As the black sheep inside the Merivale stable, this angelic pub is simple at heart. It's filled with bargain cocktails, beer and loud music . Oh, and no pretensions.
Set away from the mayhem of the usual city tippling circuit, this boutique watering hole retains an easygoing setting.
Angel is part of the Merivale clan: that's the group behind uber-chic Hemmesphere and the shiny likes of Establishment and Slip Inn. But unlike its cousin venues, this dark Angel offers a different type of drinking experience altogether.
Avoid strapping on your sky-high party stilettos before trotting in here, because Angel is far more modest than its chi-chi counterparts. This classic boozer is traditional in style and beset with old world charm.
The ground bar is fitted out with timber panelling, stained glass and ceramic floor tiles. Meanwhile, upstairs is given over to a cosier setting, with a pool table, silk ottomans and plush red carpet. Here, leather lounges provide a snug spot for bargoers to settle down with a creative cocktail. For something mischievous, order the Frisky Little Angel (Bacardi, Malibu, cranberry and pineapple juice). From Monday to Wednesday, sippers can snap up cocktails for $8 from 6pm.
Four beers also flow on tap, including Heineken and Becks. For a bargain bevvie, rock up on Wednesdays, when beer and bubbles are $4.
A randomly generated mish-mash of tunes stream from the music system, hitting a deafening crescendo come the weekend. Expect to hear anything from hip hop to rock.
Victoria Brooks
