Takapuna Bar is the self-styled 'bar on the corner in the sun' — a friendly local haunt at 2 Anzac Street in the heart of Takapuna Beach, a stone's throw from the sand. Owned and operated by Shore local Alistair Davidson, it has been a favourite with locals for years thanks to its relaxing atmosphere, fairly priced drinks and warm, unpretentious service — a rare find on the North Shore, by its own cheerful admission.
The drinks list is classic and generous: all your favourite beers and ciders on tap, a wide range of some of New Zealand's best wine, and a list of delicious cocktails for when you fancy something mixed. There's a food menu too, making it an easy stop before dinner or the start of a full evening out. Sip in the sun-soaked courtyard — glowing under fairy lights after dark — or settle in at the ground-floor bar.
The bar buzzes most nights of the week, with live music, open mic nights, Sunday sessions, sports screenings, happy hours and early bird specials, plus a loyalty and rewards programme that treats regulars to free drinks for them and their mates. Private functions, big or small, are welcome as well — just talk to the team.
On a busy corner of Anzac Street, a stone's throw from the sand of Takapuna Beach, sits Takapuna Bar — 'the bar on the corner in the sun'. It has been a favourite with locals for years, known for its relaxing atmosphere and fairly priced drinks, which the team cheerfully notes is a rare find on the North Shore these days. There's no pretence here: just a proper neighbourhood bar doing the simple things well.
The whole place is built around one idea — that nothing beats a cold drink and a good catch-up. It's the ideal meeting spot to grab a quick drink before dinner, skive off work early with your workmates, ease into a first date or simply sit back and watch the world go by on one of Takapuna's busiest corners. The bar proudly bills itself as the North Shore's number one meeting spot, and on a sunny afternoon it's easy to see why — friendly locals sipping brews in the sun-soaked courtyard or at the ground-floor bar, with the buzz of Takapuna all around.
Takapuna Bar is owned and operated by Alistair 'Al' Davidson, a Shore local through and through. Al moved to the North Shore at age one and came up through Hauraki and Devonport Primary Schools, Belmont Intermediate and Takapuna Grammar. His dad was a passionate member of the Takapuna Lions and owned the local Hammer Hardware in Hauraki Corner for a number of years, so community roots run deep. Al designed the bar around his own philosophy: honest brews at honest, affordable prices, and a welcome for everyone — bring your mates or come down and make new ones.
The drinks list is classic and generous. Expect all your favourite beers and ciders on tap, a wide range of some of New Zealand's best wine, and a list of delicious cocktails for when you fancy something mixed. The full drinks menu is easy to browse in the bar, so if you're wondering whether they stock your nippitaty, the answer is very probably yes. There's a food menu as well, which makes Takapuna Bar an easy stop before grabbing dinner in the village — or a spot to settle into for the whole evening without moving on.
Much of the charm is in the setting. The sun-soaked courtyard with outdoor seating is the place to be on a fine afternoon, and once the sun drops it glows under what the team happily calls 'some pretty cute fairy lights'. Prefer to be inside? The ground-floor bar is a relaxed, unpretentious spot made for long conversations.
This is a bar that buzzes. There's live music and open mic nights for anyone who fancies being centre stage, Sunday sessions for easing out the weekend, and sports games to watch with a crowd — get a bunch of your mates together or come down solo. Happy hours and early bird specials keep the week interesting, and the loyalty and rewards programme means regulars can actually earn free drinks for themselves and their friends.
It's also a handy place to celebrate. Takapuna Bar hosts private functions, big or small, and offers a range of services to help you pull yours off — just get in touch to talk it through.
You'll find Takapuna Bar at 2 Anzac Street, Takapuna Beach, Auckland. Doors open from midday Monday to Wednesday and from 11am Thursday through Sunday, running late every night. Call 09 486 2666, email takapunabar@outlook.com or follow the bar on Facebook to see what's on this week — then come and check it out for yourself. You won't be disappointed, promise the locals.