Location: Towering high above St Patrick’s Square on one side, and among the cluster of international-grade Albert Street skyscrapers on the other, The Hotel Indigo is about as central as you can get in downtown Auckland. But more than that, this is a midtown neighbourhood that’s soon to be the new beating heart of the CBD; a place just steps from the game-changing City Rail Link (opening 2026), but still minutes on foot from the more vibrant end of the revitalised Queen Street, not to mention Sky City, the theatre district, Britomart and the waterfront.
And then from the hotel’s other entrance on the northern side, you’ll find the 117-year-old St Patrick’s Cathedral, flanked by established trees and a tranquil urban-park setting.
The Look: A sleek, modern 41-storey glass tower on the one hand, with interiors a throwback to early Auckland on the other, but more than anything, The Hotel Indigo can make you feel like you’ve left New Zealand for a chic urban hotspot like Melbourne or New York. Or perhaps we should flip that thinking: The Hotel Indigo can awaken you to a sense of pride in downtown Auckland if you’re a local, and if you’re a visitor, a feeling that Auckland is proudly competing globally.
Embracing History: The hotel sits on the former site of the 1912-established “The Motor House” that first imported Cadillacs into New Zealand. There are nods to this motoring heritage in everything from the building’s beautifully restored original facade, to the model cars in the rooms. And then beyond the cars and engines are stunning photos from 20th Century Auckland as curated by Stuart Robertson. Each of the hotel’s 25 floors has different photos and artworks that reflect the history of New Zealand’s largest city.
Further Artworks: The lobby has two impressive installations from local artist Raukura Turei that reinforce the notion that The Hotel Indigo serves to reflect Aotearoa’s past, present and future. This might be a world-wide hotel chain, but these artworks ensure there’s no Hotel Indigo anywhere quite like Auckland’s.
Perfect For: Be it New Zealanders being reawakened to all that their largest city’s CBD has to offer, or guests from further afield who want something urban, sophisticated and with some of the best views in Auckland.
Views: Oh yes, the views. The Hotel Indigo occupies 27-storeys of a brand new 41-storey building, so expect expansive harbour views as well as those fun big city bird’s eye vistas where you go, “I had no idea there was a rooftop garden/swimming pool/tennis court over there!?”
Rooms: 225 rooms with the Standard rooms being 24-square-metres, or 29-square-metres for the Premium rooms. There’s a tasteful, refined elegance to the decor, and again, that feeling that you’ve really gone somewhere. Did I mention the views?? Those floor-to-ceiling windows shout from the rooftops that Auckland is geographically as beautiful as any large metropolis in the Southern Hemisphere.
Food: Led by acclaimed Executive Chef Yutak Son, Bistro Saine is a welcome French-inspired addition to the Auckland hospitality scene. Classy, exquisitely lit and laid out, Bistro Saine might be extremely cool, but it’s not too cool to also have roast chicken (highly recommended) and a cheeseburger as part of it’s menu. The buffet breakfast is also excellent.
Child Friendly: We had a Premium corner room with a further adjoining Premium room, creating a 58-square-metre space. Our six-year-old daughter Riley got her own double-bed, while our two-year-old Austin had a portacot ready and waiting when we checked-in. The kids loved being up so high and seeing a side of Auckland they’d normally only get when going up the Sky Tower.
Pet Friendly: We’re cat people as our glorious tabby Poppy Palmer will attest, but great news if you’re a dog owner as dogs are invited to tag along for a charge of $150. Limit of two dogs, up to a weight of 30kg per dog.
Gym: There’s a suprisingly spacious and well-equipped gym for a building this narrow. Located on level 2.
Why I Loved It: As an long time advocate for Auckland, the arrival of The Hotel Indigo is a crucial puzzle piece in the city’s midtown redevelopment. No question, the hotel is of international standard and can make you feel like you’ve escaped somewhere, but it’s the way it celebrates not just its New Zealandness, but it’s Aucklandness, that sets it apart. This can sound like a paradox, but The Hotel Indigo makes Auckland feel taller, more grown-up, more dynamic and yes, more global.
And all of this while at the same time holding a positive mirror up to a city that too many locals – whose lives are mostly played out in the ‘burbs – may have forgotten and subsequently misjudged. In celebrating the city’s history, The Hotel Indigo is ironically also showing us that what is here right now is pretty cool. And trust me, once that City Rail Link is completed, Auckland is going to gain an almighty spring in its step.
Contact Info: Phone +64 09 610 8400, email hello.hotelindigoakl@ihg.com
Website: https://www.ihg.com/hotelindigo/hotels/us/en/auckland/aklal/hoteldetail
