Bar review: Merchant Bar & Kitchen, Albany

Cocktails in jars at Merchant Bar in Albany. Photo / Liana Thaggard

Address: 219 Don McKinnon Dr, Albany
Rating:

First drinks were two randomly picked cocktail jars from the menu. The bartender gave us a number and instructed us to sit down because she had to "learn the recipes". A different bartender then took over the job and our drinks were left at the bar until a waiter was free to bring them over. The drinks were pretty tasty though, definitely worth the wait.

The vibe is pretty upbeat. Merchant is attached to Albany mall so there were a few families sitting down for dinner. The parents were drinking Monteith's - available on tap - and the kids were happily chowing down on pizzas from the kitchen.

The toilets are fresh and clean, which is always good.

On the stereo: Sitting outside, we couldn't hear any music playing; inside, an area was being prepped for a night of live music. We decided the silence was better for chatting and there was no risk of being annoyed by music we didn't take a liking to.

Room for improvement: A few of the bar staff seemed a wee bit frazzled as lines of people started to appear and floor staff were only just managing to get orders out to the tables. We think they were hitting a busy part of the afternoon.

The perfect spot for a drink or dinner before a movie. The mall's cinemas are open late and are just across the courtyard. Or you could book a table, grab some menus, drinks and settle in to watch an All Blacks game on the telly.

Most redeeming feature: Lots of outdoor tables that get absolutely sundrenched in the afternoons. The Merchant also has a big kitchen and their food offerings sound delicious. We will be back to try the ribs or pizzas with a few cold brews.