Only here for lunch which was delicious with a good menu and food cooked fresh by the taste of it. It's not a fast food joint so don't expect instant food. Good selection of wines too. Well worth a visit.

We had a meal at its restaurant. The service was immensely slow - a growing problem in New Zealand which is a little confusing. The menu was interesting - "walking chicken", for example, meant "free range". Perhaps it was the long wait that made the food, in the end, seem a little bland. I would really like to want to... More

I had one night at The Esplanade hotel in mid April. The hotel is directly across from the Devonport Ferry buildings, which is a short 15 min ferry ride from Auckland’s CBD. A return ticket on the ferry will cost $11NZD. If you are driving, it is approx 45 mins from Auckland airport, or 20 mins from the CBD. There... More

My partner and I spent a night here in March this year. The location is great and the hotel has excellent potential - unfortunately not realised. Rooms are large but cheaply and tackily furnished - think English B&B of the 1950's. This could be a wonderful hotel. Hopefully it will be some day.

Got stuck there one night at the end of a tour that was supposed to go to Auckland. It's either a $50 taxi ride to Auckland or a ferry which stops at 11pm. I'm sure it was once a nice place to stay but it looks old and worn from the outside and inside. The room was ok, except for... More

I have stayed at the Esplanade twice. One time I got a great room with a lounge area and a sea view, the other a small room in the eaves of the building. So choose wisely! The building is old with a lot of character and not modern by any stretch. Floors are freely and doors big and heavy like... More

The menu was well thought out. All ingredients matched well with each other with each course. The entrees were devine and the mains exquisite and large. we ordered duck roasted potatotes and grilled veges to accompany the mains, but the mains were large, so we struggled to get through the vegetables. Every part of the meal tasted devine.

We recently stayed here to prepare for our daughters wedding. Location is perfect and we found the service brilliant. Very friendly staff and nothing was a problem. Picture perfect venue and would definitely recommend to anyone wanting a nice romantic weekend

The location can't be faulted, and if you like old buidlings, this is for you. Everything is lovely, and the delicious cooked breakfast was an especially good surprise. It is a tad expensive, and the rooms don't conform to the usual modern hotel room standard, but the beds are comfortable. Don't try to take too much luggage as the lift... More