Fantail & Turtle

About Fantail & Turtle

Fantail & Turtle is an award-winning, whānau-owned gastropub, bar, and eatery located at Goodside in Takapuna's Smales Farm. Established in 2018, the venue was born out of an enduring friendship formed during Army Officer training, with its heart rooted in values of manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga, and whanaungatanga.

Designed by the award-winning Izzard studio, the space features sun-drenched gardens, all-weather outdoor seating, and an on-site microbrewery alongside 15 taps pouring local craft beer, real ale, and cider. The culinary focus is on sustainable sharing plates, featuring free-range proteins, whole line-caught fish cured on-site, and produce paired with botanicals and herbs harvested directly from the surrounding gardens.

Operating with a staunch commitment to zero-waste practices, the kitchen repurposes kitchen trimmings into rich stocks and house-made sauces while returning food scraps to the earth via on-site composting. Fantail & Turtle provides a welcoming neighborhood atmosphere whether stopping in for an afternoon drink, tasting paddles, or gathering for an all-day shared feast.

Fantail & Turtle: Award-Winning Hospitality and Craft Brewing in Takapuna

Nestled within the lively Goodside precinct at Smales Farm, Fantail & Turtle stands as one of Auckland’s most celebrated hospitality destinations. Founded in 2018, the venue represents far more than an ordinary neighborhood pub. It was born as a tribute to a lifelong friendship formed during Army Officer training between Travis (Fantail) and Troy (Turtle). Following Troy’s passing in 2006, the enduring bond was immortalized through a Pikorua twist carving, an emblem of loyalty and connection that today sits proudly as the ampersand in the venue's name and insignia.

Guided by the core values of manaakitanga (hospitality), kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and whanaungatanga (kinship), the venue has gained widespread acclaim across New Zealand. Accolades include being crowned Supreme Winner and Auckland Champion at the NZ Gastropub Awards 2024, alongside back-to-back Outstanding Local wins at the Lewisham Awards.

Architecture, Gardens, and Local Craft Beer

Architecturally crafted by the acclaimed studio Izzard, Fantail & Turtle combines sweeping indoor-outdoor flow with verdant gardens and weather-sheltered pergolas flooded with afternoon sun. It effortlessly adapts to all occasions, accommodating cozy tables for casual drinks as comfortably as major celebrations and private functions of up to 600 guests.

Drink enthusiasts will discover an impressive lineup anchored by an on-site 6-tank SS Brewtech 50L microbrewery, which also plays host to brewing masterclasses and local home-brew events. Across 15 constantly rotating taps, guests can sample local craft beers, real ales, and ciders, alongside tasting paddles. The drinks offering extends to a regionally focused wine list, bespoke late-night cocktails, and an extensive gin collection infused with botanicals harvested straight from the garden beds on site.

Waste-Free Kitchen and Seasonally Driven Shared Dining

True to the spirit of whanaungatanga, the kitchen crafts a seasonal menu intentionally engineered for all-day grazing and sharing amongst friends. Every plate arrives at the table fresh as it is ready, ranging from house favorites like pāua served over kawakawa fry bread and refreshing ika mata to comforting buttermilk fried chicken, sliders, and succulent Hawke’s Bay lamb rump.

Behind every dish is a disciplined kaitiakitanga ethos. Fantail & Turtle operates a waste-free kitchen where kitchen offcuts are meticulously simmered down into savory sauces and stocks. Meats are sourced free-range and broken down in-house whenever possible, while seafood is sustainably harvested and line-caught fish is processed whole and dry-cured on the premises. Vegetable trimmings and scraps not destined for the plate are diverted back into soil nourishment through on-site composting, reinforcing a holistic cycle that honors local growers, the seasons, and the surrounding land.

Signature items

• Pāua on Fry Bread
• Ika Mata
• Kiwi Dip & Chips
• Hawke’s Bay Lamb Rump
• Scotch Frites
• Kawakawa Bay Cockles

Menu

Afters

• Sticky Date Pudding — Butterscotch, Kāpiti vanilla bean
• Poached Pear — Kawakawa & white chocolate mousse, hazelnut soil

Designed To Share

• Olives — Sicilian, queen & kalamata, citrus, garlic
• Flatbreads — Garlic & rosemary olive oil
• Kawakawa Bay Cockles — Little neck clam / tuangi, prawn, chorizo, kūmara sourdough
• Pāua on Fry Bread — Creamed pāua, kawakawa parāoa parai, chilli crunch
• Ika Mata — Line-caught fish, citrus, coconut, chilli, ginger, sago
• Eye Fillet Carpaccio — Soy cured King Country beef, burnt onion, Parmigiano Reggiano
• Market Fish Sliders — Beer batter, cucumber, baby cos, watercress, tartare
• Wagyu Beef Sliders — Smoked cheddar, McClure’s pickle, relish, slaw
• Blistered Broccolini — Tahini & miso, Raglan coconut yoghurt, citrus, walnut
• Spiced Cauliflower — Edamame hummus, shallot, chilli crunch, crispy curry leaf
• Salt-Baked Beets — Clevedon buffalo mozzarella, tamarind, chicken crisp
• Pōkeno Pork Schnitzel — Free range poaka, panko, pickled ginger, green beans, citrus
• Hawke’s Bay Lamb Rump — Muhammara, mānuka, soy, wild Waitaha mushroom
• Grilled Half Chook — Madras spice, baby potato, pineapple, coconut, smoked ghee
• Scotch Frites — Peter’s sweet chilli sambal butter, shoestring fries, pecorino

Bar Snacks & Grazing

• Chunky Fries — Sea salt, house aioli, tomato sauce
• Kiwi Dip & Chips — Kina, cream cheese, chives, onion, potato & corn chips
• Jalapeño Wontons — Hung ricotta, aged cheddar, Kaitāia Fire aioli
• Buttermilk Fried Chicken — Free range thigh, McClure's pickles

Not Quite A Kids Menu

• Chicken & Chips — Buttermilk fried thigh, fries, pickles, slaw, gochujang mayo
• Fish & Chips — Line caught, beer batter, fries, slaw, tartare
• Jerusalem Artichokes — Miso & maple, mixed leaves, pomegranate, corn crisp shards
• Baby Cos & Roasted Grapes — Tamarillo, chermoula, gochujang mayo, parmesan, gluten-free croutons

Frequently asked questions

What are the opening hours at Fantail & Turtle?

Fantail & Turtle is open seven days a week from 11:00 am until late, and opens from 12:00 pm until late on public holidays.

Where is Fantail & Turtle located?

The venue is located at Goodside inside Smales Farm, at 72 Taharoto Road, Takapuna, Auckland.

Can I book private functions or large events?

Yes, the venue features multiple indoor and all-weather outdoor spaces capable of hosting gatherings from small groups up to large functions of 600 guests, supported by a dedicated Functions & Events Manager.

Does Fantail & Turtle brew beer on-site?

Yes, they feature an on-site 6-tank SS Brewtech 50L microbrewery used for specialty brews, masterclasses, corporate brewing experiences, and homebrew club sessions.

How does table ordering and bill payment work?

Dishes are served as they are ready for grazing. Guests can place individual orders via table QR code or order at the bar. For table service, one tab is kept per table, which can be split by guest upon departure.

Does the menu cater to dietary restrictions?

Yes, the menu includes clearly marked vegetarian, vegan, gluten-not-added, and dairy-not-added options across both small and shared plates.

Tips

• {"body":"With 15 taps pouring local craft beer, real ale, and cider, ordering a tasting paddle is the best way to explore what is fresh and pouring.","title":"Try a Tasting Paddle"}
• {"body":"Dishes arrive as soon as they are ready from the kitchen, making it ideal to order a mix of plates for the whole table to share.","title":"Order for Grazing"}
• {"body":"If everyone in your group prefers paying individually as they go, order directly through the table QR code rather than opening a shared tab.","title":"Use QR Ordering for Split Bills"}
• {"body":"The venue frequently hosts quiz nights, market days, and live music sessions across its all-weather garden spaces.","title":"Check the Event Calendar"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Offers a 'Not Quite a Kids Menu' with smaller plates suitable for children and solo diners.","dietary":"Menu clearly marks vegetarian, vegan, gluten-not-added, and dairy-not-added choices.","payments":"One tab per table (splittable on departure); contactless and credit card payments incur a 1.5% surcharge."}