Caretaker

Caretaker is a small, hidden cocktail bar downstairs at 40 Customs Street, reached from Roukai Lane in the Britomart precinct. Modelled on the New York bars of the golden age of bartending, it has been one of Auckland's most respected cocktail bars for around a decade.

The bar is the creation of Alastair Walker, a bartender born in Hull who worked in Manchester and Melbourne before moving to Auckland, and who co-owns Caretaker with his wife and business partners. He is also behind the cocktail bar Deadshot and Rocketman, the bar upstairs from Caretaker, which has a secret karaoke booth.

The drinks focus on reviving forgotten classics from the eighteenth to the early twentieth century. Cocktails are made with fresh fruit, fine spirits and hand-cut ice, juices are pressed fresh, and recipes usually use only a handful of ingredients. There is a menu of original recipes that changes regularly, but you do not have to order from it: tell the bartender what you like, and they will make something bespoke. Britomart's own precinct guide describes the experience as an intimate, hidden basement bar built around personal and welcoming service, and suggests simply asking the host for a recommendation if you are unsure where to start.

The room is intimate and holds no more than 50 guests, and the emphasis is on warm, personal service rather than volume. That means it can fill up at busy times, especially just after dinner, which Walker himself identifies as the peak period. Arriving earlier in the evening or later at night improves your chances of getting straight in.

Caretaker is open every day from 5pm until 3am, so it works as a late-night stop as well as an early-evening one. It suits couples, small groups and anyone who appreciates craft cocktails; it is less suitable for large parties because of its size.

Britomart has plenty of options for dinner beforehand, including Cafe Hanoi on Galway Street and the restaurants of Commercial Bay, so Caretaker works well as the second stop of an evening. If you want to continue afterwards, Rocketman is directly upstairs. Look carefully for the entrance, as part of the appeal is that it feels like a secret.