About Underpass
Underpass is a modern bar and live music venue tucked beneath the Lower Hobson Street motorway in Auckland’s CBD. It occupies the footprint of the old “Carpark” bar, which was itself a repurposed City Council car park. In March 2016 the space was thoroughly transformed into Underpass, complete with a striking industrial-chic design (www.hospitalitybusiness.co.nz ) (concreteplayground.com ). Designers from String Theory (branding) and Flathead (interiors) stripped the venue back to its shell, raised the ceiling, and added exposed steel and concrete finishes as an homage to its former life as a mechanics workshop and city car park (www.hospitalitybusiness.co.nz ). The result is a raw, Berlin-style vibe – reviewers note bare concrete walls, American oak tables, and hanging globe lights – that feels more like a futuristic underground club than a typical motorway-side dive (concreteplayground.com ). Even the car ramp that runs overhead adds ambient thunder to the experience, though a custom Martin Audio sound system and acoustic panels keep traffic noise in check (www.hospitalitybusiness.co.nz ) (concreteplayground.com ).
The venue’s name – Underpass – comes naturally from its location under a busy freeway spur. It quickly earned a reputation as an after-work hangout for craft-beer lovers and night owls. The bar is a “free house” offering both mainstream and craft beers on tap – early promotions even listed local breweries like Panhead and Liberty – along with classic cocktails and a concise wine list (www.hospitalitybusiness.co.nz ) (concreteplayground.com ). In fact, beer connoisseurs have praised the lineup, calling the drink menu “a craft beer geek’s wet dream” that frequently rotates taps with small-batch brews (concreteplayground.com ). Underpass also features a menu of street-food-inspired bites to suit the setting. Skewers, sliders and fritters (even paua fritters) are served in shareable portions – historically priced under $10 per item (www.hospitalitybusiness.co.nz ) (concreteplayground.com ) – so patrons can easily snack with a drink in one hand and dance in the other.
Underpass has become notable in Auckland’s scene for merging relaxed daytime vibes with late-night energy. It opens daily in the late afternoon and stays open until the early hours (1–3 am depending on the day). Weekdays bring mellow grooves and after-work crowds, while Fridays and Saturdays turn up the volume. Management bills it as an “inner city bar” that caters both to casual cocktails and to a lively late-night music crowd (www.hospitalitybusiness.co.nz ) (www.hospitalitybusiness.co.nz ). With its reclaimed space, bold concrete booths (even private four-ton culvert booths for groups (www.hospitalitybusiness.co.nz )), and outdoor deck area, Underpass offers a unique character that stands out among Auckland’s venues.
Events and Programming
Underpass hosts a rotating mix of live music and DJ nights suited to its intimate club setting. Regular genres include electronic dance (techno, house, dubstep), hip-hop/R&B, rock and indie sets, and genre-blending party DJs. Locally and internationally known DJs frequently play the underground dancefloor, while New Zealand bands and singer-songwriters often take turns on the small stage. Many events are all-ages until late evening, then over-18s only after 10pm when the bar’s liquor licence kicks in. One regular pattern is quieter live music or funk/soul bands earlier in the week, building up to packed dance nights on Fridays and Saturdays.
The venue’sTYPEDNODE program
