Palmer sits quietly beneath the scooped concrete curves of 1 Albert Street, one of Auckland’s most iconic modernist buildings. From a blank canvas, we were asked to name and brand this new city bar—something welcoming, distinctive, and a little transportive.

The name and idea behind Palmer were inspired by the palm frond and the open hand. Symbols of hospitality, of arrival, of being taken care of. A place to pause mid-journey, to seek out good company and good drinks, or to simply sit in the shade. The idea shaped everything, from the laidback tone of voice to the five-fingered logo mark and the lush palette that hints at Palm Springs with a distinctly local edge.

Created in close collaboration with architects, interior designers and the wider client team, Palmer became more than a bar. It’s a pocket of calm in the middle of the city, and exactly the kind of place you want to spend an afternoon that turns into evening.