Nocturnalists: Jack Young knows how to have a good time in Auckland

The Nocturnalists series shines a light on Auckland after dark. Restaurateurs and chefs, comedians and creatives, performers and punters – Nocturnalists are spirited members of Auckland’s nighttime scene. In this series, they take us on a tour of their favourite spots and all this city has to offer after 5pm. Someone who knows that well is Jack Young, owner of hip Pitt Street bar and restaurant No.7.

Photos by Sophie Miya-Smith shot on location at No. 7 and Den Ramen.

Since opening in 2022, No.7 has become a Karangahape Road institution. Head there on a Friday or Saturday night and you’re guaranteed to find it packed to the gills with stylish Aucklanders – and weaving around them all, owner Jack Young. A just-opened dining room has expanded the venue’s footprint, while the opening of the CRL (the business sits directly adjacent to the newly opened Karanga-a-Hape station) has already been a boon for business. 

With all that’s been happening, we caught up with Young to hear how he’s doing, where you’ll find him when he’s not at work and how he likes to enjoy Tāmaki Makaurau after dark.

How’s everything been going since the CRL opened?

We've been pretty flat out. Our turnover has been way up since it opened – nothing crazy, but definitely noticeably busier. Especially on weekend nights, whether that's people using the train or just that K’ Road is busier. It's been good.

Every time I swing by the place is full of stylish people, packed like (cool) sardines on benches and stools. How did you cultivate such a vibey night-time dynamic, or did it just happen naturally?

My theory has always been that we should just do what we want to do and hope that people like it. We've tried to create a good community space. I know that's sort of cliché, but I think a lot of people feel like they have some sense of ownership or a stake in the place. They feel like they know us so well, which is awesome.

How’s the vibe on Karangahape been lately?

It really feels busy… you definitely notice more people floating about, particularly in Beresford Square. It all feels alive at the moment, which is so nice. We need the whole street to be thriving for us to do well.

Because there’s spillover, right? People come up and buy a record or a book, then stay for a drink and some dinner?

Yeah. No one goes to one place for the whole night – you go somewhere for a couple of hours, have dinner, go somewhere else for a drink, go somewhere else for another drink.

Where would you bounce around to?

We go to the Northern Line a little bit, but not until later, after work. I’d go to The Frog, Pici for dinner, sometimes Acho’s.

Best place to go for a debrief?

We often end up at the Northern Line for an after-service beer and gossip… They’re great over there, because they stay open quite late, until three or four most nights, so they're always open when we're done.

I understand you’re also a fan of Den Ramen on Cross Street?

Yeah. I think it's probably the best thing that's opened in the K’ Road area in a while. It just feels like the perfect kind of thing to have here; it's not a bar, it's a restaurant, but it's still casual and snappy… I always get the snapper broth with pork, it’s really good. If my dad was here for work or something, I would take him there. I just think it's good. It kind of creeps up on you when you're walking down Cross Street – like there's nothing and then all of a sudden there’s this really great restaurant. It's always busy, the food's great and the drinks are good. And the service. It just works.

You’re dining alone – where do you go and what are you eating?

Kuey teow goreng from Uncle Man’s on K' Road.

What’s your drink of choice and where are you getting it?

Nothing better than a Speight’s at Swashbucklers. Alternatively a gin martini with a twist from Mezze Bar.

That place is low-key legendary.

I'm often there for an early evening coffee or beer. It takes you off the street and you're sitting in this place that could be anywhere… and it hasn't changed one bit in years. I used to go there before I moved to Auckland.

Where were you before that?

I'm from Wellington. But I’m an Aucklander now.

Which city has better nightlife?

Auckland, definitely.

And better food?

I do think Auckland. I think the variety here is just so much better.

Yeah, we’re blessed with a diversity of cuisines. I feel like Vietnamese is really having a moment right now.

Yeah. I love it, it’s my favourite.

Any recommendations?

Vie on Shortland Street. I love it and it’s such a nice place to sit – it feels really authentic. You get in and you get [your food], then make room for other people, which feels cool. The beef phở is so good, and the bánh mì.

Where else would you go to get a taste of the world?

I go to Koiya on High Street, a little Japanese place. It's really good – they do a great bento box. Sometimes I go to Shaolin Kung Fu Noodle on Queen Street for hand-pulled noodles, or King Made Noodles on Lorne Street.

Do you have a favourite "famous-in-Auckland" dish?

I can’t go past D4 from Eden Noodles [noodles with pork mince and magic sauce]. I reckon I get it once a week. 

An Auckland icon. What else do you do in the city?

I go to a lot of art openings, when I have the time, at Treadler, Coastal Signs and Lett Thomas. They always feel like a good place to start the night. You can kind of just show up, see who's there and then make a night out of that, which is kind of fun.

Where would you go for a debrief after a gallery opening?

Usually No.7, everyone ends up here.

Other than No.7, where’s the best place for people watching?

Probably The Frog or maybe Acho’s. You can sit on the street and people are rolling by, so you say hi to people and figure out what else is going on.

Street seating is the secret sauce, eh.

It’s the best place to be.

No.7 is good for sidewalk theatre. This must be a pretty social place to work right?

Yeah. You get a lot of the fulfilment of having a social life by being here. I work with people that I'm genuinely close friends with every day, and then every night here there's people you want to hang out with. If there's a quiet moment, I can almost always find a table of people to sit with. It’s pretty easy to have a good time.

Are you a night owl?

Yeah.

What do Auckland nights offer that the daytime doesn't?

Being able to do things with a big group of friends. Obviously during the day everyone's working, so it’s nice to be able to post up at a bar or an event or something and run into people. You can have those chance encounters with people that turn into something fun without necessarily planning it.

Do you think living and working in central Auckland helps give your life flexibility?

Definitely, because I can just walk everywhere. I can pop home and be out again within 20 minutes if I need to be. Living centrally is really, really great. I haven't lived more than 10 minutes walk from work or K’ Road for five years. I don't have a car at the moment, so it's awesome being able to still access such a good variety of food, bars, events and people.

I can co-sign that, as another central city dweller. OK Jack, any other thoughts about Auckland after dark and how people can enjoy it?

By going out. Try to make the most of what's on in Auckland – there’s always something on, you just have to do it. Go to things, book tickets, go to restaurants. Remember sometimes it's more fun to hang out in a place other than home.

This content was created in paid partnership with Auckland by Night. Ready to become a Nocturnalist? Head to Discover Auckland to find out what that the Auckland city centre has to offer after 5pm.