Rydges Auckland

The Rydges is a four-pearl property housed in a large, towering structure fronted by a glass awning that draws attention to the building's abundance of floor-to-ceiling windows. Inside, the lobby is a bright space with lots of natural light and a few plush seats in the coffee corner, with additional clusters of seating upstairs on the mezzanine level. The color palette is neutral with pops of red and floors are an appealing, contemporary mix of carpet and tile. A set of three elevators transport guests up to the rooms. Although the central location is conducive to tourism, most guests here are business travelers. The atmosphere here is sleek and efficient, though decor can feel generic and lacks character. 

Rydges Auckland is located right in Auckland's Central Business District (CBD), just off Hobson Street, right by the Auckland Sky Tower. It's a 10-minute walk from the New Zealand Maritime Museum. 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 12 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 using public transport. 

The Rydges Auckland offers five room types, all of which are bright and sunny with large windows. The Superior King Rooms and Deluxe Harbour King Rooms sleep up to three people each, while the Superior Doubles, Deluxe King Suites, and Executive King Suites are big enough for four guests. All feature air-conditioning, safes, workstations, minibars, and flat-screen TVs with pay-per-view movies. Decor is simple and a bit generic for a hotel of this pearl rating, with plain gray carpets, wooden furniture, pops of red accents, and no wall art. Glass-topped work desks with sleek ergonomic chairs add a little sophistication to the otherwise unmemorable spaces. Some rooms also add stylish metallic pin-cushion headboards. Bathrooms are equally lackluster (and a touch on the small side), and have shower/tub combos or walk-in showers, wall-mounted hairdryers, and large counters with protruding basins. Wi-Fi is free throughout. 

The Rydges on-site restaurant -- The CUT Restaurant and Bar -- is an upscale restaurant, renovated after our visit, with a wide selection of seafood dishes, grilled meats, raw oysters, and specialty desserts, along with a selection of dessert cheeses. The restaurant also offers a limited room service menu available 24 hours a day. Meals for up to 21 guests can also be arranged at the restaurant's private dining room. The restaurant also has a lounge bar with a good selection of New Zealand and international wines. For coffees and pastries, Barist'a on the Corner offers espresso drinks and a large selection of teas.

One of the Rydge's biggest selling points is its abundance of conference spaces -- 12 in total -- the largest of which can host cocktail parties for up to 400 guests. Most have floor-to-ceiling windows and dividable walls and all have audiovisual equipment with a full-time on-site support person. The Rooftop terrace is fantastic for cocktails while the enormous STK Open Dining Room is the best for large events. There's also a small business center with a couple of Apple desktops, though it costs extra to use. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel (which is still a rarity in Auckland). Valet and self parking are available for a fee, charged on a per exit basis that's discounted on weekends.