The Occidental
The Occidental things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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We stumbled into this place for early supper using the Yelp app. We were looking for a place for some steamed mussels for dinner and got very lucky. So we were here on a Monday and were delighted to find out there was a special on mussels from 6pm - 10pm. Mussel mania Monday!! Woooooo! We could not have been happier with the choice. The resto was busy-ish so we were waiting a bit to get someone’s attention so they could seat us. After 5 minutes of standing around, they told us we could seat ourselves so we took a table on the small patio out front. My YEA and I each got the solo (1 kilo or 2.2 pounds) for dinner and it comes with small frites and mayo. We decided to get the creamy white wine garlic sauce and the lobster & brandy bisque. Both are tasty choices. The white wine and garlic is classic and delivers on the clean flavours that you would expect. The lobster brandy bisque definitely had that lobster flavour in the deep orange coloured sauce. The green-lipped mussels here are gigantic and tasted really nice. They weren’t overcooked and had that springy meaty texture to each of them. We were so full at the end and very satisfied. There was more than enough mussels to spare. Overall, we really enjoyed the mussels here and the variety of sauce selections for your steam mussels dish. I would recommend this place for their mussel mania Monday special for sure!
JayJay
00
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Occidental, and I must say, it was a delightful experience. The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, making me feel right at home from the moment I walked in. One of the highlights was their extensive selection of Belgium beers🍺, offering something for every taste bud. But what truly stood out were their exceptional cherry🍒, peach🍑, and strawberry🍓 beers - absolute gems that I haven't encountered elsewhere. Occidental isn't just a place for a casual drink; it's also perfect for meetings or even a dinner. The ambience is cosy and inviting, making it an ideal spot to unwind after a long day or catch up with friends over a delicious meal. Overall, I highly recommend Occidental for anyone looking for a fantastic beer selection.🍻
Svetla NestorovaSvetla Nestorova
00
The food here is amazing – definitely the best green mussels in Auckland CBD 💯. I’ve been before with my partner and this time brought my parents. We ordered grilled and steamed mussels, pies, fried squid, and chips – everything was delicious. However, the service was disappointing, especially from one waiter – the guy with black hair in a ponytail and a beard (not Josh). We arrived early for our 12:45 PM reservation and asked if we could sit earlier, since the restaurant was mostly empty. He found us a table but had a really cold attitude the whole time – no smile, just a poker face. When I asked for a beer recommendation, he pointed at the menu and said "Tap, tap, here," making me figure it out myself. After I mentioned my dad likes lager, he reluctantly suggested a beer. It’s a shame for such a great restaurant to have a staff member with such poor service. I really hope this wasn’t about racial bias, but it did cross my mind.
LottieLottie
10
Belgian pub in the heart of the city. I have been here multiple times, and the last time was just a couple weeks back on a Thursday evening. It was very busy as usual; but if you are into witbier like me and feeling lazy to travel out of the city, then Occidental would serve you well. Mussels are probably the most popular dish here. We tried all the five guest beers (check the list in the photo below). All of them are highly recommended barring that one Fruili Strawberry, which did taste like s@#* !! Overall it was a good experience. However this time we came across a bizarre gentleman at the door, who asked if we wanted a table, as there were three of us. The moment we said we are here to drink only, and don't have plans as such to eat, he offered us a table outside. Apparently, they were letting people in only if they choose to order food. This was definitely not our best experience and left a bitter taste in our mouth.
Sandy SmartSandy Smart
10
Maybe I just don't get the hype. We came here because of good reviews and the recommendation of out tour guide. First the restaurant is rather loud. Lots of people speaking loudly all at once. I get this... Folks having a good time with friends. We ordered beers, oysters, beet & fennel salad and a kilo of mussels with fries to share. Everything came at once!the table was full. The oysters weren't very good. No briney ocean flavor. The salad was excellent, if you come here order this. The mussels were another disappointment, large and chewy. Definitely not cooked in the sauce. The sauce was tomato, chorizo and fennel. It was very sweet and just poured over the mussels which was drained from their cooking liquid, all that flavor lost. The fries were absolutely amazing. Maybe I just don't get the hype...
Tony SantoroTony Santoro
00
This is my go to pub whenever I'm visiting Auckland - the mussels, frites and beer is too good to miss! I love sitting outside on a warm day, sipping the cold beer in front of me, while I wait for my kilo of mussels to arrive ($25). And with at least 7 choices of flavours, you'll be sure to find something you like. Because the steamed mussels are so good, I've never had the grilled versions, or any of the other meals (but they look good when being served). The only thing stopping a 5 star review is the service - sometimes it's outstanding, while other times it's lacking. It appears to have a high turnover of backpacking staff, so I'd suggest a bit of extra training is necessary. I'll still be back on my next trip to Auckland!
Paul SmithPaul Smith
10
Nearby Attractions Of The Occidental
Sky Tower
Spark Arena
Aotea Square
Auckland Art Gallery
Woolworths Metro Auckland Victoria Street West
Albert Park
SkyCity Auckland
Woolworths Auckland City
SkyCity Auckland
The Civic
Sky Tower
4.6
(7.4K)Click for details
Spark Arena
4.5
(3.5K)Click for details
Aotea Square
4.4
(2.6K)Click for details
Auckland Art Gallery
4.6
(2.7K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of The Occidental
Dr Rudi's Rooftop Brewing Co.
Elliott Stables
Headquarters
Tony's Original Steak & Seafood Restaurant
Oyster and Chop
Soul Bar & Bistro
The Lula Inn
Federal Delicatessen
Starbucks 220 Queen St
1947 eatery
Dr Rudi's Rooftop Brewing Co.
4.3
(1.7K)$$
Click for details
Elliott Stables
4.4
(1.5K)Click for details
Headquarters
4.1
(1.5K)$$
Click for details
Tony's Original Steak & Seafood Restaurant
4.5
(1.2K)$$
Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
6/8 Vulcan Lane, Auckland City, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
Map
Phone
+64 9 300 6226
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Website
occidentalbar.co.nz
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Reviews
Overview
4.4
(1.7K reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
Cozy haunt featuring Belgian dishes & beer, plus traditional pub grub, in a heritage building.
attractions: Sky Tower, Spark Arena, Aotea Square, Auckland Art Gallery, Woolworths Metro Auckland Victoria Street West, Albert Park, SkyCity Auckland, Woolworths Auckland City, SkyCity Auckland, The Civic, restaurants: Dr Rudi's Rooftop Brewing Co., Elliott Stables, Headquarters, Tony's Original Steak & Seafood Restaurant, Oyster and Chop, Soul Bar & Bistro, The Lula Inn, Federal Delicatessen, Starbucks 220 Queen St, 1947 eatery
