Fable Auckland, MGallery

The room’s bathroom setup was the most awkward part for me: the toilet sits behind slightly transparent glass, which doesn’t feel private. There was no working desk either, and storage was limited. Still, the rooms were beautifully outfitted and in excellent condition, with coffee machines that make tea too, comfortable seats, shoe horns, creams, and hair dryers. The hotel is in a quiet, very good part of Auckland on Queen St near the waterfront, without much of the traffic noise you get at many city hotels. It’s an interesting, unusual property, and basically very attractive, but some details let it down. We went for the 4-6 pm Happy Hour and found the restaurant almost empty, with just one other couple. Maybe we were early. The employees seemed subdued and quiet. Breakfast was included in our rate. I ordered soft-boiled eggs, but they came completely hard in a soup dish, rolling around. I wasn’t sure how the cook expected me to eat them. It’s a shame. Maybe it just needs more caring management?

The artwork in our room was mounted a little crooked. A small thing, but if you have even mild OCD, it could quietly wreck your evening. The gym is tiny too, really just a quick cardio stop rather than somewhere for a proper workout. Fable Auckland has bright, modern rooms that are a good size for a city hotel, with a calm, stylish feel inside. But that peace depends on which way your room faces. On Queen Street, late-night revellers or the street cleaner doing thorough rounds around 4am may wake you. The lack of effective double glazing is noticeable. Comfortable and stylish overall, though light sleepers and symmetry lovers should choose their room carefully.

The one thing that saved our stay was the bed, which was massive, comfortable, and honestly one of the best hotel beds I’ve slept in. The rest was disappointing, and Fable definitely isn’t the five-star place it claims to be. The lift doesn’t reach the top floor, which would be annoying with lots of luggage. Neither of us could finish the awful buffet. The bar closed early, so we missed our welcome drink, and the room wasn’t serviced.

The only thing I missed was a pool. Otherwise, it’s a great hotel in a central spot, close to everything in Auckland CBD. I had breakfast there three mornings and found the food quite decent. The place is clean, the rooms are nice, and the staff are friendly and provide wonderful service. I especially liked the beautiful lobby and restaurant area, and how efficiently the aircon worked.