Bar review: The Black Hoof, Auckland CBD

Address: 12 Wyndham Street, Central City
Rating:

First drinks: We decided to go with the Spanish spirit of the place and ordered a jug of white sangria. It was delicious - a colourful mix of strawberries, mint, orange, lemon, and cloves. It had a good tang and the perfect amount of refreshing on a hot summer evening. Plus it arrived with some complimentary crusty bread and a lovely tomato-based spread - they offer a happy hour from 5pm to 7pm, Tuesday through Friday, which makes the drinks affordable, so you can also indulge in some pintxos (small tapas-type snacks).

The vibe is: Rustic without being too desperately rustic. It's light and airy, upstairs away from the street, all wooden tables and exposed bricks under the nice high stud, and yet somehow it feels a little bit fancy. And hanging from the ceiling is an impressive array of cured Spanish meats.

On the stereo: It's mostly old-school funk and disco, quite a lot of instrumental stuff, with some contemporary Spanish tunes mixed in. And most importantly, the volume doesn't overwhelm conversation. Hooray!

Photo / Lydia Jenkin

Room for improvement: It's a small quibble, but even though we know they had a wonderful cocktail list when they first opened last year, it seems to have disappeared now - though we're unsure whether we simply weren't offered it, or whether those cocktails are gone entirely from their menu.

The perfect spot for: It was perfect for intimate drinks for two, but would also be perfect for a larger party. It's great to have a spot in the city where you can stop for some affordable snacks and beverages before a film or a show.

Most redeeming feature: It feels like a bit of an oasis of relaxed Spanish good times above the bustle of Queen St.