Mela

It’s a Tuesday night in Auckland city but you’d easily mistake it for the weekend at Sumi. The new izakaya spot by owner-chef Jason Lee (Wakuwaku, Katsu Katsu, Tsuru Tsuru) in City Works Depot is humming.

Wander down the cobblestones of Saint Patrick’s Square and you might happen upon the luxurious first floor of newly-built Hotel Indigo, housed in a restored heritage building. You can enter through the other side too—the Albert Street entrance blending into the concrete jungle as if it was always there (just look for the elegant Bistro Saine font out front).