Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour

Class: Deluxe

Style: Modern design

Rooms: 173

Signs abound that New Zealand has confidently shed its once-provincial self-image. Among them is the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour, a sleek and contemporary luxury hotel that’s, in terms of style, nothing if not cosmopolitan. With a location right on the downtown marina the Sofitel can’t help but become something of an emblem of Auckland’s hospitality scene. The end result is unlikely to leave anyone feeling let down.

It’s a modern and fairly low-slung glass building, with two wings that extend out over the water. The combination makes for some inspiring views through those full-length windows, especially from the front corners. Inside the rooms the look is crisp and modern, looking local without overplaying its Asian-inspired hand. And while it sounds like a footling detail, in today’s overly climate-controlled world we’re suckers for a sliding glass door that opens out to a proper balcony.

This is not a difficult life. The in-room comforts are legion, and the ubiquitous soaking tubs are not bad either. The spa and wellness center are modern and more than suitable given the hotel’s modest size. A couple of stylish restaurants and lounges come close to completing the package — add one high-end flagship restaurant and this place would be absolutely self-contained. Then again perhaps that’s the point — one seam left un-sewn, as an entry point into the city.