An art-filled lobby and chic French bistro: First look at the Hotel Indigo Auckland
Editor's Note
New Zealand's largest city has experienced a boomlet of new IHG-affiliated hotels in recent years. They include an outpost of its Voco brand, which welcomed guests in 2022; the Intercontinental Auckland, which debuted in 2024; and now the country's very first Hotel Indigo, which opened in April of this year.
During a recent antipodean adventure, I happened to stop in to the new Hotel Indigo Auckland for a night. Here's everything it has in store for guests.
First impressions
The hotel might be in one of the busiest parts of the city, but it still feels self-contained since its main entrance is on a square adjacent to Auckland's 1907 neo-Gothic St. Patrick's Cathedral. So, you won't be stepping out onto a packed pavement here.
The hotel occupies 27 floors of one of the city's tallest towers, a sleek, newly built 41-story skyscraper. However, part of the ground floor is a beautifully restored 1912 heritage building that was once a motor business that imported Cadillacs into New Zealand.
Inside the lobby, though, the look is quite contemporary, with parquet floors alongside stone and leather benches in pared-down seating alcoves. Some small trees and scattered plants liven up the space. Leaf-like light fixtures overhang the matted metallic reception desks, and receptionists are always on hand to help with directions or other requests.
Stylist Simone Haag, meanwhile, curated a selection of works by New Zealand artists for the walls as well as plenty of art books, including various paintings and woven textile pieces. Architect and designer Raukura Turei contributed two installations exploring ancient Maori themes of connection to the gods and one's ancestors. Sure, most guests will only pass through on their way to their next meeting or tour, but many also seemed to get caught up in the gallery-like space and spend a few minutes examining one piece of art or another.
The focus on art continues up on the guest floors, where photographer Stuart Robinson has collected photographic prints — his own and those of others — that reflect the hotel's automotive heritage and the history of the surrounding streets. If you look down, you'll notice that the carpets also depict maps of Auckland's streets. The decor proivdes subtle, but palpable, visual cues that help guests connect to the destination.
The rooms
Many of the guest rooms, especially on the higher floors, offer stunning views. My own king premium harbor-view room on the 22nd floor provided panoramas of Auckland's Harbour Bridge and Viaduct Harbour.
Though compact, at around 312 square feet, the room was well laid out. The door opened straight into the bedroom through an open closet area with an industrial-style pipe for hangers and a cute pegboard on the wall.
There were other automotive touches, too, including a mirror above the bed shaped like a car's rearview mirror and a paneled leather headboard reminiscent of classic car seats; hanging lamps even resembled headlights.
The minibar was stocked with New Zealand delicacies, including Kokako organic drip coffee and loose-leaf Zealong Tea Estate blends.
Behind a scalloped, frosted-glass wall, the bathroom was small but serviceable. The gray stone-tiled space had a single sink and vanity with bright wall-mounted globe lights, a glass walk-in shower with handheld and overhead showerheads, and a separate, though not enclosed, area for the toilet.
The hotel provides skin and haircare products from high-end Kiwi brand Maraca's Waitemata range.
Spare but sensibly laid out with a few fun flourishes, the room was a comfortable home base for my stay. I felt immersed in the city as soon as I set foot in it, thanks to those fabulous views.
Dining
The hotel's single dining outlet is a French eatery called Bistro Saine from executive chef Yutak Son. Auckland doesn't have too many high-end French bistros, so this one tends to get packed — it's already a popular place for group events, according to the hotel's front-desk agents. And no wonder: The decor, with classic wooden bistro chairs and tightly packed tables, practically invites you to sit down and enjoy some steak frites.
I managed to snag a prime-time reservation at 6:30 p.m. the day I arrived, and a friend joined me for dinner.
We started with specialty cocktails, including a strong Old-Fashioned with bourbon, Sauternes, poached pear, demerara sugar and bitters ($15) and began our repast with kingfish crudo in a tangy caper-basil-creme fraiche sauce.
We also had tender lamb rump cap with macadamia-anchovy sauce and herby mint pistou ($28.50) and a rich dish of butterbean cassoulet with earthy celeriac, wild mushrooms and kale pistou ($18.50). We ordered sides of grilled broccolini in beurre blanc with toasted almond ($10.50) and — because we couldn't resist — crispy, crunchy frites with aioli ($7).
For dessert, we had the decadent pear tarte tatin with vanilla bean ice cream ($10.50).
Breakfast is also served in Bistro Saine with the full menu, including the buffet and a choice of hot dishes for ($24.50), though you could also order plates a la carte (ranging from $8 to $16).
I put together a respectable fruit plate and bowls of granola and yogurt from the buffet, and I snuck in a croissant and pain au chocolat from the pastry section. For my mains, though, I just ordered the eggs atop house-made sourdough; it came with a choice of sides like halloumi or avocado and was delicious.
Although too sweet for me, the honey toast with fresh orange, whipped yogurt and walnuts looked and smelled phenomenal. The beef Bordelaise with a poached egg over sourdough was too much for me, but also looked like a hearty way to start the day.
Amenities and service
- There is a small gym open 24/7, but it only has a smattering of cardio and weight equipment.
- Valet parking costs 60 New Zealand dollars ($35) per night.
- Staff seem to hail from many international destinations, and are polished, cheerful and friendly.
Location and logistics
The Hotel Indigo Auckland has a central location in the city's Midtown district. It's a block from one of the city's main arteries, Queen Street. It's also a short walk to the trendy waterfront neighborhood of Britomart, as well as the Ferry Terminal and bustling Viaduct Harbour and the Wynyard Quarter. Basically, the location is great whether you are in town for business or leisure.
The ride to or from the airport takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, and it costs around NZ$60 ($35) via ride-hailing services like Uber.
What it costs
Nightly rates at the Hotel Indigo Auckland start at around NZ$250 ($145) or 29,000 IHG One Rewards points per night. That would get you around 0.5 cents per point in value, which is right in line with TPG's October 2025 valuations.
To make the most of your stay at the Hotel Indigo Auckland, consider the following IHG cobranded cards:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (see rates and fees)
All of them have lucrative welcome offers, confer automatic elite status and have elevated earning rates at IHG properties.
Alternatively, you can transfer Ultimate Rewards points earned on cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) directly to IHG One Rewards at a 1:1 ratio, which may put an award stay within reach.
Accessibility
Although part of the building is historic, the Hotel Indigo Auckland features a no-step front entrance with automatic doors and elevators to access the guest floors and other amenities.
There are steps up to Bistro Saine from reception, but you can also access the restaurant via an entrance on Albert Street that does not involve stairs.
The hotel has 10 wheelchair-accessible rooms in the king standard category with features like a roll-in shower and grab bars in the bathroom. As always, though, call the hotel directly to ensure that you will be able to reserve this room, specifically, and that it meets your specific requirements.
Bottom line
The new Hotel Indigo Auckland is an exciting addition to the city's accommodations. The rooms might not be huge, and the main amenity is a small fitness center. However, its central location, fun auto-themed decor and art-filled lobby paired with its fantastic city views and congenial ambience of Bistro Saine make the hotel feel trendy and fun. It doesn't hurt that paid and points rates are also extremely reasonable.
Related reading:
- The award travelers guide to IHG One Rewards
- The best credit cards to reach elite status
- What is IHG One Rewards elite status worth?
- Current offers on IHG One Rewards credit cards
- Which credit cards offer the most lucrative rewards for hotel stays?
- The best hotel rewards programs in the world
- Best hotel credit cards
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