On our last day, it was just non-stop rain as we were killing some time before heading to the…read moreairport. We walked nearby our hotel to My Bar, a tiny place with more outdoor tables (although obviously not the best place to sit on a day like that). Heading inside, we were greeted with a cozy place; mood lighting, exposed brick, wood floors, and tiny table nooks along the wall. The bartender was friendly and got us some drinks. They have a full selection of hard drinks, but I was here for the beer. They have six tap handles, all from the larger breweries of the country. I chose a flight of three. We slowly sipped our drinks and listened to the rain. Prices were reasonable, it was definitely worth a few minutes for some drinks!

Great bar! Stopped here one night & sat outside. Relaxed, friendly service; beer was great. Had a…read moreramen dish from a restaurant next door. Liked it so much, went back the next night.

Now this is a proper British style pub. Instead of the usually boring beers that every pub has,…read morethis place has a great selection of boutique beers on tap; I think that's probably one of the best things about this pub. Well the food is pretty decent as well. They serve hearty dishes of traditional English cuisine, complete with mushy peas and everything. I had the bangers and mash from here and it was pretty tasty. Coupled with a smooth, creamy beer and I was a happy man. This pub is also located right next to the water; a pretty great location. And the prices are quite cheap. However, the staff weren't all that attentive; one seemed to be doing all of the work and serving customers while the two other girls were just chatting, meanwhile the line at the bar increased.

Great local pub with mix of regulars and people stopping by. Has garden bar area, inside lounge…read morealso with fire which would be good in the winter. Nice selection of beers, food was excellent and great kids menu quality which makes a nice change for pub food.

UPDATE TO MY RECENT UPDATE. No Really!…read more Soooo because we really, really liked the vibe here we came back. Thank goodness Imi was here and she rocked it! Just a charmer and just outstanding. Not only did she hook up our spillage friends but she made great suggestions for dinner and drink. OBTW there was live acoustic guitar (on Sunday from 3:00 pm until 7:30!) There was a couple in the patio and they brought their sweet dog. She (the dog) recognized our crowd as doggie people and she (again the dog) came over and butt snuggled with our clan while her (again the dog) mommy and dad finished their dinner. So cute and so one of the things we LOVE about Takapuna Beach! Had the fish and chips and a nice merlot ...... Yes I know. Stop it! Anyway it was great. My spillage Friend had the veggie gnocchi and it was great. She also got dessert - its the Mousse. Omg! I won't describe it the way she did but it was complimentary. ;) Looked awesome and she loved it. Other folks had the steak and chips M-O-N-E-Y! Solid evening, great food, and Imi was AWESOME. She Rocks! We'll be back! Thanks Imi! Don't tell her you know this but its short for Imogen) but nobody other than her SO calls her that. No really don't tell her!

R'Totos, you've had an excellent makeover. I almost didn't recognise you…read more Gone is the stage area where the young folk (maybe me once or twice) used to shake their thang on a Thursday night. And the sticky floor and bar area. Now the Mac's Brewbar has an elegant terrace area, and equally classy yet understated new bar with heavy wooden furniture and a neutral background. The good bits of R'Toto are still there too: the location; the high ceilings and the tasty bar menu. Definitely a winner for a casual drink.

A good local pub with friendly staff! Our go-to is Seafood Selection which comes with a few pieces…read moreof deep fried fish, shrimp, calamari, and fries. Their fries are beer battered and they're amazing! . They have a huge patio and we can always find a table to sit outside. Seafood Selection goes well with beer and it's perfect for a hot summer day!

Timeless establishment with a country pub character. With the SuperCity expanding 'The Albany' is…read morebecoming more and more central, yet it retains all the charm of the best country taverns. It's a rough diamond but I reckon that's how it ought to be, how it ought to remain. As I write three Harley Davidson motorcycles pull up and park right in the garden bar just a few metres away, always an impressive sight and sound yet I feel totally comfortable, totally safe. It's a relaxed sort of place this, so close to the Shore yet free of its pomp and snoot. The sports bar provides a great place to enjoy the big game, the garden is brilliant for yarns at sunset and the restaurant provides a quiet spot for the family. If you want to share a great meal and a drink at a great price with a few mates or with the family 'The Albany' will deliver. Long may it remain.

Very nice place and the cakes are amazing! Highly recommend!…read more Service is amazing as well

I'm really disappointed with my experience at Speakers Corner in Browns Bay…read more I'm a 15-year-old girl and I made a reservation here for a date with my boyfriend. When I booked, they only asked for my name and phone number, my age was never mentioned or requested at any point. Because of that, we assumed it would be fine to come in, especially since we weren't planning on drinking alcohol at all. When we arrived, we were told the only way to order was at the bar. We went up just to order two normal Cokes. That's when we were suddenly told we couldn't be served because we were under 18, even though we were ordering soft drinks only. We ended up having to ask another person to order the Cokes for us, which was awkward and uncomfortable. About five minutes later, a staff member came over and told us we had to leave because we were underage and they "couldn't serve us," despite the fact that we had a reservation and weren't trying to buy alcohol. We were then asked to leave entirely. I understand alcohol laws, but if under-18s aren't allowed on the premises at all, this should be clearly stated when making a reservation. The situation could have been avoided with better communication and handling. Being kicked out like that was embarrassing and honestly ruined what was meant to be a special date. Very poor service and lack of clarity. I wouldn't recommend this place based on our experience

I constantly go to this bar. It's in a great location to look straight out on the beach. The food…read moreis your normal bar food but done well. Fries and the pizza are always so delicious. Service is always nice. The ambiance of the inside is a little crowded for me just because of the number of people. But I love sitting outside and getting to look at the beach.

The Velvet Gypsy is an amazing place!!! Amazing specials every night of the week and great food…read more There are two sides of the restaurant (one quieter and sleeker, the other lively and facing the beach). The decor is awesome and keeps in line with the name of the place. Everyone looks like they are having an amazing time. I saw a huge age range - groups of 20 and 30 something as well as families and older folk. They also have a great range of food and beverages. We got the 2/$20 gourmet pizza special and both were delicious!!! We will be going back for steak night and the summer platter. Love this place!

This is a cool place to go in Browns Bay, its got 2 faces, one that faces the beach and one that…read morefaces the road. On the Beach face it has some comfortable lounge chairs and bar tables to admire the beauty of Browns Bay Beach and its more for eating. The street face is more of the bar side and yes the drinking side. We came here this week and had Pizza and some drinks, we received really good service and the pizza was pretty good too. They have a pretty good menu with a variety of tasty sounding dishes. During the day you can come and have lunch, and later in the evening dinner, then they come alive after dark for drinks and dancing. I will be back soon.

The Merchant is a great spot to get a bite to eat while waiting for a movie or after a day of…read moreshopping at the mall. The vibe definitely matches a pub - you can watch sports on the tvs and some nights they have live music. This night, I had the buttermilk fried chicken and added on bao buns with lettuce cups to make it a meal. The chicken is super crispy! On chilly nights I recommend their special drinks menu (boozy coffee or hot chocolate) as its the perfect thing to warm up!

I've been drinking at the Merchant long before they became The Merchant, and I've always enjoyed…read morethe clientele the restaurant attracted, and the general atmosphere it creates. Being part of the mall, it is never going to be a big night out kind of place, but it is great for more mature drinkers to have a brew or two. What sets it apart from other watering holes is that you can have a good conversation while eating and drinking, and still have a good time. I normally combine a big night out at the movies with dinner and a drink, and with the good selection available on the strip, you can pick and choose your destination of choice. Most nights it will be The Merchant.

The old Chances has been transformed into a modern pub and TAB…read more Enjoyed the Sunday Roast and a few cold ones with my good mate.

Love this cafe it's the best. Used to have the best view in the world before they built houses on…read moreit now you can't see much of anything. I used to enjoy climbing the hill to wail into yonder valley like a banshee, alas no longer, but sentimental to me all the same, as now I may enjoy a beverage with someone special as I reminisce. Convenient and super dog friendly.

We have lived in Torbay for a year and finally got around to going to the Long Bay Cafe for brunch…read more We arrived to a pretty full cafe, no outside tables which was disappointing as the lawn is pretty big so could have accomodated more. There was a bit of a wait on food but we were told this when we ordered so that was ok. The food was actually pretty good which we were really pleased about as it's kind of our local cafe. The prices were a little high would be my only criticism. Great view of Long Bay