These two international bars are coming to Auckland...

Cocktail lovers unite: two big name international bars are coming to our shores and will open in Auckland before the end of the year.

The quirkily named Ghost Donkey and GENUINE Liquorette will both have a home at Auckland’s Commercial Bay waterfront precinct. They follow the previously announced arrival of restaurant star Saxon + Parole, which is already established in New York and Moscow.

Hospitality and design specialist AvroKO – the firm spearheading all three – has already successfully set up Ghost Donkey in New York and Las Vegas, and GENUINE Liquorette in London. Ghost Donkey is described as a “high-energy, electric Mexican-influenced tequila and mezcal bar” and GENUINE Liquorette as bringing “cocktail culture that is accessible to all.”

With the former to serve more than 40 styles of mezcal, tequila-laced sodas, Mole Negronis and more, and the latter to include the opportunity to make your own as well as take away bottled cocktails, there’s no doubt both venues will prove popular.

The food at both will be overseen by AvroKO’s Michelin-starred executive chef Brad Farmerie, who worked for Kiwi celebrity chef Peter Gordon for 10 years in London.

Mexican-born AvroKO mixologist Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Jimenez will formulate Ghost Donkey’s cocktail offerings. Brad, who has collaborated with Nacho for more than 15 years, has created a menu that focuses on “Nachos Especiales, a haute version of the classic with ingredients including house-made mole and truffles.”