Seafood is significantly spotlighted, from slipper lobster to freshly shucked oysters, as well as some impressive locally sourced meats such as braised pork ribs with Sichuan orange and lamb shoulder with Kawakawa chimichurri. Paired with some expertly crafted cocktails from attached Boda Bar, it’s a stellar spot to take in a glimpse of the harbour.

Travel for work

A few little pockets of the hotel are very work friendly. Rooms, no matter the type, have full-sized work spaces as well as free wi-fi. There’s also a small and secluded library space on level seven which makes for the ideal breakout space if you want to dial down the distraction.

Gym

The hotel’s fitness centre, on level eight, offers something a little unique. It’s of the “virtual” kind, with classes covering yoga, HIIT and Pilates streamable through the huge-screen TV. Otherwise, expect the standard gym inclusions – treadmills, free weights, floor space.

What you need to know

Don’t pretend you don’t know about the hotel’s famous Chocolate Hour. Every afternoon, a selection of chocolate-heavy confectionery is laid out for guests (and non-guests, subject to booking) to eat their fill. Treats include brownies, macarons and masses of melted chocolate for decadent dipping – marshmallows provided, of course.

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