Room review: A night at QT Auckland with a dog

Milo, my mini schnauzer is a spoiled pup at the best of times. He dictates my bedtime, he sleeps on my bed, and he’s a fussy eater. So what better way to teach him his place than to check in to QT Auckland for a doggy staycation!

I was apprehensive on check in, I’d read the T&Cs for offering and it clearly states “If the owner isn’t able to control their pooch’s vocals, they’ll be asked to leave the hotel.”

I’ve spent a lot of time and energy (and money!) training Milo but he’s not yet two-years old and he’s very… errr… excitable. Walking into QT Auckland on a Saturday afternoon, I knew it would take more than the handful of treats in my pocket to get me through the check in process. It was 3pm and there was already a queue in the lobby, and plenty of patrons already at the bar and in Esther, the in-house restaurant.

The staff are clearly animal lovers, and tried to give Milo a snuggle as he howled. I shovelled treats into his mouth as the staff tell me that approximately one dog a week checks in to stay at the hotel.

QT Auckland is located in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour with easy access to the city’s waterfront bars and restaurants. The vibe is best described as luxurious and quirky.

The ground floor features the lobby and chef Sean Connolly’s restaurant Esther, as well as a digital art display, and quirky glass sculptures designed by Nic Graham. There’s a rooftop bar on the 6th floor that’s always a hit for cocktails at sunset, especially in summer.

The hotel has a handful of rooms that can be made dog-friendly based on availability. We’re in a QT King room. There’s a comfortable king-sized bed, table and chairs and apart from the usual amenities you’d expect for humans there’s also a potty mat, water and food bowls, a comfy dog bed from Wellington-based company Smack Bang and a really cute mini bar for dogs containing treats, a water bottle, an ID tag and a welcome note from the hotel’s “Director of Chaos”. Milo was impressed, especially with the range of treats on offer.

Like all rooms at the hotel, you’ll also have access to Netflix, Nespresso, a bluetooth speaker and a Dyson hairdryer. There are ALICE amenities in the bathrooms.

The doggie menu is befitting of a spoiled pup, with dishes ranging from steak tartare and bone marrow risotto with crispy pigs ears to rump steak with kidneys and bone broth gravy. Milo has a delicate constitution, so we elected for the steamed chicken, roasted vegetables and gravy. Judging by how quickly he inhaled it I reckon it was a hit.

I ordered the pasta with milk braised pork and chicken bolognaise - highly recommended too. You can’t leave the pup alone in the room, so the food was brought to us.

But if you can, reserve a table at Esther to sample Mediterranean fare inspired by Connolly’s travels - it’s worth a trip out to the hotel just for that.

Bellies full, Milo and I wandered out to nearby Victoria Park for a stroll and bathroom break before bedtime.

If you’re not in the mood to party, the sound that travels from the rooftop bar can be slightly disruptive. It does stop around midnight though.

The cute little touches in the room for your fur baby are thoughtful, and the staff are true animal lovers. If leaving your dog at home while you go on holiday feels unpalatable, rest assured your pooch will be well taken care of at any QT property.

Pup Yeah! rooms start from $550 a night. Only dogs under 20kg are allowed, and you’ll have to ensure they are toilet trained and well-behaved. See for more information.

The QT King (Accessible) rooms are spatially designed with room to move and an accessible bathroom.

Try the $40 lunch menu and $55 dinner menu at Esther during Restaurant Month (1-31 August).

Esther will also have a special Negroni menu featuring cocktail creations from select QT hotels across Australia and New Zealand from 12-18 September.