Kelly Meharg spends a couple of nights at the Sofitel Auckland – here’s her review!
What’s the vibe of Sofitel Auckland?
Five star, baby – with a touch of French je ne sais quoi. Sofitel was one of Auckland’s first truly fancy hotels, built in 2012, but has faced some stiff competition in the past few years witsh the likes of Park Hyatt, Hotel Britomart and the Intercontinental.
It had a zoush in 2020 and features a restaurant, bar and a highly-praised spa, with 84 rooms and a club lounge. So why would you choose it? Let’s get into it.
Why would you stay at Sofitel Auckland?
As I’ve written about previously, my husband and I absolutely froth a hotel stay – it’s one of our favourite things to do together, even if it’s in our own city because it gives us a night away from real life – no admin, no family obligations, no sneaky ‘I’ll just do an hour or so of work!’ on a Saturday afternoon. It’s quality time, and we make the most of it by treating ourselves either to a nice dinner, or bring a good bottle of wine, order some room service and play a board game (not a euphemism, we really do love board games).
So we have a good basis for what hotels are good for what – so why stay at the Sofitel Auckland?
First, its location is choice, right in the middle of Auckland’s Wynyard Quarter. It’s far enough away from the CBD that it’s quiet, but it’s still super-easy to walk places, and personally I’ll always choose being close to the water.
If you’re lucky enough to have a room with a view, you have a stunning lookout over the water and marina, and if you’re even more lucky, a balcony to enjoy it from. Still, if you’re in an inward-facing room like we were, you look over an atrium of sorts with a water feature, so it’s still pleasant, but not wholly private.
The lobby is GORGEOUS – as soon as you walk in, you feel special and boujee, and it’s a fab way to start a stay.
Sofitel is part of the Accor group, so if you’re a hotel points kind of person and you have an Accor account, it’s a reliable choice. Sofitels are known for their soft, luxe French-inspired vibes that are consistent across the world. Basically, you know what you’re in for!
What are the rooms like?
They’re nice – but they are a little dated. I went back through a few reviews back in 2020 when the aforementioned zoush happened, and even then the rooms weren’t brought up to par with the shiny, glossy lobby, so it is a little bit of a tale of two cities here. However, they are still lovely – quite large, super-comfy beds, fab bath. If you don’t mind soft lighting and wood panelling, you’re onto a winner.
If you can, try and get a room with a view, I reckon it’d be worth it.
What about food and drink?
This is where we get serious. Hotel restaurants can be overlooked sometimes when one is talking about a city’s foodie offering, and I fear this has happened with the Sofitel’s resident restaurant, La Maree. It is SO GOOD. Like, jaw-droppingly good. We had the best venison of our lives, the duck was insane and my pasta was gorgeous. It’s French fusion done so well, with lovely service and perfectly paired drinks – we asked for a wine recommendation and it did not disappoint.
[My husband read this and asked me to specifically mention the breakfast – “the value and quality of the breakfast was awesome, getting a full buffet and also an a-la-carte option is amazing for the price…. top notch in my books.”] Better living, everybody?
Moving swiftly onto the bar, Grape and Olive – we indulged in few post-dinner cocktails and these were absolutely perfect. My martini(s) were expertly mixed, as were my husband’s negronis, and we spent a pleasant hour or two people watching before retiring to bed – which was, of course, conveniently upstairs.
But when it comes to room service, here’s my only negative. The next night we tried to order a room service burger after going out to a work event – but it was almost $60. SIXTY DOLLARS FOR A BURGER!? We, of course, got UberEats. It was such a wild number we thought we were hallucinating for a second – especially because comparatively, the pricing at the restaurant and for breakfast was fine. Typo, perhaps?
Is there anything fancy about it?
Oh yes – namely, the spa. My beauty editor pals swear by Sofitel Spa as one of the best in the city, with amenities by Biologique Recherche, Elemis and Nellie Tier. I had a DREAMY massage that ticked all the boxes, and there’s even a salt water indoor pool, sauna and jacuzzi for chilling out before and after. Oh, and a gym, apparently. I wouldn’t know. (You can head to the spa if you’re not staying at the hotel, too – great for a Xmas pressie?).
This is a… relaxed face.
Also worth a mention, the common areas of the hotel are gorgeous – as is the club rooms (like a Koru lounge, but in a hotel). I didn’t experience this, but I did stick my head around the corner when the doors opened and it looked nice.
There’s also a café outside by the water, French Press, which is a stunning wee nook to chill out in on a nice day for a coffee and pastry.
Final thoughts:
If you’re after a stay in Auckland that feels polished and special, Sofitel Auckland is a vibe. It has that slight European charm, awesome service – the staff are lovely – and especially if you have room with water views, you’ll be feeling like a million bucks. It’s not a budget option – and I’ll tell you now, room service is not a vibe – but it is a solid luxury choice for a romantic getaway or a special trip (or when you just need to be taken care of a little!).