The Best Pubs in Auckland, New Zealand
Auckland’s bar and restaurant scene is incredibly wide-ranging – there’s something for all tastes and budgets. If a classic pub with plenty of good-old Kiwi hospitality is what you seek, look no further than these incredible options dotted around New Zealand’s largest city.
1. Shakespeare Hotel & Brewery
Hotel Restaurant, Pub, Pub Grub, European
Famous for being the very first English-style brew pub to open in New Zealand, the Shakespeare Hotel and Brewery gets full bragging rights for serving up the local pub crowd for a solid 100 years. In contemporary times, the Shakespeare comprises a main bar, a 10-room hotel and a restaurant. Craft beers are brewed on-site and the pub also has music playing during the week.
2. The Cav
Gastropub, Pub, Pub Grub, European, Beer
A refurbished Ponsonby classic that has been around since 1866. In recent years, the Cav has earned a strong reputation for its gastropub vibe. Crowd-pleasing highlights include a great selection of craft beers, an extensive food menu that goes above and beyond the typical pub fare, and an airy-but-dynamic ambiance that ably caters to both chilled-out patrons and the avid sports fans who come to watch a game on the large TV screens.
3. The Occidental
Gastropub, Seafood, Pub Grub, Belgian
Located in Auckland’s historic Vulcan Lane, right at the heart of the city, the Occidental is the go-to haunt for Belgian beers, classic pub vibes, and a mouth-watering food menu. Steamed mussels are its top culinary speciality, and beer-loving patrons can sample all the pub’s best tap selections by ordering a taster tray.
5. The Clare Inn
Pub, Pub Grub, Irish, European, Beer
The Clare Inn is an Irish pub known for its frothy Guinness pints, dynamic events calendar, and award-winning food menu. This hospitable Dominion Road venue has earned accolades for its beef and lamb mains for three years straight – meaning this is as great of a place to chill out with a good pint as it’s ideal for a proper sit-down meal.
6. The Riverhead
Bar, Pub, Pub Grub, European, Beer
A 25-minute drive from Auckland (or a quick ferry ride over summer) will take you to New Zealand’s oldest riverside tavern. The Riverhead consists of three different venues: the a la carte Landing Restaurant, the Boat House Function Centre, and the Portage Neighbourhood Bar. The latter is the place to down some hops and spin some yarns, play a few rounds of pool, or simply watch some live sport on the big screens.
7. The Lumsden Freehouse
Bar, Gastropub, Pub, European, Pub Grub, Italian, American
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.