Hallertau Brewery in Riverhead is a must-visit for craft beer lovers exploring Auckland’s northwest. Just a short drive from Vineyard Cottages, this vibrant brewery blends a relaxed, rustic atmosphere with a creative approach to brewing. Their ever-changing lineup ranges from crisp, refreshing lagers to bold, hop-forward IPAs, alongside seasonal and experimental releases. The spacious beer garden and family-friendly vibe make it perfect for long afternoons with friends. Pair your pint with a menu celebrating fresh, locally sourced ingredients – think wood-fired pizzas, hearty platters, and beer-friendly bites. Hallertau isn’t just a brewery; it’s a community hub for great beer, food, and live music. TOP PICKS from the menu – We love the Jalapeno Poppers and the HFC – Hallertau Fried Chicken. The pizza is top notch too!
Hapunan in Huapai is a vibrant Filipino take away bringing the bold, comforting flavours of the Philippines to Auckland’s northwest. Known for its warm hospitality and homestyle cooking, Hapunan serves up dishes that balance tradition with a fresh, modern touch. Favourites include succulent Beef Kare Kare, Lumpia, and their award winning Auckland Iconic Eats dish Adobo Del Diablo, all made with care and authenticity. There is a small bench to eat at but we recommend bringing it back to the cottages, cracking open a bottle of Kumeu River Pinot Gris and lighting the fire. Hapunan is a delicious reminder that great food is as much about heart and heritage as flavour.
The Butcher Baker is the quintessential hidden gem. Tucked on a side street behind a walled garden, it is a restaurant of simplicity and charm and the most gorgeous open plan kitchen. With outstanding baked good from The Real Bread Project and dishes that showcase seasonal and local, the menu is small, but perfectly formed. As a huge fan of Beef Tartare, I am drawn to it in on most menus, but always have it when it is on theirs. The chickpea socca is another personal favourite. The wine list is not traditional. There are a few wines which will get you thinking, whether they are natural or not, but I love that there are wines from all over the world, not just NZ on offer. The Butcher Baker offers dinner and a roast experience on Sunday. We are more than lucky it’s on our doorstep.
Speaking of The Real Bread Project, what Dan and his team can do with dough is quite frankly amazing. Whether you have a sweet tooth or a savoury tooth or somewhere in between, your carb requirements are all catered for with the most mouthwatering selection of pastries, sourdough, donuts and more. During covid, it became the haven for a friend and I who would buy as much of the olive sourdough as we could and layer it with feta and honey. It was also the spot we could buy her darling very sick husband his favourite fresh cream doughnut. Four years after he passed I can still think of him everytime I’m in there and know how much he loved them. My personal favourite is the marmite scroll. Love it or hate it, marmite is high up on my love list, so this is the perfect breakfast on the run. The hot cross buns at Easter are fantastic too!
New to the area in a very old pub is Shed16 and how lucky are we to have it so close. Shed16 is in the Old Kaukapakapa pub 10mins from Vineyard Cottages. The pub stood empty for years and is now a thriving busy eatery focused on easy eats and a brilliant vibe. It is what every local eatery should be. The food is classic pub grub, burgers, ribs, steak and a good list of drinking nibbles too. On the night we went (and yes it’s only been once as I skipped the country for six weeks,) three of us hd a plentiful steak and chips dinner with a bottle of wine and live music in the background. The place was humming, families and large groups took over the bigger tables outside while the band played kiwi classics and the humm of people eating and drinking together emphasised what a great eatery should all be about. I would recommend booking as this place is popular!
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