Zoe RocheAuckland is blessed with gorgeous summer weather, perfect for beautiful beer gardens where customers can soak in the sun while savouring chilled beer. That’s why it’s not surprising that the city is brimming with beer gardens just waiting to be explored.
In this guide, we list down the best beer gardens in Auckland to grab a drink and quench your thirst! From sun-kissed afternoons overlooking the harbour to cosy evenings under fairy lights, Auckland’s beer gardens got you covered.
The Riverhead
Address: 33 York Terrace, Riverhead 0820, New Zealand
Distance from Auckland CBD: 30 minutes
Website: http://www.theriverhead.co.nz/
Contact details: +64 9 412 8902, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Thursday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
A mere 30-minute drive away from Auckland CBD, The Riverhead is a 160-year-old tavern that has become a staple in the Riverhead community. It has both an indoor and outdoor dining area to accommodate its huge customer base.
The tavern’s beer garden offers a panoramic view of the Rangitopuni Stream. The majestic 100-year-old oak trees surrounding the deck provide much-needed shade for the patrons enjoying their meals and drinks.
The menu changes seasonally to give customers something to look forward to, but crowd favourites, like Riv’s Ribs, almost never leave the list. The tavern also has an extensive selection of drinks, from coffee to alcoholic drinks, like cocktails and beer.
| Pro Tip: We strongly recommend booking and requesting a table in its beer garden or deck if you want an outdoor dining experience. The beer garden often gets full early, so you might end up indoors if you don’t have a reservation. |
Brothers Beer and Juke Joint BBQ
Address: 5 Akiraho Street, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand
Website: http://www.jukejoint.co.nz/
Contact details: +64 9 638 7592
Operating hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Located in Mount Eden, Brothers Beer and Juke Joint BBQ is the place to go if you’re looking for mouthwatering BBQ and craft beer. Hidden in its industrial-style exterior is a huge courtyard beer garden for those who want an outdoor dining experience.
The menu boasts a huge selection of barbecue meals and other chicken and meat dishes, like pork ribs, chicken wings, and burgers. The drinks menu has a few cocktails and wines, but the highlight is the beer section, which is very popular among its patrons.
Brothers Beer and Juke Joint BBQ is also one of the best places to enjoy a lunch or dinner date with the whole family. The joint has a separate kids’ meal for their little diners and a sand pit near the courtyard where they can play while their parents eat.
| Pro Tip: Brothers Beer and Juke Joint BBQ’s Happy Hour is available from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM every weekday. Chicken wings are offered at only $2 for a minimum order of 3, while selected beers and wines are sold at only $8. |
Hallertau Brewery
Address: 1171 Coatesville Riverhead Highway, Auckland 0892, New Zealand
Website: http://www.hallertau.co.nz/
Contact details: +64 9 412 5555, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
The Hallertau Brewery has recently unveiled its newest addition—a vibrant and lively Biergarten. The beer garden is built around a central bar that serves some of the best beers and wood-fired pizzas in Auckland.
With over 10 beer varieties, all crafted in-house, this is a haven for beer lovers who are always in search of unique beers. But if beer isn’t really for you, they also have other options, like cocktails, wines, and non-alcoholic drinks for those who want to stay sharp.
For the little ones, Hallertau has a separate kids’ menu on top of its extensive main menu. There’s also an outdoor playground by the beer garden to entertain the kids while their parents feast on Hallertau’s fine foods and drinks.
| Pro Tip: Take a bus or Uber if you’re planning to visit! The place is about a 30-minute drive from the CBD, and you might not be able to drive back home after getting too much beer. |
Northcote Tavern
Address: 37 Queen Street, Northcote Point, Auckland 0627, New Zealand
Website: https://www.northcotetavern.co.nz/
Contact details: +64 9 480 7707, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Thursday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Since the 1850s, Northcote Tavern has been one of the go-to places for friends and families in Auckland who want to hang out and share a good meal.
The pub maintains an old English pub aesthetic while also taking into consideration Kiwis’ love for outdoor dining.
Its large, grassy beer garden is perfect for families and friends who want to bask in the sun while sipping on their ice-cold beer and indulging in delicious food. Each table in the garden has sun umbrellas for customers to use when the sun gets too hot.
Northcote has two bars, the Highlander Bar and Callans Sports Bar, that offer a range of tap beers, bottled beers, wines, spirits, and non-alcoholic options. Food is pretty diverse, ranging from burgers and sandwiches to beef cheek pies and chicken platters.
| Pro Tip: The beer garden is typically the first one to get full despite it being huge, so get there as early as you can to secure a spot. |
Citizen Park
Address: 424 New North Road, Kingsland, Auckland 1021, New Zealand
Website: https://goodspiritshospitality.co.nz/venues/citizen-park
Contact details: +64 9 846 4964, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Thursday: 12:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM to 12:00 AM
Sunday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Open from lunch until late, Citizen Park is one of the best places to enjoy long lunches, afternoon snacks, or a late-night hangout with friends over cocktails and beers.
The place has an outdoor courtyard garden where you can indulge in American-bistro-style meals.
And don’t worry about bad weather dampening your mood because Citizen Park’s retractable roof has got you covered (both figuratively and literally).
The already lively beer garden becomes even more lively and vibrant during weekends as Citizen Park invites DJs and musicians to entertain its customers. The place also screens big sports games, but you’ll have to settle indoors if you want to watch.
| Pro Tip: They do a BBQ at the Park special on Sundays where you can enjoy a brisket BBQ board for 2 for only $39.95 and a variety of drinks at special rates. They also have live music playing during these days, so be sure to check it out! |
The Sawmill Brewery and Smoko Room
Address: 1004 Leigh Road, Matakana 0985, New Zealand
Distance from Auckland CBD: 1 hour
Website: https://www.sawmillbrewery.co.nz/
Contact details: +64 9 422 6555; [email protected], [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Thursday: 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM
Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM to 9:30 PM
If you think vineyards and wineries are all Matakana can offer, then you couldn’t be more wrong. It’s also home to The Sawmill Brewery, New Zealand’s first B Corporation certified and producer of one of the best domestic beers in the country.
The brewery’s smoko room has a spacious beer garden dotted with long tables and sun umbrellas, inviting you and your loved ones to sit down and relax. It’s the perfect spot for friendly gatherings or lady afternoons away from the bustling city.
Sawmill is dedicated to serving meals made with ethically sourced ingredients only. Expect a constantly changing menu that reflects the season and availability of the ingredients, keeping every visit unique and exciting.
| Pro Tip: Happy Hour is available every weekday from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The brewery’s signature Sawmill pint is sold for only $8, Jugs and fried chicken for $35, and Te Kano Wine for $8 per glass and $40 per bottle. |
Galbraith’s Alehouse
Address: 2 Mount Eden Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
Website: http://www.alehouse.co.nz/
Contact details: +64 9 379 3557, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Wednesday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Thursday to Saturday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Named one of the top 10 bars in Auckland by Metro Magazine, Galbraith’s Alehouse’s name isn’t new to beer lovers in Auckland. With a spacious beer garden at the back of the alehouse, Galbraith’s a fantastic spot to catch up with friends over ice-cold beers.
Galbraith’s Alehouse takes pride in its specialty cask-conditioned house beer, or Real Ale, which has been a consistent favourite of its patrons since it opened in 1995.
The brewery has also started producing European lager beers to accommodate more customers.
The brewery’s food game is also just as strong as its beer selection. Everything on the menu, from pub classics and bistro-style meals to light meals and burgers, will surely leave you wanting more!
| Pro Tip: Galbraith’s Alehouse has acoustic music sessions in the beer garden from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM every Sunday. The garden can get packed quickly, so make a reservation to make sure you have a table! |
Union Post
Address: 124 Main Highway, Ellerslie, Auckland 1051, New Zealand
Website: https://goodspiritshospitality.co.nz/venues/union-post
Contact details: +64 9 579 2303, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Thursday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Friday: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Sunday: 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Union Post is a former village post office that’s now used to welcome people looking for a relaxing spot to dine, drink, and hang out. The pub serves classic gastropub-inspired meals and a wide selection of cocktails and craft beer to elevate the dining experience.
The beer garden isn’t as huge as other older pubs in the city, but that only makes it more intimate for the diners. It’s also covered by a glass roof, perfect for letting the sunlight in without risking the diners getting wet when it suddenly rains.
The pub is especially vibrant and fun during rugby games since a lot of fans come to watch, making it perfect if you want to meet fellow rugby fans. If you’re lucky, you might even enjoy live music from a DJ on your visit!
| Pro Tip: Union Post offers free food for kids on Sundays, so that might be the perfect time for a meal with the family! |
The Garden Shed
Address: 470 Mount Eden Road, Mount Eden, Auckland 1024, New Zealand
Website: http://www.thegardenshed.kiwi/
Contact details: +64 9 630 3393, [email protected]
Operating hours:
Monday to Friday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Sunday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
The Garden Shed is another restaurant in Mount Eden with a beautiful beer garden. Both its indoor and outdoor dining areas are decorated with plants and wood, giving diners an outdoor-like dining experience even when they’re inside.
The outdoor courtyard, serving as a beer garden, is surrounded by all types of plants, from hanging to climbing. It also has several light bulbs hanging in the air for a more magical and warm aesthetic.
The real highlight for diners, though, isn’t the stunning interior of the restaurant but the delicious meals they served paired with some refreshing beers. Everything from the menu, from the sauces to the pasta, is made in-house to ensure the best quality!
| Pro Tip: Order your choice of dessert early, as it can take a long time (sometimes 30 minutes or more) to serve. But if you’re planning to stay for some time to enjoy the place and don’t really mind waiting, that’s totally okay too! |
