Hotel DeBrett

The space that houses the five-pearl Hotel DeBrett dates back to 1841, when it was home to the Commercial Hotel, one of the first hotels in the city. Two fires and two rebuilds later, the current structure was finally put up in 1925, although it wasn't until 1959 that it got its current name. For a long time it operated as a backpackers hostel and fell into disrepair, before finally being acquired by its current owners in 2007.  

The lobby is now a warm, retro space, with a mix of wood-paneling and red-painted walls and ceilings strung with a hodgepodge of round lantern-style lamps. The floors are a mix of mosaic tile and hardwood and there are a few 1960s-style chairs plus a big plush red sofa. A single brass-colored elevator sits next to the reception desk for guests who don't want to take the stairs and there's a glass vitrine with various tchotchkes for sale. Hallways are more modern and feature the same colorful, striped carpet found in the rooms (it was apparently inspired by one of the owner's grandmothers). The overall atmosphere is creative and hip, with an eye for design and cool lounging spaces.

The Hotel DeBrett is located right in Auckland's Central Business District (CBD), one block east of Queen Street. It's a short walk from many of the city's major attractions; the New Zealand Maritime Museum is a 12-minute walk from the hotel, while the Auckland Sky Tower takes around eight minutes to reach on foot. Princes Wharf -- which has ferries to nearby attractions such as Rangitoto Island -- and Britomart, a transit center with lots of trendy restaurants are both about seven minutes away on foot. The expansive Auckland War Memorial Museum is a 10-minute drive or half-hour bus ride away, while getting to the airport takes around half an hour by car or an hour and 10 minutes using public transportation. 

The Hotel DeBrett features 25 rooms across four categories. Decor varies a bit from room to room, but all units are bright and cozy, with bright colored, deep-pile, striped carpets, colorful and eclectic furniture -- many pieces with a retro feel -- and black-and-white framed artwork on the walls. All have pillow menus, seating areas, and desks or dining tables along with flat-screen TVs and minibars. Bathrooms feature tiny black tiles and magnifying mirrors and -- with the exception of one of the Classic Room bathrooms --  all have deep soaking tubs and all have rainfall showers and heated bathroom floors. 

Classic Rooms are the smallest and most affordable, while Boutique Suites are a little larger and come with separate living rooms. Duplex-style O'Connel Suites were created with families in mind and have lower-level living rooms with sofa beds and half-baths along with king or queen sized beds on the upper level. These units also come with Playstation 3s, and baby monitors and toys can be arranged on request. Loft Suites are the largest room type and come in two configurations: single-floor suites with city views or courtyard-facing Juliette balconies or two-level loft-style suites with upstairs bedrooms and spiral staircases. All of these room types come with sofa beds. Wi-Fi is free. 

Along with free Wi-Fi, the Hotel DeBrett offers four meeting rooms. The Loft Suite 1.1 fits up to 10 guests and is equipped with basic audiovisual equipment, while a couple of other suites (units 1.8 and 1.9) can be rented out for small meetings of up to four guests. The Cellar also seats 10 people and has audiovisual equipment and a seating area for breakout sessions.

Catering is available through the on-site restaurant, Debretts Kitchen, which serves fine-dining cuisine in a relaxed and stylish atmosphere, with many of the ingredients sourced from local farmers and producers. The restaurant serves a daily continental breakfast (included in room rates), along with a la carte offerings, ranging from porridge to hash cakes incorporating the local kahawai fish. Lunch is served on weekdays and can be ordered a la carte or as a set meal, with an eclectic offering of seafood dishes along with a couple of red meat and veggie options. The weekend brunch has a mix of breakfast and lunch options, while a few snazzier options are added to the dinner menu, such as venison carpaccio and local cheese platters. The restaurant also offers an afternoon tea on the weekends, with a variety of sweet and savory dishes along with tea and local sparkling wine. 

The hotel also has two bars. Housebar is situated one floor above street level and has a selection of New Zealand wines, local microbrews, and plenty of cocktails and spirits. On the ground-floor, the bright Corner Bar is ideal for people-watching, with indoor and outdoor seating and colorful interiors. An eye for design and chic atmosphere are highlights of the property.