Bunker Bar

The Bunker Bar

This little gem of a space is tucked away discreetly. You descend inside a dune down a set of stairs to a lounge and bar where the bartender already knows what you will be having. Although hidden, it has spectacular ocean views.

Winner | 2026 NZIA Auckland Architecture Award Hospitality

"Studio John Irving proves yet again that small projects can carry serious punch. Bunker Bar is all atmosphere — a moody, cleverly crafted little retreat that leans into its subterranean brief without becoming a gimmick. The sunken lounge is a masterstroke; intimate, unexpected, with cracking views that catch you off guard. The curved bar invites conversation and turns cocktail making into theatre. A pocket rocket of hospitality design with real character, confidence, and delight — proof that memorable architecture is never about size, but the strength of the idea"

NZIA Jury Citation. Auckland Branch Award - Hospitality