Feeling fancy from the get-go, we pulled up directly outside. Fable Auckland is at the lower end of Queen St, and the fuss-free valet service was a gift during a winter downpour.
Perfect for:
Couples looking for a special, vintage-inspired getaway, business travellers tired of cookie-cutter hotels, and families enjoying a staycation or in need of a premium location in the heart of Auckland.
The hotel, previously The Hotel Grand Windsor, was built in 1928 and once functioned as a tearoom, soda fountain and restaurant. The Art Deco glamour remains, which will appeal to those who love the splendour of a bygone era.
The hotel room blends grey, teal and bronze tones. Photo / Anna Sarjeant
First impressions:
Sandwiched between TAG Heuer and a soon-to-be-opened Tudor store, the hotel doesn’t scream opulence from the outside, but to step across the threshold is to step back into a time of refinement.
Guests are immediately greeted by a plush reception room, dripping in velvet seating, brass fixtures, chandeliers and marble. The reception area is pleasantly informal; we sit across a marble desk rather than stand before one. While checking in, we sip complimentary fragrant tea served in china cups.
The room:
Interconnecting rooms on the seventh floor allowed for lofty views and separate beds (and televisions) for adults and offspring. High ceilings and large sash windows hint at the building’s original grandeur.
The colour palette is one of my favourites: grey and teal with bronze accents, and as you’d expect from a five-star hotel, the rooms are kitted out with a mini bar, kettle and coffee machine.
Most striking is the T2 tea set. This English gal goes gaga for a proper teapot; a small yet mighty luxury that you don’t see often enough.
The view offers downtown Auckland in the drizzle, so it wasn’t gasp-inducing, but there are glimpses of harbour sailing boats between city buildings.
Bathroom:
The bathrooms are large and resplendent with bronze walls, high-shine chrome and marble vanities. Toiletries are Marihi Aotearoa and therefore, pleasingly New Zealand-made.
Marble and bronze define the hotel’s spacious bathroom. Photo / Anna Sarjeant
Facilities:
Paying homage to its tearoom roots, High Tea is served in Cooke’s Restaurant, which also functions as the dinner and breakfast venue. All your favourites are served, from finger sandwiches to orange-flavoured scones with fat dollops of cream. The tea list was a highlight (I recommend Italian almond), as was the next instalment of beautiful chinaware.
A scone piled high with cream and berry jam at high tea. Photo / Anna Sarjeant
I didn’t use the fitness centre located on level six, nor did I request one of the in-room massages or facials. The hot tub and sauna sounded fabulous, but between lazy downtime and inexhaustible children, we ran out of time.
Food and drink:
Oh, that’s right, while I’d been in Europe, it was my wedding anniversary (who knew? Not I), so we had a belated celebration at Fable’s Cooke’s Restaurant, albeit with two kids in tow. Lamb rump and eye fillet followed plump king scallops, washed down with red wine. A decent kids’ menu saw both children tuck into a plate of spaghetti bolognese, and we polished it all off with a bowl of ice cream. I say bowl; it was so huge I am convinced a fish is gasping for air somewhere.
Cooke’s Restaurant hosts high tea, dinner and breakfast. Photo / Anna Sarjeant
Come morning, the full cooked breakfast (buffet style) made my 4-year-old’s eyes bulge. The homemade baked beans were delicious, and there’s no shortage of choice alongside the cooked options: yoghurt, cereal and a gluten-free station, as well as barista-made coffee.
In the neighbourhood:
Flanked by the likes of Dior and Gucci, you’re steps from high-end shopping boutiques; Commercial Bay for the likes of Mecca and myriad dining options; and just a few minutes more, High St, for independent shops such as the ever-gorgeous Unity Books and Little Unity, its bijou neighbour and perfectly formed children’s bookstore.
The best bit:
The beautiful T2 chinaware offered something most hotels do not. From the foyer to the dining room and every guest room, it’s a little different and feels surprisingly special.
Each room features its own distinctive T2 tea set. Photo / Anna Sarjeant
Room for improvement:
I’m not usually a toilet roll snob, but I did notice the bathroom had a low-ply variant, which did stand out when everything else was so plush.
Sustainability:
The hotel is certified by the Qualmark Gold Enviro Award. The key cards are wooden, there are recycling bins in the rooms, and the toiletries are refillable. A percentage of the cost of Marihi Aotearoa toiletries is donated to New Zealand conservation and a Kiwi Creche.
Accessibility:
Fable Auckland features three ground-floor accessible guest rooms. Cooke’s Restaurant is fully wheelchair accessible (with wheelchair-friendly bathrooms), and elevators serve floors one to seven.
Price:
Room prices start from $230 per night.
We stayed in a Superior King Room (from $280 per night) that connected to a Luxury King Room (from $300 per night).
Contact:
fablehotelsandresorts.com/hotels/fable-auckland
Email reservations@fableauckland.com or call 09 309 9979