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Here is a sample of some reviews on the Gypsy Tea Room -
• Pub Spy – 2011
No Tinkering Required
• The Denizen – My City: Auckland by Gemma Ross – June 2011
Favourite Haunts
Gypsy Tea Room is the quintessential neighbourhood bar and my regular haunt. Nestled amongst the West Lynn shops its rustic walls, Italian mosaics and iron furniture provide the perfect setting for almost any occasion. The gyppo, as locals affectionately know it, is an inviting spot for a prelude to dinner, evening with friends or nightcap. It has a thoughtful wine list, exceptional cocktails, and (so my discerning male friends tell me) a damn good lineup of craft beer served at the perfect temperature. Bar staff are charming, yet professional, and they're always glad you came.
• Metro – July-August 2009
The Bar That Sets The Standard
Whether it’s standing-room only on a Saturday night or sedate and cosy on a Sunday, Gypsy Tea Room is a great place to be. The front room – with its famous distressed walls and Italian mosaics – is barely bigger than a generous living room, so on busy nights, crowds spill onto the pavement. In winter, they’re made comfortable by powerful heaters, and in summer, the cool air is a welcome respite from the sweaty crush inside. Out the back is a small, bedroom-sized room, perfect for an intimate private party – as long as you get there early and claim it as your own. The crowd here is truly eclectic. Every year a new, younger generation discovers and claims the Gyppo as their own – yet the regulars keep coming. The cocktails are a big drawcard. The list is small, but the execution of each is brilliant. Our favourite is the passionfruit margarita: the perfect balance of sweet passionfruit, bitter lime, plenty of alcohol and a generous smudging of salt on the rim. The wine list is brief but well chosen, and the beer list is livened up with a few Asian and boutique beers. You wouldn’t come to Gypsy for dinner, but if you end up here after work on an empty stomach, the pizzas will do the trick. Considering they’re whipped up out the back by the barman between drinks, they’re bloody good. Chorizo with roast vegetables, prepared earlier and heated to order, is an inspired bar snack.
• viewauckland.co.nz – 2007
5 Out Of 5 Stars
Click here to read an excellent review on the Gypsy Tea Room from 2007 by Brett Atkinson for viewauckland.co.nz
• Metro – July 2007
Top 10 Bars in Auckland
The Gyppo has rusticated walls, iron furniture. It’s been around for a few years now, but service is still prompt and polite and the wine list is admirable. There’s a small tapas selection comprising pizza, risotto balls, and roasted veges, but we’re not exactly here for the food. This is a splendid neighbourhood bar for that after-work tipple or regular rendezvous.
• Citymix – September 2005
Perennial Favourite
It’s not new, it’s not hip, and it’s not funky, but Gypsy Tea Room gets our vote because it never fails to deliver.
Bringing a touch of provincial France to West Lynn, with its ambience of arrested decay, this bar has a pleasantly-sophisticated feel while at the same time is as relaxed and comfortable as a small local bar should be.
No matter what day of the week, there’s a steady flow of interesting regulars. And visitors, you know it’s worth the detour. Whether you’re inside or outside at one of the little café-style tables, it’s the perfect place to unwind with a glass of wine and a tasty nibble. Or, have bartender Brett Simeti make you a decadent cocktail. This guy has to be the warmest, friendliest barman in town. |
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