A modern Chinese restaurant and bar at 44 Queen Street in the Auckland CBD, with dishes inspired by the food north of the Yangtze River and reworked with a contemporary touch. The menu is built for sharing, and it includes pork belly with black bean and noodles, shredded chicken with cold noodles and black vinegar, beef brisket in bone broth, and a crisp breadstick with kaffir lime and chilli mayo. Dishes carry dairy-free, gluten-free and vegan tags. The drinks list includes house infusions and cocktails, among them Fenjiu, a yuzu umeshu and a matcha vodka. The website says there is live jazz on Tuesday evenings from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. The Nightcar also hosts group catch-ups, birthdays, engagements and corporate dinners, and can cater for intimate groups. Founder Daren Zhou describes it as a late-night place for a shared meal, with the feel of cinema and train travel in the design. Our pick in the CBD for a late dinner with a drink you have not had before.