Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

The Hotel

Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour opened on 14 March 2011 as the first true waterfront five-star in Auckland — built directly on the Viaduct Harbour basin, the working marina at the heart of Auckland's central waterfront, where the America's Cup superyacht fleet berths between defences. The architectural commission was Auckland practice Patterson Associates with interiors by Hong Kong-based JWA; the building reads as a contemporary glass-and-stone tower of nine floors, deliberately positioned to maximise the Viaduct-basin and Waitematā-Harbour view from every harbour-facing room. The building stands directly opposite the historic 1929 Auckland Ferry Terminal, with the Viaduct boardwalk continuous from the lobby's harbour-facing entrance to the marina pontoons fifty metres away.

The 172 rooms — including 18 suites — are arranged across the building's nine floors. Standard categories at 32 square metres are larger than the Britomart's compact tier and slightly smaller than the Park Hyatt's 38-square-metre standard. Harbour-facing categories add the principal booking premium — directly facing the Viaduct basin with the working superyachts as the bedroom view. The Imperial Suite at 130 square metres is the milestone unit on the top floor with a private wraparound balcony. Bathrooms are travertine; bath products are Hermès Eau d'Orange Verte, Sofitel's signature.

Lava is the named waterfront bar — a deliberately-set-apart pavilion structure on the Viaduct boardwalk, not strictly inside the hotel building, with a wood-fired oven programme by chef Cinco Pesa, an extensive Central Otago-and-Marlborough wine list, and the most-photographed Auckland-waterfront cocktail position in town. 21 Viaduct is the all-day restaurant in the main building. The Lounge handles the lobby cocktail-and-aperitivo programme. The 25-metre heated indoor pool — open year-round through the southern winter — is the operational booking advantage relative to Park Hyatt's outdoor-only programme; the Sō Spa runs a comprehensive treatment menu with three couples' rooms.

The Viaduct address is unambiguous. From the front door it is 30 seconds to the Viaduct boardwalk and the working marina, two minutes to the Auckland Fish Market, three minutes to the Wynyard Quarter and Park Hyatt, four minutes to the Auckland ferry terminal for Waiheke and Devonport, six minutes to Britomart, and seven minutes to the Sky Tower. For business travellers needing the harbour-and-pool address with the Accor ALL loyalty programme, and for family travellers wanting the year-round indoor pool over the Park Hyatt's outdoor-only alternative, Sofitel is the right Auckland answer.

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