This cafe is so good, I really enjoyed the eggs Benedict and the iced chocolate. Very good…read moreatmosphere and in a great location

I can't believe I haven't reviewed Portland yet, it's my favourite bar in Auckland!!!…read more Lovely warm inside area sporting an eclectic array of old school couches with some of the best live music I have ever had the pleasure of listening too. Such a mix if instruments! One afternoon you will go and see a beautiful old man playing the harmonica, the next night could be a jazz band then a buzzy fellow on the guitar... LOVE it! There is a bit I a separate room for dining if you want to sit and have a meal. Their menu is right up my alley! Good old New Zealand boil up is my fav then an interesting mix of snacks or full meals. But wait there's more! An outside area protected from the wind where you sit on kegs with cushions or the benches around the edge looking at the graffiti art that surrounds you. If you haven't been I highly suggest you do. I prefer weeknights or early afternoon as I'm a bit crowd phobic and it can get rather busy in the weekend nights but don't let that deter you as it's pumping with beautiful live music and happy faces Enjoy

Alright so this bar really surprised me with their food. Yeah, yeah drinks are important, should be…read moregood price/value and service should be great. All that I'm kind of expecting. What I don't expect is getting served an awesome steak on (what appeared to be self-made) mashed potatoes with a side of salad for 20 (!!!)$. Blown away. They also had a nice weekly schedule and we were able to come see the open mic night. Great way to entertain your guests. Check it out everybody!

Great service, super friendly staff with lots of recommendations. I met up with friends here late…read moreat night and tried the three sliders (convenient way to try a bunch of the meatballs at once, since they all looked good). I got the lamb with pesto - the flavour was fantastic, but it could have used a third element or something. I love pesto, so I'm not mad if that's the only flavour, but it felt too simple. I also got the special, which was a fish ball with the special sauce, which was a coconut curry-esque thing - this was a no-brainer and it came out just like I was hoping it would. Super rich and flavourful, and a wonderful thai meatball. I also got the vegetarian ball with mushroom sauce and this may have been my favourite of the three - the pine nuts really shone, and it was a really lovely hearty "meaty" flavourful slider. My friends enjoyed their sides as well - fantastic little spot, and lots of available street parking down Richmond, which I appreciated.

I have been admiring the steady stream of instas feat. Bedford's house-made sodas and pretty…read moreflowers garnishes for a couple of weeks now so was chuffed when the opportunity arose for me to try this new p.central addition for myself. We popped in for a drink pre-lunch and immediately appreciated the laid-back vibe. The waitresses, who wear there own clothes were both donning cute floral shorts and t's when we went and were friendly in a casual/cool way. When we arrived they told us to grab a table wherever and being another glorious day we headed straight outside to nab one of their high 6-seater tables drenched in afternoon sun! The drinks menu is extensive and divided into sections - punch pitchers, Bedford daisies (refreshing, lighter cocktails), Bedford ballers (stronger, more manly numbers) and liquor-laden floats. There is also a wide range of teas and non-alcoholic beverages. After much deliberation, we went for a pitcher of Aperol Spritz ($35) - Prosecco, Aperol, fresh peach, citrus, grapefruit bitters, herbs. It arrived pretty as a picture, with flower/herb garnishes in the glasses as well as the pitchers. We only ordered one serving but it came in two smaller pitchers and was easily enough to fill 5 glasses. I'll admit, I found it a little lacking in the flavour dept but it was v.refreshing! Yet to try the food (/meatball) menu, but for those who have spent time in NYC it looks similar to the meatball shop incl. laminated menus and markers for you to tick you choice of meatball and sides. Looking forward to heading back and trying more of their concoctions - I can see this is going to fast become a summer favourite.

Buckle yourself in folks, this is going to be an incredible review…read more We visited this delightful venue not once but two nights on the trot. Now some of you may be thinking is this girl an alcoholic, and perhaps there are tendancies towards the sweet sweet taste of New Zealand's world renowned Sauvignon Blanc, but let me tell you there is more than just top class plonk that pulled me back. Staff: like every other kiwi I've encountered on my trip, the team here we're an absolute bloody delight. You felt like a local straight of the bat. Very attentive and always with a winning smile. Atmosphere: The digs are sweet as. Some say open umbrellas inside are bad luck, but not us. Low key and not try to hard is what they've achieved here. Events: Hilarious left field pub quiz one night and the next the beautiful dulcet tones provided by the live music perfomer. Food: we didn't get to sample much of the menu, but the chicken burger and chips we ordered was stupendous. Get down before 7pm to make the most of the happy hour folks! All in all, we would most certainly recommend this place. It served us very well during our short stay in this lovely city!

Little Easy ticks all the boxes!…read more Beaut place for an after work beer during the week. Great place to watch 'the game'. The place to be on a Saturday night to see all your pals. Hearty array of vinyl spinning DJs. And last but not least the kai is delicious! The ribs will make your eyes pop out of your head. I am traditionally not a huge Ponsonby fan thinks its a bit too ponsy for my blood but Little Easy is the right mix of pub vibes with a nice bar fit out so for me breaks the mold of what you would traditionally find in Ponsonby... loving it!

Great place in a great location. The staff are kind and friendly ... and the $6 Happy Hour pizzas…read moreare amazing. Highly recommend!!

Have heard a few (good) things about 'Freeman & Grey' so today was the day…read more.. On first impressions the place is nothing special inside, TV with sport broadcasting is not really a 'selling point' for me, however $4 pizza's hit the spot. The three of us ordered Anatra (duck), Funghi (Vege), Pollo (chicken), Lamb & Kawakawa pizza with fries, 2 glasses of Stoneleigh Pinot (not the best) and tap beer. Pizza was thin crust, tasty and you may need 2 if you're (super) hungry, nonetheless great value! Our waitress was brutally honest saying she dropped one of our pizza's on the floor, so there would be a slight delay...smile. Friendly, cheap-and-cheerful, happy hour menu 12-2pm & 5-7pm daily, I think! Incredible value: $10 fixed daily menu including pasta, fish-n-chips and steak sandwich. Totes amaze.

Meeting friends for a few drinks at Grand Central is a great way to both start and end your night…read more As one of the most popular, long standing, trendy bars on Ponsonby Road, Grand Central is the perfect place to meet 'hipsters' and people watch. With a full bar and extensive wine list it caters for everyone, and as a result the bar attracts patrons of all ages and walks of life. Though quite a small venue, live music is frequently played, there is room for a bit of a dance, and there is also plenty of outdoor seating. A slight down side of this however is the seated area is usually full of smokers, so be prepared. Smoking aside, Grand Central is a guaranteed good time. Regardless of whether you sit outside on the comfy couches with a wine in the afternoon or dance the night away while enjoying live music, there is never a dull moment.

I would like to call Grand Central the Monday to Sunday live music and DJ hot spot of Ponsonby rd,…read morethey have been doing their groovy thing for many a year and pull in the crowd time and time again. Monday nights are a sure bar filler with the Open Mic night, pop your name on the list and wait your turn to sing out or play about three songs. For the rest of the week, you get different bands, musicians, or DJ's to keep the bar sounding and feeling festive. Always open late, and with fantastic friendly bartenders. You can also hire the upstairs function room for say a birthday party or work function. They have a courtyard to sit in if its not raining, which is a new addition, and you can also smoke here or out the front on comfy couches. Pop in for Happy hour after work or check them out on a busy weekend night, always a very colorful scene.

Awesome experience. Staff was awesome and drinks came out great. Ambiance was great. 10/10 would…read morerecommend.

Disappointing Experience:…read more Aren't speakeasies supposed to be hidden or require a secret code? This was just like any regular bar --just located on a lower level. Nothing unique or intriguing about it. Very underwhelming and disappointing.

When I was younger my mother's best friend knew the owner of Savour and Devour, so we used to go…read morethere for a piece of cake or other sweet treat when we'd been good. It was always super exciting when these trips to Savour and Devour were announced, and though I no longer find cafes to be such mystical, wondrous places I can't help but feel excited whenever I pass Savour and Devour, even today. Specialising in European cafe style foods, Savour and Devour offer a delicious breakfast menu of sausages, eggs, bacon, pancakes, mueslis and bagels, a healthy fresh range of salads and sandwiches for lunch as well as great pies, muffins and slices. No matter what you choose, you can't go wrong at Savour and Devour. Quite a narrow building, there is more seating out the back of the cafe, however if I'm completely honest - now that I'm old enough to be a bit more critical of cafes and eateries, I have to admit the vibe and atmosphere of Savour and Devour isn't quite what it used to be. The decor is nothing particularly special, and with many other cafes now in the vicinity, I reckon there are nicer places to stop, eat and enjoy your food. However, that's not to say their food isn't still delicious, and Savour and Devour will always hold a special place in my heart as one of the first cafes I remember visiting!

Here for early brunch, it get quite busy after 1130. I would…read moresay this place has average drink and food? Staffs are friendly enough though. Not sure if I will be back in the near future as there are so many options around!