A new cocktail bar has opened in Auckland, and it’s welcoming patrons from this week – if you can find it.

ACS is from the team at The Parasol & Swing Company, which is behind the bar of the same name in Viaduct Harbour and The Broken Lantern on Ponsonby Road. The new addition, upstairs from The Broken Lantern, is a moody, textured lounge that’s only accessible via a secret stairway, a hidden door and an ever-changing password.

“I love a bar with a bit of theatre and escapism,” owner Adam Neal tells Broadsheet. “Something that starts your experience with a talking point and a bit of fun.”

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He and co-owner Jason Rosen are renowned for their cocktail nous and passion for interesting drinks – in 2013 Neal was named the best bartender in the country over 500 competitors, and Rosen won global cocktail competition Trois Rivieres Rhumbellion in 2017.

When The Broken Lantern opened in 2021, it was always the plan to make the most of the two-level building – but unforeseen hurdles delayed the build. Neal says they couldn’t be happier that ACS has finally come to fruition.

The 48-seat space was designed by Hayley Brown and Hannah Rayneau of art direction and design studio The Art Dept to include a lush mixture of fabrics and finishes. There are ‘70s-patterned, mustard-toned curtains hanging at the entryway and behind the gold-leafed bar, and a curved banquette covered in burnt orange velvet. Vintage orb chandeliers hang from the loft-style ceiling and there’s graffiti on the raw brick and concrete walls.

As well as a cocktail lounge, ACS houses a private pool room and theatre. “We’ll have movies playing on the big projector screen,” says Neal. “It’s the perfect spot for events, it looks out onto Ponsonby Road and has a cool NYC loft vibe.”

ACS is distinct from the venue downstairs, whose upscale pub or bistro vibe blends well with the team’s love of cocktails, wine and attentive table service. Up here, the focus is purely on cocktails, in keeping with both Neal and Rosen’s – and their wider team’s – expertise.

There’s also a concise list of bar snacks, including honey-toasted nuts, olives, some cheeses, pickles and a toasted sandwich.

So, how do you get the password to head up there? “The changing password to the secret entrance will be disguised weekly on our Instagram page in the form of popular movie trivia,” says the ACS team. “But, of course, a friendly visit for a drink at The Broken Lantern can shed some light on how to figure it out as well.”

There’s also the question of what ACS stands for. But Neal remains tight-lipped. “That’s a secret.”

ACS
198 Ponsonby Road, Auckland

Hours
Thurs to Sun 6pm–late

@acs.nz
brokenlantern.co.nz