The Empire Hotel

What People are saying

Better than expected!

joannacampbell on 11/01/2018 11:37

For $85 per night we weren't expecting much, also because it is on top of a bar. But our $85 room was actually huge, with a double bed and single bed, a spacious bathroom, small fridge, coffee and tea, a fan, and a tv. Shower pressure was perfect, strong but didn't blast you to pieces. You get your key from the bar staff. You can take your stuff in through a back door but they lock it around 9pm. There is no nightclub there anymore so we had a lovely sleep and couldn't hear anything. It was mostly really clean, old, but all good. Cleaners just need to mop the floor next time that's all.

Lunch update

ThelmaNZ on 28/12/2017 05:28

Went to this establishment for lunch. Two of had shrimp cocktails which were very nice as was grandsons garlic bread. For main we had one beef salad which was apparently quite tastess one open beef sa dwich very nice and ribs that very very delicious but certainly plentiful. Good value

Terrible

alextheunicorn on 09/07/2017 09:45

My friend and I were driving down from New Plymouth for her to have cancer treatment, and we stopped and rang to book a table in advance. We were told they were not busy and just to come in, they said there would be a table. We got there and there were no tables available, had to wait for one to become available. We ordered our food and we were given what we now know as a buzzer for our table. Had no idea what it was, and the waitress did not explain. We sat down and the buzzer went off a few times, which we weren't sure why because we weren't told. Our waitress brought our food over and very rudely asked us if our buzzer went off. And we said yes but we weren't sure why, and she said we were meant to go get our own food from the kitchen. Which we had never heard of. My friend has been here previously, and got her food brought out to her. She is very sick and could not possibly go get her own meal, she could barely sit comfortably. And we noticed other tables getting their meals brought out to them. My friend ordered the wedges, which was supposed to come with bacon and sweet chilli sauce. It came absolutely drenched in sweet chilli sauce, therefore it was inedible. Way too much sauce. And the steak tasted old. Came time to order dessert, which we thought might be better. We were told it would be a wait for dessert orders as the kitchen was telling the waitresses to stop putting orders through. There were maybe 2 other tables there, so not busy. Yet they were gonna make us wait. So we left and went somewhere else. Overall terrible experience, especially when my friend has previously had a fine experience. Never again.

disappointing family dinner out

lindalulu8 on 30/06/2017 11:29

Went here for dinner with family on their recommendation from regular experience this place was great but what a let down. Kids meal had under-cooked sausages, cobb pie didn't live up to its description in menu was a small ramekin size with some dry stew with pastry top. Chicken schnitzel tasted like something defrosted and fried, not the fresh breadcrumbs as stated on menu. Then covered in gravy which made chips soggy. My son who took us here was embarrassed as this apparently wasn't the usual fare, a regular here, he'd never known it to be so bad. Maybe a different chef this night? The staff member behind kitchen was also rude. I believe my son that this place is usually great, but unfortunately we didn't get that experience. Bar staff friendly though.

Good pub meals, good selection of beers

Chris H on 30/05/2017 20:20

If you're looking for a place to have a feed and a couple of drinks while in palmerston north, the Cobb is worth heading to.
You'll find typical pub hospitality, and all the meals you'd expect to see on any pub menu around the globe.
All up... It's a pub like any other...