Fodor's Expert Review Cotter House

Editor's Note: This location is no longer in operation.

This 1847 Regency mansion, the fifth-oldest house in Auckland, has been refurbished in original style, with classic features such as egg-and-dart molding, recessed arches, and narrow shutters on the high windows, and it's private with security gates. Colombian-French owner Gloria Poupard-Walbridge is a fantastic host who offers personalized service; Cotter House cannot take large numbers. Should you wish to hold a ball while in residence, there is a ballroom that can seat 40 in style. The elegant house is a showcase for fine art, which shares the rooms with a significant collection of antiques, from writing desks, vanities, and armoires to the French scallop-shaped bath in the suite. Table d'hôte dinners are available by arrangement. This place is popular with high-profile people who like to vacation on the down low.