Cocktails in jars at Merchant Bar in Albany. Photo / Liana Thaggard
Cocktails in jars at Merchant Bar in Albany. Photo / Liana Thaggard
Address: 219 Don McKinnon Dr, Albany Rating:
First drinks were two randomly picked cocktail jars from the menu. The bartender gave us a number and instructed us to sit down because she had to "learn the recipes". A different bartender then took over the job and our drinks were left at the bar until a waiter wasfree to bring them over. The drinks were pretty tasty though, definitely worth the wait.
The vibe is pretty upbeat. Merchant is attached to Albany mall so there were a few families sitting down for dinner. The parents were drinking Monteith's - available on tap - and the kids were happily chowing down on pizzas from the kitchen.
The toilets are fresh and clean, which is always good.
On the stereo: Sitting outside, we couldn't hear any music playing; inside, an area was being prepped for a night of live music. We decided the silence was better for chatting and there was no risk of being annoyed by music we didn't take a liking to.
Room for improvement: A few of the bar staff seemed a wee bit frazzled as lines of people started to appear and floor staff were only just managing to get orders out to the tables. We think they were hitting a busy part of the afternoon.
The perfect spot for a drink or dinner before a movie. The mall's cinemas are open late and are just across the courtyard. Or you could book a table, grab some menus, drinks and settle in to watch an All Blacks game on the telly.
Most redeeming feature: Lots of outdoor tables that get absolutely sundrenched in the afternoons. The Merchant also has a big kitchen and their food offerings sound delicious. We will be back to try the ribs or pizzas with a few cold brews.
