The Dirty Potato is a small, self-confessed Irish pub on Davis Crescent in Newmarket, Auckland — a place that keeps things simple, warm and just a little bit cheeky. The name tells you most of what you need to know: this is a pub that has built its kitchen around the humble spud, with loaded jacket potatoes as the headline act and a 'bloody good-looking' venue to enjoy them in.
The food philosophy is refreshingly straightforward. The jacket potato comes split open and piled high with toppings, and in a move regulars clearly appreciate, it costs one flat price no matter how much you load it — the pub's own socials love asking just how dirty you like your potato. Alongside it sits the Pie in a Cup, a pub pie served cup-style that first appeared as a birthday celebration special and has since become a firm crowd favourite.
The drink side holds its own. There's a dedicated tap list, kept updated on the pub's website, and the room is made — in its own words — for Guinness lovers and yarn spinners. The Irish theme runs deeper than the black stuff too: the pub has begun hosting whiskey tasting evenings, including its first House of Midleton night dedicated to tasting through Irish whiskey, with limited seats booked by direct message.
There's a proper events streak running through the place. The Dirty Potato celebrated its first birthday in late September with a full-day bash — doors from midday, live music from 3:30pm till late, food and drink specials, prizes and even temporary tattoos. Between the big occasions, the pub shares specials and moments from the floor on Instagram at @thedirtypotatonz. If you want to take a piece of it home, there's in-store merch — tees, caps, a canvas tote and even a branded potato peeler — plus gift cards.
There's a particular kind of comfort in a pub that knows exactly what it is. The Dirty Potato, tucked on Davis Crescent in Newmarket, is a self-confessed 'little Irish pub' that has built its whole identity around two things that rarely let anyone down: the humble spud and a well-poured pint. The team's own summary — jacket potatoes, pints and 'a bloody good-looking pub' — is about as honest a menu description as you'll find, and a year in, locals seem more than happy with the formula.
The pub marked its first birthday in late September with the kind of party that tells you a lot about the place: doors open from midday, live music from 3:30 in the afternoon until late, food and drink specials, prizes won throughout the day and even a run of temporary tattoos. That mix — music, giveaways, hearty food and a full room — is the template The Dirty Potato has settled into comfortably in year one.
The kitchen keeps things focused rather than fussy. The headline act is the loaded jacket potato: a baked spud split open and piled high with toppings, and — in a stroke of pricing philosophy regulars clearly appreciate — one flat price no matter how much you load it. The pub's socials lean into the bit, asking followers just 'how dirty' they like their potato. It's simple, generous food that pairs naturally with a pint.
Sitting alongside it is the Pie in a Cup — a pub pie served cup-style that first found fame as a birthday special and has since earned a place in the regular rotation. Between the two, the food does what good pub food should: fills you up and leaves room for another round.
Drink matters here as much as the food. The pub keeps a dedicated tap list, updated on its website, so you can see what's pouring before you even leave the house. By its own description, the room is made for Guinness lovers and yarn spinners — and the pull of a proper pint in a good-looking space is very much part of the appeal.
The Irish theme runs deeper than the black stuff, too. The Dirty Potato has started running whiskey tasting nights; its first, with The House of Midleton, was an evening dedicated to tasting through Irish whiskey. Seats are limited and booked by direct message on Instagram, so early moves are required if you want in.
Between the big set-piece events, the venue's Instagram gives a running commentary of pub life — specials, birthday countdowns and candid moments from the floor. It's the sort of presence that tells you the room itself is warm: this is a pub that likes a themed night, a tasting evening or a live session, and its events page is worth a glance before any visit.
Not every pub lets you walk out wearing the brand, but The Dirty Potato leans into it. The merch range runs from heavyweight AS Colour classic tees in black and cream to a premium cotton cap with lime green trim and embroidered logo, a two-toned mesh-backed trucker cap, a natural canvas tote printed on both sides, and — in a fitting final flourish — an actual potato peeler, complete with drawstring bag. Gift cards are available too, should you fancy gifting someone their next loaded spud.
You'll find the pub at 53 Davis Crescent, Newmarket, Auckland 1023. Before heading in, check the tap list online and give the events page or Instagram (@thedirtypotatonz) a quick look — turning up on the wrong (or very right) night could shape your whole visit. Come hungry, order the potato loaded however you like it, and let the rest take care of itself.