Braemar on Parliament Street

9.2

Wonderful

174 Guest reviews

9.2

Wonderful

174 Verified Reviews

Read all reviews

Cleanliness9.0/10

Service9.8/10

Comfort9.0/10

Condition9.0/10

location10/10

Neighborhood9.6/10

Value10/10

Amenities9.0/10

So much character! And a great breakfast! The hosts are lovely, warm people. I really enjoyed my stay.

Wonderful hospitality, highly recommend!!!

We started our adventure here and John was the perfect host. He served up a wonderful breakfast accompanied by great conversation. Our room was clean and comfortable. We walked down to the marina and found lots of food and shopping. Great place to stay if you want to bypass stuffy hotel rooms.

The property is unique as a former family home then flats and now a B&B with the owner working to restore the building and furnishings to its original albeit faded splendour. Charming step back in time

A unique property with a kind and knowledgable host. We stayed one night in the Victorian Room. The room was beautifully decorated and I am sure all the pieces had lots of history to it that I wish we got to stay and learn about. It was a bit odd having a bathroom (toilet, sink, and shower) in the room itself with only a privacy screen to separate it from the rest of the room. It would be good if this was made a bit more apparent with photos on the website - especially for future guests who may not be comfortable with this layout. All in all, we had a comfortable stay during the short time we were there.

Beautiful building, lovely service

Beautiful historic house in the heart of Auckland. Our host was wonderful: friendly, good conversation, deep knowledge about Auckland, and makes truly fluffy scrambled eggs.

Our hosts at Braemar went truly above and beyond during our two-night stay as part of our honeymoon! John gave us the Victorian room, which was delightfully retro -- just as we wanted. He also got up super early (before 6am) just so that we could have some breakfast before our Hobbiton/Waitomo Caves tours. Our hosts were always incredibly gracious and a joy to get to know.

Excellent stay and attentive hosts

Amazing historic house that is centrally located and within walking distance of uni and downtown. Friendly and very helpful host.

This was a delightful, authentic place to stay, with a delicious breakfast and personal attention from the owner. It is very centrally located and comfortable.

It’s a property that is 100 years old and maintained in a lovely authentic manner. Very friendly owner. Wonderful breakfast and others quests were equally lovely. Slept extremely well. Mattress was great.

The house has an old world charm with history dating back to the 1900s. The location, in a quiet residential neighbourhood is wonderful and within easy walking distance to sites, shopping and restaurants. John is a charming host with lots of stories, history and sightseeing tips to share....plus he makes a fantastic breakfast which sets you up for your day of sightseeing. A bonus is the glass of wine when you return for happy hour. I highly recommend the Braemar on Parliament if you are looking for local colour and the B & B experience in Auckland. We'll be back!

This property was terrible. It smelt damp and musty. The bed covers were very old and tatty,it looked like it hadn't been washed or replaced for 50 years. The property owner as nice as he was, seemed very used to people complaining about the room and when we said we couldn't sleep there the night and would have to find a new hotel he said this happens sometimes but you can't cancel and I will be talking the full amount from your credit card. I have stayed in better back packers. This is the worst hotel I've seen in a long time.

Excellent location and amazing host.

What an excellent location and amazing host. I would love to bring my future bride to be here in the near future. I loved the one on one time with with the owner and I love that he is passionate about preserving this property in the historic manner that it is. Highly suggested!

Quirky and highly recommended

Braemar is an opportunity to experience a truly original property with a fabulous friendly host. Quirky and stacked with interesting features along with a great breakfast.

We had such a fabulous stay at Braemar. Beautiful accomodation and excellent friendly customer service from the owners. They went above and beyond to accommodate our family and pets. The breakfast was also a lovely surprise. Highly recommend checking them out if you are ever in need of somewhere to stay in Auckland. We will definitely be back again.

A beautiful older building on what was a quiet street. A brilliant host (so sorry sir I forgot your name) but very welcoming and you know that he loves doing BnB as a hobby/living. Close walking distance to Spark arena. Breakfast was excellent, and his Scrambled Eggs were top notch and 2nd only to my mums. 1 downside is that (Norman’s) room had a musty smell, we tried to air the room out while we were out, but yeah no success, tolerable during the night but once that small issue is dealt to, it would be a near perfect place to stay. All the very best for the future.

John is a great host, provides wonderful info about local events, culture, history. And he quotes poems!

What a gem of a place! It is located on a quiet street, yet within walking distance of the harbor and downtown. The owner is charming and saw to our needs. Breakfasts were substantial and tasted good. I highly recommend it.

We had a two night stay after cruise ship travel at Braemar on Parliament Street. We choose to walk with our luggage from port to bed & breakfast, and though we are in our senior years and unaccustomed to steep streets, found this location to be excellent. Its quiet, residential area near historical site and university. Host John and his spouse were magnificent, providing comfort, information, civil lessons, and hospitality. Enjoyed breakfast, too. Room was clean and spacious though needs ceiling repairs. No air-conditioning, but not needed. Bathroom facilities inside room dated to colonial days a bit uncomfortable; change in shower curtain recommended. But, we would definitely stay here again upon our return to Auckland. Thank you!

Fantastic property management.

This place was amazing and so welcoming! Situated in one the best Neighborhoods of Auckland, it has easy access to the university, and all the hot spots of Auckland. The place has a character, and the owner is so caring, helpful and welcoming. I totally felt at home! The highlight of my stay was the breakfast.. you simply can not miss it!

Lovely host.

We found our stay at Braemar to be most comfortable. The hosts are attentive, the street quiet, and the location central to a number of the local Auckland sights and activities. We had no trouble finding a variety of places to eat in easy walking distance. The house is lovely old Victorian charm personified, and we were sad to leave. The breakfasts were varied and plentiful. If we are staying in Auckland again, we will be sure to seek a room at Braemar again.

A Step Back Into Culture

The Braemer on Parliament Street was to say the least, an unexpected find during our honeymoon in New Zealand. Nestled in-between two larger buildings the Red and Gray exterior caught my eye as we passed the High Court in Auckland. At the ring of the bell, the light inside illuminated and we were greeted by our soon to be host, John. The next morning we woke up for a lovely breakfast and coffee. We were then escorted to Stratton Station where we boarded our Carriage on the Northern Explorer to continue our adventure through New Zealand. John, we want to sincerely thank you for the kind hospitality and conversation during our stay. It was a wonderful experience that we will remember for a lifetime. Best Wishes, Christopher and Elizabeth

We thoroughly enjoyed our time. The owners of Braemar are absolutely delightful— as charming as the gorgeous property they own. We instantly felt cosy and at ease. Bonus: breakfast was delicious!

Lovely couple and beautiful home. A special place to stay that has lots of good dining options in walkable distance. Also convenient to the train station.

Location was good.

We viewed the facility and told owner we were canceling our booking and want a refund. They said we would have to deal with Expedia. The owner had a dog running around, one of the lounges looked like a tv workshop. The desk top was stained we took pictures we were so shocked. The top of a chest in the room we were offered was dirty and the bedspread looked like it had been pawed by a dog. A real shock and not at all like the pictures on line. We want a refund. Dogs should not be running around a hotel/bed and breakfast, unhygienic. False advertising we want refund

John, was an excellent host and very accomodating. I would defiantly stay again.

A house over 100 year old Victoria home. Very nicely renovated. John and his wife are very nice, breakfast is excellent.

Beautiful victorian bnb. Owners live on site, they are warm and charming. The place feels like being in my grandmother's home. Comfy sitting rooms, run of the house, huge bedroom, with in room club foot tub and shower, lace curtains blowing with clean new zealand air, refrigerator in the room with complimentary wine, beer, and lemonade, quiet neighborhood with park across the street, close to waterfront, mall shopping and restaurants.. No tv, a stiff flight of stairs, but such a welcoming, homey feeling makes up for everything.

The owners were very helpful and accommodating, including helping us save $ on the ride to the airport for our departing flight.

John and Mel are the most affable and generous hosts! They went out of their way to accommodate and make us feel welcome. A wonderful intro to Kiwis!

The place is an immaculate time capsule of early 1900's Auckland. Loved the place. So much character.

Jean Batten, New Zealand's Amelia Earhart, her Dad lived in the suite. There are places and plaques mentioning her throughout Auckland. History came into view.

Pre Cruise Overnight

Flight arrived the morning and was able to drop off bags and get settled right away. After freshening up I received an extensive tutorial of the area, as it was my first trip to Auckland, and headed out to discover and sightsee. Easy walking to so many locations, though keep in mind Auckland is a hilly city, and this is in the middle of it all. Absolutely loved the charm of this place and would definitely stay on my next visit. Not just a place to put your head on a pillow, but an opportunity to really immerse yourself in the gracious experience of being in New Zealand.

Fantastic stay. Very kind & genuine hosts. Only truly nice people who appreciate the love & time the owners put into saving this building should stay here. Thanks so much!

John, the owner was very attentive. Location is great.

The ambience was superb. John and Mel have gone to great effort to make this a very welcoming place to stay. The décor is unique and they have an eclectic collection of memorabilia, books, and pieces of interest to inspire memories and conversation. I cannot think of a better place to stay on one's arrival in NZ.

Impressive Victorian building a short walk down hill into the centre. The biggest plus are the hosts, Mel, who is all smiling welcome and cooks great breakfasts and John, who is most helpful and informative.

Deceptive disclosure. It was mentioned there is free shuttle to the airport. Not true. There Was no private bathroom available. Lenin where not fresh. No closet. Very old and beat up furniture and bed spread. Did not worth NZ $ 252. Not happy with your ranking. I actually hold you responsible for your ranking.

Braemar was our first stop of our first visit to NZ, and was a thorough delight. John and Mel, our hosts, are meticulously restoring a grand dame of a 1800s home. Our room was spacious and comfortable, and the location perfect for exploring the city by foot. John shared insights into NZ life, culture, history and politics, as well as many great suggestions for things to do. We hope to return, and highly recommend!

Wonderful find and owners were incredibly helpful

By European standards, New Zealand is a very young country. Very few buildings are more than a hundred years old particularly in major cities, such as Auckland. Braemar is old and has a unique character as a consequence. John and Mel have been carefully restoring it to its former glory whilst bringing it up to modern standards. They have been managing to do this whilst maintaining the original character. Mel cooks a very good breakfast - the fruit salad is particularly good - at which there was an opportunity to talk to fellow travellers. In the hall there is a world map with pins in it to represent where all the customers have come from. It is nearly full. Braemar is in a quiet location but within easy walking distance of the town centre. Our host, John, was very informative and knowledgeable about Auckland and other places to visit such as the Bay of Islands. He was exceptionally helpful when we found ourselves without a car (our own fault) and we simply could not have managed without him. What he did for us was far beyond the call of duty. And BTW if you listen to the radio here in NZ, many of the voiceovers are done by John. That's the day job!

Highly recommend this gorgeous b&b! An exfellent location, beautiful home, and generous and delightful hosts. John and Mel know how to run a great operation. We loved talking to them and getting suggestions from them for our first time in Auckland. They went above and beyond to make our stay (and our honeymoon!) a success. Thanks!!

Wouldn't stay here again

The Braemar is in a beautiful 1904 mansion. The largest room is huge, with a beautiful fireplace and large window. But there was no bathroom when the house was built, so one was added later. However, no one ever added walls, so the toilet just sits in the corner. The mattress was old and lumpy and the bedspread looked like a cat had attacked it. The chair was child-sized. There is no TV or coffee in the room. The location was good.

Gorgeous building which was full of character. John was an exceptional host, even dropping us off at the bus stop. Would definitely stay again next time we’re in Auckland. 5 stars

Extraordinarily warm and welcoming owners John and Mel. Excellent location for walk to harbor, restaurants and sites.

This is a very old, and charming building with very friendly staff. I would recommend this stay.

Absolutely fabulous hosts, including lovely granddaughter visiting. Really enjoyed being waited on, and watching the "All Blacks" game with wine included. Loved the architecure. I could go on and on, nut will just say "fabulous".

Charm

Great place to stay if visiting Auckland central. It has charm of a past era . Bed is very comfortable and the BF was amazing . Towels and linen need to be upgraded

Beautiful House - Great Hosts

Our stay in Auckland with John and Mel was great! They were generous enough to give us a free room upgrade with a stocked fridge and private bathroom. They had great recommendations for local activities and were knowledgeable about the city and it’s history. We would definitely stay there again next time we visit Auckland!

Fantastic Victorian house with informative and entertaining hosts (John and Mel). This is a unique B&B in the heart of Auckland. If you are looking for modern amenities, stay in a 5 star hotel; if you are looking for character and history, stay here. John was incredibly helpful - welcoming us even though it was late when we finally got to Auckland, parking our car, giving us tips on where to go for sightseeing and eating out. Thoroughly enjoyable stay - I would stay there again without doubt.

Fabulous place and people. Lits of good conversatuons over included wine and later the excellent breakfast. Lively place and would definitely return. Only minor issue was weak wifi signal in the room. Recommended!

Well maintained Victorian property. Walking distance to the Quay where most of the activity takes place. Our room was spacious and quiet. Breakfast (included) was very good. The owners are delightful and extremely helpful.

Comfortable and friendly stay.

Beautiful house that has been lovingly restored to it's former glory, with lots of history. Spacious and very comfortable. Shared bathroom was good with a lovely deep bath. Owners were very helpful and accommodating too, especially making breakfast available early for me.

Great accommodation, very close to the CBD and Spark Arena.

Best b&b ever!

If you want a place to stay and love character then this is the place to stay. The host could not be more welcoming. Was like going to visit family. The place was amazing a had a history of its own worth a visit even if you arent even staying in the place.

Perfect B&B in the heart of Auckland.

Delightful hosts. Gorgeous home. Location walking distance from Everything in city.

Convenient location, charming house

A convenient and cosy place tucked away in a quiet area and yet near the main streets.Our hosts are warm and friendly, making sure to take good care of us, providing home cooked breakfast and sharing stories too. While modernised in terms of automated lights and available WiFi, the house retains its old charms, lovingly maintained by its current owners. Free parking is available at the backyard. Do say hello to Tina the adorable toy poodle!

Excellent choice.

The Best B&B of Our Trip We spent almost three weeks in New Zealand, staying in six different B&B's or boutique hotels. The Braemar was by far the best. It is within walking distance of the heart of the city, has spacious rooms with a lot of character, and the breakfasts were excellent. But what made it really special were the hosts, John and Mel. They helped us get the most out of our four days in Auckland -- both are extremely knowledgeable about the city and had great suggestions on what to do and see. We also had had some wonderful conversations about everything from sports to politics. (John is a former radio announcer.) They made us feel like we were very special guests in a very special place!

Really a Bed and Breakfast with a terrific host

Right in the middle of Auckland where everything is in close walking distance you are welcomed as if you are a guest in your own home. Except Braemar is from another era with meticulous attention to preserving the beauty and history of the Home. A must stay if you are lucky enough to find yourself in Auckland.

Excellent B&B near University of Auckland

Great historic B&B with wonderful hosts near the heart of the city of Auckland. Highly recommend this experience for anyone visiting Auckland. We stayed the night before a cruise and wish we could have stayed longer.

Braemar shines!

In truth the Overall Rating and Staff rate over 5! Facilities have an old world charm and its an experience to enjoy the antiques and setting. Wish it was much closer...I'd be a regular!

Majestic Bed and Breakfast

Fabolous experience, welcoming and attentive hosts. An absolute pleasure from beginning to end.

John was a great host, very accommodating. The lodgings were rich in character too.

Close to waterfront and cafes.

I absolutely loved the B&B, however, there was a strong 'musty' smell in my room that was uncomfortable to be with.

Fantastics hosts, beautiful room (The Belfry). It was like staying in a museum! Free bottle of wine and delicious cooked to order breakfast. Hosts went out of their way to make us comfortable and great source of knowledge regarding Auckland.

Wonderful room, hosts, and location!

This is the ideal location for a stay in Auckland--a quiet, safe, beautiful area that is a very short walk from the center of the CBD. John and Mel are WONDERFUL hosts who prepare a fantastic breakfast and offer terrific recommendations and service. Finally, the B&B and rooms are absolutely beautiful. Plus they are quiet and have really fast wifi!. A terrific experience!

An enjoyable stay...

A quick overnight trip to attend a show. All our needs were met in a welcoming attentive manner. Very comfortable stay with a lovely breakfast before departure. Great central location and a lovely Victorian home.

Step Back in Time

This was such an unexpected surprise. I love this era and it is fantastic that someone has taken the care and passion to preserve it. John and Mel were superb hosts - and Miss Tina. The location to CBD was great. Felt the linen was a bit tired, but the décor, service and little surprises (free parking, wifi, free fridge contents were a delight.

Wonderful Beautiful House and BB.

Wonderful location. Beautiful home. Very close to the university. Owners were lovely and very accommodating. They volunteered and dropped us off at the waterfront for dinner and recommended a wonderful restaurant. The next day they dropped us off at the train station. Fantastic breakfast...wonderful, wonderful people and experience.

Fantastic hosts at a great location

Perfect place to stay: located at walking distance to almost everywhere you would like to go in Central Auckland or even further, since you can get elsewhere by easily getting to the right way of transportation from the B&B. Hosts are adorable and make everything to make you feel at home and to accommodate your needs and more!

Beautiful B&B; outstanding hosts

We had a great stay. Braemar is a charming home, conveniently located in the CBD near parks, the university, and attractions. Our hosts were friendly and knowledgeable, and they made us feel right at home. Breakfast each morning was excellent. We had a wonderful time and would definitely visit Braemar on our next trip to Auckland.

Beautiful b&b restored beautifully.

Excellent b&b. Stayed for two nights and the couple that run it are exceptionally sociable and know how to make your stay a home away from home.

Lovely gem in the heart of Auckland

Sue and John are wonderful hosts. On our first day in NZ they welcomed us warmly and made us feel right at home. The only downside was we only stayed one night. We will definitely return for a longer stay on our next trip to Auckland. It is a beautiful home and right in the heart of the city - you will not be disappointed!

Very convenient to CBD

Old fashioned bed and breakfast. Hosts very helpful and friendly. Will be back.

Wonderful stay with wonderful hosts

Clean and neat rooms. Very convenient location to stroll around the city. Hosts were very friendly and made us feel at home. The room we booked didn't have attached bathroom, while booking we didn't know this, but the shared bathroom was diagonally opposite to our room, it was spacious and clean with all the toiletries. We didn't have any problem with the shared bathroom. Parking is also not a problem, it is not adjacent to the building, one has to go around 2, 3 buildings to get into the parking lot, But host himself did the valet parking for us and when needed he got the car in front of the building. Hosts provided us wonderful cooked breakfast to start our day. Overall unforgettable stay with wonderful hosts.

Amazing hospitality

If 5 stars is best, can I give these guys 10 stars?! Wonderful , beautiful place. The hosts are amazing- warm and super helpful in every way. Breakfast was delicious Thanks John and Mel!!!

Great hospitality

Excellent stay! Rooms are spacious, all very clean and proper. Old building but well preserved. The owners are extremely friendly and helpful. Breakfast is really good, and quite nice that all guest sit at the same table, you get to know your fellow guests

Friendly, helpful staff. Great proximity to city. Enjoyed stay - thank you!

Lovely stay with lovely people

I'd love to come back! I booked late one night after being unexpectedly stranded in Auckland for a night. John and Mel welcomed me with great warmth (and a bottle of wine!). I slep wonderfully in a big comfy bed. Breakfast the next morning was delicious. They have put so much love into fixing up this b&b and I'm so glad I was able to share in the results!

Lovely and well located

Amazing hotel, with very friendly owners and great location. It is close to the harbor and shopping district. Very good breakfast and comfortable rooms.

For something Different

Had a lovely stay for one Saturday night. The house was so interesting with it's history and John was so accomodating. We had a lovely wine and met some of the other guests -this would never happen in a hotel central Auckland. The Shower was great and the brekfast enjoyable. John was so easy to chat with and nothing was a problem.

Charming Bed and Breakfast with welcoming hosts

John and Mel, the proprietors of this bed and breakfast, have created a lovely environment in this heritage home. Whereas the other old houses on the block have been replaced by apartment buildings, John endeavored to keep history alive by purchasing and restoring the house, creating a bed and breakfast that retains the old world charm of the original home.

A stylish b&b in the center of Auckland.

Braemar is very well located. Its only a 10 minutes walk to the harbour and city centre. It is situated next to a park in a quiet street. The house dates from 1910 and has a very stylish interior. When arriving, you immediately feel at home. John and Mel are really very warm hosts. They are always ready to help and give advice. This is much more than just a b&b!!!!!

Expensive old style b&b

Very expensive b&b, well-located near downtown Auckland. A friendly welcome and parking, which is welcome. But for the price the room(s) were lacking in amenities. In particular, for a business traveller, there is no table or a desk where you can do some work, I couldn't join the wifi network despite the prominently displayed password given - and I was doing this after 9 pm so nobody to ask. The bedside table isn't even big enough to take your book and a glass of water, and the tiny lamp is not something you could read by. The room is dingy - guess that's the old-style they advertise.

Central location, great service but...

Well located hotel, well more of a bed & breakfast. The service is the standout as John and his wife take immense pride in their work. For me though, the property lacks the modern niceties and necessities for a business traveller like aircon and a desk in the room. Also wasn't a big fan of the communal bathroom setup. John and his wife do make every effort to please with what they have to offer.

historical charm

Exceptionally friendly hosts, all comforts offered, friends were invited to share the residence, exquisite furnishings/crockery. within walking distance of Vector Arena and Sky city

You have to stay here if you get a chance!

I have to say that I have never felt so welcome in any other hotel/B&B in Australia/NZ!What a unique house, so nice to stay somewhere that really feels like home. The owners are amazing, very helpful and cant do enough for you when you arrive through to when you leave, the hotel is very very well maintained/clean and you can see that John (owner)is very passionate about the house and the B & B business. I will definitely be staying there when I return to NZ! It is a great location, only a 10 min walk to banks, shops, pubs etc., a quiet neighbourhood and the brekky is amazing especially the cooked bekky yum! A fantastic place to stay, thanks for a great time guys, see you again soon.

Very central but quiet.

Very homely. Hosts are very welcoming and do everything to make your stay as nice as possible.

B&B with shared bathroom

Despite friendly owners this didn't really work. The room had no wardrobe, no TV, no iron and no bathroom. The shared bathroom was down the hall which is a major inconvenience, especially in the night.

my home from home

We have booked to go back! If you like simple, 1900's architecture, homely, friendly, and not private and don't mind small then this is it

Great option for staying in/near cbd

Great spot by the cbd, really cool old building, owners couldn't be friendlier or more helpful, great option

Charming! Great location! Not your everyday experience, but a bohemian gem in the midst of CBD!

Wonderful experience

It was exactly as expected based on the Internet reviews consulted and even closer to the CDB than expected. We were looking for a B&B and not for a 5* hotel, in the center but not in a tall building. Ant the welcome received was even warmer than anticipated. Good advice for the ongoing trip, and even a ride to our car rental place! Very personal and charming. Ant the fruit salad for breakfast was the best I had in weeks: all fresh fruit cut in small pieces and nicely decorated with ripe kiwis on top!

nice and central

lots of character including the owners pleasant stay would go there again

First time in NZ

Hosts John and Mel did more than enough to make me feel welcome and comfortable. I didn't realize I didn't book a ensuite bath, but it was still a comfortable stay!

Great B&B in the heart of Auckland

Our hosts were very hospitable, friendly and informative about the history that surrounds the area and the house. It was a very inviting house and had a good vibe about it. Mel meet us with a friendly smile and showed us around the house and to our room. The breakfast was well presented and served. I felt very comfortable and safe in the house.