Auckland's Quirky Themed Eateries You Have to Visit

This Mount Eden showstopper is worthy of a standing ovation. Everything around Circus Circus follows a familiar pattern, from their carnival-themed menu to the on-point circus décor. If you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, this café is famed for their delightful dessert offerings.

Board game geeks will absolutely fall in love with Cakes n Ladders. Gather up a team of like-minded gamers, grab yourselves a bite to eat, and get those dice rolling. This themed café boasts an ever-growing games selection, from the classics like Scrabble and Operation, to more contemporary options like Gears of War or Cards Against Humanity.

This North Shore establishment made a name for itself for being very first cat café in the country. If you want to snuggle up to a rescued kitty while enjoying a nice lunch, The Cat Lounge will be the best place to visit. Obviously, the main café area and cat lounge are kept separate for food hygiene’s sake. This place is quite popular with feline-loving locals, so bookings are highly recommended.

Who doesn’t like to curl up with a warming cup of tea and a book? Chapter Book & Tea Shop takes this concept and brings it to the wonderful world of quirky eateries. The Mt Eden institution boats more than 300 tea options and a remarkable novel collection – mostly romance, though you will find the occasional ‘whodunnit’ lingering about.

Venture into a magical world by visiting this fabled Ponsonby establishment. The Fairy Shop Café is a great place for families with kids — the artfully-decorated venue even caters for birthday parties. And it’s not just fairy princesses who will relish this themed wonder, as they specialise in all things pirate-related too.

Set your compasses toward Auckland’s Westhaven Marina to get to this family-friendly restaurant. Along with a diverse selection of seafood offerings, Swashbucklers also has a special pirate-themed kids’ menu. Whatever delicacy you choose, from oysters to scallops and market fish, you’ll be able to fully immerse yourself in the incredible maritime views.

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