If rugby is a religion then it would be blasphemy to miss even a single match as the All Blacks take on Australia, South Africa and Argentina in the Four Nations Rugby Championship.
With a shiny trophy up for grabs, as well as pride and the Bledisloe Cup at stake, you’re not going to want to hunker down at home and watch it on Sky – go out to one of these great Auckland sports bars to watch the rugby.
Go the mighty All Blacks!
The Paddington, Parnell
The Paddington’s main bar boasts one big screen and six flat screen TVs, so you’ll never miss a second as the All Blacks do us proud against the powerful Springboks, the fleet-footed Wallabies and the spirited Pumas.
And if you want to make a really big night of it, The Paddington’s private “grandstand room” is available for hire, with tiered seating for up to 40 guests.
The Fox, The Viaduct
The home of live sport in the Auckland Viaduct, The Fox will be showing all All Blacks games as well as any and all major sporting events of note. The atmosphere gets pretty rowdy here when there’s a great game on.
The Kingslander, Kingsland
Because of its proximity to Eden Park, The Kingslander is among the best bars and pubs for celebrating an All Blacks victory after a test match in Auckland. It’s also a great place to get warmed up before a match at Eden Park – but get there early to avoid having to queue to get in.
The Zookeeper’s Son, Royal Oak
Ignore this Royal Oak gastropub’s purple façade – on game day it’s all about the All Blacks. The Zookeeper’s Son is great place to watch live sport, whether it’s the rugby, boxing or State of Origin.
Empire Tavern, central Auckland
Have you visited the Empire Tavern since its extreme makeover? If you haven’t then it’s time you did. Watch the All Blacks by the fire in the Empire’s “garden room” (if it’s not booked for a private function) – Auckland’s largest open air bar – and enjoy one of its excellent pizzas.
SkySport Grill, The Viaduct
Truth is, watching an All Blacks test with your mates at the pub is second only to actually being at the game. Watching it at home on Sky is a distant third.
The SkySport Grill in the Viaduct is one of Auckland’s best sports bars, with drink specials for all the big matches, 24 TV screens and an American-style food menu.
The House of Rugby, Union Street
The House of Rugby is a brand-new sports bar and café on Union Street. While nobody from the Menus.co.nz team has been to watch a game there yet, it looks very promising – with terraced seating and a giant cinema-sized TV screen. Check it out and let us know what you think.
Malt, Grey Lynn
The All Blacks are always live and loud at Malt Bar in Grey Lynn – plus everyone’s a winner with its daily food and drinks specials.
Northern Steamship Brewbar, Britomart
While you’d never normally consider the decidedly plush and upmarket Northern Steamship Brewbar to be a sports bar, it nevertheless shows all the big All Blacks matches.
While you're here, check out the best buffet restaurants in Auckland.
