Herald rating ****
Address: 17 High St, Auckland Central
Phone: (09) 379 6811
Open: Mon to Sat from 3pm
KEY POINTS:
We arrived at: Let's be honest, when don't we arrive at Deschlers? It's safe to say you can nearly always find myself or Pone here because, well, it's our Cheers, where everyone knows our name. But let's just say we arrived at 8.30 on a Thursday night for a tipple before the Eagles of Death Metal concert.
Are served our first drinks: By Becs, who was filling in for her brother and regular bar manager Nick, who was ill. Fine job she did too, whipping up three confectionery-themed cocktails - a Snifter, Jellytip and Honeycomb. Delish.
The decor is ... Classic. Deschlers' leather booths are legendary, much like the portraits of bygone jazz musicians that line the walls. And full credit to Deschlers for being one of the first establishments to introduce bag hooks under the bar.
... and the ambience: Friendly and warm, thanks in large part to the charming bar staff who offer up a friendly smile and wave to all who enter.
The house chardonnay is: Tuki Tuki Road at $7.50 a glass. Unless you head in for happy hour (daily 3pm to 7pm), in which case it is Riverlands Chardonnay at $6.
The beers on tap are: Deceptively hidden in the vintage saxophone and trumpet adorning the bar - Mac's Gold, Pilsener, Radler, Black and Tui.
It smells: Just how you want your bar to smell - clean without the lingering tang of Handy Andy.
The music is: An eclectic mix of golden oldies, much like listening to Solid Gold.
The toilets are: Functional, if a touch small. But the hallway leading to them has made for many an interesting run-in over the years.
Why you should go: Because a bar so refreshingly casual yet so cool is hard to find in the CBD these days. Plus, it's an Auckland institution and we say you should.
Bottom line: An oldie but a goodie, Deschlers remains a perennial fave.
