Queens Rooftop & Wine Shop

At the back of Queens Wine Shop, behind shelves lined with bottles from near and far, you’ll find a private lift waiting to take you 21 floors up. When the doors open, you’re met with a rooftop bar, sweeping ocean views and a very good reminder of how beautiful Tāmaki can be.

That sense of discovery as you arrive is, in fact, by design: the team wanted the place to feel tucked away, despite being right in the middle of the CBD. Once you’re inside, you can see how much the space itself is shaped around the view, with terraces and warm interiors designed to make the most of the Waitematā, so you can have a gorgeous outlook from pretty much anywhere you sit.

Though it’s an obvious choice for cocktails and snacks, they’re also a full-service restaurant. The menu draws from European dining while weaving in plenty of fresh New Zealand seafood and seasonal produce. The crudo is a natural starting point (especially if you’re pairing it with a glass of white wine), but their melt-in-your-mouth lamb rump or pork belly are both firm favourites if you’re staying for a full meal.

Their drinks list is stacked with great options as well, naturally. The wine and cocktails have been carefully chosen to suit the food and the seasons, while their wine shop downstairs is stocked wall-to-wall with bottles from interesting regions, styles and producers across New Zealand and further afield. And if you’re spoilt for choice like we were, the team is always happy to point you in the right direction.

Any time of day here is stunning, but for a first visit, book around sunset. Nothing better than watching the harbour shift colour with a drink in hand.