Braemar on Parliament Street — Hotel in Waitematā

This place looked great on the website but it looks very different in real life. Yes, it's an old building but it is also extremely tired, tatty, cluttered and dirty on the inside. We had an awful old tattered covering on our bed which we took off immediately, it looked like it hadn't been washed in decades There was only one water glass provided i our room, we asked for an extra one. We did not have towels in our room either, we found some in a cupboard in the bathroom. There was no kettle in our room or any other guest ammenities, we found out later that we had to go downstairs to the kitchen if we wanted to have tea/coffee. There wasn't even a desk to sit and write, again we had to go downstairs into a lounge area and balance a laptop on a side table. There was mould behind our curtains and lots of toxic black mould in the tiles of the shower. It appeared that there was a toilet leak as there was always water on the floor, which was pretty yuck considering it was a shared bathroom/toilet area. I assume the owners live at the property as there were several other rooms with open doors that were filled to the gunnels with clutter, as guests we really don't need to see what the owners rooms look like and these private rooms should have their doors shut. This place needs a really good scrub and dust, its dirty, dusty, mouldy and pretty dilapidated. We have stayed in period hotels before and they have always been very well maintained. This hotel has had very little upkeep that we could see. We had a balcony in our room overlooking the garden, which could have been nice, but there was junk and rubbish everywhere. We definitely would not stay here again. Positive note, the scrambled eggs...

I have stayed here multiple times over a period of fifteen years or so, both alone and with one of my children. I have stayed in just about all rooms ever used for guests. All of them are comfortable and oozing with Edwardian charm. Don't come here if you like minimalistic grey & black with white walls. This house has warm toned brown wood, vintage fittings, I had a pull for the ceiling light right by the bed! And there is a clawfoot bath in the shared upstairs bathroom. Yes, some rooms share a bathroom, which is normal for B&Bs. John and Mel are welcoming, gracious hosts who cater to all your needs (even popping down to the shops to get some biscuits to serve with a pot of tea outside breakfast time). They will go above and beyond to make you feel welcome and valued as guests. I will happily pay a premium to support locals like John & Mel in their business and keep this lovingly cared for home out of developers' claws. Did I mention the wine in the evening and the amazing breakfast in the morning? Can't wait to come back. One thing to know is that there are two dogs on the property (very friendly) so be aware if you...

John is an excellent and knowledgeable host who really made me feel welcome after my 14 hour plus flight from Vancouver. He really went out of his way to accommodate my needs. Even though this antique building isn't setup for people like me with mobility scooters, John made it work for me. I was able to keep my luggage and scooter downstairs while I used my walking stick around the building. I am so glad that I chose to stay at the Braemar on Parliament Street with its clean period charm. John was the one who was responsible for restoring the building so it is clearly a passion of his. Many thanks John!||- Authentic period charm in excellent condition.|- A thriving pedestrian area close by to visit.|- Food and drinks excellent!||Close to the cruise ship port! |A great place to stay if you want period charm, and not just any old hotel room that you could find in many cities around the world. This was a real find! I would visit again if I happen to visit...