It’s that time of the day… the clock strikes 4pm and you catch them slowly loading up the drinks trolley in your peripherals. Never has the office teams chat seen so much activity, with everyone taking bets on what the spread will be to accompany it. While an underwhelming cheeseboard and crackers looks the most likely, this is irrelevant to you with the Friday evening you have lined up.
As the clock strikes 5, or 4:45 if you’re needing a reason to get out of talking to Dave about the new fence he’s putting up this weekend… it’s off to our first venue…
Rain, hail or shine, the beautiful, vibrant Bar Martin tucked in the peaceful Mt Albert/ Pt Chev suburbs is an absolute shoe in for your after work drinks. The intimate, outdoor courtyard presents the perfect summer setting for a glass of Rosé or your favourite IPA. Raining? No worries. The cozy and inclusive interior is complete by attentive and accommodating Owner, Ruben Maurice. Like a fantastic host, you really feel like you’re at your favourite, local dinner party. With great conversation, an extensive range of drinks, also come great eats. If you’re like me, who likes to graze throughout the evening and sampling various menus, the Burrata on sourdough, or Pork meatballs will tie you over perfectly.
If the group chat is looking for somewhere a bit more populated and accessible to kick on. The Morningside/Kingsland area serves up a plethora of options, catering for whichever night you’re after. A personal favourite of mine is Rosanna’s bar and eatery, a beautiful garden bar atmosphere located in the heart of Kingsland. A similar vibe to that of the Bar Martin experience, with a perfect outdoor environment which soaks up the sun in a vegetated setting. What stands out with Rosanna’s is their curated cocktail list designed from their master mixologist to meet your needs. From citrus to sweet, their cocktails accompanied with their signature crispy pork belly sandwich on a warm summers day, is something I could get used to.
Home time already you ask? Of course not. The area has you covered. Just a few hundred meters either side, are plenty of late night bars and hang outs offering live music with a vibrant atmosphere. Whether it’s the retro interior of Portland public house to your left, or the grunge vibes of Flight 605 to your right. Who needs the Las Vegas strip when you’ve got the next best thing, accommodating all festivities and moods so you’ll never be short of options on a Friday night!