Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

The entrance of the five-pearl Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour is tucked between some office buildings and is small and discreet, with a covered drop-off area. Guests enter into an open foyer with dark marble floors, with a reception area off to the left, slightly removed from the main entrance area. Rather than having a central open-plan lobby and lounge area, seating is interspersed throughout a hallway that wraps around a bright central atrium. There is also a small library-type seating space to the right of the main entrance. The outdoor areas are contrastingly bright (at least on sunny days) compared to the understated, chic interiors, and there's an outdoor patio with views of the docks for lounging and dining on nice days. Guests of the Sofitel Auckland are greeted with "bonjour" by the staff -- many of whom are French expats -- a practice typical to the proudly Gallic brand. Although the hotel's central location overlooking the harbor makes it a viable option for vacationers, most of the guests are business travelers -- including plenty of conference-goers attending events on-site -- and it's not common to see families with children here. The service, style, and on-site restaurant and bar spaces are all excellent.

The Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour is located right in Auckland's Central Business District (CBD), sandwiched between a cluster of office buildings and the Viaduct Basin. It's a short walk from many of the city's major attractions; the New Zealand Maritime Museum, Queen Street, and the Auckland Sky Tower all take around 10 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 15 minutes away on foot. The expansive Auckland War Memorial Museum is a 15-minute drive or half-hour bus ride away, while getting to the airport takes around half an hour by car or an hour and 15 minutes by public transport. 

The Sofitel offers three room types: Superior Rooms, Luxury Rooms, and Junior Suites. Superiors are the smallest and have king or queen beds. Luxury Rooms are a little larger and have views of the hotel's internal water fountain or out over the beautiful marina. The open-plan Junior Suites are the largest rooms available and all look out over the internal water feature. All rooms have safes, desks with international plugs, and wet bars with mini-fridges, electric kettles, French presses or Nespresso machines, and a selection of teas from luxury tea purveyors t leaf T. Guests are welcomed with little boxes of French violet pastilles on the beds. Decor is understated but elegant, with dark-wood furnishings, plush gray carpets, and floor-to-ceiling windows (although some look right out into the offices across the street). Bathrooms are huge and made entirely of marble, with separate large walk-in rainfall showers, separate soaking tubs, makeup mirrors, hairdryers, and high-end toiletries. There is a pesky fee for Wi-Fi. 

The Sofitel has two restaurants: Lava Dining and 21 Viaduct Cafe. Lava serves a range of continental dishes, many of which integrate local ingredients, and includes an expansive breakfast buffet with the brand's signature French pastries, fresh-squeezed juices (along with a DIY juicer), and and a range of hot dishes. 21 Viaduct Cafe is a bit more casual, with sandwiches and salads, and offers indoor and outdoor dining at breakfast and lunchtime. Room service is available 24 hours a day, Guests can also get light snacks at Sabrage -- the hotel's bar -- which features a huge selection of wines and champagnes. As the name suggests, the bar offers sabrage champagne bottle opening in which bottles are opened using a special technique that involves applying pressure to their necks using the blunt end of a saber.There's also a small fitness center with a couple of treadmills and some free weights, and while it's good for getting in a quick workout, it lacks weight machines and extensive equipment. Next to the fitness center there is a small indoor lap pool with a square-shaped hot tub at one end. The hotel also has its own luxury spa -- SO Spa -- which offers a good variety of treatments and massages. There is a spacious business center with computers and lounge areas. There are also five meeting spaces, ranging from the small Halsey One boardroom to the expansive Boulevard Room, which can seat up to 130 guests theatre style. Audiovisual equipment is available on request. Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the property but it costs extra and valet parking is available for a fee.